Hobart railway station

Last updated

Hobart
Closed commuter rail station
ABC Hobart.jpg
The former Hobart railway station was redeveloped into headquarters for the ABC in the 1980s.
General information
Coordinates 42°52′39.38″S147°19′57.32″E / 42.8776056°S 147.3325889°E / -42.8776056; 147.3325889
Operated by Tasmanian Government Railways
Line(s) Main Line
Platforms4
Tracks10
Construction
ParkingNone
Bicycle facilitiesNone
Other information
StatusClosed
History
Opened1871
ClosedJuly 18, 1978 (Tasman Limited)
June 22, 2014 (TasRail)

Situated in the state capital of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, the former Hobart railway station was once the largest railway station on the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) network. Located on the Main Line, it provided passenger train services to Hobart's northern suburbs and served as the central terminus for the Tasman Limited , a limited express service linking Hobart, Launceston and Wynyard. [1]

Contents

Built in 1871 by the Tasmanian Main Line Company (TML), [2] the station was significantly expanded in the early 1950s. Major upgrades included the addition of three 180-metre (600 ft) long concrete cantilevered canopies, four platforms, a large concourse, and various amenities such as shopping stalls and food vendors. [3]

By the mid-1970s, the station handled over seventy commuter trains daily. However, with a decline in passenger numbers due to the growth of privately owned vehicles and the transfer of rail transport operations to Australian National Railways, the station's significance waned. The last Tasman Limited passenger service departed on July 18, 1978.

Following the announcement of the Sheraton Hotel masterplan, the station was sold and redeveloped into the headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the mid-1980s. Sections of the track were removed to connect the Tasman Highway through Davey and Macquarie Streets.

On June 22, 2014, TasRail ended rail freight operations at the Hobart rail yard after 140 years of service as part of a strategy to consolidate and enhance intermodal container freight services. All freight operations were redirected to the new $79 million Brighton Transport Hub, located in the northern suburb of Brighton. [4] [5]

In 2024, the Tasmanian Heritage Council added a 115-metre (377 ft) rail shed constructed in 1915 at the former rail yard, known as the "Goods Shed," to the state's heritage register, recognising its significant role in Tasmanian rail history. [6]

Since the closure of the Tasmanian Government Railways, Hobart's public transport infrastructure has seen limited development, and a proposed light rail project (Riverline) has faced uncertainties due to political and financial challenges. Today, the redeveloped Hobart railway station site houses the studios of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, WIN Television and the Baháʼí Faith Centre of Learning, with the only remaining part of the rail terminal the original sandstone TML station building from 1871. [7]

History

The Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company (TMLR) opened the line from Hobart to Evandale Road (later Western Junction) in 1876. This railway significantly reduced travel times between Hobart and Launceston, making transportation more efficient and accessible for Tasmanians.

During its peak in the 1930s and 1940s, the Tasmanian railway system was extensive, radiating from Launceston and Hobart to various regional destinations like Herrick, St Marys, and Marrawah. The railways were a major employer, offering a wide range of jobs and enabling widespread access to goods and passenger services.

In 1937, a proposed new railway station plan, outlined by Premier Albert Ogilvie, and submitted for consideration by the Public Works Committee, encountered mixed reactions. Designed with a 43-metre (140 ft) frontage on Argyle Street and praised for its efficient layout by architect Colin Philp, the station aimed to boost suburban railway traffic. Estimated at £A225,600, including a 640-metre (700 yd) tunnel under the Queens Domain to avoid public disruption, the project garnered technical approval despite objections from medical professionals at the Hobart General Hospital. They expressed concerns about space constraints, arguing that all available land near the proposed site was crucial for hospital expansion. [8] [9] Despite council intentions and proposals, the actual construction or establishment of a new railway station did not materialise. This delay can be attributed to competing political priorities, including the focus on Depression relief works such as the kunanyi/Mount Wellington summit road (1937) and other major civic projects such as the Royal Hobart Hospital (1939) and Hobart Bridge (1939). Additionally, the onset of World War II further diverted attention and resources away from infrastructure projects during that period.

Despite its historical importance and widespread use during its heyday, the Tasmanian railways faced challenges during World War II, leading to overuse and under-maintenance. In the 1940s, Hobart railway station was described as being in a dilapidated state. [10] Observers noted the poor condition of the seating, litter such as apple cores and papers scattered around, and structural issues like a shingle precariously hanging from a large hole in the roof. Despite the station's rundown condition, trains were reported to be arriving on time. [11]

By 1946, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works recommended the construction of a new parcels office and toilet facilities at an estimated cost of £A7,625. [12] This was part of a broader plan to eventually rebuild the entire station. The planned modern station was to include cafeterias, a nursery kindergarten, and a clock tower, among other amenities. [13] Discussions also included the potential for integrating a bus terminal with the railway station to create a combined transport hub, which would improve efficiency and reduce traffic congestion. [14] [15] Ultimately, in a post-war state hindered by limited economic prospects, political conversations rooted in bounded rationality continued until the conclusion of the decade. In 1949, Hobart railway station installed a new, nearly fully automatic weighbridge, costing £A2,000. It could weigh loads up to 51 tonnes (50 LT) and weigh two goods wagons simultaneously. Verified by the Department of Weights and Measures, it was part of a larger program to install 14 new weighbridges across Tasmania. [16]

Railway platforms and suburban diesel locomotive, circa 1972 Hobart Railway Station Tas Dec 1972.jpg
Railway platforms and suburban diesel locomotive, circa 1972

During 1950-1953, significant discussions and decisions were made regarding the Hobart railway station. The Hobart City Council determined that moving the station closer to the Domain was impracticable. [17] [18] Instead, a modified plan was approved, including the widening of Park St. and considering an under-pass or over-pass for Macquarie St. [19] A new two-storey building was planned on the Domain side to house staff facilities, with an eventual demolition of buildings on the Park Street side. [20] Additionally, discussions on creating a viaduct over the railway near the station to improve traffic flow were held. [21] The new station plans aimed to meet modern standards and support the increasing suburban and passenger traffic. The new platforms at the Hobart railway station opened on Wednesday, 22 October 1952. This marked the first use of three out of the five new platforms constructed as part of the station's redevelopment. [22]

By the 1970s, declining passenger patronage and financial difficulties prompted the closure of many passenger services, including the last train from Wynyard to Hobart in July 1978. [23]

Services

The Hobart railway station provided passenger train services to Hobart's northern suburbs and served as the central terminus for the Tasman Limited , a limited express service linking Hobart, Launceston and Wynyard. It also offered weekday service trains for employees of Cadbury's Chocolate Factory and Risdon Zinc Works during peak hours and special event services, such as the Hobart Cup and Royal Hobart Show.

Tasman Limited

The Tasman Limited was the only named train operated by TGR (The West Coaster was operated by the private Emu Bay Railway). Inaugurated in April 1954, the train originally began as an express railcar service; however, later became a first-class luxury passenger service, operated with special articulated coaching stock, buffet service and modern X class diesel locomotives. Seating was reserved, and the service ran from Hobart railway station to Wynyard with connections to Launceston, every day of the week except Sundays.

The Tasman, as it was colloquially known, outlasted all other TGR passenger services, and was officially the last regular scheduled government passenger train to operate on the Tasmanian rail network, the last train departed Hobart at 9.20am on Friday 28 July 1978.

Structures

In addition to its passenger services, the station served as the city's transport hub for freight operations, featuring a rail yard, a goods station with goods sheds, and a traction maintenance depot with a railway turntable and roundhouse.

Goods Shed

Erected in 1915, the single-storey goods shed is a timber-framed, rectangular structure, mostly clad in painted corrugated steel sheeting, measuring about 115 by 24 metres (377 ft × 79 ft). The roof consists of two gabled sections. The interior features timber framing and trusses, original openings for timber sliding goods doors, and narrow, textured glass panels in white-painted timber frames, all deemed highly significant for heritage. [24] The structure was heritage-listed in 2024. [6] Under a current development proposal by Cox Architects, the Goods Shed will be relocated about 100 metres (330 ft) north, forming part of the Macquarie Point Stadium precinct entryway. [25]

Railway Roundabout

The Railway Roundabout is a 1960s roundabout, featuring a distinctive fountain designed by workers at the Cadbury factory, which won an international competition. Originally celebrated as a space-age gateway to the city, the fountain and surrounding area fell into disrepair by the late 1990s. However, a $370,000 restoration in 2012 revived its significance. The fountain, characterised by its Googie architecture, is now protected by heritage listing and continues to serve as a prominent community space, highlighted during events such as Dark Mofo. [26]

Roundhouse

Newly completed roundhouse, 1914 Hobart rail yard and roundhouse, 1914.jpg
Newly completed roundhouse, 1914

The Hobart Roundhouse, with a diameter of 102 metres (334 ft), was a significant railway roundhouse capable of accommodating 22,000 people and featuring a 23 metres (75 ft), electrically driven turntable, the largest in Australia, which could turn 60 locomotives per hour. [27] It served 45 engine roads and housed modern facilities like hydraulic lifts for removing locomotive wheels, hot water circulation for boiler cleaning, and various staff amenities. At its completion in 1915, the roundhouse was well-equipped with the latest machinery and powered by electricity. [27] Demolished in stages, with the final part removed in 1984, the roundhouse has inspired recent development proposals at Macquarie Point, including an unrealised 2015 masterplan by John Wardle [28] and the 2024 Macquarie Point Stadium precinct plan by Cox Architects.

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobart</span> Capital city of Tasmania, Australia

Hobart ( HOH-bart; is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly half of Tasmania's population, Hobart is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-smallest by population and area after Darwin if territories are taken into account. Its skyline is dominated by the 1,271-metre kunanyi / Mount Wellington, and its harbour forms the second-deepest natural port in the world, with much of the city's waterfront consisting of reclaimed land. The metropolitan area is often referred to as Greater Hobart, to differentiate it from the City of Hobart, one of the seven local government areas that cover the city. It has a mild maritime climate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooker Highway</span> Highway in Tasmania, Australia

The Brooker Highway is a highway in the Australian state of Tasmania. As one of Hobart's three major radials, the highway connects traffic from the city centre with the northern suburbs and is the major road connection to the cities and towns of northern Tasmania. With an annual average daily traffic of 48,000, the highway is one of the busiest in Tasmania. The Brooker Highway has recently been declared part of the National Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davey Street, Hobart</span> Street in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Davey Street is a major one way street passing through the outskirts of the Hobart City Centre in Tasmania, Australia. Davey street is named after Thomas Davey, the first Governor of Van Diemen's Land. The street forms a one-way couplet with nearby Macquarie Street connecting traffic from the Southern Outlet in the south with traffic from the Tasman Highway to the east and the Brooker Highway to the north of the city. With annual average daily traffic of 37,200, the road is one of the busier streets in Hobart.

Claremont is a rural / residential locality in the local government areas (LGA) of Glenorchy (75%) and Derwent Valley (25%) in the Hobart and South-east LGA regions of Tasmania. The locality is about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of the town of Glenorchy. The 2021 census recorded a population of 8,397 for the state suburb of Claremont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgewater Bridge (Tasmania)</span> Road and rail bridge in Tasmania, Australia

The Bridgewater Bridge is a combined road and rail bridge that carries the Midland Highway and South Railway Line across the Derwent River in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. This steel truss vertical lift bridge and specially-built causeway connect the Hobart suburbs of Bridgewater and Granton. The bridge was completed in 1946 and accommodates a two-lane highway, a single track railway and a grade-separated footpath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Mount Lyell Railway</span> Former railway company in Tasmania, Australia

The North Mount Lyell Railway was built to operate between the North Mount Lyell mine in West Coast Tasmania and Pillinger in the Kelly Basin of Macquarie Harbour.

The history of the railways on the West Coast of Tasmania has fascinated enthusiasts from around the world, because of the combination of the harsh terrain in which the railways were created, and the unique nature of most of the lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian rules football in Tasmania</span>

Australian rules football has been played in Tasmania since the late 1860s. It draws the largest audience for any football code in the state. A 2018 study of internet traffic showed that 79% of Tasmanians are interested in Australian rules football, the highest rate in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasmanian Government Railways</span> Former government railway operator in Tasmania, Australia

The Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) was the former operator of the mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia. Formed in 1872, the railway company was managed by the Government of Tasmania, and existed until absorption into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasmanian Main Line Company</span> Private railway in Tasmania, Australia

The Tasmanian Main Line Company (T.M.L.) was a privately owned railway company that existed in Tasmania from 1872 to 1890. The company were the first operators of rail services between Hobart and Launceston, where it connected with the Launceston and Western Railway (L.W.R.).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobart Bus Mall</span> Bus interchange in Hobart, Tasmania

The Hobart Bus Mall is the main urban bus interchange for Metro Tasmania in the Hobart central business district. Situated on Elizabeth Street, it serves daily commuters from suburbs, nearby cities, and towns including Clarence, Glenorchy, Richmond, Cambridge and Kingborough. The interchange spans Elizabeth Street between Macquarie and Collins streets, with additional bus stops at Franklin Square and one on Liverpool Street near the Elizabeth Street Mall's north end. The interchange is within 500 metres (1,600 ft) of connecting coach services on Murray Street, ferry services and airport bus services at Brooke Street Pier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Line, Tasmania</span> Railway line in Tasmania, Australia

The South Line, also known as the Main Line and sometimes the North/South Line or the North–South Line, is a rail corridor connecting Hobart to the northern ports of Tasmania. The Railway Line was built by the Tasmanian Main Line Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeehan railway station</span> Railway station in Western Tasmania, Australia

Zeehan railway station in Tasmania, was a major junction and railway yard for numerous different railway and tramway systems in western Tasmania in the town of Zeehan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Hobart</span> History and overview of tram network in Hobart, Australia

Trams operated in Hobart, the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania, between 1893 and 1960. The city had an extensive and popular system that reached most of its suburbs. It was the first complete electric tram system in the Southern Hemisphere, and the only one in Australia to operate double-decker trams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart</span> Hotel building in Hobart, Tasmania

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart is a twelve-storey hotel located on the waterfront of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bass Strait ferries</span> Ferry services between Tasmania and mainland Australia

Bass Strait Ferries have been the ships that have been used for regular transport across Bass Strait between Tasmania and Victoria in mainland Australia, as well as the various attempts to link Tasmania with Sydney. Historically, some regular shipping services in the twentieth century linked Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart with the Bass Strait ports: Launceston's various port locations, Devonport and Burnie. The distinction between coastal shipping and Bass Strait ferry has been blurred at times.

The rail transport in the island state of Tasmania, Australia has had many train accidents since its historic opening in 1871. The following is a list of train related accidents that have occurred on Tasmania's rail network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverline (Hobart)</span> Proposed light rail system in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Riverline, also known as the Northern Suburbs Railway, is a proposed light rail system that would traverse the southernmost section of the South Railway Line, through the northern suburbs of Hobart, Tasmania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasman Limited</span> Passenger train in Tasmania, 1954 and 1978

The Tasman Limited was a passenger train operated by Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) on the Main and Western lines between Hobart, Launceston and Wynyard from April 1954 to July 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Square (Hobart)</span> Public square in Hobart, Tasmania

Franklin Square is a 1.6-acre (0.63-hectare) oak-lined public square located in the Hobart City Centre in Tasmania, Australia. It is named for Sir John Franklin, an Arctic explorer and former Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land. The centrepiece of the park is a statue of Franklin, with an epitaph written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. As the city's most central urban parkland and transportation hub, Franklin Square is frequently utilised for festive markets, public gatherings and as a place for public protest.

References

  1. ↑ McKay, Crystal (21 July 2024). "It's been 45 years since Tasmania's last passenger train service ran. Could it make a comeback?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Townsley, W. A (August 1956), "The Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company", Papers and Proceedings: Tasmanian Historical Research Association, 5 (3): 40–52, ISSN   0039-9809
  3. ↑ "Modern Design of New Hobart Railway Station". The Mercury . Vol. CLXXII, no. 25, 456. Tasmania, Australia. 23 July 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 24 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Hobart's last freight train driver celebrates 138 years of family service". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 23 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  5. ↑ Howard, Jessica (22 June 2014). "End of the line for TasRail's last train out of Hobart". The Mercury (Hobart) . Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Hobart Railway Good Shed Permanent Listing on the Tasmanian Heritage Register". Heritage Tasmania. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Cooper G, Goss G (1996). Tasmanian Railways 1871-1996; 125 years. Devonport: CG publishing Co. ISBN   0-646-27633-6.
  8. ↑ "Main Line to be Deviated". The Advocate (Australia) . Tasmania, Australia. 2 February 1937. p. 2. Retrieved 24 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Proposed New Railway Station for Hobart". The Mercury . Vol. CXLVII, no. 20, 854. Tasmania, Australia. 25 September 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 24 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "New Station". The Mercury . Vol. CLXIII, no. 23, 453. Tasmania, Australia. 5 February 1946. p. 17. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "Day by Day". The Mercury . Vol. CLXI, no. 23, 187. Tasmania, Australia. 28 March 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "Hobart Railway Station". The Examiner (Tasmania) . Vol. CV, no. 56. Tasmania, Australia. 16 May 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Modern Hobart Railway Station Planned". The Mercury . Vol. CLXIII, no. 23, 496. Tasmania, Australia. 27 March 1946. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  14. ↑ "Rail-Bus Terminal". The Examiner (Tasmania) . Vol. CVI, no. 181. Tasmania, Australia. 10 October 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ "Joint Rail, Bus Terminals?". The Examiner (Tasmania) . Vol. CVI, no. 180. Tasmania, Australia. 9 October 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  16. ↑ "Modern Weighbridge For Hobart Station". The Mercury . Vol. CLXX, no. 24, 546. Tasmania, Australia. 13 August 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ "Scheme to Move Hobart Railway Station "Impracticable"". The Mercury . Vol. CLXVII, no. 24, 884. Tasmania, Australia. 6 September 1950. p. 12. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ↑ "Station Nearer Domain "Not Practicable"". The Mercury . Vol. CLXVII, no. 24, 883. Tasmania, Australia. 19 September 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "Agreement on Plan for Hobart Station". The Mercury . Vol. CLXVII, no. 24, 874. Tasmania, Australia. 8 September 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ "Tenders Let for New Railway Station at Hobart". The Mercury . Vol. CLXIX, no. 25, 053. Tasmania, Australia. 7 April 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "Railway Yards Viaduct Scheme for Expert Study". The Mercury . Vol. CLXXII, no. 25, 518. Tasmania, Australia. 3 October 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  22. ↑ "New Platforms to Be Used". The Mercury . Vol. CLXXIII, no. 25, 844. Tasmania, Australia. 17 October 1953. p. 25. Retrieved 25 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  23. ↑ Stokes, H.J.W. (1978) The Rise and Fall of the Tasman Limited, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, vol XXIX, number 493 November 1978, pp.237 - 244.
  24. ↑ Winder, Adair (18 April 2024). "Hobart's proposed Mac Point Stadium faces precarious future following heritage listing of goods shed". Architecture Australia . Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  25. ↑ Rowbottom, Chris (8 July 2024). "Mixed reaction to Hobart's new Macquarie Point stadium design, as architects explain concept". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  26. ↑ Robertson, David (18 September 2018). "Curious Hobart: A love story between a city, and its 'UFO roundabout'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  27. 1 2 "The Hobart Round House". The Examiner (Tasmania) . Vol. LXXIV, no. 248. Tasmania, Australia. 18 October 1915. p. 7 (DAILY). Retrieved 23 July 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ Johnson, Sian (23 November 2015). "MONA to shape new public space for Hobart". Architecture Australia . Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2024.

42°52′39.38″S147°19′57.32″E / 42.8776056°S 147.3325889°E / -42.8776056; 147.3325889

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.