FORMER RUSHWORTH RAILWAY STATION

The former Rushworth Railway Station comprises archaeological features from several phases of the site’s development. These features include the remains of a locomotion turntable, ash pit and water supply, 5 switch point levers, evidence of 4 lines of broad-gauge track through the main station area (some sections removed), a dead-end siding, a brick-lined drain, timber goods shed, goods shed platform, passenger platform and a weighbridge and shed. Two drainage access pits within the original track alignment area, now part of the rail trail bicycle path, have been protected and covered with concrete lids. Some broken terracotta pipe fragments from the nineteenth century drainage system are also evident.
The site also includes various smaller features that need further interpretation to reveal their importance and connection to the site, such as remnant wooden railway blocks and a rectangular concrete feature. In addition, aerial photographs and the documentary record, including maps, indicate that the former Rushworth Railway Station was a multifaceted site with several areas of archaeological potential.

The former Rushworth Railway Station site is of local significance and evidences an association with an historical phase, period and process that encompasses the development of rural townships in Victoria, the relationship of the township to local industries (farming and forestry) and the establishment of transport infrastructure (rail).

The former Rushworth Railway Station site has existing archaeological features and a documentary record that demonstrates its link to 3 sections of Victoria’s Framework of Historic Themes:
Theme 04: Transforming and Managing the Land – 4.4 Farming and 4.6 Exploiting other mineral, forest and water resources
Theme 03: Connecting Victorian by Transport and Communications – 3.3 Linking Victorians by rail
Theme 06: Building towns, cities and the garden state – 6.5 Living in country towns