Moorabool Railway Viaduct Ballarat Railway

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The Moorabool Railway Station, originally called the Steiglitz Road Station, was erected in 1862 by contractors John Campbell and Co. from designs prepared by Victorian Railways architects. This regular coursed, squared basalt structure consisting of a part two-storey station office, residence and timber verandah with separate lamproom, is styled in the Italianate tradition. The Moorabool Railway Station is one of a notable group of stylistically similar railway stations on the Geelong-Ballarat line which includes the structures at Bannockburn and Meredith.

REFERENCES

Victorian Railways Administration Archives/Plan Room Spencer Street, Melbourne. - Plans Bin GG209 Nos. 85-88, - contract No 118.

National Trust of Australia (Victoria), File No. 1372. 'Survey and Identification Data Form compiled by the Victorian Railways Administration'.

Wynd, Ian, 'So Fine a Country, A History of Corio Shire', Draft copy to be published in late 1980.

B Listed - Regional Significance

HISTORIC PLACES DOCUMENT SHEET - GRC SHEET NO 116

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The Moorabool Railway Viaduct was erected 1858-62 on the Geelong-Ballarat railway line to designs by Victorian Railway Engineers. The bridge, consisting originally of 9 basalt piers 110 feet high supporting 10 warren truss iron girders across each 120 foot span. The Moorabool River Viaduct is one of the finest engineering structures on the Victorian Railway, of similar construction to the Taradale Viaduct but of greater spa. The structure dominates the valley landscape at Moorabool.

RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Geelong Regional Commission Register

Historic Buildings Council Register

REFERENCES

Johnson, R - "A History of Batesford District", History Research Essay, Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne., 1965.

Gibbons, A & Ward, A - "Geelong - Ballarat Railway Extension 1862". History Research Essay, Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne, 1965. 2 Volumes. Pp 26-27. aerial photo after p.25 c 1965.

Brookes Photographic Union, Notes on the back held at Geelong Historical Records Centre Co. 1014 date unknown.

Latrobe Library Photographic Collection - Madden Collection, Vol. 1 - p 46 - 1894

Vol 2, p.318, 319 before and after construction of intermediate steel towers.

Sutherland, Alexander, Victoria and Its Metropolis, Past and Present, 2 Volumes. McCarron, Bird and Co. Melbourne, 1888, Vol 2, p.14.

Wynd, Ian - 'So fine a Country: A history of Corio Shire' Draft Copy, to be published in 1980, pp 144-146.

Group

Transport - Rail

Category

Railway