Jerilderie railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerilderie railway station |
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Jerilderie railway station, in 2013
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| Location | Closed Tocumwal line, Nowranie Street, Jerilderie, Murrumbidgee Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1884–1885 |
| Architect | John Whitton |
| Owner | Murrumbidgee Council; Transport Asset Holding Entity |
| Official name: Jerilderie Railway Station Group | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 17 April 2003 |
| Reference no. | 1658 |
| Type | Railway Platform/ Station |
| Category | Transport - Rail |
| Builders | Charles Hardy |
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The Jerilderie railway station is a heritage-listed former railway station. It is located on the now closed Tocumwal line at Nowranie Street, Jerilderie, in New South Wales, Australia. This old station was designed by John Whitton and built between 1884 and 1885 by Charles Hardy. It is also known as the Jerilderie Railway Station Group. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 17 April 2003. This means it is a very important historical site.
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Jerilderie Station: A Look Back
The Jerilderie Railway Station and its buildings were designed by John Whitton. He was the chief engineer for the NSW railways from 1856 to 1888. Whitton designed many of the existing railway buildings in New South Wales. His special design style created a unique look for railway stations and station master's houses across the state.
This station and the Station Master's Residence were very important for Jerilderie. It was a small, quiet country town. The railway showed how important trains were expected to be in helping Jerilderie grow. It also helped NSW get more trade, competing with Victoria. Over time, as roads got better and trucks became more common, the railway became less active. This led to parts of the station being removed or falling into disrepair.
The Jerilderie Station Complex is about 688.4 kilometres (427.8 miles) from Central Sydney. It opened on 16 September 1884. It was a main transport hub for Jerilderie until 6 February 1987. Today, the station building is used as a home.
The Builders: Charles Hardy & Co
The buildings at Jerilderie Railway precinct are important because they were built by Charles Hardy. He was a very important builder from Wagga Wagga. Hardy learned his building skills in London. He arrived in Melbourne in 1854 when he was 21. In 1862, he moved to Wagga Wagga and started a building company with Thomas Hodson. After 1877, Hardy continued the business as Charles Hardy & Co. By the 1970s, his company employed 250 people.
Charles Hardy and his team built the Jerilderie station buildings in 1884. Hardy was known for being the best builder in Wagga Wagga. His company controlled most parts of the building process. This included supplying all the materials. They even had their own brickyards, lime kilns, and lumberyards.
Hardy was known for his high standards. He often brought skilled workers from England. He also personally watched over most of the building work himself. He would travel long distances in a horse-drawn carriage to do this. His company worked on projects in many towns, including Albury, Corowa, Deniliquin, and Euston. Hardy liked to use beautiful woodwork, both inside and outside buildings. This was a popular style during the Federation period (around 1890-1915).
What the Station Looked Like
The main part of the Jerilderie railway facilities was the passenger station and platform. The platform was about 122 metres (400 feet) long. It had ramps at each end. On the platform, there was a grand single-storey station building. It was about 46.8 metres (153 feet 6 inches) long. It was built in a grand style using bricks laid in a special pattern called English bond. The roofs were steep and pointed, covered with corrugated iron.
The Jerilderie station building had several rooms. From the Sydney end, it included:
- a lamp room
- an equipment shed (with a large underground water tank)
- a parcels office
- the Station Master's Office
- a general waiting room
- a ticket office
- a ladies waiting room and toilets
- gents urinals and toilets
Other buildings were also constructed at Jerilderie around 1884. These included:
- a goods warehouse (also called the goods shed)
- cattle races (for loading animals)
- the Station Master's residence
- an engine shed
- a coal stage
- a 15.7-metre (51-foot 6-inch) turntable pit (a round pit for turning trains around)
- an elevated water tank
Over the next 60 years, more buildings were added. The railway yard was also changed. A map from 1941 shows how the railway facilities looked at their biggest.
The Station Master's Residence
The Station Master's Residence was built around 1884. It was a standard design for railway homes. It is a brick house with three chimneys. It has a verandah with a curved roof that covers the main door and two windows. The front four rooms have a pyramid-shaped roof with a gentle slope. The kitchen has a sloping roof that extends from the main roof. The bathroom and laundry are built with sloping roofs under the main roof's eaves.
The house still has its original doors and windows with decorated frames. There is also a coal bunker near the house. This shows where the coal for heating the station and residence was stored.
Condition and Changes Over Time
As of late 2002, the Jerilderie railway station building still largely looks like it did originally. Its main shape and materials are easy to see. The railway company had recently done repairs, repainting, and landscaping. Even though the building has had some problems from the ground shifting, it is in good condition. The platform is also still there, including the levers for the signals at the east end.
The outside of the original building still looks much like it did when it was built. Inside, the windows and their frames are still there. There is also an old cast iron stove in the kitchen.
The building has shown signs of long-term problems from the ground moving. This was made worse by poor drainage and trees. The inside walls have been covered over time with fibro sheets and plasterboard. Original doors, frames, skirtings, and fireplaces have been removed. The front concrete verandah floor has sunk and cracked.
Despite these changes, the Jerilderie Railway Station and the former Station Master's Residence are still considered very important historical buildings.
Station Building Changes
- Platform fences and gates were removed (date unknown).
- Toilets were removed or filled (date unknown).
- Sheds on the east and west ends were removed (date unknown).
- The original front porch and verandahs were removed (date unknown).
- The station building was turned into a home in 1993. A new section was built where the west end shed used to be.
- The front porch and verandah were rebuilt in 2001.
- Repairs, maintenance, and repainting were done in 2001-2002.
- Landscaping was done in front of the station building in 2002.
Station Master's Residence Changes
- A room and porch with a sloping roof were added to the back (date unknown).
- Internal linings of strapped fibro sheets were added, and original doors were removed (before 1984).
- Sliding doors were installed (around the 1960s).
- Fireplaces were removed (date unknown).
- Plasterboard wall linings were added to the hallway (around the 1990s).
- The original gutters were replaced (date unknown).
- Poor repairs were made to external wall cracks (1990s).
- Kitchen cupboards were installed (1990s).
Why Jerilderie Station is Important
The Jerilderie Railway Station Group and the Station Master's Residence are important parts of a great example of a standard railway station. They were designed by John Whitton and built by Charles Hardy around 1884.
The station building and the Station Master's Residence still have much of their original look and many architectural details. The Station Master's Residence still has its original roof shape, three chimney tops, and a curved verandah roof. It also has posts with cut-off corners and decorative metal brackets. These buildings are very important for the small town of Jerilderie. They show how important railways were expected to be in helping the area grow. They also show how NSW tried to get more trade instead of Victoria.
As roads improved, the railway became less active. This led to some parts of the station being removed. The Station Master's Residence and Station building are important brick structures. They are similar to British railway designs. They stand out compared to the timber stations in nearby towns like Finley and Urana.
The railway line and station were used during World War II for defence. They were part of the transport network that helped build the Tocumwal Airbase. This base was important for Australia's defence.
The Jerilderie railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 17 April 2003. This means it meets certain important criteria:
Historical Importance
The Jerilderie Railway Station Group shows a key time in the development of the Southern Riverina railway network. It shows how the NSW Government responded in the 1880s to:
- Changes in land use in the Riverina. More small farmers were growing crops after new land laws, instead of just large sheep farms.
- An effort to get trade away from Victorian ports before Australia became one country (Federation).
The Jerilderie Railway Station played a big role in moving troops during World War II. It helped develop the important air force base at Tocumwal. This was part of Australia's defence plan.
Connection to Important People
The Jerilderie Railway Station Group and its buildings were designed by John Whitton. He was the chief engineer for NSW railways from 1856 to 1888. Whitton designed many existing railway buildings. His unique design style created a recognizable look for railway stations and station master's houses across NSW.
The Jerilderie Railway Station Group is also important because of Charles Hardy. He was a very important builder from Wagga Wagga. He learned his trade in London. He arrived in Melbourne in 1854 and moved to Wagga in 1862. He started a partnership with Thomas Hodson. Later, he continued as Charles Hardy & Co. This company employed 250 people by the 1970s. Charles Hardy passed away in 1908.
Beautiful Design and Clever Building
John Whitton created standard designs for some of NSW's railway stations. Jerilderie Railway Station is a good example of this practice for standard roadside station buildings. Whitton's idea of creating standard designs for public buildings was quite new for NSW in the 1880s. The style of station house design, which Jerilderie Railway Station Master's House represents, is beautiful. It uses special architectural elements and planning ideas. The decorative metal work on the buildings is especially beautiful for the railway area.
Charles Hardy was known for his high standards of work. He brought most of his skilled workers from England. He personally watched over most of the building work himself, traveling long distances. His work spread to towns like Albury, Corowa, Deniliquin, and Euston. Hardy liked to use beautiful woodwork, both inside and outside buildings. This was a popular style during the Federation period.
Showing Key Features of Railway Places
The Jerilderie Station buildings show the main features of a standard roadside railway station from after 1875. They were designed by John Whitton. The Jerilderie Station buildings and their original setup have many of the main features of railway station designs from 19th-century Britain and colonial NSW. The Jerilderie Station buildings still have much of their original look and are very well preserved.
