Williamstown railway station, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Williamstown is a railway station in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
located in the suburb of Williamstown
, and is the terminus of the Williamstown railway line. Williamstown is classed as a Premium Station
and is in Metcard
Zone 1.
In 2009 it was the eighth least used metropolitan railway station in Melbourne, with an average of 470 passenger boardings per day.
Williamstown station consists of one side platform
, with a large timber building in the centre, with an enclosed waiting room, ticket facilities and toilets. A large Metcard
ticket vending machine is located inside the waiting room, which is able to dispense most ticketing options available and accepts notes and coins. Additional coin-only Metcard and myki
ticket vending machines are also located in the waiting area.
, but were taken over by the government in 1856 after work faltered. Builders Kerr, Hodgson and Billings commenced work on the timber Williamstown station building in 1858, with the station opened to traffic on 17 January 1859. Arched bluestone road bridges were built over the cutting at Thompson and Cole Streets. Until 1987 the railway track used to continue around the bend to the now closed Williamstown Pier railway station. Williamstown was upgraded to a Premium Station on 18 June 1996.
The building is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
and is the second oldest railway station in Victoria, after St Kilda. It is also the oldest timber railway station building to survive in the state, and one of the earliest surviving timber public buildings in Victoria.
The central section of the station building remains today, but was originally flanked by two pavilions: one the stationmasters residence and on the other refreshment rooms. A now removed timber and iron veranda lined the street side of the station, while on the rail side the original platform canopy extended along the platform much further.
The Ann Street footbridge was installed c1883, and on electrification in 1916 the Thompson Street road bridge arch was removed and replaced with girder spans to provide increased clearance. Railway sidings
, a signal box
and weighbridge were once located opposite the station, but have been since removed.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
located in the suburb of Williamstown
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
, and is the terminus of the Williamstown railway line. Williamstown is classed as a Premium Station
Premium station
A premium station is a category of railway station on Melbourne's Metro Rail Network which is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne. In terms of station standards, a premium station is a high standard station which sits above the medium standard host stations and the low standard unmanned...
and is in Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
Zone 1.
In 2009 it was the eighth least used metropolitan railway station in Melbourne, with an average of 470 passenger boardings per day.
Facilities
The station is located between Railway Terrace and Ann Street, with station access from the latter. A footbridge is located at the down end of the station which has been restored for public use.Williamstown station consists of one side platform
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
, with a large timber building in the centre, with an enclosed waiting room, ticket facilities and toilets. A large Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
ticket vending machine is located inside the waiting room, which is able to dispense most ticketing options available and accepts notes and coins. Additional coin-only Metcard and myki
Myki
myki is the contactless smartcard ticketing system being introduced on public transport in Victoria, Australia. myki is designed to replace a number of ticket systems in Victoria, primarily the Metcard and V/Line ticketing systems...
ticket vending machines are also located in the waiting area.
History
Work on the line started under the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway CompanyMelbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company
The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. It was established on 8 February 1853 to build a railway from Melbourne to Echuca on the Victorian-NSW border, as well as a branch railway to Williamstown, but struggled to make any progress...
, but were taken over by the government in 1856 after work faltered. Builders Kerr, Hodgson and Billings commenced work on the timber Williamstown station building in 1858, with the station opened to traffic on 17 January 1859. Arched bluestone road bridges were built over the cutting at Thompson and Cole Streets. Until 1987 the railway track used to continue around the bend to the now closed Williamstown Pier railway station. Williamstown was upgraded to a Premium Station on 18 June 1996.
The building is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
and is the second oldest railway station in Victoria, after St Kilda. It is also the oldest timber railway station building to survive in the state, and one of the earliest surviving timber public buildings in Victoria.
The central section of the station building remains today, but was originally flanked by two pavilions: one the stationmasters residence and on the other refreshment rooms. A now removed timber and iron veranda lined the street side of the station, while on the rail side the original platform canopy extended along the platform much further.
The Ann Street footbridge was installed c1883, and on electrification in 1916 the Thompson Street road bridge arch was removed and replaced with girder spans to provide increased clearance. Railway sidings
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
, a signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
and weighbridge were once located opposite the station, but have been since removed.
Platforms, services and connecting bus service
Platform 1:- Williamstown line - all stations services to NewportNewport railway station, MelbourneNewport is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Newport, at the junction of the Werribee and Williamstown railway lines...
and Flinders StreetFlinders Street StationFlinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
.
- 471 Williamstown - SunshineSunshine, VictoriaSunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
via Victoria Street, Williamstown Station, Douglas Parade, Newport Station, Mason Street, Altona Gate SCAltona Gate Shopping CentreAltona Gate Shopping Centre is a sub regional shopping centre located in Altona North, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It fronts onto Millers Road just south of the West Gate Freeway exit. It is serviced by bus via route from Melbourne city centre and route from Sunshine or Williamstown...
, Grieve Parade, Fairbairn Road, Durham Road, Sunshine StationSunshine railway station, MelbourneSunshine is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Sunshine, on the Sydenham railway line. It is the junction for the line west to Ballarat...
.