Recognition on track for Inglewood Station

1 July 2009
Media Release

Recognition on track for Inglewood Station

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Inglewood Railway Station. Picture: Graham Meads

The oldest railway station on its original site in New Zealand is being proposed for national recognition by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT).

Inglewood Railway Station, in the heart of the Taranaki town located 16km south east of New Plymouth, was built in 1876. It is being considered for a Category I listing on NZHPT’s National Register because it is believed to be the earliest building dating from the first extensive railway building push in New Zealand that remains on its original site. The building’s longevity is all the more remarkable because it survived the nationwide station building replacement programme of the mid to late 20th century.

The building is a ‘Class 5’ railway station – a weatherboard structure featuring a stationmaster’s office, a vestibule area for passengers and a ladies waiting room. There were two extensions before 1900, as well as a platform canopy added in 1896. The proposed area for registration also includes the railway station boundary wall, goods loading platform, stock yards ramp and former stock yard area, the remnants of male toilets, cart loading dock and the station platform and canopy.

NZHPT Central Region Heritage Advisor Blyss Wagstaff said while there were a number of railway station buildings comparable to Inglewood in size, design and era that had been recognised by NZHPT, Inglewood “is set apart by it being the oldest station on its original site in New Zealand.”

“The railway complex has some of Inglewood’s oldest structures and documents aspects of the town’s early development. Recent work by the community to tidy the station’s exterior shows it is still well regarded as a key local landmark.”

The Inglewood Railway Station closed by the mid-1990s and was land banked as part of the Waitangi Tribunal settlement process. The community-driven project to revitalise the complex included weather-proofing and repainting.

“The materials and most of the labour were donated by the local community,” Ms Wagstaff said. “From a New Zealand Historic Places Trust perspective it’s fantastic to see the community support its heritage and keep it a key part of the town centre.”

NZHPT encourages people to send in letters of submission with comments on the contents of the report or the proposal for registration. A copy of the Registration report is available online at www.historic.org.nz. Public submissions close on 24 July.

ENDS

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