Construction kicks off at Maryborough railway station

25/01/2023

Works are underway to transform Maryborough’s historic railway building into a modern hub with more attractions for visitors, contemporary co-working spaces, and improved facilities for commuters, thanks to the Victorian Government.

The $2 million redevelopment of the 1890s building is supported by $1.8 million from the Victorian Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.

To mark the start of the project’s construction, a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony was conducted by Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owners.

Australian Indigenous-owned company Barpa will undertake construction works. Up to 15 jobs will be supported during construction, while another five ongoing jobs are expected to be created once the Maryborough Railway Station upgrade is complete.

The station is already an important commuter hub for locals travelling on V/Line services between Melbourne and Ballarat. When complete mid-year, the red-brick Railway building will be home to artists’ studios, co-working spaces, a cafe and bar, and an upgraded Visitor Information Centre.

The upgraded Visitor Information Centre will feature interactive digital storytelling screens that will include stories about the region’s role in the Victorian Goldrush. At its height, the Victorian Goldrush contributed around 40 per cent of the world’s gold, which attracted 350,000 migrants and led to towns like Maryborough being built.

A sculpture courtyard will complement a large studio space where creatives can work and exhibit. The existing co-working space will be expanded to include booths and meeting spaces to encourage more business activity.

The station’s existing Railway Cafe and Tracks Bar will expand into the building’s Chandelier Room which will be refurbished, increasing the venue’s capacity and flexibility for events.

Upgrades throughout the heritage building will make areas accessible for people of all abilities. Parking will also be improved, with spaces also available for caravans and recreational vehicles.

The Regional Infrastructure Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.

The fund is central to the Government’s record investment of more than $36 billion in rural and regional Victoria since 2015. For more information go to Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.