RAILWAY HOUSE

Railway House at 9 Railway Court, Knowsley, including all of the fabric of the 1887 timber building is significant.

Railway House at 9 Railway Court, Knowsley is of local historic, social and architectural significance to the City of Greater Bendigo.

As very little remains of the railway infrastructure of the line from Bendigo to Heathcote Junction, Railway House at 9 Railway Court, Knowsley is historically and socially significant for demonstrable links with the railway and the expansion of passenger services, local industry and markets. The Knowsley Railway Station was one of the original sidings constructed along the railway line from Heathcote Junction to Bendigo. The contract for this segment of the line was let to A. O'Keefe in 1887 and the house at 9 Railway Court was built around the same time on Victorian Railways Commission land. It is likely that the house is part of the former Knowsley Railway Station which was relocated on the block at some stage and renovated. Criterion A

The house at 9 Railway Court is architecturally significant as a rare example of a late nineteenth century railway station in the study area. The house appears to be built in accordance with the 'St James' plan of timber portable stations with two small porches. As the portable construction reflected the transience of many smaller sidings along rural lines, the persistence of the house at 9 Railway Court is important, especially in the light of line closure in 1958. 9 Railway Court is a more intact example than a second timber house at 12 Bywater Street, that was also built from standard railway plans but has been altered and extended. The house at 9 Railway Court retains the 12 pane sash windows, the gable front and the wing with the verandah formed by the extension of the roof line at a different pitch. The other wing is probably a later addition. Criterion D