Despite looking worse for wear and being listed for demolition following an engineer’s report, many in the Rose City are keen to save Benalla’s historic signal box.
However, barring a miracle, it will be gone before long.
Despite getting an interim protection order, members of Better Benalla Rail have been informed that Heritage Victoria has ruled the structure is not of state-level cultural heritage significance and should not be included in the Victorian Heritage Register.
They were told it was not sufficiently unique.
Heritage Victoria released a report on the structure, parts of which could be construed as disagreeing with the engineer’s report that led to the decision to demolish.
For example, Heritage Victoria describes the structure’s intactness as ‘fair’ and its condition as ‘fair to good’.
The engineer's report commissioned by the Australian Rail Track Corporation said the structure had ‘numerous severe structural deficiencies’.
It goes on to state:
The severity and extent of the defects identified on-site to the signal hut pose an unacceptably high risk of injury to anyone accessing the building ... There is also a risk of the signal hut collapsing onto the adjacent train line in the future.
There is a disconnect between that statement and Heritage Victoria’s that the structure’s condition is ‘fair to good’.
Of course, those terms are relative, and the Heritage Victoria report also states that the condition of a structure does not necessarily affect whether it should be protected.
In its report it states:
The condition of a place or object does not influence the assessment of its cultural heritage significance. A place or object may be in very poor condition and still be of very high cultural heritage significance. Alternatively, a place or object may be in excellent condition but be of low cultural heritage significance.
It goes on to state that the design of Benalla signal box was not unique:
The surviving railway signal box at Benalla ... is of a standard double-storey design that was widely replicated across the state.
Better Benalla Rail had gained an interim protection order on the structure while Heritage Victoria investigated if it should be saved.
And, while the clock is ticking, Better Benalla Rail president Suzie Pearce said there is still time to save the structure.
“Its demolition is scheduled for action this month,” Ms Pearce said.
“But this report has gained BBR and the community more time to continue fighting for the signal box.
“At least it cannot be pulled down during this ongoing consultation period.
“BBR believes the signal box should be relocated onto the north side of the precinct and incorporated into aspirational plans by Seymour Railway Heritage Centre to run historic diesel and steam trains to Benalla and Yarrawonga using the Oatlands Line, beginning in June 2024.
“They will stop throughout the region to visit the silo art, Winton Wetlands and other attractions.
“BBR also believes the signal box should be restored and repurposed to provide an authentic historic presence at Benalla’s once busy railway precinct.
“Unique repurposing could include establishing a pictorial museum, exhibition of its intact signalling equipment and use by trainspotters.
“An advertisement in The Age newspaper (March 5) gives the wider community 60 days to respond to Heritage Victoria regarding its ruling.
“Responses will be reviewed, and a final ruling will then be announced.
“(We encourage) the community to read the statement of recommendation from the executive director, Heritage Victoria, regarding the Benalla railway signal box, and make their comments known directly to heritage.council@delwp.vic.gov.au.”