Community concerns for future of historic signal box

By Simon Ruppert

Apr 3, 2023

Local history: Better Benalla Rail's David Moore is concerned the historic signal box at the Nunn St level crossing faces 'demolition by neglect'. Photo by Simon Ruppert

David Moore, who has been integral to the Save our Station campaign as part of Better Benalla Rail, has raised concerns about the historic signal box on Nunn St.

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Already damaged after a van left the road and crashed into it in 2021, the January super-cell storm which damaged trees and buildings across the Rose City took out part of the roof exposing the interior to water damage.

Mr Moore said he had raised the issue with State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland who had since written to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan.

In that letter Ms Cleeland wrote that the signal box is in urgent need of repair and requested cooperation from the Department of Transport and the Australian Rail Track Corporation to address the issue.

“First built in 1888 the community has regularly rallied behind the signal box and worked to maintain its iconic presence in Benalla. This has been evident through multiple restorations ... over the past decades and the continued advocacy of organisations such as Better Benalla Rail,” The letter stated.

Mr Moore told the Ensign the signal box was a vital piece of the rail history of Benalla.

“I think it’s one of the last two or three that exist around the state,” Mr Moore said.

“It has a strong connection with a lot of local people, some of whom worked here.”

Mr Moore also pointed to the ‘temporary fix’ that ARTC put in place following the van crashing into the building.

“That was around a year and a half ago, and no permanent repairs have been made.”

However it is worth noting that, at the time, ARTC said it was happy to put that temporary fix in place, but noted that the signal box is actually a VicTrack asset.

“The fix on the side here helps the aesthetics, but it certainly doesn’t stop the rain coming in,” Mr Moore said.

Collision: In October 2021 a van lost control on the Nunn St level crossing and crashed into the signal box. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Mr Moore said his biggest concern was the lack of any permanent repairs pointed to it being earmarked by demolition by neglect.

This term refers to often listed buildings being deliberately allowed to get into a state of disrepair so that they become unsafe and have to be demolished.

Mr Moore said the more important issue in the meantime was the fact parts of the roof appeared to be coming away from the building.

“There’s a bit of capping just sitting there loose. There’s nothing stopping a gust of wind blowing that off onto a train coming past, or a car.

“It’s absolutely dangerous.

“And with the rain getting in, that part of the building, the top part is where the control mechanisms all exist.

“They’re still all there and it’s a historic structure in that sense.”

Mr Moore said he was keen to see it repaired and restored as it had a lot of potential uses, particularly once the XPT line was removed and the station precinct opened up as a community asset.