Station revamp

By Dion Teasdale
HEALESVILLE’S Tourist Precinct has reached a milestone with the completion of the painting of the historic railway station.
Over the past 10 years the station building, which dates back to 1904, has been gradually rebuilt and refurbished from the ground up.
Last week the exterior of the building was returned to its appearance of the 1930s with the painting of heritage colours from the era being completed.
Healesville Tourist Precinct president Michael de Oleveira said he was delighted to see the building given a new lease on life.
“When I came on board in 1996 the station building was almost derelict and now it has been restored to its former glory,” he said.
Mr de Oleveira said the refurbishment of the station building, which was funded through Heritage Victoria and the Victorian Department of Regional Development, was part of an overall plan to develop the precinct into a major tourist destination.
“Our vision has been to see the precinct developed as a whole to attract tourists to the area and as an asset to be used by the local community as well,” he said.
In addition to the restoration of the station building, other recent developments at the precinct include the installation of new playground equipment, boundary bollards, improved parking and revegetation works.
Mr de Oleveira said he hoped the precinct, which is home to Yarra Valley Tourist Railway and the site of the weekly Saturday morning Healesville Farmers Market, would see further improvements in the next 12 months.
“We’ll be seeking funding to restore the historic toilets at the train station and hope to continue developing other aspects of the precinct, including more revegetation works,” he said.
Yarra Valley Tourist Railway vice president Brett Morter said the railway group was delighted to see the heritage work completed.
“We are excited about the refurbishment.
“It helps lift the profile of the Tourist Railway and it shows we are one step closer to seeing the station and the railway open and running again,” he said.
Mr Morter said the tourist railway hoped to set up a cafe and restaurant in the restored station building in the next 12 months.