St Peters railway station

St Peters
Station in December 2006
Location Princes Highway, St Peters
Coordinates 33°54′27″S 151°10′49″E / 33.90745833°S 151.180275°E / -33.90745833; 151.180275Coordinates: 33°54′27″S 151°10′49″E / 33.90745833°S 151.180275°E / -33.90745833; 151.180275
Owned by RailCorp
Operated by Sydney Trains
Line(s) Illawarra
Distance 3.81 kilometres from Central
Platforms 4 (2 island)
Tracks 4
Connections Bus
Construction
Structure type Ground
Disabled access No
Other information
Status Staffed
Station code SAP
Website Transport for NSW
History
Opened 15 October 1884
Electrified Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2013) 3,380 (daily)[1] (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank 69
Services
Preceding station   Sydney Trains   Following station
towards Lidcombe or Liverpool
T3
Bankstown Line
towards City Circle
towards Macarthur
T8
Airport & South Line
towards City Circle

St Peters railway station is located on the Illawarra line, serving the Sydney suburb of St Peters. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Bankstown line services. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[2]

History

St Peters station opened on 15 October 1884 as part of the construction of the Illawarra line to Hurstville. St Peters was one of the more substantial stations of the eight built in 1884 reflecting the importance of the locality for industry and residential development. The two brick side platform buildings were constructed as a large second-class station building (Platform 1/2, demolished) and a smaller third-class station building (on the current Platform 3/4) with a small footbridge at the "Down" end of the platforms.[2]

In 1887 Josiah Gentle moved the Bedford Brickworks (established 1877 in Alexandria) to St Peters (located opposite the station on land which is now Sydney Park). This was one of the most important brickworks in Sydney in the late 19th century. The brickworks continued to operate at St Peters until the 1970s.[2]

With quadruplification of the line in 1900, brick retaining walls were built at the station side boundaries. The original Platform 1/2 building was demolished in c. 1925 and replaced by a standard island platform building.[2].

Historically, the station was served by Bankstown, East Hills and Illawarra services, however from the early 1990s to 2017 it was served only by the former.[3][4][5] Following the introduction of the 2017 Sydney Trains timetable, Airport Line services once again stop at St Peters (in peak hours only).

To the west of the station, lies an incomplete island platform. It was originally built in the 1970s as part of the construction of the Eastern Suburbs line when the alignment between Erskineville and Sydenham was expanded to accommodate six tracks. This was abandoned as a cost-cutting exercise. The CityRail Clearways Project envisaged reviving this plan, with stopping trains serving only the newly completed western platforms. However, this project was cancelled in November 2008.[6]

In 1990, the station building on the western platform was demolished and replaced by a waiting shelter.[5][7]

Future

As part of the Sydney Metro project, in 2024 the Bankstown line will be converted to a rapid transit line with a new underground line north of Sydenham that will bypass St Peters. It is proposed that Illawarra services will once again call at the station.[8][9]

Platforms & services

Platform Line Stopping pattern Notes
1 services to Central & the City Circle [10]
limited morning peak services to Central & the City Circle[11]
2 services to Lidcombe & Liverpool via Bankstown [10]
limited evening peak services to Campbelltown[11]
3 no regular services T4 and T8 services sometimes stop when the Bankstown Line is closed for trackwork
4 no regular services T4 and T8 services sometimes stop when the Bankstown Line is closed for trackwork

State Transit operates one route via St Peters station:

Transit Systems operates two routes via St Peters station:

St Peters station is served by two NightRide routes:

Description

St. Peters Railway Station is located on the Princes Highway (aka King Street) near the intersection with Sydney Park Road, to the west of the Princes Highway rail overbridge. The station is accessed via a footbridge from Lord Street, Newtown, and via a pedestrian pathway and then footbridge from the Princes Highway. The railway station is within a cutting with high brick retaining walls. There are two island platforms: Platform 3/4 on the southern side, and Platform 1/2 on the northern side, and another disused and overgrown island platform on the northern side of the station adjacent to Lord Street.[2]

The station complex includes the Platform 3/4 building and three island platforms (1884), brick retaining walls (1900), footbridge (1914), King Street (Princes Highway) overbridge (c. 1900), overhead booking office and shop (1914, altered in c. 1949 and 1999) and platform 1/2 canopy (1990).[2]

Platform 3/4 building (1884)

This is a painted brick third class single storey platform building, with an awning the full length of the building on the southern side, and an awning along part of the length of the building on the northern side. The building has two brick chimneys to a gabled corrugated steel roof. Awnings to Platform 3 have a decorative metal valance to the ends of the awning (note: this pattern also occurs at Sydenham). The building features moulded stucco sills and heads to windows, original late Victorian period timber double doors with arched fanlights, each fanlight having two vertical glazing bars. Windows are timber framed double hung. There is a timber tongue & grooved door opening onto Platform 4. The Platform 4 awning has a timber bargeboard and timber valance, and is cantilevered on steel posts and brackets. There is stop chamfered brickwork to window and door openings.[2]

The interior is as follows: From east end: Room 1: very high plaster ceiling with plaster ceiling rose, marble mantelpiece, deteriorated timber floor, some wall linings missing. Room 2: ripple iron ceiling with metal ceiling rose, timber floor, fitted timber seating. Timber floor and fitted timber seating has visible termite damage. Room 3: timber floor, chimney breast, high plaster ceiling with plaster ceiling rose. Room 4: toilets with ripple iron ceiling with metal ceiling rose. Toilet fit out features toilet cubicles with late Victorian period timber 4-panel doors and architraves (possibly salvaged from elsewhere). Otherwise c.1970s toilet fit out.[2]

It was reported to be in moderate condition as at 28 June 2009, with some damage to timber.[2]

Island platforms (1884)

There are 3 island platforms: at the northern edge of the station adjacent to Lord Street a disused overgrown island platform; Platforms 1 and 2 with partly brick edges, partly concrete edges, and asphalt surfaces; and Platforms 3 & 4 at the southern side of the station with brick edges. Platform 4 is curved on its southern side.[2]

Brick retaining walls (1900)

Brick retaining walls extend both sides of the railway station, and extend to the eastern side of the brick overbridge.[2]

Footbridge (1914)

Access to the station is via a footbridge with a Dorman Long & Co steel structure with two sets of taper-haunched girders - one set for street access, the other for platform interchange, stairs, railings and star pattern newel posts. The footbridge has a hardie-board deck, and two brick supports underneath.[2]

King Street (Princes Highway) overbridge (c. 1900

Brick overbridge over all lines.[2]

Overhead booking office and shop (1914, altered c. 1949, 1999)

Located on the footbridge, the overhead booking office is extensively altered and includes a fibro ticket office with a hipped corrugated steel roof and a small fibro shop, also with a hipped corrugated steel roof, and a modern awning structure.[2]

Platform 1/2 canopy (c. 1995)

A modern platform canopy structure with steel posts on concrete bases and a corrugated steel roof. This replaced a 1914 platform building demolished c. 1995.[2]

Integrity

The Platform 3/4 building is remarkably intact including its interior. The footbridge has been redecked but its otherwise intact. The station as a whole lacks integrity due the loss of the Platform 1/2 building.[2]

Modifications and dates

  • 1900: quadruplication of the line, construction of brick retaining walls, new King St overbridge
  • 1908: platforms extended
  • 1914: the 1884 Platform 1/2 building was demolished and replaced, footbridges and overhead booking office constructed.
  • c. 1949: overhead booking office extensively altered and shop built on footbridge
  • 1995: The 1914 Platform 1/2 building demolished and platform canopy built in its place
  • 1999-2000: Footbridge: Hardie board decks and recladding of footbridge buildings; Platform 3/4 building: re-roofed, reinforced glass to some windows; extensive alterations to overhead booking office.[2]

Heritage listing

This is a good example of a standard early second class building and forms part of a group of structures in the area that indicate the early history of the station. It also demonstrates adaptability with the original small 2 bay awning on one face and the later cantilevered awning to the rear or former street facade of the building. It is the last remnant at the site of the early period of railway development. Brick retaining walls are a significant part of the heritage as the railway builders sought to locate lines in restricted space without resuming too much property.Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Division intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available.[2]

St Peters railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[2]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

St. Peters Railway Station is of historical significance as one of the earliest stations on the Illawarra Line and for its role in the development of the St Peters/Newtown area since 1884. Developed from 1884 to the present, St. Peters Railway Station demonstrates its development over time, retaining an 1884 platform building on Platform 3/4 and 1884 brick faced platforms; brick retaining walls and overbridge (1900) and Dorman Long & Co steel footbridge and stairs (1914).[2]

The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history.

The steel footbridge and stairs have historical association with the renowned engineering firm Dorman Long & Co. which designed and manufactured these structures.[2]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

St. Peters Railway Station, with its platform building, brick retaining walls, brick overbridge and steel footbridge and stairs is of aesthetic significance as a collection of late 19th to early 20th century railway station structures.[2]

The fine third class Platform 3/4 building is of aesthetic significance as a simple late Victorian station building with awnings which demonstrate adaptability, having an original small 2 bay awning on Platform 3, and a later cantilevered awning to Platform 4 (the former street facade), demonstrating trends in Railway architecture in this time period.[2]

The 1914 haunched beam steel footbridge structure and stairs designed and manufactured by renowned engineers Dorman Long & Co is of aesthetic/technical significance as a well designed engineering structure of this period and for its decorative features such as stair railings and star pattern newel posts.[2]

The place has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

The place has the potential to contribute to the local community's sense of place, and can provide a connection to the local community's past.[2]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The surviving interior and exterior detailing of the 1884 Platform 3/4 building and its awnings is considered rare on the Illawarra Line (one of only five stations on the Illawarra line with 3rd class platform building).[2]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

The 1884 Platform 3/4 building is representative of 1880s railway station platform building design, being a standard third class platform building. It is very intact, including interiors. The 1914 footbridge is one of a number of examples of Dorman Long & Co steel footbridges of this period on the Illawarra Line (other examples at St. Peters, Erskineville).[2]

References

  1. ↑ Bureau of Transport Statistics. "Train Statistics 2014" (PDF). Transport NSW. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "St Peters Railway Station Group, New South Wales State Heritage Register (NSW SHR) Number H01250". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Station Information N to Z State Rail Authority 1998
  4. ↑ St Peters Station NSWrail.net
  5. 1 2 St Peters Railway Station Group NSW Environment & Heritage
  6. ↑ Mini-Budget 2008/09 page 25 New South Wales Treasury November 2008
  7. ↑ "St Peters upgrade" Railway Digest March 1990 page 93
  8. ↑ "Metro fast rail fail: Illawarra line may have slower journey" St George and Sutherland Shire Leader 25 June 2015
  9. ↑ ”Stops bypassed by Metro Rail” Inner West Courier 30 June 2015
  10. 1 2 "T3: Bankstown line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  11. 1 2 "T8: Airport & South line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  12. ↑ "State Transit route 370". Transport for NSW.
  13. ↑ "Transit Systems route 308". Transport for NSW.
  14. ↑ "Transit Systems route 422". Transport for NSW.
  15. ↑ "N10 Nightride". Transport for NSW.
  16. ↑ "N11 Nightride". Transport for NSW.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article contains material from St Peters Railway Station Group, entry number 01250 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.

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