Eveleigh Railway Workshops facts for kids
The Eveleigh Railway Workshops were a huge place in Sydney, Australia, where trains were built and fixed for over 100 years! It was one of the biggest railway workshops in the whole Southern Hemisphere. Today, parts of it are used for different things, like a technology park, a performance space called Carriageworks, and even some homes. It's a really important historical site in New South Wales.
The former Eveleigh Railway Workshops,
now Australian Technology Park |
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 Location in Sydney
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| Built | 1882 – 1897 |
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| Operated | 1882 – 1988 |
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°53′40″S 151°11′44″E / 33.8945274473°S 151.1956660200°E |
| Industry | Railway |
| Architect |
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| Area | located within the 51-hectare (130-acre) Eveleigh Complex |
| Defunct | Closed in 1988 and repurposed ss public housing, Australian Technology Park and other uses |
| Eveleigh Railway Workshops | |
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Locomotive Workshops Boiler House
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| Official name: Eveleigh Railway Workshops; Eveleigh Railway Yards; Eveleigh Precinct; Australian Technology Park; Carriageworks; North Eveleigh; Macdonaldtown Gasworks; Macdonaldtown Triangle | |
| Type: | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Criteria: | a., c., d., e., f. |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1140 |
| Type: | Railway Workshop |
| Category: | Transport - Rail |
| Builders: | George Fishburn |
| Designated: | 26 April 1988 |
Contents
A Look Back at Eveleigh's History
The Eveleigh Railway Workshops were first thought of by an engineer named John Whitton. He wanted a place to build and fix everything needed for the railway system. This included the trains themselves, like locomotives, wagons, and passenger carriages. At the time, there was no other place in New South Wales that could build locomotives.
The workshops became the biggest railway workshops in the Southern Hemisphere. They operated for over 100 years! The site was chosen in 1875, and construction began in 1882.
Building the Workshops
The workshops were built on both sides of the main railway lines. This meant some tasks were duplicated, but heavy jobs like metal forging were done on the locomotive side.
The first building finished was the Engine Running Shed. Then, in 1884, George Fishburn started building the Locomotive Workshops. They officially opened in 1887. More workshops and buildings were added in the 1890s.
The area around the workshops grew quickly in the 1870s and 1880s. Many homes were built for the workers. Some street names in the area still remember these early settlers.
Powering the Workshops
For a while, Eveleigh had its own gas works to power the machines. But in 1901, the workshops started using electricity from the Ultimo Power Station. This meant old steam engines and rope-driven cranes could be updated with electric motors. This change was finished by 1914.
In 1907, the railway decided to start building new locomotives right at Eveleigh. A special New Locomotive Shop was built for this.
Challenges and Changes
By 1915, the Eveleigh workshops were getting too crowded. There were also several strikes between 1915 and 1917. A big general strike happened in August 1917, involving thousands of workers. This was during World War I, which made working conditions tougher.
In 1925, the building of new locomotives stopped at Eveleigh.
During World War II (1939–1945), parts of the workshops were used to make gun-shells for the war effort. After the war, in 1945, they started building new locomotives again. But this only lasted until 1952.
In 1963, a big change happened: steam locomotives were no longer used. Since Eveleigh was mainly for fixing steam trains, this meant the workshops were entering their final years. Other workshops, like those at Chullora and Clyde, took over some of the work.
The Workshops Close
In the 1970s, people tried to update the workshops, but it was too late. Many machines were only good for the steam train era. The workshops slowly declined and finally closed in 1988.
After closing, some buildings were used by Paddy's Markets for a while. Other old buildings were pulled down. In 1991, the government decided to create a technology park at Eveleigh.
What's There Now?
Today, the work that used to happen at Eveleigh is no longer done by the government or even in Australia.
The locomotive workshop closed in 1988. Some parts were used for train maintenance until recently. Now, it's mainly used to store trains for interurban services.
In 2009, the Locomotive Workshops were turned into the Australian Technology Park. This is also where the Seven Network (a TV company) has its Sydney headquarters.
A group called 3801 Limited, which restores old steam trains, used a large shed at Eveleigh for 30 years. But in 2017, they had to move out. The government wanted to share the space with other heritage groups.
Exploring the Eveleigh Precinct
The Eveleigh area is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of the Sydney city center. It covers about 51 hectares (126 acres). It's located right next to the main railway lines that go to Central Station.
Many old railway buildings are still there, some are empty, and some have been redeveloped. You can still see lots of old machinery inside the buildings.
Locomotive Workshops
From 1884 to 1986, these workshops fixed, changed, and built new locomotives. They worked on many famous train classes.
The Locomotive Workshops had 15 main sections, called "Bays":
- Bays 1 and 2: The Blacksmith's Shop, with huge presses and hammers.
- Bays 3, 4, and 4A: The Boilermaker's Shop, where metal was shaped with heat.
- Bay 5: Used as a Canteen and Fitting Shop.
- Bay 6: The Millwright's Shop.
- Bays 7 and 8: More Fitting Shops.
- Bay 9: Where axles and wheels were worked on.
- Bays 10, 11, and 12: The Machine Shop.
- Bays 13 and 14: The Tool and Instrument Room.
The buildings are made of brick with arched windows and doors. They have strong brick walls and columns inside that hold up the roof. The roofs are made of corrugated iron and supported by strong iron frames.
Carriage Workshops
These workshops, built between 1884 and 1887, were for fixing wagons and carriages. Later, they also built new carriages. They were very similar in construction to the Locomotive Workshops.
Paint Shop
This was a large building where trains were painted. It had many tracks inside for the carriages.
Turntable and Trackwork
There's an old turntable and tracks west of the Large Erecting Shop. This was used to turn trains around.
Air Raid Shelters
You can find some old air raid shelters scattered along the railway lines. These were built for protection during wartime.
ACDEP (Air-Conditioned Depot)
Opened in 1968, this was the main place for fixing long-distance passenger carriages, especially air-conditioned ones. It also serviced trains like the Spirit of Progress.
Current Condition and Changes
The Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops are in fair condition. They are considered one of the largest and most complete railway workshops from the steam era still existing in Australia, and possibly the world!
Many changes have happened since the workshops were built:
- 1878: Eveleigh Station opened (later renamed Redfern).
- 1899: The Large Erecting Shop was added.
- 1901: Electricity came to the workshops.
- 1907: The New Locomotive Shop was built.
- 1917: A big General Strike happened.
- 1965: Parts of the Running Shed were pulled down for the ACDEP.
- 1988: The Locomotive Workshop closed.
- 2008: The Eveleigh Carriage Workshops became Carriageworks, a performance and art space.
- 2009: The Locomotive Workshops were redeveloped into the Australian Technology Park.
Awards for Redevelopment
Adaptive Reuse Award, 2008
In 2008, the Australian Institute of Architects gave an award for how the CarriageWorks building was reused. The judges said it was an "exciting addition to the cultural life of Sydney." They liked how the design showed off the old industrial history of the building, keeping its original feel while making it new.
Heritage Award
The CarriageWorks also won a heritage award. The judges noted that the site is very important culturally. They praised how the new design brought the old building to life without losing its history. They said the project kept almost all the important old parts and equipment, showing its 1888 industrial heritage.
Famous People Who Worked Here
The workshops were once one of the biggest employers in Sydney. Many people from different backgrounds worked there. Some even became famous:
- Joseph Cahill: Became the Premier of New South Wales (like a state leader) from 1952-1959.
- James McGowen: Started as a boilermaker and later became the Premier of New South Wales from 1910-1913.
- William McKell: Also a boilermaker, he became Premier of New South Wales (1941-1944) and then the Governor-General of Australia (1947-1953).
Why Eveleigh is So Important
The Eveleigh Railway Yards are considered some of the best historical railway workshops in the world. They have one of the most complete collections of old forge equipment, cranes, and power systems from the late 1800s and early 1900s. It's a really special place for understanding Australia's industrial past.
The workshops were a huge part of the NSW railway network, which helped the state grow a lot. They also influenced the local area by providing many jobs and shaping the community. The workshops are also linked to important moments in Australian history, like the development of the weekend and major labor movements.
The buildings themselves are very strong and simple in their design. They have a unique industrial look with their brick and corrugated iron. They are a landmark in the Redfern/Eveleigh area and a familiar sight for train commuters.
Eveleigh was a huge employer and a source of pride for Australian industry and workers. It showed off high levels of craft skills. Even though it's not a workshop anymore, it's still a symbol for former workers and unions.
The site has a lot of potential for research. We can learn so much about how railway workshops operated, how people worked in the past, and the history of labor relations. There are still many former workers alive who can share their stories.
Overall, the size and quality of the Eveleigh Railway Workshops make it a very rare and important historical site.
Gallery
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Locomotive Workshops
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Blacksmiths Shop
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Blacksmiths Shop
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Blacksmiths Tools
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Blacksmiths Shop
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Steam Intensifier
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Blacksmiths Tools
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Blacksmiths Shop
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Blacksmiths Shop
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Machine Shop
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Machines Shop
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Traverser
