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FORMER MOORABOOL RAILWAY STATION

Location 275 BALLAN ROAD MOORABOOL, GREATER GEELONG CITY File Number FOL/15/48968 Level Registered

[1/7] FORMER MOORABOOL RAILWAY [2/7] 1 former moorabool railway [3/7] former moorabool railway [4/7] former moorabool railway [5/7] former moorabool railway [6/7] former moorabool railway [7/7] moorabool railway station plan

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Victorian Railways Department was created in 1856. In 1857 management of the Department was passed to the Board of Land and Works. During that same year, tenders were invited for the construction of main lines from Geelong to Ballarat and from Melbourne to Echuca. These lines were to be constructed in accordance with British Standards. The two lines were opened during the 1862-1864 period. They had cost so much that there was a resulting seven year period of inactivity during which surveys for new lines were undertaken and the parties to the earlier contracts bickered over claims. J.Campbell and Co constructed the Moorabool Railway Station on the Geelong-Ballarat Line in 1861 for the Victorian Railways. It comprises a standard, single storey gable roofed, basalt station building with two storey residence attached and timber addition also forming part of the residence. A basalt lamp room/toilet block is detached. While the land remains part of crown land vested in the public transport corporation, the station buildings were sold in 1977 and currently serve as a private residence.

How is it significant?
The former Moorabool Railway Station is of historical, architectural and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The former Moorabool Railway Station is of architectural and aesthetic significance as a major contributor to the architectural character of the Geelong-Ballarat railway line. It is one of a notable group of stylistically similar station buildings constructed on the main trunk lines. These stations were a direct derivation of the English Style, a type of Railway Station design common in England during the 1840s and 1850s, which was based on classical planning principles and details. The station demonstrates the high quality of craftsmanship used in the design and construction of this series of station buildings. It serves as an excellent illustration of country station architecture of the 1860s in Victoria.

The former Moorabool Railway Station is of historical significance as one of the earliest railway stations built in Victoria constructed in 1861 on the Geelong-Ballarat Line. The complex is important for its potential to yield information on the changing nature of railways, locomotive technology and public transport use in Victoria. It is an excellent intact example of the type of stations constructed immediately after the Victorian Railways Department was formed in 1856. The Geelong-Ballarat Line was one of Victoria?s first main trunk lines, which were characterised by the costly construction of railway structures in accordance with British standards. The line serves as a reminder of Ballarat?s importance and Geelong?s aspirations as a major port.