The historic Alberton Railway Station is celebrating its 170th anniversary in style following the completion of major restorative works, which have given the building a new lease of life.
Recognised as Australia's oldest surviving building as an operational station, the landmark piece of railway history has been restored inside and out, with heritage features carefully preserved and new components crafted to replicate original details.
Modern amenities have been incorporated into the more than $1.4 million upgrade, improving accessibility and transforming the much-loved station building into a bright and welcoming community asset.
Specialist materials including western red cedar timber to craft new doors and frames, blackbutt timber flooring, acoustic boards and exposed concrete were used throughout the rebuild to recapture the station's original character.
The State Heritage-listed building, which opened in 1856, had sat abandoned on the Outer Harbor line since 2019 due to age-related deterioration and termite damage.
The delicate restoration delivered 160sq m of new bitumen surfacing and 40sq m of new glazing. Non-termite damaged jarrah floorboards from the original building have been repurposed as a feature wall on the exterior of the new amenities room, while two original fanlight window frames and sections of existing skirting have also been retained.
Key heritage elements including the station's internal ceiling and walls, detailed brickwork and locally quarried bluestone also remain intact. The station's floor has been fully replaced with new floorboards, while windows and doors have been reconstructed to closely match the original design.
The restoration was founded on historical research informed by the original drawings and handwritten specification held in the state archives.
During the restoration, workers uncovered quirky pieces of the station's history, including masons' tools, handmade nails, a railway spike, a 1903 ticket book and within the ceiling cavity a concealed water tank.
Heritage Architect Richard Woods said the restoration ensured the building was usable and accessible for hopefully centuries to come.
"One hundred and seventy years ago, there no private motor cars or bus services," he said.
"This station was the gateway to the community - how people travelled to work and school, shopping trips, picnic excursions to the beach, and everyday journeys.
"If you were heading to the footy at Alberton Oval, visiting supporters would arrive by train and depart from this very station."
He said the building had suffered during the years it was boarded up.
"For a heritage building, the most important thing is that it is used - it's not enough for it to exist simply as a museum piece or a curiosity," Mr Woods said.
The restoration was overseen by Heritage Architect Richard Woods and was meticulously carried out by G-Force Building & Consulting, which also managed the rebuild of the historic Urrbrae Gatehouse.
About 160 workers contributed to the restoration effort over the past year.
