Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 14 May 1868, page 5


LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE

GOULBURN RAILWAY STATION

(From the Goulburn Herald.)

AT 10 o'clock yesterday (Tuesday) the foundation stone of the railway passenger station at Goulburn was laid by Mr. William Davies, Mayor of Goulburn.

The affair may be considered to have been quite im-promptu, having been suggested only the day before. Alderman Collins and the contractor for the masons' work (Mr. Alston) at once entered into the spirit of the proposal,

and an invitation was accordingly given to the Mayor to perform the ceremony. There was consequently no oppor-tunity of advertising the proceedings and thus the number of persons present was but small, probably under a hundred. The stone having been lowered into its place,

Mr. Davies struck it with the mallet in the usual manner and said, "I declare this stone duly laid as the foundation stone of the Goulburn passenger station of the Great Southern Railway." (Cheers.)      

Mr. Davies proceeded to say that he need not remind his fellow-townsmen that the present event was a most import-ant one. This was the first railway station that had been commenced in Goulburn, and he dared say would be the last. At any rate, he did not expect to have to lay another ; and he trusted that, if another had to be laid hereafter, it would be simply because of the increasing prosperity of Goulburn necessitating a larger station than the present. (Cheers.) He considered the event of the greatest import-ance. He and a few friends had for some years devoted considerable attention and taken some pains in reference to the progress of the railway, and he thought that the Great Southern Railway Progress Committee had done some good for Goulburn. It was true that they had invited the Govern-ment to take for the purpose of this station land that had been set down as a reserve for public recreation ; but he be-

lieved that the Government would give other land equally eligible, and only yesterday he had been with Mr. Twynam,

the district surveyor, examining the ground that was available and he believed that there was every disposition on the part of the Government to meet their views. He was not there to make a speech ; for the whole thing had been got up very hurriedly, and as yet preparations had not been made for the deposit of the customary coins and documents, though he believed this would be done. The present celebration, he believed, owed its origin to the sug-gestion of one of their oldest townsmen, Mr. Riley, sen. (cheers), and had been carried out with his well-known energy by Alderman Collins. (Cheers.) He was glad to welcome Mr. Alston among them, and from what he could gather he believed that he would perform his work well ; and he was sure that Mr. Sutton, the inspector of the works, would well look after him. (Laughter and cheers.)

Three cheers were then given for the contractor, and for Mr. Davies, and the company present, including the work-   men, proceeded to drink success to the undertaking in champagne, of which a plentiful supply had been pro-vided.

The usual deposit of coins, &c, was not made, being deferred till to-day, in order that a copy of to-day's issue of the paper containing the report of the proceedings may be included, as well as a copy of Saturday's issue con-taining the report of the opening of the Goulburn-Public school.

The following is a copy of the parchment writing to be deposited in the bottle:—

This foundation-stone of the Passenger Station at Goulburn, of the Great Southern Railway, was laid by William Davies, Esq., Mayor, on Tuesday, the twelfth day of May, 1868, and the thirty-first year of her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. Earl Belmore, Governor of the colony; Hon. James Martin, Premier and Attorney-General; Hon. Henry Parkes Colonial Secretary; Hon. Geoffrey Eagar, Colonial Treasurer ; Hon. J. B. Wilson, Minister for Lands; Hon. James Byrnes, Minister for Works ; Hon. R. M. Isaacs, Solicitor-General ; Hon. Joseph Docker, Postmaster-General.

The following description of the intended building will   be read with interest :—

The principal facade of the new railway station fronts Sloane-street immediately opposite Captain Hovell's resi-dence, and a very short distance from Mandelson's Hotel— a most eligible and picturesque site. It will be a fine hand-some structure, considerably superior to any other building of the kind in the colony.

The style of architecture is Italian. The main front consists of a centre, two wings and out-offices attached, the centre set back from the wings, thereby forming a verandah,

the dimensions of which are 37 feet 9 inches x 8 feet. In line with the wings, and supporting the roof of verandah, are six main pilasters, attached to which are smaller ones, from which spring the arches (three in number), the whole surmounted with a handsome cornice. The whole of this work is in freestone rubbed. In each of the wings there is a very handsome bay-window, with one centre and two side-lights, with stone pilaster-architraves, and the whole surmounted with a cor-

nice similar to the centre of the building. The upper por- tion of the wings will be finished with a stone frieze and cornice, with small cantilevers. In the centre of the main

roof there will be a dome, or clock tower, which will add

very much to the appearance of the building. The facade facing the railway line is not so elaborate, but still very

imposing. The wings project a trifle in front of the centre. There are six door ways and four windows, all circular, headed with moulded jambs and architraves of stone. There is also a covered way, the roof of which is sup-ported by six very handsome cast-iron fluted columns, with Corinthian caps; the covered way is 75 feet long and 15 feet wide. The whole of this portion, and extending beyond the length of the building, will be paved with stone. Under this covered way are also provided seats for the accommodation of the passengers. The carcase of   the building will be constructed of stone and brick, the quoins, pilasters, door and window dressings, span- rails, window-sills, friezes, cornices, &c., are tooled and rubbed work, and the bricks are to be assorted and tuck pointed. There will also be a pas-senger platform, 300 feet long, with brick walls and

stone coping; also two carriage-docks. The principal external dimensions are as follows :—Total length of build-ing, 108 feet 9 inches; height of wings, 23 feet 8 inches; centre, 18 feet 6 inches.

The arrangements of the interior are well adapted to the

peculiar purposes of a railway station. The booking-office is 18 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 6 inches; ticket office, 18 feet 6 inches by 11 feet; parcels office, 16 feet by 15 feet; station-master's room (with bay window), 16 feet by 14 feet; ladies' waiting-room (with bay window), 16 feet by

14 feet; refreshment-room, 13 feet by 12 feet; ladies' refreshment-room, 13 feet by 6 feet; general waiting-room, 15 feet by 11 feet; telegraph office, 16 feet by 8 feet; porters' room, 16 feet by 9 feet 3 inches. There are also a lavatory, closets, urinals, and, in fact, all things that are required for the convenience of the passengers. There is also a large brick water-tank, 15 feet by 10 feet, with force pump and everything complete. The ventilation and drainage of the building have been carefully considered and provided for. The internal fittings are all of cedar, prepared for varnishing. The main roofs are to be covered

with slates; and the verandahs, covered way, and out-offices are to be covered with corrugated galvanised iron. The time allowed for the completion of the works is seven months from the signing of the contract.