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Railway Station & Goods Shed

Location 11 Kennedy Street,, CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450 - Property No B3849 File Number B3849 Level Local

[1/5] B3849 Castlemaine Station [2/5] B3849 Castlemaine Railway [3/5] B3849 Castlemaine Railway [4/5] B3849 Goods Shed Nth West View [5/5] B3849 Goods Shed East View

Statement of Significance

Castlemaine station, goods shed, island platforms, along with water columns and signal box are important because of their strong association with the development of rail services in Victoria. The site is located on the first major line built in Victoria which was intended to become the main line to Sydney. The station building and goods shed are substantial brick buildings and are an accurate indication of the importance of Castlemaine in the developing rail network.
The cast iron water supply columns which survive at the ends of both platforms are strong reminders of the days of steam.
The buildings are in the Victorian Free Classical style. The long single storey, face brick station building and polychrome brick goods shed with its imposing arches, along with the Midland Hotel just across the road, are key members of the Castlemaine Historic area.
Classified: 30/09/1982
Part of Castlemaine Historic Area B4894
Castlemaine grew as a result of the discovery of gold along Forest Creek in July, 1851. By December of that year the population on the field was greater than that of Melbourne. In 1852 Mr Templeton surveyed the township of Castlemaine and in 1853 the first auction of the town site was held.
The Castlemaine goldfield was allegedly the richest alluvial goldfield in the world. Such was the prosperity of the diggers that the townsfolk were optimistically expectant of Castlemaine becoming Victoria's second city. The prosperity of the diggers and the optimistic townsfolk is reflected in the high number of imposing buildings erected in the first few years of the town's life. However, the rich alluvial diggers were worked out within 15-20 years. From the 1870's the town's population began to drift away, but they left behind a rich legacy of the town's former prosperity in the form of its buildings.
Within the Castlemaine Historic Area may be found many items of significance. These range from intact nineteenth century streetscapes composed of imposing public buildings to simple miner's cottages. Within the historic area there are a number of identifiable component areas, each telling an important part of the history of Castlemaine. In addition, there are many other items of significance outside these areas, but still within the historic area. These include the former steam flourmill, the Church of England, the Congregational Church and Forest and Barkers Creeks.
Despite the town's topographical confinements to the valley of the two creeks, the wide streets and large buildings convey an atmosphere of grand spaciousness in this central Victorian goldfields town.
Classified: 01/12/1982
See also B5323 Melbourne to Echuca Railway Line.