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WOODVILLE RAILWAY STATIONHERITAGE VALUE ASSESSMENT

May 2010

McDougall & VinesConservation and Heritage Consultants

27 Sydenham Road, Norwood, South Australia, 5067Ph (08) 8362 6399 Fax (08) 8363 0121 Email: [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION 11.1 Background1.2 Objectives of Report1.3 Existing Heritage Listings1.4 Location of Site1.5 Current Ownership and Management of Station Site

2.0 HISTORICAL OUTLINE AND ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS 32.1 Introduction2.2 Historical Development of the City to Port Adelaide Railway2.3 Physical History of Woodville Station2.4 Comparative Analysis with other Railway Stations

3.0 BUILDING AND SITE ANALYSIS 113.1 Site Analysis and Condition

3.1.1 General3.1.2 Platforms

3.2 Existing Buildings 3.2.1 Building One - Kiosk3.2.2 Building Two – Platform 3 Shelter3.2.3 Building Three - Platforms One and Two Shelter3.2.4 Building Four – Train Control and Storage

4.0 STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE 174.1 General Statement4.2 Relative Heritage Value within Charles Sturt and South Australia4.2 Delineation of Significant Fabric and Components

5.0 OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS 185.1 Heritage Value5.2 External Statutory Requirements5.3 Development Opportunities for the Site5.4 Expectations of Stakeholders

6.0 CONCLUSIONS 206.1 General Approach to Retention of Heritage Value6.2 Policy for Site and Structures 6.3 Adaptation and Interpretation Policies

APPENDICES 211. Sources of Information2. List of early photographs3. List of Archival Drawings

HERITAGE VALUE ASSESSMENT WOODVILLE RAILWAY STATION MCDOUGALL & VINES 27 SYDENHAM ROAD, NORWOOD, SA, 5067

0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BackgroundThis reassessment of the heritage value of the Woodville Railway Station has been prepared at the request of the Charles Sturt Council planning department. The Woodville Station is closely associated with the planning for a transit-oriented development (TOD) by the South Australian Land Management Corporation (LMC) on the land immediately north of the station/rail corridor.[and the proposed land swap of the former Actil factory site for the St Clair Reserve ]

1.2 Objectives of ReportThis reassessment of the heritage value of Woodville Railway Station will determine its significance and importance in the establishment of the transit-oriented development adjacent to the Station Precinct. The current level of documentation is minimal and does not give Council or LMC sufficient information to make appropriate planning decisions about the site.

1.3 Existing Heritage ListingsThe Woodville Railway Station was identified in the Woodville Heritage Survey 1994, prepared by Danvers Architects for the City of Hindmarsh and Woodville and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It is included in the Development Plan of the City of Charles Sturt as a Local Heritage Place.

1.4 Location of SiteThe Woodville Railway Station is located 7.5 kilometres from Adelaide Railway Station, on the north-west side of Woodville Road. The Adelaide-Port Adelaide rail line runs between Port Road and Torrens Road.

N▲Location Plan


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5 Current Ownership and Management of Station SiteThe rail corridor and station are owned by the Minister for Transport and managed by TransAdelaide

Aerial view of station area - Railway corridor outlined in blue(Note former Holden factory site in triangular section)


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0 HISTORICAL OUTLINE AND ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS

2.1 IntroductionThe development of a railway system in South Australia reflected the economic and social development of the state. The concepts for early rail lines, designed for both freight and passengers, were based on the experience in Britain, and the South Australian Railway Company was set up in London in 1839. A number of other railway companies were also established in the early years of settlement. These included the Adelaide Railway Company (1845), the South Australian Colonial Railway Company (1849) and the City and Port Railway Company (1848). The colonial government was encouraging, but opposition to a new form of transportation frustrated the attempts of these early companies to establish rail lines, and it became the responsibility of the colonial government to initiate and complete rail projects.

The Railways Clauses Consolidation Act, March 1847, which was passed to regulate the construction and operation of railways in South Australia, was the first piece of legislation in Australia to do this.

2.2 Historical Development of the City to Port Adelaide RailwayAfter a select committee had investigated the matter, a Private Act was passed by the Legislative Council in 1851 enabling the construction of the Port Adelaide Line. This legislation authorised a Board of Undertakers to oversee the construction of a railway from Adelaide to Port Adelaide within five years. On 8 February 1856 a small steam engine, ‘Adelaide’, hauled the first train in a trial from the Adelaide Railway Station yard, and it became the first locomotive to be derailed in South Australia.

The initial design for the line had no level crossings included and after many complaints from residents around the railway line, level crossings were eventually installed at Morphett Street, Bowden, Croydon, Kilkenny, Woodville, Cheltenham and Yatala.

In September 1856 the Woodville Railway Station was opened. It was the second station on the line after Bowden. The third station was located at Alberton. As the only station in the district, the station at Woodville proved to be a focal point for the development as the centre of the area.

There were three classes of travel on the new railway line, with corresponding fares: first class to Adelaide was ten pence, second class was seven pence and third class was five pence. Six trains each week day meant that Woodville station was very busy, particularly as the next station was some miles away at Alberton. In April 1865 there was a railway accident at Woodville, when the carriages of a special train carrying the Governor, Bishop Short, and their daughters, Lady Charlotte Bacon, and the Railway Manger left the line and overturned. Fortunately no one was hurt, and the accident was blamed on recent incomplete relaying of the railway tracks between Bowden and Woodville. (Register, 14/4/1865).

The first telegraph office in the district was opened at the Woodville Railway Station in 1867 and piped water was laid on to the station site in 1869. By this stage the railway was managed by the Railways Department which became the South Australian Railways (SAR).

The railway line was to prove an advantage to developers in the district as a whole. As the district's only railway station, Woodville's position as 'the centre of everything' was reinforced. People who worked at the Port or in the city could live at Woodville because travel in either direction was so convenient. (Marsden p73) New subdivisions such as Woodville Park were undertaken in the late 1870s and advertised as being situated within three or four minutes walk of the Woodville Railway Station. Between 1880 and 1883, subdivision in Woodville was a major activity as a direct result of the existence of the railway station. There were horse tram services along sections of Port Road, but residents in the district continued to rely on the railway services.

The line between Bowden and Port Adelaide was duplicated in September 1880. Previous to that all trains had to cross at Woodville because the service had been set up as a single line from


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the city to the port. In July of 1882 the Woodville Grange Line opened as a private railway but was taken over by SAR in 1893.

Adelaide Railway Station in 1863(Source: State Library of South Australia B 9875)

1895 view of Alberton Railway Station (Source: State Library of South Australia B 27135)

Port Adelaide Railway Station in 1870 (Source: State Library of South Australia B 1868)

The other station buildings on the 1856 railway line


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view of Woodville Railway Station, just prior to demolition(Source: State Library of South Australia B 11391)

New stations, including Croydon and Cheltenham, were constructed on the line during 1910-1920 as the population of this part of Adelaide grew. The next period of industrial development supported by the railway was in the 1920s, when the Holden company established their motor body builders plant in Woodville in the triangle between the Grange line and the original line. Hundreds of Holden’s workers living outside Woodville were able to catch the daily trains into the area. By 1925 the Holden Plant had expanded to forty acres, most of the land between the Grange and Port railway lines.

Railway lines and stations in 1926(Source: extract from Reconnaissance Surveys, c1926, Sheets 1 and 4, W H Edmunds)


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The Woodville Railway Station was rebuilt in the 1940s as part of infrastructure upgrades during the Second World War. A spur to Finsbury Munitions Factory was built in 1941 and industrial development continued in the area after the war because of the availability of rail transport and large tracts of land to develop as industrial sites. The Finsbury line has been taken up, thus removing evidence of the response to the War requirements.

The unfortunate outcome of an accident at the Woodville Railway Station crossing in 1925 (Source: State Library of South Australia B 34593)

2.3 Physical History of Woodville Station Woodville Station has changed greatly as a consideration of historic photographs indicates.

The original station building at Woodville followed the design of the first stations along the line. It was a small stone building with an arcaded front which provided shelter for passengers. This 1856 building was adapted over time, until in the mid 1940s it was demolished and new passenger shelters were constructed on each platform.

The significant elements of first station were:

Two lines to allow for trains crossing, and two platforms (three lines after opening of Grange line)

Large signal cabin at Woodville Road

Station building on southern platform, with arched/arcaded front elevation typical of other early stations on this line

Pedestrian bridge from northern platform to southern platform

Level crossing gates at Woodville Road


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N▲

Layout of the station precinct

Historic Photographs of Woodville StationThe following photographs provide some indication of the character of the station during the period 1890 to 1942.

Platform 1 and pedestrian bridge - c 1890 (Source: State Library of South Australia B 20174)


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Station building and Woodville Road level crossing - c1920 (Source: State Library of South Australia B 31383)

East of Woodville Road - c1920 (Source: State Library of South Australia B 30324)

Station building and signal box from Woodville Road - 1942(Source: State Library of South Australia B 21376 )


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Platforms and pedestrian bridge - 1942(Source: State Library of South Australia B 21377)

1942 view of Woodville Railway Station, just prior to demolition(Source: State Library of South Australia B 11391)


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4 Comparative Analysis with other Railway StationsThe design of the original 1850s station building had close similarities with the other early stations on the Port Adelaide line. All were designed with arcaded front sections to provide passenger shelter. Alberton (in Port Adelaide Enfield) and Bowden (in Charles Sturt) are the two stations on the Adelaide-Port Adelaide line which remain intact, and this form of design can still be seen in the early station buildings which remain, even though both these station buildings are used for other purposes now. These two stations State Heritage places.

Alberton and Bowden Station buildings 2010

Early stations also typically had large signal boxes for the station master to control train and track movements. These have all been removed with the automation of train control. All stations with more than one platform had a pedestrian crossover bridge with metal railings. The only crossover that remains is at Alberton.The design of later station buildings changed over time and the relative importance of the station also dictated the type of building constructed. The typical station building from the 1880s was constructed in bluestone with gable end wings and timber post verandah between, such as those still extant on the 1883 Hills line. Also from 1880 to about 1910 small stations along suburban passenger lines were provided with weatherboard structures known as Class 2 station buildings (see the early photo of Croydon railway station below). By the 1920s major new stations followed the architectural trends of the time with expansive roofs with bracketed awnings/wide eaves for passenger shelter, such as those at Angaston and Penola. Small stations continued to be served by small weatherboard structures.

Along the Adelaide-Port Adelaide line only Bowden and Alberton retain early structures. All other stations have recent passenger shelters of an extremely minimalist design, replacing earlier station buildings.

Croydon Station c1910(Source: State Library of South Australia B46592)


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0 BUILDING AND SITE ANALYSIS

3.1 Site Analysis and Condition

3.1.1 General

AnalysisThe rail reserve has been fenced with simple recent metal picket fencing on the southern side and wire mesh fencing on the northern side.

The Grange track divides east of Woodville Road. Signal gates operate across Woodville Road.

Bike lockers are provided on the northern side of the crossing point.

There is a ten metre wide unused part of the rail reserve on the northern side before the mesh fencing. Commuter parking is provided on both sides of the station reserve.


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1.2 Platforms

AnalysisPlatform One is faced with off the form concrete.

Platforms Two and Three are faced with masonry (sandstone and bluestone) which has been painted at various times.

Platform levels have been adapted for disabled access in certain sections

The tracks have been relaid on concrete sleepers

Detail of stonework to platform walls


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2 Existing Buildings

3.2.1 Building One - Kiosk

AnalysisThis is a simple recent structure at the eastern end of the railway platform, constructed of preformed concrete panels. Elements of the design have been sourced from the existing station structures to blend this recent structure into the station surrounds.


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2.2 Building Two – Platform 3 Shelter

AnalysisThis building is constructed using railway irons for vertical supports and timber roof trusses and brackets. The roof has recently been reclad in Colorbond, but the end elements are still early heavy gauge corrugated iron. (This possibly dates from 1940s)

This building serves as a passenger shelter for Platform 3.


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2.3 Building Three - Platforms One and Two Shelter

AnalysisThis shelter is a long structure with two enclosed sections. The eastern section is clad in weatherboard, with a central open section between this and a western section constructed in brick.

The structure is similar to Building Two, with railway irons as vertical columns with timber roof trusses and bracketing. The roof has been recently reclad in red Colorbond with 'D' gutters, but retains end panels of early heavy gauge corrugated iron. (This possibly dates from 1940s).

The enclosed weatherboard section of the shelter served as a ticket office and the ticket windows with counters and brackets still remain. The enclosed brick section served as a Station Master's office. The brickwork is now painted and all doors and windows sealed or barred.


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2.4 Building Four – Train Control and Storage

AnalysisThis is a small service building associated with the station and possibly served as toilets and storage. The building now houses electronic train control equipment. It is constructed of face brick, now painted, with five doors and four windows to the northern elevation. The southern elevation retains unpainted face red brickwork.

The roof is a simple hipped roof with wide unlined eaves. The building has recently been re-roofed in Colorbond steel. The downpipes to the northern end have corroded.

This building probably dates from the1940s (to be confirmed from SAR plans and drawings).

Detail to Building Four


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0 STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE

4.1 General StatementThe Statement of Heritage Value for the Woodville Station in the City of Woodville Heritage Survey 1994 is as follows:

Associated with the Adelaide to Port Adelaide Railway Line. Woodville Station was one of the few early stations on the line and helped to reinforce Woodville as a population base.

The Woodville Railway Station is included in the Development Plan for the City of Charles Sturt as a Local Heritage Place. It is assessed as fulfilling criteria a) and c) under Section 23 (4) of the Development Act, 1993 and the extent of the listed place is as follows:

Woodville Railway Station; Down platform shelter, Up platform shelter with weatherboard ticket office, single storey brick building.

Relevant criteria a) it displays historical, economic or social themes that are of importance to the local area c) it has played an important part in the lives of local residents.

4.2 Relative Heritage Value within Charles Sturt and South AustraliaAs the first station within Woodville, the site of the station has particular significance within the Charles Sturt Council area. The existing structures have limited significance as they replaced the original structures in the 1940s. There are no other similar buildings at other stations within Charles Sturt.

The station site is significant at a state level, as a station on the first railway line in South Australia. However the buildings and structures have no state significance.

4.3 Delineation of Significant Fabric and ComponentsThe heritage value of the Woodville Station derives from its use and location. It is not considered that the existing fabric of the place has a high level of significance. Consequently, the delineation of significant fabric is not required.


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0 OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

5.1 Heritage ValueThe heritage value of Woodville Railway Station resides in its representation of an economic theme of importance to the local area, that of the development of the railway line from Adelaide to Port Adelaide and its role in the expansion of subdivision and settlement in the 1880s and industrial activity in the Inter War and Second World War years.

It has also played an important part in the lives of local residents as it was one of the original stations on the Adelaide to Port Adelaide Railway Line and created a residential development node around the station, particularly in the 1880s.

However, the current buildings at Woodville are not representative of these particularly significant periods of development and do not directly illustrate the criteria for which the station was listed. Buildings have changed significantly since the station was first opened and the site does not retain any of the early structures. The WW2 spur line to the Finsbury Munitions factory has been taken up, removing the physical evidence of the link between this station and wartime activities.

5.2 External Statutory RequirementsThe provisions of the Development Act and Council's Development Plan impose some development controls over a place which is scheduled as a local heritage place.

Heritage Places Principles of Development Control 1 states that: '… local heritage places should not be demolished, destroyed or removed, in total or in part, unless either of the following applies (a) that portion of the place to be demolished, destroyed or removed is excluded from the extent of the places identified in the Tables; or (b) the structural condition of the place represents an unacceptable risk to public or private safety.

Principle of Development Control 3 lists the elements to be retained in development of any State or local heritage place and these include: (a) principal elevations; (b) important vistas and views to and from the place; (c) setting and setbacks; (d) building materials; (e) outbuildings and walls; (f) trees and other landscaping elements; (g) access conditions (driveway form/width/material); (h) architectural treatments; (i) the use of the place.

Principle of Development Control 4 requires that development of a local heritage place should be compatible with the heritage value of the place.

The Development Guidelines for Local Heritage Places in Table ChSt/4 deal mainly with residential places and do not refer directly to buildings other than houses.

Application of Development Plan provisionsWhile in most cases retention of significant fabric ensures the retention of the heritage value of a place, this is not necessarily the over-riding requirement here. It is possible to develop the Woodville Railway Station if the significant elements of its heritage value and qualities, that is its location and use, are retained or reinforced.


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3 Development Opportunities for the SiteThe site is constrained by the width of the railway corridor. Development which reinforces the use of the station site can be appropriately and carefully located within the corridor. Any development not related to railway use will need to be on adjacent land.

There is also an opportunity to reinforce the early landscaping tradition of avenue planting of trees along the rail corridor. Those avenues which remain from earlier planting programs greatly enhance the amenity of residences adjacent to the rail corridor.

5.4 Expectations of StakeholdersThe Woodville Railway Station is a key element in the transit-oriented development (TOD) proposed for this area by the Land Management Corporation and Charles Sturt Council. The railway corridor runs along the southern boundary of the Woodville Road precinct which includes the St Clair Reserve.

A LMC report of December 2009 notes that A proposed transit-oriented development (TOD) around Woodville Station would not include ‘high rise development’ but would contain a mix of residential, retail and commercial uses that are designed to encourage walking, cycling, the use of public transport and more public open space.


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0 CONCLUSIONS

6.1 General Approach to Retention of Heritage ValueIn most cases retention of significant fabric ensures the retention of the heritage value of a place. At the Woodville Station site, it is considered that it is not essential to retain the existing structures of the Woodville Railway Station in order to retain its heritage value. The value of the place resides in its function as a railway station and its location on the Adelaide to Port Adelaide line.

6.2 Policy for Site and Structures Redevelopment of the railway station should respect its location immediately adjacent to Woodville Road, its historic layout with up and down platforms and its links to Adelaide and Port Adelaide.

The extent of listing for the place in the Development Plan could be amended to read:

Woodville Station site and associated rail corridor, platform and rail location.

The reuse of existing structures is to be encouraged but not essential. Any new platform shelters required could be designed to reflect the earlier form of the platform shelters, or could be a completely new form of shelter which is appropriate and compatible with the site. The brick train control building, which is at normal ground level may be the easiest building to reuse.

6.3 Adaptation and Interpretation PoliciesIt is not appropriate to adapt the Woodville Railway Station site to another use. It should remain as a railway station and as a local transport node for this area.

Interpretation of the railway station and its history would be appropriate, particularly through the use of early photos indicating the appearance of the original station building and its function as the central station on the 1856 Adelaide to Port Adelaide line.


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APPENDIX 1. SOURCES OF INFORMATION\

Donovan and Associates, Railway Heritage of South Australia, 1992, National Trust of SAMarsden, Susan, A History of Woodville, 1977, City of WoodvilleDanvers Architects, Heritage Survey of the City of Woodville, 1994, Dept Environment and Natural Resources.

State Records [SAR information still to be located]Woodville Council Property FilesLands Titles Office, CTs 845/109, 882/50, 18000/86, 1805/26, 4361/941

APPENDIX 2. LIST OF EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS

State Library of South Australia: B 20174 c1890 Woodville Railway Station

B 27135 1895 Alberton Railway Station

B 9875 1863 Adelaide Railway Station

B 1868 1870 1856 Port Adelaide Railway Building

B 41715 1910 Croydon Railway Station opening

B 46592 1915 Croydon

B 30324 c1920 Woodville Railway Station - Adelaide to Port Adelaide line

B 31383 c1920 Woodville Railway Station - Adelaide to Port Adelaide line

B 34593 c1925 Car Accident, Woodville - A 6 cylinder Buick collided with a train at a Woodville crossing

B 4750 1928 Glenelg Railway Station

B 4926 1928 Glenelg Railway Station

B 11391 1942 Woodville Railway Station

B 21376 1942 Woodville Railway Station signal box

B 21377 c1942 Woodville Railway Station

B 34551 c1950 Train Accident, Woodville - Accident between a train and a truck on the Grange Line, Woodville

APPENDIX 3. LIST OF ARCHIVAL DRAWINGS

[The South Australian Railways drawings collection has been dispersed and State Records Archivists are searching for the relevant drawings for this report. These should be available soon]


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