Matt Male
The State Government has vowed not to demolish the old Beaconsfield railway house.
The announcement was made on Thursday 16 March, after questions by the Gazette to Premier Daniel Andrews about the government’s plans for the property.
The Old Beaconsfield Railway House property is set to be acquired by the government as part of level crossing removal works.
However, there was community concern the house would be demolished.
Earlier this year, the government said it was “working through how aspects of the building may be retained”.
Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan, also the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, stepped up to answer questions on the issue as part of a visit to Pakenham to inspect elevated rail works.
Minister Allan said there had been discussions, over the last year or so, with the Level Crossing Removal Authority about the Beaconsfield site.
“As Beaconsfield locals would know, it’s bit of a complex site with the way the road and the railway intersects one another and that old railway house that sits there,” Minister Allan said.
“I understand it’s a property of some local significance, not necessarily statewide heritage level significance, but obviously the local community have some historical regard for that building.
“We’ve been working with the local community and the advice from the Level Crossing Removal Authority is the property won’t be demolished.”
