Lithgow railway station

The setting of the station within a relatively steep rock cutting provides a distinctive landscape presentation to Lithgow Railway Station. The northern embankment has been sealed with shotcrete and the same material has been used part way along the southern embankment. The exposed embankment surface is a friable composition of shale, rubble and soils. Removal of vegetation has revealed a dry stone wall of roughly shaped sandstone blocks set near to the top of the southern embankment, extending from the overhead footbridge for approximately 20 metres (66 ft) with a height ranging form 0.5–2 metres (1 ft 8 in–6 ft 7 in) to the concrete ramp. Proximity to the ramp indicates the wall is an integral element of the original station construction. A "path" or bed for the concrete ramp runs across the embankment in front of the wall.[6][2]

Apart from a couple of garden beds with shrubs (clipped into spheres and rounded shapes) and small planting of annuals (traditionally) and hardy soft-wooded perennials (again, tightly clipped into shapes)[7] along the eastern portion of the island platform there is no other landscaping at the station. The existing landscaping is not considered significant but contributes to the setting and character of the place and continues a tradition of railway gardening on this site for some time.[2]

The heritage-listed complex comprises:[2]

• Island platform - brick faced (1925)
• Old Station Platform - levelled rock face (1877)
• Eskbank Street Overbridge (1924)
• Station Building - type 11, island building, brick (1925)
• Former Booking/Parcels office & Goods lift tower - timber (1925)
• Station Master's residence - 6 Railway Parade (c.1880)
• Hayley Street Footbridge and Overhead Booking Office (1993)

Lithgow station is a typical island platform, curving slightly along the Up end. The platform is brick faced with concrete deck and asphalt finish. Modern light fittings, illuminated signage, timber bench seating, small planters, and a central garden bed (which appears to be the former location of the access ramp/stairs from Eskbank Street) comprise the platform furnishings. The platform is set within the rock cutting lower than the adjoining street levels and accessed from the western end via concrete stairs and U-shaped tube-like ramps leading to the footbridge linking the station to both Railway Parade and Main Street. A contemporary canopy provides weather protection between the station building and the footbridge through the stairs.[2]

The Hayley Street Footbridge is a modern concrete deck footbridge suspended over steel beam and trestles over the station platform and the railway tracks to both side streets leading to the bus interchange on Railway Parade. It has a simple arrangement with the Station Master's office and the booking office on the northern half featuring a gabled corrugated metal roof with a small series of skylights. The remainder of the footbridge is covered with the same roof with no skylights and features steel pipe-rail balustrades with glazed enclosures. It is linked to the platform by the tube-like ramp and the stairs. A lift tower is located at the ramp entrance of the footbridge. The footbridge, overhead booking office and Station Master's office are typical of modern structures with simple detailing and no architectural merit. Excluded from listing.[2]

This former platform is evidence of the first Lithgow Station and is a levelled railway platform over the rock cutting. It is located further to the west of the present station at the southern foundation of the Sandford Avenue overbridge. Access to the redundant platform was not available for close inspection. The former station building no longer exists.[2]

Two rendered segmental arch spandrels with rock cliff abutments on both sides of the former overhead booking/parcels office structure.[2]

External: Constructed of face brick with a corrugated metal gabled roof extending as an awning to both platforms, the Lithgow station building is an island platform building in standard "A10" Federation style design. It features ten bays with a linear arrangement along the platform with tuckpointed brickwork and engaged piers between the bays. The eastern (Up) end of the building has been extended approximately one bay in 1961 (formerly used as Railway Refreshment Room) with a matching gable end detailing featuring large metal box-framed window openings supported on with brick brackets with security mesh and a single door with side windows and fanlight on the east side. A narrow awning provides protection over this door. Other features to the original bays of the building include standard iron brackets over decorative corbels supporting the ample platform awnings, fretted timber work to both ends of the awnings, timber framed double-hung vertically proportioned windows with multi-paned upper sashes, timber panelled doors with multi-paned fanlights, and a brick chimney with corbelled top and modern roof vents to toilets. The wall mounted clock on No.1 platform next to the Station Master's office appears original. Windows on the platform elevations of the two most eastern bays have been enlarged and covered by security mesh or grills. Another single door with windows on each side is also located on the west end of the building and provides access to the gent's toilets. There is a modern canopy extension at the western end of the station building, where the new platform canopy extends from the footbridge stairs access to the station.[2]

Internal: Although the station building generally appears intact externally its internal room layouts and divisions have been modified. The original floor layout included (from west to east) an SM's office, telegraph office, general waiting room, ladies room & lavatory, store and gent's room. The current floor layout consists of a locked room, SM's office, waiting room, ladies toilets, staff meal room and gent's toilets. Apart from the toilets and the waiting room the rest of the rooms are kept locked. The interiors have been refurbished with only plasterboard ceiling panelling, simple moulded cornices and high wall vents appear to remain from the original phase. The floors are tiled.[2]

External: The former booking office is located on the western side of the Eskbank Street overhead bridge at the Up end of the station. Constructed of timber with weatherboard cladding the building is now partially utilised as ladies waiting room and public toilets. It is elevated on a steel beam and trestles structure with concrete deck and adjoins the arched road overbridge on the eastern side. The former booking/parcels office also adjoins the timber goods lift tower on the north side. The street elevation of the building has been faced with a brick wall and a flat awning along the street frontage. A timber panelled balustrade with artwork reflecting a coal mining theme completes the remaining portion of the overhead bridge on the north side of the tower. The door and windows on the street elevations are of later modifications with metal frames and security mesh. The large gates to the former parcels office and the goods lift have been blocked with metal panels. Original timber framed double-hung windows with multi-paned upper sashes are located on north, east and western elevations of the booking/parcels office. A shallow pitched gabled red corrugated iron roof covers the building. The timber goods lift tower is the dominant element of the former booking/parcels office building and has a hipped corrugated metal roof. The goods lift is not in operation, and it is not clear if the original lift survives. However; existence of few safety signs indicates possible uses for maintenance or similar activities. The timber tower extends down onto the platform with a timber panelled out-of-shed building on the platform. The southern leg of the steel trestles sits within the out-of-shed.[2]

Internal: Access only was available to the open ladies waiting room and toilets. The interiors of this former booking office are simple with plasterboard wall and ceiling panelling decorated with plain timber rail at lintel height and timber skirting. Floors are tiled. The original ticket window survives.[2]

External: Located at 6 Railway Parade to the eastern side of Lithgow Station, the Station Master's residence is a fine example of a grand two-storey railway residence. It is constructed of brick and stone, with rusticated render to the main railway facades and a slate tiled roof. The residence is located on the northern side of the railway line with a projecting faceted observatory room over the entrance portico. The distinctive Victorian features include arched windows with contrasting rendered moulded trims and sills, projecting keystones, rendered contrasting string band at the first floor slab level, decorative moulded brackets supporting the wide eaves, a rendered chimney with corbelled top, timber framed double-hung windows with two-pane upper sashes, timber panelled entrance door with sidelights and fanlight, and an arched two-storey high decorative portico with tessellated tile flooring over the front entry dominating the railway facade. A highly decorated drawing room bay on the ground floor level dominates the Sydney side elevation of the building and features a series of segmental arched tall windows with moulded sill course and label panels below the sill, pitched slate roof with lead capping and flashing, decorative moulded brackets supporting the awning, and moulded trims and keystones to the arches. Access to the residence is via a porch from the face brick two-storey wing on the Railway Parade elevation. A later skillion roof utility room addition is located on the western side of the residence. The orientation of the building's openings including the architectural detailing and embellishment provide evidence of the close relationship between the Station Master's residence and the Station as well as the importance given to the railway staff at the time.[2]

Internal: The former Station Master's residence is still in use as guest accommodation and generally maintains its original layout and detailing despite the refurbishments over time. The main original features include timber board ceiling lining to the refurbished kitchen, timber moulded architraves throughout, decorative high wall vents, timber panelled ceilings with decorative ceiling roses to main ground floor rooms and upper floor bedrooms, an original light switch, timber decorative stair with turned balustrade and newel post, and fireplaces with simple timber surrounds. There is only one fireplace with a cast iron grate, the remainder of the fireplaces having been blocked. The kitchen features an old style Bega brand stove in the fireplace. The bathrooms and kitchen are relatively new fit-outs while the floor finishes are generally carpet to the rooms and tile to the wet areas. A small laundry and a toilet are located in the later skillion addition.[2]

The following moveable items have been observed at Lithgow Railway Station Group:

• A Seth Thomas clock at overhead Station Master's office (no number).
• Wall mounted clock on Platform 1 elevation of the Station Building next to the former Station Master's office door.
• Various early timber station signs depicting the station building room and platform names.
• Old Bega brand stove in the kitchen of the SM's residence.
• Early light switch on the upstairs main bedroom of the SM's residence.[2]

The former 1877 railway platform of the first Lithgow Station is the only known potential archaeological element at the Lithgow Railway Station Group.[2]

As at 25 August 2009, the station building is in generally in good condition with minimal missing mortar joints that present no structural danger. The former Booking/Parcels office & Goods lift tower is in generally in moderate condition. Rising damp and rotten timber evident at the platform base of the out-of-shed and the lift tower. External repainting is required in near future. Internal spaces could not be inspected. The Station Master's Residence is in generally in good condition externally with cracks on the rusticated render along bottom portion of the railway elevation. However, this is not considered as a structural issue. Natural wear and tear throughout the exterior evident. Internally the residence is in very good condition. The island platform is in good condition. The Hayley Street Footbridge is in very good condition. Access was not available for close inspection of the Old Station platform, however appears to be in moderate condition due to overgrown grassed environment.[2]

The overall integrity of the Railway Station Group including the station building, the residence, and the overhead booking /parcels office and goods lift tower is high. The buildings are relatively intact externally.[2]

• Externally, the main platform building appears as it was constructed with additional bay on the Up end.
• 1929 – an awning was erected over the footpath of Eskbank Street.
• 1948 – the overhead booking office on Eskbank Street was extended.
• 1977 – Office Building - air-condition units installed to the district engineer's, officer and clerk offices.
• 1983 – the Eskbank Street booking office was modernised.
• 199 – a new "bus/rail interchange" was erected at the western end of the platform with the footbridge over tracks. The Eskbank Street access ramp was closed and a new booking office was opened on the footbridge.
• 1994/95 – a lift was installed at the new ramp.
• N.d. – The former brick subtype 1 through shed (goods shed) could not be located and appears to have since been demolished.
• N.d. – Foot warmer and out-of-shed removed.[2]

The Lithgow Coal Stage Signal Box, Eskbank Railway Station, and Lithgow (James Street) Underbridge all have separate listings.[2]

The following items are located adjacent to the station but are excluded from the listing as they do not warrant listing on the SHR:[2]

• Substation - c. 1940 rectangular single-storey substation of face brick construction featuring strongly emphasized engaged piers with decorative projecting accent, a four course brick base with a recessed course and bullnosed splay on top, a parapet with capping extending above the piers, and a metal door with bullnosed brick surrounds. The rear of the substation appears to be damaged in part with paint finish on the wall possibly to obscure some graffiti.[2]
• Office Building - c. 1955 large two-storey office building of face brick construction. It is located to the west of the Station Master's residence at the corner of Railway Parade and Eskbank Street. The building combines three adjacent wings, one of which has a higher sill level to the upper storey windows resulting in a higher eaves and ridge level than the other wings. They form a stepped complex building. The overall fenestration of the building is typical of post-war period office building façade articulation featuring large 12-pane metal windows with three casement windows, with dominant mullions emphasised. A rendered string course forms a hood along the lintel height of the ground floor and is the only decorative element on the main façade that provides continuity between the wings beside the windows. The main office block entry is from the eastern smallest wing via a recessed porch with large multi-paned floor to ceiling glazing and a single door opening. Three doors with a utilitarian appearance (one to the main large building and the others in group to the central wing) provide separate access to the individual wings. The roof is hipped with terracotta tiles. A single flight later addition steel fire stair is attached to the west elevation of the large wing, which required creation of a new door opening on the upper level elevation. These are the only visible major modifications to the exterior of the building. Security grills to ground floor doors and obscure glazing to some windows are the other minor changes.[2]

• ARHS (2009). Historical information prepared for S170 update project.
• Australian Museum (AM) Consulting P/L (1 September 2014). Dry Stone Retaining Wall at Lithgow Railway Station (letter).
• Davies, Paul; State Rail Authority (1993). Heritage and Conservation Register State Rail Authority of NSW.
• Davies, Paul; State Rail Authority (1993). Heritage and Conservation Register State Rail Authority of NSW.
• Longworth, Jim (2012). "Conservation Guide: Railway Gardens". Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
• Sharp, S. A. (1982). The Railway Stations of NSW 1855-1980.
• State Rail Authority (1999). State Rail Authority Heritage Register Study.
• City Plan Heritage (2009). S170 Heritage & Conservation Register Update.

This Wikipedia article contains material from Lithgow Railway Station Group and Residence, entry number 01833 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.