Leeton railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leeton
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Westbound view in April 2012
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| Location | Railway Avenue, Leeton | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 34°33′16″S 146°23′52″E / 34.5544°S 146.3977°E | ||||||||||
| Owned by | Transport Asset Holding Entity | ||||||||||
| Operated by | NSW TrainLink | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | Yanco-Griffith | ||||||||||
| Distance | 612.64 kilometres from Central | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 3 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground | ||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Station code | LEE | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 6 March 1922 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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| Official name | Leeton Railway Station and yard group | ||||||||||
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) | ||||||||||
| Designated | 2 April 1999 | ||||||||||
| Reference no. | 1178 | ||||||||||
| Type | Railway Platform/ Station | ||||||||||
| Category | Transport - Rail | ||||||||||
Leeton railway station is a historic train station in Leeton, New South Wales. It's located on the Yanco-Griffith railway line and is also known as the Leeton Railway Station and yard group. This important site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because of its history and unique design. Today, it serves as both a bus station and a railway station.
Contents
History of Leeton Station
Building the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
The Government of New South Wales had big plans for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) Scheme. This project started in 1906 with the goal of building dams and canals. The idea was to bring water to dry areas. This would create new farms and attract many new people to the region.
The NSW Public Works Department was in charge of building the canals, weirs, and bridges. They also started building a narrow railway line in 1907. This railway would help transport materials and people to the construction sites.
Creating the MIA and Leeton Town
In 1910, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust was set up to manage the project. However, the project was too big for them. So, in 1912, the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (WC&IC) took over.
Leslie Wade, the first Commissioner, had a big vision for the MIA. He wanted new railways, businesses, and processing factories. He also planned for new towns to support the growing population. Two of these towns were Leeton and Griffith, New South Wales. Leeton was named after Charles Lee, who supported the MIA project.
Walter Burley Griffin's Design
In 1913, Walter Burley Griffin came to Australia. He was famous for designing the new capital city, Canberra. Leslie Wade saw an opportunity and asked Griffin to help design Leeton.
Griffin planned a new town center for Leeton around a hill. He designed two water towers on top of the hill to be the main entrance. A grand central plaza with pools and a fountain would lead from the towers. His drawings showed large buildings with geometric shapes, similar to his designs for Canberra.
Griffin also worked on the railway line to Griffith and designed the town of Griffith. Sadly, Leslie Wade died in 1915. With the project's main supporter gone and World War I starting, the big plans slowed down.
Leeton Station Opens
Leeton still got its circular street pattern and the water towers Griffin designed. The first water tower was finished in 1915. A railway connection to Narrandera was completed in 1922.
Leeton station officially opened on March 6, 1922. It became a place for migrants and soldiers returning from World War I to settle in the MIA. The railway line was used to transport vegetables and fruits from the MIA farms to Sydney markets.
Station Buildings and Features
In 1921, a goods shed was moved to Leeton. The station building itself was made of concrete drop slab panels. This was a common way to build railway stations in regional NSW during the 1920s. About 140 such buildings were constructed. Leeton's building was one of the larger designs, with five rooms and a front verandah.
The original station also had a crossing loop, a goods shed, and a loading platform. There were also sidings for the Leeton canning and butter factories. A triangle track was built in 1938 to turn locomotives around. A footbridge was added in 1959.
In 1965, the parcels room was made bigger. The signal box, which controls train signals, was also moved into the main station building. Today, the station building is used as a bus stop for Countrylink coaches. It also operates as a railway station a couple of days a week.
What Leeton Station Looks Like
Main Structures
The main parts of Leeton Station are managed by Transport Asset Holding Entity. These include:
- Station Building: This building was built in 1922 using concrete drop slab panels. It's a standard design from that time.
- Platform: The platform where passengers wait is made of concrete.
- Signal Box: Originally built in 1922, the signal box was moved and became part of the main station building in 1965.
Other important structures are managed by ARTC:
- Goods Shed: Built around 1921, this shed was used for storing goods.
- Goods Loading Bank: This was used for loading and unloading items from trains.
- Weighbridge and Hut: Built around 1922, this was used to weigh goods.
Station Building Details
The station building is made of concrete panels. It has a gabled roof, which was originally covered with asbestos cement tiles. Now, parts of the roof are covered with painted corrugated iron.
The building has a "U" shape. It originally had five rooms, including a waiting room, the Station Master's office, a parcels room, and a ladies' waiting room. There's a verandah on the side facing the road. On the platform side, there's a large awning supported by timber brackets. The windows are made of timber.
Signal Box Details
The signal box was built in 1922, also from concrete panels. In 1965, it was joined to the main station building. This changed its roof shape to fit with the rest of the station.
Other Features
You can see palm trees planted on the platform. The station also has its original station seats and a station sign.
Condition of the Station
As of 2013, the buildings were in good condition. The Leeton station building still looks a lot like it did originally, even with some parts added later.
Changes Over Time
In 1965, the parcels room was changed, and the signal box was made part of the main station building.
Services at Leeton Station
Leeton station has train services twice a week. The NSW TrainLink Xplorer train travels between Griffith and Sydney. These services connect with trains from Canberra at Goulburn. NSW TrainLink also runs a bus service from Wagga Wagga to Griffith, which stops at Leeton.
| Platform | Line | Stopping pattern | Notes |
| 1 |
Southern Region
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Services to Griffith & Goulburn |
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Why Leeton Station is Special
Heritage Listing Importance
Leeton Railway Precinct is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's a great example of a large station building made from precast concrete. Only two similar examples exist in NSW. Over 140 concrete station buildings were built in NSW, and Leeton is one of the few large ones still standing.
The station was a key part of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) Scheme. This project helped new farms grow and allowed their produce to be sent by train across NSW. After World War I, many migrants and soldiers came to Leeton by train to start new lives.
The location of the railway station is also important because it links to Walter Burley Griffin's original plan for the town of Leeton. Other railway structures, like the signal box, goods shed, and weighbridge, show how railways operated in the 20th century in NSW.
Leeton railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it meets several important criteria:
Historical Significance
The railway precinct is important because of its connection to Walter Burley Griffin's design for Leeton. Building the station was a vital part of the NSW government's big MIA Scheme. This scheme helped create new farms and allowed their products to be transported by rail. After World War I, the town became a home for migrants and soldiers who traveled by train to begin a new life.
Design and Technical Achievement
The station building is a great example of a large, standard precast concrete station building from the 1920s in NSW. Its design shows the building methods of that time.
Community Connection
The station is important to the local community. It has provided jobs, helped with trade, and been a place for people to connect for a long time. It helps the community feel connected to its past and is a special part of daily life.
Rarity
The station building at Leeton is considered rare. It's one of only two surviving "Ac5" type standard precast concrete station buildings in NSW. The other one is at Willow Tree. While over 140 concrete buildings were built, Leeton is one of only about 24 that still exist.
Representative Example
The station has many railway structures, like the signal box and goods shed. These are good examples of similar items found at many other railway sites across the state. They represent how railways were built and used in NSW.
