Werris Creek railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Werris Creek
Station buildings in November 2017
Location	Werris Creek Road, Werris Creek, New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	31°20′58″S 150°38′47″E / 31.3495°S 150.6465°E / -31.3495; 150.6465
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	Main Northern line Mungindi line Binnaway – Werris Creek line
Distance	410.7 km (255.2 mi) from Central
Platforms	2
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Architect	John Whitton
Architectural style	Victorian Free Classical
Other information
Status	Weekdays: Staffed: 10.15am-3.15pm Weekends and public holidays: Unstaffed
Station code	WCK
History
Opened	1880
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Tamworth toward Armidale NSW TrainLink North Western Line Quirindi toward Sydney Gunnedah toward Moree
Former services Preceding station Former Services Following station Warrigundi towards Wallangarra Main North Line Quipolly towards Sydney Gap towards Mungindi Mungindi Line Terminus Gap towards Binnaway Binnaway- Werris Creek Line
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Werris Creek Railway Station, yard group and movable relics
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	1285
Type	Railway Platform/ Station
Category	Transport – Rail

Werris Creek railway station is a special, heritage-listed train station. It is located in Werris Creek, New South Wales, Australia. This station is unique because it sits where three important railway lines meet: the Main Northern railway line, the Mungindi railway line, and the Binnaway – Werris Creek railway line. It has been serving the town of Werris Creek since it was built between 1877 and 1880. The station is also known as the Werris Creek Railway Station, yard group and movable relics. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, which means it's a very important historical site.

History of Werris Creek Station

The story of the railway in this area began in the early 1870s. The Great Northern Line was being built, and by 1876, it reached the plains. In 1877, the government in Sydney decided to build a new branch line. This line would go towards Gunnedah. The starting point for this new branch was an open field owned by John Single, near Werris Creek. This is how the town of Werris Creek began!

Werris Creek was the first "railway town" in New South Wales. This means it was built from scratch just to support the railways. For over 100 years, most jobs in the town were related to the railway.

A New Station for a Growing Town

The first station at Werris Creek was about half a kilometer south of where it is now. But when the line to Gunnedah opened, trains from Newcastle started splitting at Werris Creek. This meant a new station was needed closer to the branching lines. The platform for the new station was finished in 1879.

A grand station complex was built on this new platform. It was a huge building, looking like something you'd see in a big city. It showed how important the railway was. The station included a refreshment room and a main station building. Once these were finished in 1885, the town started to grow around the railway line.

In 1925, the main railway office for the area moved to Werris Creek. A second floor was added to the station building to make space for new staff. Werris Creek remained a very important railway hub until the 1960s. This was when diesel and electric trains became common. As fewer people traveled by train and less freight was moved by rail, Werris Creek lost some of its importance.

Australia's First Railway Town

Werris Creek is special because it was built specifically as a railway center. It claims to be Australia's first town created just for the railway. In 1877, the NSW Government decided this spot was perfect for a depot and a junction. From here, branch lines could go west and north-west. This helped open up rich farming areas further inland.

Werris Creek became a major meeting point for trains. The Main Northern, Mungindi, and Binnaway lines all met here. It was the first, and still is the last, railway town in New South Wales. In 1913, a place for locomotives opened, and a large roundhouse (a circular building for trains) was built in 1920.

The chosen spot was a quiet bushland area. It was called Werris Creek, which comes from the Aboriginal name "Weia Weia," meaning "stop here, rest awhile." The town became the busiest rural freight center in the state. It was also a key passenger stop. Goods and people would switch trains here to go to places like Gunnedah, Narrabri, and Moree.

By the early 1880s, the amazing railway station was complete. It was described as a "remarkable building that could easily grace a city." It had a grand refreshment room built with red bricks. A large cedar staircase led to bedrooms for travelers. The station building was designed by John Whitton and is the third largest in New South Wales.

In 1896, a locomotive shed was moved from Gunnedah and set up across from the station. In 1917, a 10-stall roundhouse was built, with five more stalls added in 1920. In 1954, the train turntable was made larger to handle bigger locomotives.

Eventually, a cross-country line was built from Binnaway to Werris Creek. This connected the northern line to the Main Western railway line and Main Southern lines. The town's population grew to 2,500 people. Many workers came to staff the countless trains that arrived day and night. Werris Creek became known as the "town that never sleeps."

For about 70 years, Werris Creek was the biggest railway center in northern New South Wales. The train depot alone employed 800 people. From the 1970s, the railway started to slow down. But it's still an important part of the network today. The arrival of diesel trains meant fewer jobs for people who worked on steam trains. The town's population dropped by half, from 800 railway jobs to 100. Even though trains still pass through Werris Creek, the town lost some of its energy.

Australian Railway Monument

Australian Railway Monument

In 1989, a group of former railway workers decided Werris Creek would not fade away. They wanted to create an Australian Railway Monument. This monument has 3-metre (9.8 ft) tall stainless steel sculptures. They show different railway workers like a fettler (track worker), shunter (moves trains), and signalman.

These sculptures look over a special outdoor area next to the station. Memorial walls here list the names of over 2,400 railway workers who lost their lives while working.

The NSW Government provided most of the money for the monument. Many local volunteers, mostly former railway workers, help run the complex. It opened on 1 October 2005 as the Australian Railway Monument and the Rail Journeys Museum. It gets over 10,000 visitors each year. The museum shows many items from the past of country railways. It also tells the story of Werris Creek as Australia's first railway town.

Services at Werris Creek

Werris Creek station is served by NSW TrainLink's daily Northern Tablelands Xplorer service. The train from Sydney splits at Platform 1. One part continues to Armidale, and the other goes to Moree.

• 

  Looking South on Platform 1

• 

  Looking North from Platform 2

Station Buildings and Features

Werris Creek station has several important buildings and features:

• Station Building (built 1880, updated 1923): This is a grand, two-story building.
• Railway Refreshment Rooms (built 1885, updated 1912): This building now houses the Rail Journeys Museum.
• Luggage Room (1902)
• Signal Box (1925): A simple timber building where signals were controlled.
• Platform face (1880)
• Footbridge (1893): A bridge made from old rails that lets people cross the tracks safely.
• Australian Railway Monument (2005)

The station and refreshment room buildings are large and impressive. They have strong brick walls and stone details. A deep roof covers the platforms, supported by thin iron columns.

The Station Master's Residence (built 1913) is a simple cottage. It was likely built for the night Station Master. It has a front verandah and original details inside.

The area around the station also includes the Australian Railway Monument. There's also a car park and a garden with native Australian plants. This garden was created by volunteers.

Why Werris Creek Station is Special

Werris Creek railway station is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's protected because of its historical and architectural importance.

A Unique Railway Hub

The station is important because it's a large Victorian-era complex. It became a major freight and locomotive center due to its location where several main railway lines meet. The town of Werris Creek grew specifically to support this railway hub. The grand size of the buildings shows how important the railway was in this area.

The station building itself is the second one on this site, built in 1880. It's special because of its unique layout at the junction of two lines. The design and details are of high quality. It stands out in the town and looks grand even in the middle of the bush. Other buildings like the roundhouse and workshops add to its importance.

Connecting Communities

Werris Creek Railway Station is important to the community for social and cultural reasons. It played a huge role in developing Werris Creek and the surrounding area. It was the center for transport, communication, and trade for many rural communities.

The station is also a beautiful building with its grand design. It shows how important railways were for connecting people and goods in the 19th century.

A Link to the Past

The station shows how the Great Northern Railway line developed in the 1800s. This railway was a big achievement in transport for New South Wales. It connected towns to each other and to Sydney, which helped the economy and social life of many places.

Werris Creek was a major junction. From 1877, trains could go north to Queensland or branch off to Gunnedah and Moree. It was a place where passengers and goods changed trains. Trains and crews would also switch here, and passengers could stop for food. The town grew from nothing to become a key railway service center. Many families relied on railway jobs for their income.

Designed by a Master

Werris Creek Railway Precinct is linked to John Whitton. He is known as the "father" of the NSW Railways. The station is a great example of railway architecture from the late 1800s. It shows Whitton's vision for a grand railway building at Werris Creek.

A Community's Heart

Werris Creek developed as a "railway town." For much of its history, most people in the town worked for the railways or had close ties to them. Even today, many residents are involved in the rail industry or volunteer at the museum. The Australian Railway Monument and the "Rail Journeys" museum are located here. They honor railway workers and tell the story of Australia's railway history.

Rare and Important

The way the station buildings are arranged and their large size on the junction platform is unusual. Not many places have buildings this big, except for a few like Junee and Moss Vale. Werris Creek Railway Precinct shows the main features of 19th-century railway places. It has well-preserved passenger station buildings and refreshment rooms.