Lismore railway station

Lismore
Lismore railway station in 2023
General information
LocationUnion Street, Lismore
Coordinates28°48′35″S 153°16′12″E / 28.8096°S 153.2700°E / -28.8096; 153.2700
Owned byTransport Asset Holding Entity
Operated byNSW TrainLink
Line(s)Murwillumbah
Distance836.03 kilometres from Central
Platforms1
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeGround
History
Opened15 May 1894
Closed16 May 2004
Route map
North Coast line to Sydney
805
Casino
North Coast line to Brisbane
Old Casino
North Casino
Naughtons Gap
Bentley
Bungabbee
Fernside
Leycester
Cubawee
Tuncester
Lismore
North Lismore
Woodlawn College
Woodlawn
Bexhill
Eltham
Laureldale
Booyong Junction
The Halt
Tyumba
Nioka
Teven
Miroma
Ballina
Booyong
Nashua
Binna Burra
Bangalow
Talofa
St Helena
Byron Bay
Shirley Street crossing
Byron Beach
Kendal Street crossing
Belongil Creek Bridge
North Byron
Quarry Siding
Tyagarah
Myocum
Mullumbimby
Billinudgel
Yelgun
Crabbes Creek
Mooball
Burringbar
Upper Burringbar
Stokers
Dunbible
Murwillumbah
Condong

Lismore railway station is a heritage-listed former station on the Murwillumbah line at Lismore, New South Wales, Australia, which opened in 1894 and was closed in 2004. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]

The station forecourt is served by NSW TrainLink coach services to Casino and Tweed Heads.[2]

History

The station opened on 15 May 1894.[3] It closed on 16 May 2004 when the line from Casino was closed.[4] Since 2004 it has operated only as a bus and coach stopping point.[5] In 2012 and 2015, the station was used as the location for the well received NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts) production "Railway Wonderland".[6] Following damage caused by the devastating 2022 floods that hit Lismore particularly hard, the station building has been boarded up pending decisions regarding its possible future reinstatement as part of a tourism focused "rail trail".[7][8][9]

Platforms and services

Lismore had one platform, with a passing loop. It was served by trains from Sydney including the North Coast Mail until 1973 when replaced by the Gold Coast Motorail which in February 1990 was replaced by a XPT service.[10]

Description

Platform and station building from the north east (2023 photograph)
Platform and station building from the south (2023 photograph)

The former station complex consists of a third-class timber station building of a type 4 standard roadside design with a brick platform; a 2-road carriage shed with a sawtooth roof, originally 15 bays and later extended to 21 bays and a 2-road, corrugated iron locomotive shed in a straight shed design, all dating from 1894. The former station residence is located at 18 Malendy Drive.[1]

Heritage listing

1180 – Lismore Railway Station group – SHR Plan No 1180 (5012081b100)

Lismore station and yard group is an excellent group of railway structures with elements rarely found together and extant on the rail system. The station building is a rare timber roadside station with excellent detailing and a very fine verandah to the street facade. The utility buildings are individually significant as rare examples of their type and together in a group. The whole group forms an important unit in the townscape of Lismore and, combined with adjacent civic buildings, contributes important elements to the townscape.[1]

Lismore railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]

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

This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as scientifically rare. This item is assessed as arch. rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Lismore Railway Station group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01180. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
  2. ^ "North Coast timetable". NSW TrainLink. 7 September 2019.
  3. ^ Lismore Station Archived 15 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine NSWRail.net
  4. ^ Closure of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail service Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine NSW Parliament November 2004
  5. ^ NSW Transport: Lismore Station
  6. ^ NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts): Railway Wonderland
  7. ^ http://www.railtrails.org.au: Funding announced for Bentley to Lismore section of Northern Rivers rail trail
  8. ^ iStock photos: The worst floods in history have devastated the Northern Rivers City of Lismore. Railway station reflects other problems.
  9. ^ Lismore City News, 6 January 2023: Northern Rivers Rail Trail Lismore to Bentley plans move ahead – includes "Artist impression of how Lismore station will look after work is complete".
  10. ^ "The New Timetable" Railway Digest March 1990 page 94