Beverly Hills railway station is a

heritage-listed This list is of heritage registers, inventories of cultural properties, natural and man-made, tangible and intangible, movable and immovable, that are deemed to be of sufficient heritage value to be separately identified and recorded. In many ...

former railway bridge and now railway station located on the East Hills line, serving the

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountains ...

suburb of

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bev ...

in the

Georges River Council Georges River Council is a Local government in Australia, local government area located in the St George (Sydney), St George region of Sydney located south of the Sydney central business district, CBD, in New South Wales, Australia. The Council ...

local government area of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , e ...

, Australia. The station is served by

Sydney Trains Sydney Trains is the operator of the suburban passenger rail network serving the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The network is a hybrid urban-suburban rail system with a central underground core that covers over of track and 170 ...

T8 Airport & South line services. The station was designed and built by the NSW Government Railways. It is also known as the Beverly Hills Railway Station group and Dumbleton Railway Station. The property was added to the

New South Wales State Heritage Register The New South Wales State Heritage Register, also known as NSW State Heritage Register, is a heritage list of places in the state of New South Wales, Australia, that are protected by New South Wales legislation, generally covered by the Herita ...

on 2 April 1999. Beverly Hills is unique amongst original East Hills Line stations as it is the only station with asymmetrical platforms, that is, Platform 1 is curved but Platform 2 is straight. It was one of the last stations in Sydney to use Edmondson-style paper tickets.

History

The first European settlement in the area was the establishment of a farm known as "Dumbleton" in the 1830s. The area south of the railway line was part of John Townson's grant of 1810. The area remained semi-rural until the construction of the East Hills line and the railway station. The main impetus for the construction of the East Hills line was from the real estate industry, which wanted to develop the area where the line was proposed. However construction of the line was delayed, and it became an unemployment relief project during the course of its construction due to the onset of the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagion ...

. "The Public Works Committee recommended the line to State

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...

in August, 1924, expecting a small operating profit and opening up good building land. The debate on the Bill to construct the line took only 15 minutes after it was introduced at 5.12am on 17 December 1924, and the Governors assent given on 23 December, but no funds were provided. Just before the State elections in 1927, the

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...

, Jack Lang, performed the "Turning of the First Sod" ceremony at

Padstow Padstow (; kw, Lannwedhenek) is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately northwest of Wadebridge, northwest of Bodmin an ...

on 3 September 1927, but he lost the election. However, the new non-labour government in April 1928, instructed the Railways Commissioners to commence work on the line." Jack Lang was Premier for two periods: the first from June 1925 to October 1927, the second period (during the Depression) from October 1930 to May 1932. Lang was therefore again Premier when he officially opened the East Hills line at Padstow Railway Station in 1931, with the section as far as

Kingsgrove Kingsgrove is a suburb in Southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Kingsgrove is south of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, Bayside Council and the George ...

being a double track electrified line. All platform buildings on the East Hills line were built to the same general design and plan, which was revised after initial planning to include a booking office, Station Master's office and parcels office. The platform at Beverly Hills is unique on the line by having the' Down' side straight and the "Up" side curved. Beverly Hills station opened on 21 December 1931 as Dumbleton when the

line Line most often refers to: * Line (geometry), object with zero thickness and curvature that stretches to infinity * Telephone line, a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system Line, lines, The Line, or LINE may also refer to: Art ...

was extended from

to East Hills. It was renamed Beverly Hills on 24 August 1940. The line through the station was duplicated in 1948. The line was electrified from Kingsgrove in 1939, duplicated in 1948, and in 1987 the East Hills terminus was connected to the Main Southern Line at Glenfield Junction. Dumbleton was renamed Beverly Hills in 1940, and the railway station was also renamed. In the post war period of the 1940s and 1950s migrant hostels and housing commission estates were developed in suburbs along the line. Although the original terminus building at East Hills Station was demolished in 1987, the remainder of the East Hills Line from Turrella to Panania is the only line in

with all platform buildings extant from its original construction phase (though some have been altered). In 2002 a lift to the platform was built along with steel awning that covered the stairs and extended to the building from street level. The station has the distinction of being one of the last in Sydney to sell "Edmondson" card type tickets. Construction work was underway in 2009 to upgrade the East Hills line generally following quadruplification of the line. In 2013, as part of the quadruplication of the line from Kingsgrove to Revesby, through lines were added on either side of the existing pair.

Platforms & services

Transport links

Punchbowl Bus Company Punchbowl Bus Company is an Australian bus company operating services in Sydney Region 5, servicing the Hurstville, Roselands, Bankstown, Strathfield and surrounding suburbs. It also operates bus services in Goulburn and Crookwell in the Souther ...

operates one route via Beverly Hills station: *450: Strathfield station to

Hurstville Hurstville is a suburb in Southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is 16 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD and is part of the St George area. Hurstville is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Georges ...

via Belfield, Lakemba and Roselands

Transit Systems Transit Systems Group is an Australian-based public transport company, which also operates overseas through its subsidiary Tower Transit Group. Transit Systems Group is a subsidiary of the Kelsian Group, formerly SeaLink Travel Group. History ...

operate one route via Beverly Hills station: *493: Roselands Shopping Centre to Rockdale station via Kingsgrove, Bexley North and Bexley

Transdev NSW Transdev NSW is a bus operator in the northern, southern and western suburbs of Sydney, Australia, operating on behalf of Transport for NSW. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia. It is a different subsidiary to Transdev John Holland, whi ...

operates one route via Beverly Hills station *452: to Rockdale station via Hurstville, Forest Road and Bexley Beverly Hills station is served by one NightRide route: *N20: Riverwood station to Town Hall station via Narwee, Rockdale and Airport

Description

The complex comprises a type 13 platform building, completed in 1931; the platform, also completed in 1931; the King Georges Road Overbridge, completed in 1931; and the stairs, lift, and platform canopy, completed in 2007. ;Context The station has one island platform with entry via sets of

stairs Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...

on the east and west sides of the King Georges Road overbridge, which enter the west end of the platform. The west end of the platform extends under the road overbridge. The station perimeter is defined with white powder coated aluminium fencing. ;Platform building (1931) Exterior: A rectangular dark face brick platform building of standard stretcher bond brickwork, of 5

bays A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a na ...

length (note most platform buildings on this line are 5 bays), with the bays defined by simple brick engaged

piers Piers may refer to: * Pier, a raised structure over a body of water * Pier (architecture), an architectural support * Piers (name), a given name and surname (including lists of people with the name) * Piers baronets, two titles, in the baronetages ...

. The building has a brick stepped

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Wh ...

at the east end only. The roof is gabled at the east end against the parapet at this end, is hipped over

awnings An awning or overhang is a secondary covering attached to the exterior wall of a building. It is typically composed of canvas woven of acrylic, cotton or polyester yarn, or vinyl laminated to polyester fabric that is stretched tightly over a li ...

to north and south which are an integral part of the roof form, and is hipped at the western end. Roof cladding is corrugated steel. The stepped parapet at the east end features a projecting moulded brick capping course and 3 vertical lines of projecting decorative brickwork, as well as a pair of rectangular timber louvred vents. When planned, a hipped roof wrapped around a stepped parapet at the western end (similar to that at Bexley North). The roof was originally clad with corrugated fibro asbestos sheeting with terra cotta ridge capping. This has been replaced with a corrugated steel roof with a fully hipped end, and it is presumed that (as at Padstow) the original stepped parapet at the east end elevation has been demolished. Two windows have been bricked up. There are timber framed fixed obscure glass windows- the windows are modern, the timber frames original. There are modern timber flush doors. There are bullnosed brick sills to windows, shallow brick arches above doors and windows, stop chamfered brickwork to door and window openings. Windows are timber-framed double-hung, some with original 6-paned top sashes, or small timber framed windows with frameless glass or glass louvres. Original door openings have grey terrazzo thresholds. There are modern fibre cement sheet ceilings to the awnings. There is an aluminium framed glazed panel to the ticket window at the entry end of the platform. Interior:Not accessed 2009 The building interior (following extension in 1950) comprised a combined booking/parcels office (now also the Station Master's room), ladies toilets, waiting room and men's toilets. The interior fitout has been refurbished in 1998 and again in 2004. ;Platform (1931) One island platform, asphalt surface, original brick faces. ;Stairs, lift and platform canopy (2007) A platform canopy structure on steel posts with concrete bases extends from the entry steps at the western end of the platform to the western end of the platform building. A modern lift, stairs and canopies over the stairs. ;King Georges Road overbridge (1931) Original jack arched bridge with modern concrete girders. Original brick abutments and central brick pier remain. Span reconstruction c. 1960s.

Condition

The platform building, completed in 1931, is assessed in good condition; the platform, also erected in 1931, is also in good condition; the King Georges Road Overbridge, completed in 1931, is in good condition; and the stairs, lift and platform canopy, completed in 2007, are assessed as being in very good condition. The platform building has retained a moderate degree of integrity externally, however one of its parapets has been demolished and some openings bricked up. The platform entry arrangements and interior of the platform building have also been modernised 2004–2007. The King Georges Road overbridge is also considerably altered. This is one of the least intact of the East Hills line stations (with a similar level of alteration to Padstow).

Modifications and dates

*1948: line duplicated. *1950: Extension to platform building to create a combined booking and parcels office, matching brickwork. *s: Span reconstruction to 1931 King Georges Road overbridge. *1998: interior fitout alterations to 1931 platform building *2004–2007: Interior fitout alterations to 1931 platform building. New stairs, canopies and lift. *undated: The platform building has been re-roofed in corrugated steel (roofing originally fibro asbestos corrugated sheeting with terracotta ridge capping) and its east end stepped parapet has been demolished. A number of window openings have been bricked up. New timber flush doors. Modern ticket window.

Heritage listing

As at 30 November 2010, Beverly Hills Railway Station – including the 1931 platform and platform building and

King Georges Road King Georges Road is a major arterial road in Sydney, Australia, running through the local government areas of the Georges River Council and City of Canterbury-Bankstown. King Georges Road begins at a junction with the Princes Highway at B ...

overbridge – has historical significance as a major public work completed as an unemployment relief project during the

, and as a major transport hub for the suburb of Beverly Hills since 1931. Beverly Hills railway station platform building is of aesthetic significance as an austere 1930s railway building with simple Art Deco detailing and fine brick workmanship that is evocative of the effects of the Depression on building programs for large organisations such as the NSW railways. Beverly Hills Railway Station is representative of the cohesive collection of ten East Hills line railway stations from Turrella to East Hills. Beverly Hills railway station was listed on the

on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. Beverly Hills Railway Station is of historical significance as part of the East Hills line, a major Depression period public work undertaken under the controversial Premiership of Jack Lang, and through its relationship to the development of the suburb of Beverly Hills and the broader East Hills region. The austere design of the platform building is reflective of the completion of the East Hills line as a Depression period unemployment relief works project. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. Beverly Hills Railway Station platform building is of aesthetic significance as an example of a small Inter-War period suburban railway station platform building matching other East Hills line platform buildings in design and style. The building is very austere in style, with Inter-War Art Deco style touches and is competently executed, exhibiting fine workmanship in its brickwork. The building is noted for its use of monochromatic brickwork, one extant stepped parapet, irregular fenestration and engaged piers. The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. The place has the potential to contribute to the local community's sense of place, and can provide a connection to the local community's past. The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. Beverly Hills Railway Station is of research significance for its ability to demonstrate design and construction techniques of the Depression period (early 1930s). The building provides insights into NSW Railways experimentation with styles of architecture and adaptation to Depression period economic conditions. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The Beverly Hills Railway Station platform building is not rare, as it is part of a group of ten similar to identical Inter-War suburban railway buildings completed in 1931 between Turrella and East Hills. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales. Beverly Hills Railway Station is a representative example of an East Hills line railway station, with the platform intact and platform building extant but altered, however with modern platform access structures.

References

Attribution

External links

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Beverly Hills station details
Transport for New South Wales {{Australian railway bridges, state=autocollapse Easy Access railway stations in Sydney Railway stations in Sydney Railway stations in Australia opened in 1931 New South Wales State Heritage Register Georges River Council Railway bridges in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register East Hills railway line