Breathing new life into Queenscliff Station

Works are now underway to renew the heritage listed Queenscliff Station building, preserving its future for generations to come and providing a major boost for the historic Bellarine Railway.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville today joined heritage railway volunteers and other community members to mark the start of works on this important project for one of Victoria’s most significant railway stations – and for the last forty years part of a tourism drawcard for the Bellarine Peninsula.

Constructed in 1881, the station is architecturally significant as it is the earliest built tourist-oriented type of railway station – a purpose it still performs to this day as part of the heritage Bellarine Railway. Featuring a large waiting area, the station was designed to cater for large numbers of tourists at peak holiday times.

Thanks to funding from the Andrews Labor Government the station will continue to draw tourists for years to come with repair works including restumping, re-roofing, replacing and repairing timber, painting, and fitting a new kitchen and toilet.

Tourist heritage group the Bellarine Railway, who operate the heritage line, has used the Queenscliff Station building for around forty years. The works will ensure the building can continue to be used by them in the future, supporting tourism and jobs on the Bellarine Peninsula.

These works will be carried out by regionally based contractors BDH Constructions, working closely with heritage architects Quadratum Architecture, with the project expected to be complete by the end of November 2018

The refurbishment is part of VicTrack’s $1 million heritage program, which is working to protect significant buildings and structures to preserve Victoria’s rail history.

During 2018, VicTrack is also carrying out heritage works at Castlemaine Station, and this follows Healesville Goods Shed, Murrayville Station and St Arnaud Station all receiving heritage upgrades last year.