SUN CITY NEWS Thursday 18 April 2013
Phone: (08) 9561 2500
www.suncitynews.com.au
REVISIT HISTORY
A free Open Day is being held at the old Gingin Railway Station on Sunday 28 April, to coincide with the Western Australia’s Heritage Festival. The public will experience local heritage and learn about the future Gingin-Chittering Lions Club’s restoration project for the historical Gingin Railway Station, Station Master’s quarters and grounds. There will be displays of historical photos, railway memorabilia, early agricultural farm equipment, every day items of the era, artwork, quilts, woodwork crafts, hand shearing, fleece spinning demonstration, wool and alpaca finished garments, plants and produce stall. Refreshments will be available including Devonshire teas and sausage sizzle The Midland Railway WA (MRWA) line to Gingin was opened on the 3 April 1891, followed by Walkaway to Dongara on 17 April. The official opening ceremony of the station at Gingin was
attended by His Excellency the Governor accompanied by 150 guests aboard the train. The MRWA commissioned Friederich Wilhelm Gustave Liebe, a German builder, to build all the stations along the line. Built in the style of the English Victorian era, the Gingin Railway Station was one of two constructed in brick. The station building consisted of the Station Master’s quarters, comprising of kitchen, pantry, storeroom, parlour, bedroom and adjacent booking office; ladies’ waiting room and separate public waiting room. A kiosk was erected on the station and was run by the local Jones family to provide refreshments for passengers. As local people made more frequent use of the rail service the number of trains increased to six times a week as a distribution line between Gingin and Midland transporting poultry, fruit, vegetables and firewood to Perth.
This enabled the local Gingin community to have the service for deliveries of agricultural and personal goods as well as a passenger service at their convenience.
and Pauline Diggins from July 1987 to expire in November 2007.
Of the original nine stations along the Midland Railway line, only the Gingin Railway Station and Quarters retains its original form excluding the refreshment rooms.
The National Trust of WA then entered into negotiations with Brookfield Rail, formerly Westnet, and have become the owners of the Gingin Railway Station.
Gingin became an unattended siding after the withdrawal of the last Station Master in April 1971.
The Lions Club of GinginChittering have been successful in gaining the lease from the
The decline of the building became apparent over the years, and a district engineer recommended the station be demolished in 1972 due to ongoing costs and expenses. The National Trust of WA and the Shire of Gingin, were keen to see the building preserved and in 1976, the WAGR officially invited the Shire of Gingin to enter into an agreement to take over the building maintenance and preservation. The Shire then entered into a peppercorn lease with Richard
During this twenty year period restoration work was carried out by the Diggins.
National Trust of WA to carry out restoration works so the building can continue to be used by the community. Proposals for the future uses include: tourist information centre, rail and local museum and gallery, venue for various community uses such as local produce markets, exhibitions and fund raisers. This will be a great family day, from 10.00am through to 4.00pm.
DRAWING THE WINNER
See page 9