Addresses
Type of place
Railway station
Period
Victorian 1860-1890, Interwar 1919-1939
Style
Arts and Crafts
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Wilston Railway Station
Wilston Railway Station
Addresses
Type of place
Railway station
Period
Victorian 1860-1890, Interwar 1919-1939
Style
Arts and Crafts
Wilston Railway Station was established in 1899 when the Enoggera railway line was first opened. Its construction had a significant impact on the residential growth and development of the area in the early twentieth century and Wilston experienced some of the highest traffic of all stations on that line. Around 1921, when the line was duplicated and an island platform installed, the current shelter shed was built. The pedestrian tunnel was built in 1935, replacing an earlier timber pedestrian bridge.
Lot plan
L43_CP827250
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (D) RepresentativeInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L43_CP827250
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (D) RepresentativeInteractive mapping
History
The Wilston Railway Station is located along the line which now terminates at the Ferny Grove Terminus. Between the initial opening in 1899 and late 1920 this line was extended from Mayne through to Dayboro via Enoggera, Ferny Grove and Samford. After the route had been determined and surveying was completed, the construction contract was let on 24 November 1897 to Valley and Bowser for £19,049. The first stage of the line concluded at Enoggera and was opened 5 February, 1899.
From the outset, the Windsor Shire Council and the Enoggera Divisional Board committed ratepayers’ funds to ensure this scheme would succeed. Unfortunately this agreement also required that rate payers were obliged to pay an annual share of the deficit for running the railway. This was not well received within the area when the railway ran at a loss.
Wilston was the second stop along the Enoggera line and dates from the opening of the line. It was envisaged that the Saleyard at Newmarket would provide the most important paying traffic for the railway. However, records indicate that passenger usage was also high. In the first year of operation (1900) 11,691 passengers used the railway at Wilston. The years 1910 (49,674) and 1920 (185,293) saw a steady increase in passenger numbers. The heaviest usage, up until 1963, occurred during the war and immediate post war years when the annual figure was in excess of 400,000 and 500,000 passengers. This large passenger usage, the highest station along the Enoggera line, provides evidence of the development of Wilston and its relevance as an inner city commuter suburb.
The station has been classified as a gate type ‘meaning it had a stationmistress in charge.’ With the duplication of the line in 1921 an island platform was installed. The Detail Plan from 1935 indicate that a pedestrian tunnel has replaced an earlier timber pedestrian bridge. Evidence indicates that the ‘shelter shed’ (railway station building) constructed of precast concrete panel, is of the type utilised by the railway during the inter war period, and would have been erected around 1921. It replaced an earlier “shelter shed” at the station.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
References
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Brisbane City Council Detail Plan No: 581
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Brisbane City Council Heritage. Moorooka District Character Study. (1996)
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Kerr, John. Notes on Queensland Railways. (1966-1972)
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Kerr, J 1988, Brunswick Street, Bowen Hills and Beyond: the Railways of the Northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australian Railway Historical Society, Brisbane
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)