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WEST RICHMOND RAILWAY STATION COMPLEX

Location

HIGHETT STREET, and JIKA PLACE, and MUIR STREET, and EGAN STREET RICHMOND, YARRA CITY

Level

Incl in HO area indiv sig

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The West Richmond Station complex, constructed in 1901, is significant. The following buildings and other elements contribute to the significance of the place:

- The Up and Down station buildings and platforms
- The brick tunnel portal and tunnel at the Up end
- The brick and bluestone bridge abutments at the Down end
- The remnants of an early landscaping scheme surrounding the station including mature trees (Canary Island Palm and Pepper Trees) and asphalt paths with brick drains.

How it is significant?
The West Richmond Station complex is of local historic, architectural and aesthetic significance to the City of Yarra.

Why it is significant?
West Richmond Station complex is historically significant as tangible evidence of the final phase of development of the inner-suburban railway system in the twentieth century. (Criterion A)

West Richmond Station complex is architecturally significant as a typical railway station complex of the early twentieth century with both Up and Down station buildings, which are complemented by brick tunnel portal and bluestone and brick bridge balustrade at the Up end, the rail-over-road bridge at the Down end, which retains its original brick and bluestone abutments. The remnant mature trees are typical of the plantings used at railway stations throughout Victoria in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This siting and arrangement of the station complex between a tunnel and a railway bridge is unique within the metropolitan area. (Criteria B & D)

West Richmond Station complex is aesthetically significant for its landmark qualities within the HO338 West Richmond heritage precinct. The Up side station building terminates the vista looking west along Highett Street and the historic setting of the station building is enhanced by mature trees and associated infrastructure including the adjacent tunnel portal and bridge over Egan Street. (Criterion E)

Group

Transport - Rail

Category

Railway Bridge/ Viaduct