The future of the old goods shed may be decided in Melbourne later this year.
A 150-year-old building is destined for demolition to make way for a railway upgrade at Euroa.
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A community group has successfully sought an interim order to prevent the old Euroa goods shed from being torn down, while a tribunal makes a decision.
However, Heritage Victoria has decided not to register the shed as a place of significance.
The shed is safe for the moment, until the issue is heard before a Heritage Council panel.
Inside the Euroa goods shed. Photo: Ben Wrigley.
EuroaConnect chair John Simpson said the building was highly valued by the community who saw it as a reminder of the central role the railway played in Euroa’s development.
He said prior to the expansion of the Victorian railway network in the 19th century, goods from the Shepparton area would have passed through the shed.
“There are, no doubt, many among us who have lasting memories of the shed and surrounding facilities, either as a place that serviced local trade, agriculture and early industries, or through the stories that their parents have told of working or doing business at the shed,” Mr Simpson said.
EuroaConnect wants to hear stories about the shed to use in their campaign to retain the building.
The group wants to force a redesign of the Euroa upgrade to accommodate the shed.
An Inland Rail spokesperson said a preliminary heritage assessment of sites along the rail corridor found the Euroa goods shed was not subject to local or state heritage protection.
Heritage Victoria’s executive director recommended that the Heritage Council of Victoria not include the Euroa goods shed in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR).
“As the design progressed for Inland Rail in Euroa, it became evident the goods shed needed to be removed because it conflicts with future rail infrastructure to be built in the rail precinct,” the Inland Rail spokesperson said.
“Inland Rail commissioned two independent structural engineering assessments of the goods shed to understand the condition of the building.
“The reports detail the severe dilapidated condition of the structure, the risk to public safety and need for its removal.
“The reports conclude that due to the severity of dilapidation only items of significance may be salvageable from the structure.”
Inland Rail considers the shed too dilapidated to safely move.
“The project is not contemplating anything further than making the site safe until the outcome of the heritage protection order is confirmed.”
Inland Rail has committed to observing the interim order.
“We will continue to fully support the heritage process and comply with all requirements,” the spokesperson said.
“The project is not contemplating anything further than making the site safe until the outcome of the heritage protection order is confirmed.”
The 1000km Inland Rail project will connect Melbourne and Brisbane and pass through Victoria and NSW, enabling goods trains to carry containers stacked two high.
The spokesperson said the Barnawartha North site was almost completed with the track lowered under the Murray Valley Hwy.
The new Beaconsfield Pde bridge has been completed at Glenrowan and open to traffic. The old Seymour-Avenel Rd bridge near Seymour has been demolished and work has begun the on the new one.
At Wangaratta, the tracks have been lowered and work is progressing on a new pedestrian underpass, the new west station platform and the Green St bridge replacement.
Inland Rail is a subsidiary of the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
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