1. Victorian Rail Heritage
Engineers and locomotive crew at Portland
Railway Station Ballarat, circa 1895 (H3434) Flinders Street Station circa 1910 (MM070280)
locomotive depot, circa 1921 (MM000290)
Reproduced courtesy of Public Record Office of Victoria Reproduced courtesy of Museum Victoria
Reproduced courtesy of Museum Victoria
Since Australia’s first Flushed with the tremendous Station designs throughout
wealth generated by the goldfields, Victoria varied according to
steam train made the Victorian government invested architectural styles of the era,
the short journey £9 million over the first decade of their location and government
railway development between priorities. Some included
from Flinders Street 1854 and 1864 to build just elaborate tearooms, a grand
to Port Melbourne in 254 miles (409 km) of railway, clock-tower or adjoining
1854, railways have while private railway companies
invested another £1.8 million.
stationmaster’s residence.
Others were little more than
played a key role in a rain shelter devoid of staff
Over the next sixty years the
Victorian transport. railway system continued to
or comfort. Most stations
featured at least one siding
expand rapidly reaching 2,900 or a small goods shed,
Railways have carried city route miles (4,670 km) by 1891 and some included loco
commuters, farmers’ produce, and 4,700 miles (7,565 km) in depots, signal boxes and
parcels & tourists. They have 1931, representing a total extensive rail yards.
provided jobs for thousands of investment of almost £50 million.
Victorians and a social focus for Text courtesy of Museum Victoria
rural and urban communities alike. By this time, every town in Victoria
with a population of over 500
The construction of Victoria’s railway boasted its own railway station.
system has required one of the
State’s largest and most sustained
investments in public infrastructure.

2. t
VicTrack Heritage Program
Victorian Goldfields Railway at Castlemaine Hawthorn Tram Depot Newport Clocktower
Since 2004, the The Panel meets quarterly. VicTrack Heritage Advisory Panel
VicTrack also holds a position
VicTrack Heritage on the Department of Transport’s
Chris Lovell (Chair)
VicTrack Board member
Program has been Heritage Operations Committee.
In this role, VicTrack works with the Bruce Cohen
overseen by the Department to support main line and Chair of VicTrack Board
VicTrack Heritage tourist railways to provide heritage
Dimity Reed
Advisory Panel. train operations for the ongoing
enjoyment of Victorians and visitors.
Architect
Robert Green
The Panel is made up of VicTrack also manages many of Heritage Victoria Architect
independent members, Victoria’s important heritage locations
including an academic architect such as the Hawthorn Tram Depot Mike Ryan
and a Heritage Victoria and the Newport Workshops. VicTrack, Heritage Manager
representative, as well as
members of the VicTrack VicTrack is dedicated to preserving
Board, and other VicTrack staff. Victoria’s rail and tram heritage for
future generations.

3. Ballarat Railway Complex
The historic Ballarat
Railway precinct is
an important reminder
of the region’s
early prosperity
and the role it
played in Victoria’s
development. Restoring the Train Hall in 2006
Built in the late 19th Century, the The entire station complex is In recognition of its historical,
Ballarat Railway Station was a expressive of Ballarat’s economic present and future significance,
primary transport hub during the significance at the time and remains more than $3.4 million has been
Gold Rush era and played an very much at the centre of daily life invested in restoring and upgrading
integral role in the development in Ballarat in the 21st century. the precinct since 2006.
of the region and the state.
The following restoration –– estoration of the Ballarat Station
r –– oofing works on the northern
r
works have been funded train hall in 2006 ($2.6 million) building in 2008 ($142,000)
by the Victorian Government
–– e-roofing of the train stabling
r –– estoration of pedestrian timber
r
and VicTrack:
building in 2007 ($150,000) bridge in 2009 ($140,000)
–– ender repairs and repainting
r –– estoration and upgrade of Ballarat
r
of the station’s southern Coach House in 2009 ($110,000)
building in 2007 ($290,000)
New roof for the Northern building Repainting Southern building Render repairs

4. VicTrack Heritage Program
VicTrack is proud
to support the
preservation of
Victoria’s rail and
tram heritage
through its
Heritage Program.
The Maryborough Station platform in 2010
VicTrack will restore the platform verandah in 2011 on behalf of the Department of Transport.
Photo by Noel Butcher www.noelb.com, courtesy of V/Line.
Under the program, $1 million is More than 100 locations within the Other considerations include the
invested annually in the restoration VicTrack portfolio are listed as having scale and cost of works, public
of state heritage-listed buildings Victorian state heritage significance. safety, potential commercial return
and structures. and VicTrack’s legal obligations.
Each year, $1 million is allocated
As the custodial owner of to the restoration of state heritage-
the state’s rail infrastructure, listed assets, which are prioritised
VicTrack is responsible for a according to their:
range of heritage assets, including
–– Historical significance
station buildings and locomotive
depots, bridges, culverts, tunnels, –– Architectural merit
turntables, tram depots, workshops, –– Profile in the community
trampoles and shelters.
–– Maintainability
–– Operational use
Hawthorn Tram Depot improvements add Works to restore St Arnaud Railway Station’s A specialist carpenter restores
to the heritage tram fleet visitor experience. unique 1879 water tower were completed in 2007. a clock tower cupola vent frame.

5. Heritage Program 2010-11
In 2010-11, VicTrack
will complete the
following restoration
projects:
–– oof and foundation works
R
at Serviceton Railway station
(built in 1888)
–– estoration of the Station
R The restored Signal Box B at Geelong
Building and Goods Shed
at Creswick Railway station
(built in 1874)
About VicTrack As a commercial organisation
–– epairs to Signal Box B at
R VicTrack funds its operations
Geelong (built in 1884) VicTrack is a Victorian government
through the delivery of services and
rail business that is the custodial
–– oof restoration and pressed
R by leasing land and buildings within
owner of Victoria’s railway land
metal repairs to the Korumburra its large property portfolio.
and infrastructure. VicTrack
Railway station (built in 1907) undertakes capital works, VicTrack is a responsible member
property, telecommunications of the communities in which it
–– ebuilding of the lamp room and
R
and other commercial activities operates, actively providing a
internal works to Avoca Railway
to support a safe and efficient range of benefits for communities,
station (built in 1876)
public transport system. heritage and the environment.
–– estoration of Maldon Railway
R
station, damaged by fire in 2009
(built in 1888)
Geelong Signal Box B before restoration Creswick Goods Shed before restoration The restored Goods Shed at Creswick

6. Ballarat Coach House
In 2009, VicTrack
managed extensive
restoration works
at the Ballarat
Coach House.
The fully restored Coach House
The Ballarat Coach House was The works, valued at $110,000
built in the late 1800s and was included external repairs of the
used by Cobb Co to store building’s roof, windows, timberwork
gold for transport to Melbourne. and stormwater system
and internally, the building
The original fittings of the Coach was modernised to include a
House were very high quality in kitchenette and toilet.
their day. The original safe that
was used to store gold in the
late 1800s is still in place.
Damage to the roof Timber repairs underway Rotten timbers