State Government heritage lists former Cue Railway Station

9/7/02
An important link to Cue's mining and railway history has been interim listed by the State Government in Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said the 1898 constructed rendered granite and corrugated iron building off Wittenoom Street had functioned as Cue's railway station for 80 years.
"The building is an excellent example of the Federation Arts and Crafts style being applied to a railway station," Dr Edwards said.
"Constructed during Cue's first gold boom, the former railway station also represents the growth of the town and the district, as well as the State's mining industry."
Dr Edwards said the former railway station was an important element of Cue's historic railway precinct, which once comprised a number of station buildings, yard facilities and employee accommodation.
"Cue was a terminal station of the Mullewa-Murchison railway line, which formed part of the Northern Railway," she said.
"Prior to the railway's construction in 1897-98, the journey to the Murchison region over sandy desert was extremely difficult.
"It is not surprising then that the railway played an important role in the development of Cue as it allowed for the transport of people and supplies to and from Geraldton."
Dr Edwards said in the 1960s, considerable tonnes of ores and minerals had been freighted on the railway between Mullewa and Meekatharra, but by 1970 this traffic had stopped.
"Cue and Mount Magnet were the only stations handling cargo at this time, and this was mainly wool," she said.
"As a result, despite protest from the local community, the line between Pindar and Meekatharra was closed and passenger and freight traffic to Cue ceased on May 1, 1978."
The railway tracks were removed and associated buildings were progressively demolished. Today, only the railway station building and Station Master's house remain as part of the railway precinct.
Dr Edwards said the former railway station was subsequently used as a sports complex.
"Work on converting the building into a sports complex commenced in 1986," she said.
"However, water supply problems meant that the oval was not a success, and by the mid-1990s, the sports complex fell into disuse.
"The building is now in poor condition due to vandalism and deterioration, and will remain uninhabitable until repair and restoration is undertaken."
Dr Edwards said the former railway station was one of a number of historic buildings in Cue, with the Gentlemen's Club, the Old Cue Goal and the Rotunda already included in the Register of Heritage Places.
"Cue has received a number of grants in recent years to undertake restoration of many of its historic buildings, and as such has become one of the many heritage success stories for Western Australia," she said.
Minister's office: 9220 5050