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FAIRFIELD RAILWAY STATION

Location

Station Street FAIRFIELD, Darebin City

File Number

Darebin Database #329

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/2]
City of Darebin Heritage
[2/2]
City of Darebin Heritage

Statement of Significance

The station building complex at Fairfield was erected in 1911 under a contract signed by the Lang Brothers on the 26th. April of that year. It was designed by the Way and Works Branch of the Victorian Railways Department following the formation of the chief architect's office when J.W.Hardy was the chief architect.

It is historically, aesthetically and socially significant.

It is historically significant (Criterion A) as the passenger and goods station for its locality since construction in 1911, indirectly recalling its opening in 1888 and remaining in use for its original purpose at present. It is important also for its capacity to offer an insight into the important work of the chief architect's office following its establishment in 1908 when the Railways Department was engaged in the improvement of station facilities across the network in response to unprecedented traffic gowth. Whilst this design compares closely with Montague (demolished) and loosely with nearby Westgarth, it appears not to be one of a number of similar stations, the adoption of the Arts and Crafts mode, however, enabling it to be readily identified with the early work of the chief architect's office.

It is aesthetically important (Criterion E) as an increasingly rare (Criterion B) substantially complete railway complex of the Post Federation period (Criterion D), the Arts and Crafts motifs including strapwork, spandrels, fibro cement slates and rough cast work being hall marks of J. W. Hardy's office at the time. Situated at the southern entry to the Station Street shopping centre, the complex, complete with signal box, imparts character to the centre and has become a local icon, valued by the community.

Group