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Footscray Railway Station

Location

McNab Avenue FOOTSCRAY, Maribyrnong City

File Number

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/2]
HO49(1) - Footscray Railway
[2/2]
HO49(2) - Footscray Railway

Statement of Significance

Footscray Station is of State historical and architectural significance as an important and elaborate Edwardian railway station with intact original landscape elements. The station and its landscaped surrounds present a rich cultural landscape and built environment. (Criterion A3) Architecturally, a design made more impressive by its unusual configuration. Its "V" plan is distinctive when seen in context of the impressive contemporary landscape and civil engineering works. Andrew Ward (1981) has allotted the highest level of importance to the station in his state-wide study and describes it as '...an architectural tour de force quite rare in stations of this size'. Both the station and gardens have been highly prized for their beauty and enhancement of the local area by past and present residents of Footscray. (Criterion E1) The associated landscaping provides a rare contemporary environmental context.

Historically it has served as a major public building for nearly 90 years and has been a focus of civic pride as demonstrated in the Council sponsored maintenance and development of the adjacent gardens, now sadly neglected. (Butler 1989) (Criterion A4) Both as a portal for commuting in and out of Footscray and as a symbol of civic pride the station reflects the community aspirations. (Criterion G1) The design solution to a difficult junction site are clearly and successfully articulated, enhanced by the elaborate engineering and technical solution to the goods line bypass at the western end.(Criterion F1)

Footscray Conservation Study S.O.S.

Architecturally, a design made more impressive by its unusual configuration. Although possessing similar multi-platform elements to contemporary stations such as Heidelberg and Box Hill, its V-plan is both distinctive and visually exciting when seen in the context of the impressive contemporary landscape and civil engineering works. Historically, it has served as a major Footscray public building for near 90 years.

Australian Heritage Commission (AHC) criteria

The Australian Heritage Commission criteria consist of a set of eight criteria which cover social, aesthetic, scientific, and historic values. Each criterion has sub-criteria written specifically for cultural or natural values. The relevant criteria are:

A.3 richness and diversity of cultural features

A.4 demonstrates well the course and pattern of history, important historic events

E.1 aesthetic importance to the community or cultural group

F.1 design or technological achievement .

G.1 social importance to the community

Group