The Shire of Murray is one step closer to realising an ambitious plan to revitalise Pinjarra as a tourist railway destination including bespoke accommodation inside converted heritage train carriages donated by a local resident.
The plan to revitalise the Pinjarra railway station on Pinjarra-Williams Road into a railway heritage attraction through a $60.1 million revitalisation was endorsed by the Shire of Murray council at its April 18 meeting.
Steam and diesel locomotives take visitors through jarrah forest along a re-established Pinjarra to Dwellingup rail link on the Hotham Tourism Railway, which ceased operating on this section in 2011.
The shire envisages the refurbished facility will “rival the likes of the Puffing Billy in Victoria”.
Shire president David Bolt said the project would revitalise the Pinjarra railway station with a heritage railway museum, visitor centre, cafe, event and community spaces and railway-themed play space.
-ADVERTISEMENT-
“The precinct will celebrate and pay respect to the past whilst enabling contemporary activities, legacies and stories to be created,” he said.
The shire’s plan for the precinct estimates it would attract 27,000 visitors in its first year of operation, create 90 jobs and $46 million of tourism and retail expenditure into the local economy over 20 years.
As well as endorsing the project, the council also supported including the Pinjarra Heritage Precinct and Dwellingup to Pinjarra Heritage Rail Project as a high priority in its 2025 State and Federal election lobby document.
The proposal will also develop “niche high level short-stay accommodation” in heritage railway carriages.
Three carriages from the decommissioned Australind train and the heritage railway barracks, as well as nine heritage railway carriages and four heritage brake vans donated to the shire, will be converted into accommodation or food and beverage venues.
Pinjarra resident Colin Taylor donated the carriages and said it would be a “great joy” to see the carriages have a new purpose.
“My grandfather spent his working life as a steam engine driver on WA’s railways,” he said.
“It will bring me great joy to see these carriages live again and witness their history shared and celebrated.”
The shire has allocated $40,000 for tarps to cover the carriages to prevent damage, as well as clearing of the site.
The carriages were originally owned by Hotham Valley Railway general manager Ian Willis and purchased to be pulled behind the Flying Scotsman — considered the world’s most famous steam locomotive — when it visited WA during Australian Bicentenary celebrations.
Source: Perth Now
