Kiama Railway Station
Did you know Kiama Railway Station is an iconic prototype building in the history of railways in NSW?
In 1886, the Illawarra railway line was extended south to Bombo, and the present Bombo platform was the 1887 terminal structure. In earlier times, railway stations were often located on the edge of towns, and in the case of Kiama this was particularly true because of the need to build a railway bridge and two tunnels in order to reach the town centre. However, the people of Kiama protested and eventually an extension was approved.
Henry Deane was the acting Engineer-in-Chief for the railways in 1890, and he designed a new passenger station building for NSW Railways New Lines. This design was approved and the Kiama Railway Station was the first station to use his Italianate influenced design. The building was 109 feet in length. It consisted of a general waiting room, a parcels and ticket office, a station master’s room and a ladies waiting room.
It followed that this design was used by NSW Railways for the next 43 years across the state and 267 station buildings were built using the design. This exact design was used for another 21 buildings, until 1906. After 1906, a less ornate Federation version of the design began to be used until 1925, and then from 1925-1935 new railway buildings were stripped of all external decorations. This style of railway building was used for the longest period of any design in NSW.
The first Kiama Station Master was John Alexander McLean, in 1893. The porters were Edward Colls and Sydney McGlew, and the junior porters John Gallen and Donald Sproule. There were two gatekeepers - Jane Smith and Bridget Weaver (the gatekeeper’s task was to open and close the ‘farm-gate’ to allow the trains through).
We are fortunate that Henry Deane decided to commission local photographer, Samuel Cocks, to photograph the numerous Kiama tunnels, cuttings and bridges, so we have wonderful photographic records of the early years of the railway in Kiama.
The first train to enter Kiama Station on 21 Oct 1892.
The Governor's train with members of the Legislative and other citizens for the official opening of the railway c.1893.
Kiama Station c.1890/1900s
