The Government Warehouse is a large corrugated iron structure associated with railway operations at Goolwa Railway Station.
It was constructed in 1879 by James Shaw Harding in a position a little further north and at an angle to its present position.
It is believed that the original construction was of timber frame clad with corrugated galvanised iron however in later years the timber frame uprights have been reinforced at ground level with sections of discarded railway track set in concrete.
The shed in its original position measured 145 feet 10 inches long and 80 feet wide, much longer that it is now. It was probably this length when it was moved in 1914, and there was evidence of the removal of two bays at the southern end reducing the shed to a length of 100 feet. This alteration occurred in 1962. Recent work by the wharf contractors has removed this evidence.
There was also a lantern roof to assist with the removal of the smoke and fumes of locomotives during shunting. This was visible in a c1934 photograph and was still intact at the centenary of the railway in 1954, but was probably removed in 1962 at the same time as the other alterations.
From about 1927 until the early 1950s there were mirrors set up above the shed roof to enable the station staff to sight the signals controlling train entry to the station yard as these signals were located around the bends at each end of the yard. The mirrors do not appear to be present in a 1954 photograph
In its original location the railway track ran through the centre of the shed with platforms on either side. Access doors in the side walls, one on each platform allowed the transfer of goods to road vehicles. This was altered when the shed was relocated in 1914 during the construction of the present railway line through the town. The railway track now runs through one side of the shed with a large platform occupying the remainder of the shed. A small office is located in the north east corner of the shed with a pedestrian access door nearby. In the eastern wall are two large doorways which allow access for the transfer of goods between the rail platform and road transport.
Much of the corrugated galvanised iron cladding on the shed appears to date from the time of the relocation of the shed in 1914.
In the plan of the railway yards attached, drawn in about 1889 the shed is clearly shown with a comment alongside stating that “this shed is not much used and may be taken away to any other station.” The comment appears to have been made in 1896.
References:
1. South Coast Story, Tolley, J.C. 2nd ed. 1990.
2. Port Elliot and Goolwa Heritage Study, Ed Noack and Associates, 1981.
3. South Coast Limited, Bird, K. Australian Railway Historical Society (SA Div) 1972.
4. National Railway Museum Photograph collection.
5. National Railway Museum Kim Bird Photograph collection.
6. National Trust Goolwa Museum Photograph collection.
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