Ballarat railway station

Ballarat
Eastbound view in December 2011
Location	Lydard Street North, Ballarat
Coordinates	37°33′31″S 143°51′34″E / 37.5587°S 143.8594°E / -37.5587; 143.8594Coordinates: 37°33′31″S 143°51′34″E / 37.5587°S 143.8594°E / -37.5587; 143.8594
Owned by	VicTrack
Operated by	V/Line
Line(s)	Serviceton
Distance	118.80 kilometres from Southern Cross
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	3
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	BAL
Fare zone	Myki zone 8
Website	Public Transport Victoria
History
Opened	11 April 1862
Services
Preceding station   V/Line   Following station Ballan toward Southern Cross Serviceton line Wendouree Terminus Serviceton line (Ararat line) Wendouree toward Ararat Serviceton line (Mildura line) Creswick toward Maryborough

Ballarat railway station is located on the Serviceton line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the city of Ballarat opening on 11 April 1862.^[1]

The extensive building complex is of major architectural and historical significance to Ballarat with most of its original 19th-century features intact. Preserved historic features include the largest surviving interlocking mechanical swing gates in Victoria at Lydiard Street, signal boxes and goods sheds and it is one of only three stations in Victoria to have had a 19th-century train shed (along with Geelong and St Kilda).^[2]

Disused stations Ballarat East, Warrenheip, Bungaree and Gordon are located between Ballarat and Ballan.

History

Eastbound view from Platform 1 in December 2007

Station front in December 2011

Construction on Ballarat West Railway Station began in 1862 with the original buildings constructed at a cost of almost 22,000 pounds with the original railway line to Melbourne going via Geelong to service the booming Ballarat goldfields.

A bluestone engine shed was built to the south and the goods shed to the north were added in 1863.^[3] In 1877 the footbridge and waiting rooms on the south side were added,.^[3] In 1885, hand operated railway gates were added at Lydiard Street, along with the "B" signal box used to operate it on the western side.

Age of Greatness

Following the opening of the direct line from Ballarat to Melbourne in December 1889, the increase in patronage led to plans to upgrade the station. A grand portico, stationmasters office and clocktower designed in 1888 were added in 1891 however the clock was not added at this time. With the closure of Ballarat East station and the amalgamation of councils, the station gradually dropped the name West Ballarat.

Preservation

On 13 December 1981 fire badly damaged the interiors of the 1888 section including the station-master's office, waiting room, booking office, dining room and clock tower.^[4] All of these areas were later repaired and retained. Many of the original features were restored however some interiors including the booking office were subsequently modernised.

In 1983, the Public Transport Corporation proposed to demolish the level crossing gates at Lydiard Street.^[5] The City of Ballarat, National Trust and Historic Buildings Council responded with a campaign to save the gates. A clock was added to the tower in 1984.

In 1990, conservationists succeeded in their lobby to preserve the railway gates and an automated mechanical system was built to allow for the continued use of the historic gates. Additional restoration was carried out in 2005 with the roof replaced with quarried Welsh slate to match the original southern roof.^[6]

Second boom

Following the 2006 Regional Fast Rail project and the introduction of V/Line VLocity trains as well as services to Ararat in 2005, passenger numbers at Ballarat station increased by as much as 40% a year.^[7] The resulted in the call for a second station, with Wendouree opening in June 2009 to alleviate congestion primarily caused by park and ride commuters from Ballarat's outer western suburbs. The station saw a further increase in trains following the resumption of services to Maryborough.

Platforms & services

Ballarat has two side platforms. It is serviced by V/Line Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough line services.^[8][9][10] Most services use Platform 1. Some services terminate at Ballarat.

Platform 1:

• Ballarat line: V/Line services to Wendouree & Southern Cross
• Ararat line: V/Line services to Ararat & Southern Cross
• Maryborough line: V/Line services to Maryborough & Southern Cross

Platform 2:

• Ballarat line: V/Line services to Wendouree & Southern Cross
• Ararat line: V/Line services to Ararat & Southern Cross
• Maryborough line: V/Line services to Maryborough & Southern Cross

Transport links

V/Line also operate road coach services from Ballarat station to:

• Bendigo via Maryborough & Castlemaine^[11]
• Halls Gap & the Grampians National Park via Ararat & Stawell^[12][13]
• Horsham, Dimboola, Nhill & Adelaide^[14]
• Geelong^[15]
• Hamilton & Mount Gambier^[16]
• Ouyen, Donald and Mildura^[17]

Trails

The station is the official starting point of two multiuse trails:

• Wallaby Track, part of the Great Dividing Trail, goes to Daylesford and Buninyong.
• Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail goes to Skipton.

References

Further reading

Martin, RL; Ford, RJ; Albazzaz, AJ (5–7 October 1992). The Ballarat Railway Station & Yards. Engineers Australia. ISBN 0-85825-567-7. 

External links

Media related to Ballarat railway station at Wikimedia Commons

• Rail Geelong gallery
• Victorian Railway Stations gallery
• Melway map