Ringwood Station History

Ringwood Station History. . , 1882, In 1882 the Melbourne to Hawthorn rail network was extended east to the suburb of Lilydale via Ringwood. The extension was a catalyst for the development of Ringwood and resulted in churches, banks and schools being built to service the growing town and surrounding region., 1885, The railway transformed Ringwood from a small isolated country town into a thriving settlement. It was now possible to transport goods along the line. Industries such as antimony mining, agriculture and brickmaking were able to flourish., 1887, In 1887 the first building at the station was constructed. It was a goods shed suggesting that the station was focussed on the movement of goods rather that the passengers at this time., The opening of the goods shed was much celebrated. On 28 November 1887 a dinner and ball was held. Many attended and the building was decorated with flags, ferns and flowers., 1889, In 1889 a brick station was constructed for a cost of £1374. Its construction became necessary after the extension of the railway from Ringwood to Upper Ferntree Gully. Ringwood Station became a significant junction station that was now focussed on moving passengers as well as goods. The station became a symbo; of the town's importance along the railway., 1891, In 1891 a timber station building was constructed on a newly built Platform 2. The timber station building was designed by George Sims who held the position of Senior Draughtsman and Engineer-in-Chief for the Victorian Railways Department at the time. It was designed as a modular building, which allowed for future additions to meet the anticipated needs of a growing town., 1911, In 1911, a Cool Store was constructed just northwest of the station. The Cool Store was built for the storage of fruit grown in the orchards throughout the region, Its location in close proximity to the station allowed produce to be easily transported from Ringwood into the city via its associated private sidings., 1921, In 1921, a footbridge with stair access was constructed providing access to the two platforms., 1924, On 16 December 1924 the Borough of Ringwood was proclaimed coinciding with the electrification of the railway line., 1926, In 1926 the existing signal box was constructed to address the increased traffic at the junction station as a result of electrification. It replaced an earlier signal box. The Ringwood Signal Box was based on earlier Victorian Railway designs for signal boxes. It accommodated a 70 lever mechanical interlocking machine that controlled the movement of trains arriving and departing the station., 1957, In 1957 the Station Master's house northeast of the station was demolished to make way for further commercial development along the highway., In mid 1957 the private railway siding into the cool stores was removed., 1963, In 1963 the timber station building was relocated further west along the platform to allow room for the footbridge to be modified with ramp access and removal of the stairs., 1990, In the late 1990s an island platform was constructed. This consequently altered the rear elevation of the signal box., 2015, Revitalisation of the station precinct with major works including a new integrated transport precinct, full accessibility and improved amenity and shelter. an island platform was constructed. This consequently altered the rear elevation of the signal box., "Ringwood, 15 miles from Melbourne and the centre of an extensive fruit-growing, farming and brickmaking district. The cultivation of the raspberry especially is carried on to a very considerable degree, and much of the cleared land of the countryside is taken up with that profitable industry. The clay is excellent for the manufacture of bricks, and on every band may be seen rising the smoke of the kilns" , 1885 Victorian Railway Tourist Guide