Williamstown railway station, Melbourne

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 Metlink Zone 1.

In 2009 it was the eighth least used metropolitan railway station in Melbourne, with an average of 470 passenger boardings per day.^[1]

Station overview

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, 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.

History

Work on the line started under the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company, 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[4]

Platforms, services and connecting bus service

Platform 1:

• Williamstown line - all stations services to Newport and Flinders Street.

• 471 Williamstown - Sunshine via Victoria Street, Williamstown Station, Douglas Parade, Newport Station, Mason Street, Altona Gate SC, Grieve Parade, Fairbairn Road, Durham Road, Sunshine Station.

Gallery

References