Waitākere Station Building and Shelter Shed
Maker and role
New Zealand Railways, Commissioned by
Production date
1879
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Object detail
Accession number
F1185.2003
Maker
Production period
Description
The lean-to portion of the station was built in 1879 as a general waiting room. It was also used as a goods shed, ticket lobby, produce stall and bicycle shed. In 1880, the larger portion of the building was constructed for use as a Post Office. In 1912, the Post Office was relocated and the building was converted to a railway station. When the station was shifted to MOTAT in 1972, one of the major problems was the removal of hand-wrought nails from the solid heart kauri timber used in its construction. The sliding doors on rollers were added at a later date.
The main station building has a hipped roof made from corrugated iron. Under the eaves, are a series of shaped brackets, a decorative feature that was popular at the time. Above the doorways, are sun hoods which are commonly seen in early houses above the doors and windows. There are moulded architraves around the doors, windows and the ticketing booth.
The main station building has a hipped roof made from corrugated iron. Under the eaves, are a series of shaped brackets, a decorative feature that was popular at the time. Above the doorways, are sun hoods which are commonly seen in early houses above the doors and windows. There are moulded architraves around the doors, windows and the ticketing booth.
Brief History
Built in 1879-1880, this building dates from the Julius Vogel area of railway development in New Zealand. Sir Julius Vogel was Colonial Treasurer and contributed to the planning of railways in Aotearoa. The plan was to build 2400 km (1500 miles) of railway lines and, in order to keep costs down, all railway lines and buildings would be standardised. The lines would be a standard gauge (3 ft 6 in) and the buildings built to standard plans.
There were six different plans for Railway stations, which varied from a shelter shed to a suburban railway station (Class 1). This is a shelter shed with a ladies waiting room. The main building was occupied by a Station Agent and had signalling equipment, which included a tablet machine for the Waitakere Swanson to Kumeu section of the railway. These stations also often had verandahs added and one was planned for this station, but was never built.
The smaller part of this building was built in 1879 as a general waiting room. It was also used as a goods shed, ticket lobby, produce stall and bicycle shed. In 1880, the larger portion of the building was constructed as a Post Office. In 1911-1912 the Post Office was shifted elsewhere and the building then became the ladies’ waiting room. It came to MOTAT in 1972 and is currently located at MOTAT 1.
There were six different plans for Railway stations, which varied from a shelter shed to a suburban railway station (Class 1). This is a shelter shed with a ladies waiting room. The main building was occupied by a Station Agent and had signalling equipment, which included a tablet machine for the Waitakere Swanson to Kumeu section of the railway. These stations also often had verandahs added and one was planned for this station, but was never built.
The smaller part of this building was built in 1879 as a general waiting room. It was also used as a goods shed, ticket lobby, produce stall and bicycle shed. In 1880, the larger portion of the building was constructed as a Post Office. In 1911-1912 the Post Office was shifted elsewhere and the building then became the ladies’ waiting room. It came to MOTAT in 1972 and is currently located at MOTAT 1.
Marks
WAITAKERE Printed
Media/Materials
Collection
Credit Line
New Zealand Railways. 1879. Waitākere Station Building and Shelter Shed, F1185.2003. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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