Dunmore railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dunmore (Shellharbour)
Northbound view from Platform 1
Location	Dunmore Road, Dunmore Australia
Coordinates	34°36′22″S 150°50′24″E / 34.606173°S 150.840021°E / -34.606173; 150.840021
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Line(s)	South Coast railway line
Distance	110.66 km (68.76 mi) from Central
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Other information
Website	Sydney Trains
History
Opened	9 November 1887
Closed	21 November 2014
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	30 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	274
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Shellharbour Railway Station Group; Dunmore Railway Station
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	1245
Type	Railway Platform/ Station
Category	Transport - Rail

Dunmore railway station was a train station in Dunmore, Australia. It was part of the South Coast railway line. The station served the southern part of Wollongong and also Shellharbour.

The station first opened on 9 November 1887. It is known for its old buildings, especially the wooden station building on Platform 2, which dates back to 1887. This station is also called the Shellharbour Railway Station Group. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its historical importance.

In 2001, the railway line to Kiama was updated to use electricity. As part of this, the station's crossing loop was made longer. A new platform was built, but most trains still used the original one. This loop also helped trains reach the Boral Dunmore Quarry. A road crossing near the station was closed in the late 2000s to improve the nearby Princes Highway.

History of Dunmore Station

The town of Shellharbour was planned in 1851. It grew around the port of Shellharbour. The local council was formed in 1859. Dunmore itself had a post office by 1890.

Building the Illawarra Railway Line

The Illawarra railway line was built in stages.

• The first part, from Wollongong to Scarborough, opened on 21 June 1887.
• An extension from Wollongong to Bombo (near Kiama) opened on 9 November 1887.
• Finally, on 3 October 1888, the line connected to the northern section towards Sydney.
• The line was extended further south from Bombo to Bomaderry in 1893.

Dunmore (Shellharbour) Railway Station was part of the section that opened in November 1887.

Station Buildings and Changes Over Time

• The station building on Platform 2, built in 1887, is original. It did not have an awning (a roof-like cover).
• An "Out-of-room" building, also called an old milk shed, was built in 1891 and made bigger in 1908.
• A signal box, which controls train signals, was built in 1925.

The Station Master's residence at Dunmore was built in 1887. This brick house was an early example of a standard design for railway staff homes. It was built before official plans for these houses were released in 1899.

Station Layout in the Past

Old plans from 1907 show what the station looked like:

• A gatekeeper's cottage was near the Shellharbour Road crossing (it's not there anymore).
• The platform had ramps at both ends.
• There was a milk shed and the main platform building.
• A lamp room and a separate toilet building were also present.
• Cattle yards were located northeast of the platform.
• The Station Master's residence was on a small hill, about 100 meters from the station.

In 1923, a small railway line was added at Dunmore. This allowed a blue metal quarry, which had been operating since about 1905, to use the main rail network. This extra train traffic led to upgrades in 1925.

1925 Upgrades

• The signal box was built.
• The 1887 platform building was updated. It got a ladies' waiting room, a central waiting area, and an office for the Station Master. This office also handled bookings and parcels.
• An awning roof was added to connect the office to the new signal box.

Later plans from 1940 show that the platform was made longer. The milk shed was also enlarged. The old toilet building was removed, and the cattle yards were taken away by 1968. A new ramp for Pioneer Concrete Pty Ltd was added.

By 1970, the gatekeeper's cottage was gone. A goods siding (a side track for loading goods) was clearly shown east of the platform. It had an unloading platform and a shed. There was also a men's toilet at the northern end of the platform. The platform building then had a parcels office, a waiting room, and a ladies' toilet.

All the goods siding and related buildings have since been removed.

Dunmore station officially closed on 21 November 2014. It was replaced by Shellharbour Junction station, which is located about 800 meters (half a mile) north of the old site.

Train Services

Dunmore station had two side platforms. It was served by NSW TrainLink South Coast line trains. These trains traveled between Sydney Central, Bondi Junction, and Kiama.

Why Dunmore Station is Heritage Listed

Dunmore (Shellharbour) Railway Station and its residence are very important historically. They are listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of several reasons:

• Historical Importance: The 1887 platform building is rare because it didn't have an awning. Only two other stations on the Illawarra line had this design. The 1891 milk shed is also one of the oldest surviving buildings on the line. The 1925 signal box shows how the station was upgraded over time. The Station Master's residence from 1887 is an early example of housing for railway staff.
• Design and Appearance: The station has a nice open setting with views of the Illawarra escarpment (a mountain range). Its collection of old wooden buildings and platforms from 1887 gives it a special look. The 1887 platform building is unique because of its awningless design. The 1891 milk shed is a rare old building that was later changed for a new use. The 1925 signal box is a good example of its type and still has its original signal levers. The Station Master's residence is a good example of an old Victorian Georgian style house. It's unusual because it faces away from the station and is made of brick, while the station buildings are wood.
• Community Connection: The station helps the local community connect with its past. It shows how the area has changed over time.
• Rarity: The 1887 awningless wooden Platform 2 building is very rare. Only two other stations on the Illawarra line have this type of building. The 1891 milk shed is also a rare survivor. The platform structures at Dunmore are rare examples of open platform types. The Station Master's residence is rare because it's an early version of a standard design. It's also unusual because of its location and brick material.
• Good Example: Dunmore (Shellharbour) Railway Station is a good example of a rural station from the period between 1887 and 1925. The 1925 wooden signal box is typical of its time and is special because it still has its original signal levers. The Station Master's residence is a good example of its design, built before standard plans were common.