Maryborough Railway Station
Location
Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Maryborough VIC, Australia
Client
VicTrack
Significance
State Significance
VHR H1577
Completed
2012
Services Provided
Conservation Works, Heritage Advice, Building Conditions Assessment, Conservation Management Plans, Heritage Permits
Awards
2008 Australian Property Institute | Heritage Award
2013 Dulux Colour Awards for Commercial Exteriors | Finalist
2013 AIA Victoria Architecture | Award for Heritage Architecture
2013 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation | Award of Merit
“In 2001, when RBA Architects + Conservation Consultants began work, the station was at risk. The subsequent conservation and adaption works over the last twelve years to the Maryborough Railway Station are exemplary... Expert conservation has now given the town every reason to become very attached to its railway station."
The Maryborough Railway Station Conservation works were initiated in 2001 to address problems associated with long term neglect and inappropriate repair works. These problems threatened not only the cultural significance of the place but the resumption of passenger services (suspended between 1993 and 2010) and on-going patronage of its retail tenants. Extensive research and detailed surveys were required to resolve complex modes of building fabric deterioration and develop innovative but sensitive remediation techniques.
A materials scientist, heritage structural engineer and ceramics conservators were pivotal in resolving and
implementing the works. A conscious effort was made to minimise the introduction of new building fabric and faithfully reconstruct original details.
The ambition of the project was to re-establish the building to its former 19th century Goldfields opulence and to a position of respected prominence for both Maryborough and the Victorian Railway Network. The project enabled the on-going use of a valuable asset and provided an opportunity to generate broader public support for further conservation of the Victorian Railway network.
Image Credits: Peter Bennetts
