Just In > Scone railway station celebrates 150 years

Scone railway station celebrates 150 years

Filed in Just In by Taylah Fellows April 17, 2021

TODAY the Scone historic railway station building is celebrating 150 years of service since its establishment on April 17, 1871.

Major restoration works have coincided with the 150 year anniversary and Sydney Trains marked the occasion with an exclusive tour of the station building, allowing representatives from the Scone Historical Society, the Scone Garden Club and the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society to inspect the work and discuss potential community use.

See photo gallery below

Works are expected to be complete in six weeks and include a new drainage system, termite removal, installation of automatic double doors, interior refurbishment, re-instatement of heritage features such as like for like painting, electrical upgrades and light replacement, an entry ramp, heritage story boards, new landscaping and gardens and new toilet facilities for the building tenant.

Sydney Trains Customer Environment is responsible for the restoration, with works funded by the Sydney Trains Residual Asset Program.

Andrew Killingsworth, Manager of Sydney Trains Residual Asset Programs said he met with David Gatwood, Manager of Business Services at Upper Hunter Shire Council and Mat Pringle, Director of Environment and Community Services to discuss tenant options and community uses.

“Councillors were on site and are very supportive and enthusiastic about the project. At this stage it’s about Council being aware of what we’re planing and aware that we want to engage with the community,” Mr. Killingsworth said.

“I think from that engagement, it will go to the next level of what the lease looks like,” he said.

Carolyn Carter, Scone Historical Society member loved the restoration idea, but questioned who would end up bearing the maintenance and leasing costs.

“Community groups that I’m involved with, we run ourselves on the smell of an oily rag and in terms of having money to pay for a lease, that would need a lot of thought,” Ms Carter said.

Mr. Killingsworth said Sydney Trains is hoping to assist Council in holding a community consultation workshop once works are completed.

“Council are happy to provide a venue and facilitation for a community consultation to get community input,” Mr. Killingsworth said.

“The justification for future restoration work is so much stronger if there’s a tenant and the building is being looked after,” he said.

Photo gallery

: Andrew Killingsworth from Sydney Trains provided a tour of works to community members.

: The exterior Scone railway station building, which turns 150 today.

: This bordered up window used to be a door however, it did not tie in with the symmetry of the building and was not part of the original building plan.

: Construction of unisex toilet facilities are underway and will be accessible from outside however, they will not be open to the public, only building users.

: This room used to be the “ladies waiting room,” which was code for a ladies lavatory.

: Australian Heritage Restoration contract workers will be completing the works over a three-month period, with works expected to be completed in six weeks.

: The main room, with double door entry on both sides. The doors will be re-installed with auto-opening motion detectors in order to meet modern compliance standards.

: This room used to be the ticketing room or office support room.

: It is believed this room used to be the station masters office.

: This room used to be the parcel room. All of the lights pictured will be replaced with more “sympathetic lighting.”

: The historical horse drawn carriage was used for tunnel works as it was regarded safer than motorised equipment. It has been moved to the left-hand side of the building and will soon be surrounded by a new garden, complete with heritage story boards.