Tools & Resources
Steel Station Keeps Gulf Tropics In Line
Croydon Railway Station in Queensland's far north Gulf Country is rare among public buildings - using LYSAGHT CUSTOM ORB®
| Location: | Croydon, Queensland |
| Country: | Australia |
| Project Size: | A$400,000 |
| Client: | Queensland Rail |
| Architect: | Bruce Buchanan |
| Products Used: |
LYSAGHT CUSTOM ORB® |
| Awards: | Metal Building Product Steel Design Award, Australian Steel Institute. Royal Australian Institute of Architects Regional Commendation for 2006 |
While architects throughout Australia select steel for a variety of aesthetic and energy saving reasons, Ipswich architect Bruce Buchanan believes steel was the only material he could logically specify for this public transport project.
The isolated heritage listed Normanton to Croydon railway was built to link the gold mining settlement of Croydon with the port of Normanton on the Gulf of Carpentaria in the closing decade of the 19th century. Because of constant attacks by termites, tropical cyclones and floods, engineer George Phillips specified as much steel as possible be used in the construction of the original line.
He even specified and patented moulded steel railway sleepers to keep the termites at bay.
While the line itself and its world famous Gulflander railmotor train have survived countless floods and cyclones, the same cannot be said for Phillips' original Croydon station and corrugated iron carriage shed. Both were eventually blown away in a severe cyclone in 1969.
Replacement buildings, cobbled together from remnants of the originals, also succumbed eventually to constant assault from termites and tropical weather.
"When Queensland Rail sought to establish a new station, complete with facilities for passengers and train staff and a new carriage shed for the Gulflander motor and carriages, it was essential that the building be capable of withstanding anything the tropics could throw at it," Mr Buchanan said.
"Because many elements were prefabricated off site, erection to lock up stage took only three weeks, and the overall project budget (covering building, landscaping and services) was held at A$400,000."
All roofing and wall cladding is made from ZINCALUME® steel in LYSAGHT CUSTOM ORB® profile.
Elements of traditional outback Queensland railway architecture have been used as reference points throughout, and the new building is evocative of the original 1891 structure. "The historical railway vernacular is expressed in the ventilated roof form, unlined walls, exposed galvanised steel wall framing, encircling verandahs and the large, relatively open carriage shed," Mr Buchanan said.
"The design also exploits natural ventilation, and energy saving devices include the roof form, the raising of some wall sections above floor level, fixed louvre vents and roof overhangs to the verandahs. Despite constant tropical humidity, air conditioning is not mandatory."
"The large, open carriage shed, which shelters the passenger station wing from the western sun, has steel wall cladding finishing above ground to aid cross ventilation."
