IT WILL be “tickets please” from a real station when the old Cheltenham railway station building is erected at Mornington Railway Preservation Society’s base at Moorooduc.
The 140-year-old timber structure was recently trucked down to Moorooduc in flat-pack form where it will be assessed in detail before being put together to join other historic pieces of railway infrastructure on the site.
The preservation society’s president Andrew Swayne sees it as an “absolute landmark project” that will provide a missing link in the station’s redevelopment.
“We couldn’t even get the old station from Mornington,” he said, referring to the line which was closed in 1981.
“At present we are using an old guard’s van as a ticket office, whereas this building will look and feel the part as well as being functional. It will become the main feature at Moorooduc – the missing centrepiece.”
Once COVID-19 restrictions have ended the old Cheltenham building will be restored, but with a more authentic entry.
Volunteers will replace corroded iron roofing, source period bricks for chimneys and strip out faded interior plaster, although the verandah is intact.
“We will look at extending the building to include meeting rooms then open it up for other not-for-profit groups to use,” Mr Swayne said.
Once the building footprint has been established, an architect will be engaged to design the interior and prepare drawings for Mornington Peninsula Shire’s approval.
Mr Swayne said the society appreciated assistance of the SPA Project Team, Level Crossing Removal Authority, Metro Trains and VicTrack for “making the building available and helping to preserve the iconic building for future generations”.
“We can’t wait to get into the rebuild and will be encouraging the local community and businesses to participate in this landmark project where they can,” he said.
First published in the Mornington News – 28 September 2021
