WARRAGUL’S historic railway goods shed has been cut in half and moved ahead of the construction of a new car park and bus interchange.
Pictured above: dude, where’s my goods shed? The historic goods shed in its new location… not far from its old location. All photos by William PJ Kulich except where otherwise credited.
The building was moved last month as part of the $26 million Warragul Rail Precinct Upgrade, which will see a new 200-space car park and bus interchange built on the old goods yard south of the station, a pedestrian ramp installed and more.
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The project will also see the restoration of the goods shed.
Construction company Thiess was awarded the contract for the development in Novemeber last year and work is expected to begin early this year.
Pictured above: end of the line. Although the historic shed has been saved, the development of the parking lot will see tracks (visible in the foreground), points and other old rail infrastructure removed.
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VicRoads has been tasked with managing the development which will also see a number of changes to roads in the area, including a road and pedestrian underpass linking Queen Street to Alfred Street and Normanby Pace.
The state government committed $22.69 million toward the project and the former federal government committed $3.35 million.
Pictured above: oversize? More like half size! One half of the goods shed being moved to its temporary location on the back of a truck. This photo was kindly supplied by the Baw Baw Shire Council.
At the announcement of federal funding for the project in February last year, former Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Simon Crean told The Warragul Citizen the goods shed had the potential to become a “heritage precinct”.
“If you look at the shed that’s being relocated with our money, it has the potential to become quite a heritage precinct. It is a heritage building in its own right but… its functions [are] still to be determined,” Mr Crean said.
“I think it’s in the interests of this city to understand the importance of its heritage and see what it can do to reinforce that and enrich itself through the arts.
“I have seen many communities remake themselves through creativity and design and the arts as a focal point.”
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Pictured above: Baw Baw mayor Murray Cook, Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Edward O’Donohue, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Simon Crean and Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood pose in front of the goods shed at last year’s funding announcement.
Pictured above: that’s rubbush! Bottles and rubbish on the shed’s former site. The small concrete and brick structures were parts of the goods shed building.
Although the precinct project has had a largely positive response it has not been without its critics. Concerns have been raised over the distance of the planned footbridge from the station and much of the car park.
Four tracks to the south side of the station will be retained.
