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Old Northam Railway Station

Platform Sign - Old Northam Railway Station

Remains of Signal Box - Old Northam Railway Station

Signage - Old Northam Railway Station

Old Northam railway station is a former railway station that was operational in Northam, Western Australia, from early 1900 until 14 February 1966. It is located to the south of the current operational railway station, and its yard and buildings when operational, went through the centre of the town.

It was an important junction location for the Wheatbelt railways of Western Australia, when the whole network was of a single narrow gauge [3'6"] gauge.

History

In 1886, a 15 kilometre branch rail line was extended from the Fremantle to York rail line from Spencers Brook to Northam after lobbying from the local farmers and settlers seeking access to the Perth markets for the sale of their produce. Governor of Western Australia, Sir Frederick Broome KCMG, officially opened the new line on 13 October 1886. This rail line was known as the Eastern Railway (Western Australia).

First Railway Station, discovery of gold and expansion of the rail network

James Byfield, a local builder, built the original wooden structure Northam Station a few hundred metres east from where the present Old Station stands. Gold was discovered in Southern Cross in 1887 and in 1892 the State Government proceeded to construct the railway from Northam to Southern Cross to connect the port of Fremantle with the rapidly increasing population and exploration of the Eastern Goldfields. The section from Northam to Southern Cross was completed in 1894 and later the line was extended in sections from Southern Cross to Boorabbin, Western Australia in July 1896 then onwards from Boorabbin to Kalgoorlie in January 1897. This major railway originally became known as the Yilgarn Railway and later the Eastern Goldfields Railway. At the time, the communities of Northam, York and Newcastle (now known as Toodyay) were all vying for rail line to pass through their respective towns. Much debate and fierce lobbying ensued amongst the residents of the three towns, however, with the political agitation of the local Member of Parliament and later Premier, George Throssell CMG, Northam was selected as the location for the new Station and marshalling/shunting rail yard. Throssell was also instrumental in the construction of the rail extension to Goomalling through Jennapullin opening up excellent grower country, enhancing the rail traffic through Northam.

Construction

Construction of the new Northam Station commenced in early 1900 on Fitzgerald Street, West Northam. The building was designed by John Harry Grainger, Principal architect and civil engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), and was built by the PWD in Federation Free Style. Incorporated in the construction was the signal box and goods shed.

In 1917, the completion of the Trans-Australian Railway line from Kalgoorlie to Port Pirie in South Australia was completed, finally connecting Western Australia with the east coast, however, the gauge of the tracks in Western Australia differed from those in South Australia, Victoria (Australia) and New South Wales. The extension even further increased traffic through the Northam Station.

At it's peak, the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) maintained a District Office for the Eastern Districts at the Station, with a large marshalling/shunting rail yard with 24 hour staff. Approximately 1200 people in the district were employed, including Locomotive Drivers, Firemen, Cleaners, Station staff and a large locomotive maintenance crew and Gangers.

Many have walked the platform of the Old Northam Station from general passengers, gold prospectors passing through Northam to the newly opened goldfields to thousands of servicemen being transported through the Railway Station to and from the Northam Army Camp during World War II and the Korean War. During World War II, the Station was a Train Feeding Centre for troops arriving and departing the Station, operated by the 16 Leave Train Cooking Section of the Australian Army.

Railway worker housing, a Railway Institute, several hotels, St Anthony’s Primary School, West Northam Primary School, a tennis club and small businesses sprang up around the station leading to creation of an almost separate community of "West Northam" or the working class district of the town. The station also served as a Post Office for the western end of town.

After World War II, thousands of migrants from war-torn Europe arrived in Northam by rail through the Station for temporary re-settlement in the immigration centres at the Northam Army Camp, and the "Holden Camp", a former military general hospital.

In 1962, as part of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project the rail line was re-aligned to the North of Northam to connect all the mainland capital cities with a single gauge (4’ 8 ½ " - 1,435.1 mm) railway and as a result the Station was officially closed on 14 February 1966.

Ownership and Restoration

Ownership of the Station was transferred to the Northam Town Council, and was used by a variety of community groups for a time, but was in disuse and disrepair for almost twenty years when the Northam Heritage Forum was formed in the early 1980’s to restore and preserve the building. The signal box was destroyed by fire and the goods shed has fallen into disrepair. Both have been earmarked for restoration.

Museum and Displays

The building is now a general and railway museum with the railway forming a large part of the displays. Exhibits include a static Pmr class steam locomotive, and several coaches.

See also

• Northam railway station, Western Australia
• Rail gauge in Australia
• Northam (North Devon) railway station