Hamilton railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Newcastle line in the inner Newcastle suburb of Hamilton in New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
On 5 January 2015, Hamilton became the temporary terminus for NSW TrainLink's Central Coast & Newcastle and Hunter line services after the partial closure of the Newcastle line. It fulfilled this role until Newcastle Interchange opened on 15 October 2017.Wickham Transport Interchange Transport for NSW July 2014Revitalisation of Newcastle CBD continues as Wickham interchange gets the green light Transport for NSW 14 November 2014Tender awarded to design and construct new Wickham interchange Transport for NSW 18 December 2014Revitalising Newcastle: Hamilton Station re-opens today Transport for NSW 5 January 2015Newcastle Interchange Transport for NSW
History
The Main Northern line between Sydney and Newcastle was constructed in two distinct stages and in the earliest years, was worked as two separate railway systems. The line between Sydney (actually the junction at Strathfield) and the Hawkesbury River was opened on 5 April 1887, with the terminus being on the southern bank of the Hawkesbury River. The line between Newcastle and the northern bank of the Hawkesbury River (near present-day Wondabyne) was opened in January 1888. The line was completed through between Sydney and Newcastle with the opening of the massive rail bridge over the Hawkesbury River in 1889.
Hamilton is located on the Northern line, between Broadmeadow and Newcastle Interchange. In 1857, the railway was opened in the Newcastle area when a line was opened from Honeysuckle Point to East Maitland. Unfortunately, neither of these locations were near sea ports, one of the main reasons for the establishment of rail transport in the Newcastle area.
By 1858, the Newcastle-end had been extended to the sea port and the East Maitland-end had been extended into the town of Maitland. By the 1870s, the Main Northern line had been extended further up the Hunter Valley and to Murrurundi. Initially, single lines were laid in the area, but by the 1860s, most lines had been duplicated.
Hamilton Railway Station was opened in 1872, between Newcastle and Waratah.
In January 1888, a line had been constructed from Hamilton, south to the Hawkesbury River. The railway junction between the GNR and the new main line toward the Hawkesbury River was named Hamilton Junction. A signal box was built at Hamilton Junction in 1888, later being replaced by a new elevated brick, standard style signal box in 1898.
In 1892, a locomotive depot was built in the triangular area of land formed by the line from Newcastle toward Maitland, the line from Hamilton toward the Hawkesbury River and the line between Waratah and Broadmeadow, which in effect joined the GNR to the line to Sydney. The locomotive depot replaced the first depot in the Newcastle area – Honeysuckle Point. Hamilton locomotive depot was itself replaced by the much larger Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in 1924.
At Hamilton, two side platforms were built, one for the Up main line and one for the Down main line. A goods yard was laid in behind the Down (northern side) platforms. A number of station buildings (in brick) were constructed on each platform.
At the Sydney-end of the platforms, Beaumont Street crossed the main lines and part of the goods yard, and a footbridge (parallel to Beaumont Street) spanned the main lines allowing access to the platforms. Pedestrians normally crossed the railway tracks using the Beaumont Street level crossing, but when a train was due in either direction, and the level crossing gates were closed, the same pedestrians could use the station footbridge to cross the tracks.
Hamilton Junction signal box (also at the Sydney-end of the platforms and adjacent to the level crossing) controlled the main lines, the level crossing gates and access to the nearby Substation / Electrical and Mechanical depot sidings. Up until 1924, Hamilton Junction signal box also controlled the entry and departure (by locomotives) to Hamilton locomotive depot, situated in the triangle.
Between 1890 and the 1970s railway gardens proliferated, with competitions and prizes for the best ones. A Railway Nursery was set up at Homebush station in Sydney in 1923 and another smaller one at Hamilton station although most plants were sourced from staff's home gardens or donations by residents.Longworth, 2012, 4
Electrification of the main line between Gosford and Newcastle was opened in May 1984, an extension of the Sydney-Gosford electrification which had been completed in 1960. The new electrification project involved new or rebuilt platforms, station buildings, footbridges, overbridges and underbridges, line side buildings, sidings and myriad structures in that section in order to permit the operation of the wider electric passenger rollingstock and electric locomotives.
Accordingly, some upgrading was undertaken at Hamilton, and that included total replacement of the original footbridge. Some station buildings on each platform have been upgraded, but the original brick main station buildings on each platform are extant, albeit with some modern features. The goods sidings behind the down main line platform have been removed. The existing Hamilton Junction signal box retains control of the main lines and Beaumont Street level crossing.
In 2007, Platform 1 was extended eastwards to accommodate eight carriages and allow Beaumont Street level crossing to remain open while trains are at the station.Newcastle Rail Corridor Upgrade Projects NSW Premier's Office In January 2015, Platform 2 was extended eastwards to accommodate eight carriages.
As part of the works to relocate the line's terminus to Newcastle Interchange, stabling sidings are to be laid behind Platform 2 on the site of the former goods yard.
Services
Hamilton has two side platforms. It is serviced by Sydney Trains Intercity Central Coast & Newcastle Line services travelling between Sydney Central, Gosford and Newcastle. and Sydney Trains Intercity Hunter line services travelling between Newcastle, Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Telarah and Dungog.
Hamilton Station is served by a number of bus routes operated by Newcastle Transport.Hamilton station Transport for NSW
Description The heritage-listed station complex includes the station buildings on Platform 1 ( 1875, altered 1898) and Platform 2 (1898), toilet block, store room ( 1898), signal box (1898), platforms ( 1984), level crossing, footbridge (1976) and the station landscaping.
The station is located immediately east of the Beaumont Street level crossing and comprises two platforms (each with a platform building) and modern footbridge. All station buildings have been painted cream in colour. The southern side of the station contains a small garden and commuter carpark, whilst the northern side contains several buildings amongst a large amount of cleared area following the removal of a goods yard. Immediately to the west of the level crossing is the Hamilton Junction Signal Box and Hamilton Depot (see separate listing). Two early twentieth century pubs, one either side of the Beaumont Street crossing, reflect the importance of the Junction as a major working hub.
The station building on Platform 1 is a single storey face brickwork building with gabled corrugated iron roof. The building is thought to be the original 1875 third-class station building, modified in 1898 to its current configuration. The awning is supported on curved cast iron brackets and has been extended to the east where it forms a large sheltered seating area adjacent to the ticket office. The roof form of this enclosed seating area follows the form of the station building. Three brick chimney stacks with corbelled string courses are located at the northern end of the station building. Both ends of the station have retained their original timber scrolled bargeboards and finials which add greatly to the otherwise utilitarian structure. The easternmost wall of the station building (seating area) features a corrugated iron wall. The building is typical of the suburban and regional railway stations constructed during the last decades of the late nineteenth century. As per these buildings all windows are timber framed double hung sash windows. Doors are four panelled generally with glazing in the upper panels.
Internally, the walls are painted plaster, and original joinery is generally extant. Floor finishes are generally modern (either tiled or linoleum). Ceilings are modern plasterboard with cornices, although some original boarded ceilings remain. The station masters office features a timber mantelpiece and a blocked fireplace.
Externally, The station building on Platform 2 (Down Platform) is very similar to the building on Platform 1, being of brick construction with a corrugated iron gabled roof, and replaced an earlier building on Platform 2. The roof features bargeboards (not scrolled) and timber finials. There is a central double breasted chimney stack with corbelled brick string course. A small awning (not the whole length of the building) is supported on arching cast iron brackets and features timber valances. All external original joinery is still extant, including double hung sash windows. The eastern end of the building features an attached brick toilet block with gabled roof (slightly lower than the station building), also with bargeboards and finial. The toilet block wall presents three recessed lower bays and six sets of air vents to the platform side, and is entered by an arched brick opening.
A small brick toilet block exists at the eastern end of Platform 1. The building has a tiled floor and corrugated iron gabled roof, and is likely to be the most recent building to have been constructed on the platforms at Hamilton railway station.
A small store room is located at the Newcastle (eastern) end of the Platform 1 building. It is unsure when the structure was built, but it features in a c.1900 photograph of the station. The building is square in plan and is of brick construction with a corrugated iron hipped roof. Access is by a door in the eastern wall, while the northern wall features a small window. A storage box for a wheelchair ramp is attached to the northern wall.
Hamilton Junction signal box is located adjacent to the main Sydney to Newcastle railway line and Beaumont Street at the Sydney-end of Hamilton railway station. The signal box is a two-storey Type E2 structure. The ground floor is of brick construction and features four six pane arched windows on the northern (railway line) elevation. The southern (Esplanade) elevation is of brick construction to roof height with two timber framed sash windows, while the northern wall is brick to sill height, above which sliding timber-framed six pane glazed windows extend around the perimeter. The gabled roof is corrugated fibre cement sheeting with gables of tongue-and-groove timber horizontal boarding. Original timber barge boards and finials have been removed, as has the original stair and balcony on the eastern (Beaumont Street) elevation which has been replaced with a utilitarian steel structure. A corbelled brick chimney has been removed from the centre of the rear elevation. The building has been painted cream in colour.