Media release – Tasmanian Heritage Council (THC), 17 April 2024
Hobart Railway Goods Shed Permanent Listing on Tasmanian Heritage Register
The Tasmanian Heritage Council (THC) today determined the permanent listing of the Hobart Railway Goods Shed, under the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 (Act), to the Tasmanian Heritage Register (THR).
THC Chair, Brett Torossi, said following provisional listing in December 2023, a statutory period of public consultation was undertaken.
“The THC carefully considered the public and landowner representations, and its view is the Hobart Railway Goods Shed has state level historic cultural heritage significance.”
Ms Torossi said the THC was satisfied the Goods Shed met the requirements for permanent entry under section 16 (2) of the Act.
“The THC agreed that the Goods Shed satisfied two criteria – that it is important to the course or pattern of Tasmania’s history and possesses uncommon or rare aspects of Tasmania’s history, in particular, rail history.
Ms Torossi said the Hobart Railway Goods Shed is a notable example of the development of rail transport in Tasmania from World War 1 onwards.
“It was integral to the development of Sullivans Cove and Hobart as a centre for trade, including the international export of agriculture,” Ms Torossi said.
“The Goods Shed is rare in a Tasmanian context because while it illustrates a historical function which is no longer practised it remains an important reminder of the broader changes in the state’s freight transport – particularly the transition of land transport from railways to road-based and the increased dominance of freight shipping.”
Ms Torossi said the Goods Shed provided insight into how rail authorities at different times used the site and its infrastructure to meet demand.
“As Tasmanian exports expanded and contracted, so did the railyards site as well as the utilisation of buildings on the site,” she said.
Ms Torossi said the size and form of the Goods Shed was part of its significance.
“Within its class of place, it is an unusually extensive building – 115 metres in length, with substantial timber wall, floor and ceiling components and many other historically significant railway features.”
Ms Torossi said it was important to remember that the heritage values of the Goods Shed have already been protected under the Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme 1997.
“This has meant the Goods Shed has been under the protection of the Hobart City Council’s local planning scheme for many years,” she said.
Ms Torossi said officers from Heritage Tasmania would continue to work with Macquarie Point stakeholders as rehabilitation of the site progressed.
“Any future change to the Goods Shed, including relocation within the property, would need to be consistent with the Heritage Council’s works guidelines.”
ENDS
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MORE INFORMATION
• As prescribed by the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995, the Minister for Heritage is not involved in the prioritisation or assessment process of listings to the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
• Under the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995, heritage protection clauses in the Act were invoked as soon as provisional listing was approved by the Tasmanian Heritage Council.
Editor’s note: we were also advised that ‘Tasmanian Heritage Council Chair Brett Torossi is not available for follow-up requests.’
Media comment – Our Place, 18 April 2024
Statement on Heritage Listing of Goods Shed
“Our Place Hobart warmly welcomes the listing of the Goods Shed on the Heritage Register.
“This listing should surprise nobody. Macquarie Point is steeped in European history, as is all of Sullivans Cove. The proposed stadium will blight that history and the heritage represented by the Goods Shed. It will blight Sullivans Cove and it will obliterate the Goods Shed.”
The attached image shows the impact of the proposed stadium on Sullivans Cove.
“We must not forget that what is now called Macquarie Point was an area inhabited by Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Different proposals for the site have sought to incorporate space for a serious and meaningful recognition of Aboriginal people and their heritage. The proposed stadium will obliterate that opportunity as well.
“Heritage listing is another reason the government must abandon this stadium proposal.”