ONE of the oldest railway relics in Sutherland Shire is threatened with demolition.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
RailCorp has proposed to the NSW Heritage Council the graffiti-covered former Loftus junction signal box be removed from the State Heritage Register.
This would allow the building to be demolished or relocated.
If the latter occurred, RailCorp would not have to bear the cost of maintaining it.
The signal box was built in 1886 at the junction of the new Illawarra line and a branch line to a colonial military training camp in the Royal National Park.
It has not been used since the branch line closed in 1991 and no equipment remains.
The proposal to remove the signal box from the heritage register was advertised by RailCorp and a "public consultation period" ended last month.
Loftus resident Peter Neve, a retired RailCorp heritage officer, said if the move went ahead "this unique reminder of Sutherland Shire's colonial history" would be demolished.
Mr Neve said he would like to see the signal box moved across the tracks to a corner of the tramway museum site.
"The tramway museum doesn't really want it because it is not part of their history, but they would accommodate it if RailCorp continued to meet maintenance costs," he said.
"If it is removed from the heritage register RailCorp will no longer have responsibility to maintain it."
Mr Neve said the signal box was part of the Royal National Park branch line, which was built to service a military camp for 3200 men, including cavalry, artillery, engineers and infantry.
"All travelled by rail to and from the camp at Loftus, as it was then known," he said.
"On Easter Monday, many thousands of the general public also travelled by train to view the activities.
"Special carriages were put on to convey the extra passengers and at least one train was made up of specially cleaned cattle wagons.
"Other military railways were constructed after Federation, but the line to Loftus was the only one constructed for use by a colonial (state) army."
A Sutherland Shire Council spokeswoman said the signal box was still listed on its heritage register under the Local Environmental Plan.
An independent consultant was reviewing heritage items on that list.
REVIEW UNDERTAKEN
A RailCorp spokesman said it had more than 180 items, or groups of items, on the State Heritage Register. To maintain the list’s integrity, it had recommended the addition of some items and the de-listing of others after reassessment. While being an early design, this signal box did not demonstrate any technically significant features. The spokesman said a 2009 review found it did not meet present criteria for listing on the heritage register. He said once a determination was made on its proposal, RailCorp would consider options for its future.
■ Should the signal box be retained on the heritage register?