Racecourse Railway Station (Brisbane)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Eagle Farm Racecourse and Ascot Railway station is a heritage-listed pair of
racecourse A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also use ...
and
railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
at 230 Lancaster Road, Ascot,
City of Brisbane The City of Brisbane is a local government area (LGA) which comprises the inner portion of the metropolitan area of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. Its governing body is the Brisbane City Council. Unlike LGAs in the other mainl ...
,
Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...
, Australia. It was built from 1863 onwards. The racecourse is also known as Ascot Racecourse and Brisbane Racecourse, and Ascot railway station was previously known as Racecourse railway station. It was added to the
Queensland Heritage Register The Queensland Heritage Register is a heritage register, a statutory list of places in Queensland, Australia that are protected by Queensland legislation, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. It is maintained by the Queensland Heritage Council. As a ...
on 25 June 2004.


History

The
Eagle Farm Racecourse Eagle Farm Racecourse is a heritage-listed horse racing venue in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located at the northern end of Racecourse Road in the suburb of Ascot, from the Brisbane central business district. The turf track is wi ...
was established in 1863 and continues to operate as one of Queensland's premier racecourses. Additions and extensions include the establishment of the
Pinkenba railway line Pinkenba is a town and eastern coastal suburb within the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Pinkenba had a population of 368 people. Geography Pinkenba is a long narrow strip of land on the northern side of the Brisbane River, ...
(1882), the Paddock Stand (1889), the St Leger Stand (1913 with extensions in 1938), the Totalisator Building (1913 with extensions in the 1920s and 1950s), the entrance gates (1913), ticket boxes (1914), the Members' Stand (1925) and the John Power Stand (1958), as well as a number of other timber and brick buildings and timber stabling areas. The Ascot railway station opened in September 1882 to bring race-goers to the Eagle Farm Racecourse. Horse racing was one of the earliest sports practiced in Queensland following the opening of the
Moreton Bay Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are ...
district in 1842. Organised by the Moreton Bay Racing Club, the first recorded horse races in
Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
were held at
Coopers Plains Coopers Plains is a southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Coopers Plains had a population of 5,483 people. Geography Coopers Plains is south-west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is home to the Queen Eliz ...
on 17 July 1843. A racecourse at
New Farm New Farm is an inner northern riverside suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , New Farm had a population of 12,542 people. Geography The suburb is located 2 kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the ...
had been established by May 1846, when the first races were held there during that year and operated until the early 1860s. The establishment of the Eagle Farm Racecourse in 1863 signaled the demise of the course at New Farm. A grant of was approved with the site being named the "Brisbane Racecourse". The Deed of Grant for the racecourse land, signed by Governor Bowen on 12 October 1863, stipulated that "the appropriation thereof asas a racecourse and for no other purpose whatsoever". It was placed under the trusteeship of
Maurice Charles O'Connell Sir Maurice Charles Philip O'Connell KCH (1768 – 25 May 1848) was a commander of forces and lieutenant-governor of colonial New South Wales. Early life Maurice Charles O'Connell was born in Ireland in 1768. He had had a distinguished career ...
MLC,
John Frederick McDougall John Frederick McDougall (1820—1896) was a pastoralist and politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council. Early life John Frederick McDougall was born on 31 August 1820 in Parramatta, New South Wa ...
MLC and George Harris MLC, members of the Queensland Turf Club. A grandstand capable of seating 350 people was erected and a saddling paddock was constructed before the first three-day meeting at the Eagle Farm Racecourse took place on 14 August 1865. Attended by about 2000 people, the races took place in a thickly forested area, and race-goers could catch only occasional glimpses of the horses. The first Chairman was Colonel MC O'Connell who served the club in this capacity until 1875. At the time of his appointment, O'Connell was president of the Queensland Legislative Council, a position he held from 1860–1879. The
Queensland Turf Club The Queensland Turf Club (QTC) was founded in August 1863. It began on a piece of land in Ascot, Queensland, later called Eagle Farm Racecourse, given to the club by government grant. The first meeting of the club was held on 14 August 1865. Som ...
(QTC) assumed a leadership role in the state's racing industry, which was formalized by the Brisbane Racecourse Act 1875 coming into force. It empowered the Trustees to deal with the land covered by the 1863 Deed of Grant and initiated sale of parts of it to the north of the present-day race track, starting in 1876 and continuing into the 1880s. Despite the early establishment of the QTC, horse racing in Queensland did not become popular on a larger scale until the 1880s. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, the Club divested itself of some of its land in order to pay off the considerable mortgage which earlier borrowing had necessitated. The racecourse was also used for other purposes –
cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
matches during the 1870s as well as
polo Polo is a ball game played on horseback, a traditional field sport and one of the world's oldest known team sports. The game is played by two opposing teams with the objective of scoring using a long-handled wooden mallet to hit a small hard ...
matches from 1877 to . By the end of the 1880s, however, the boom in racing had resulted in an increase in the number of meetings. A new code of rules (1885) modelled on those of the
English Jockey Club The Jockey Club is the largest commercial horse racing organisation in the United Kingdom. It owns 15 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and both the Rowley Mile and July Course in Newmarket, amo ...
was adopted and a system of registration of all racing clubs under the QTC rules was instituted. The Club thereby constituted itself the supreme racing authority in the colony and the ultimate court of appeal. Another significant step undertaken during the 1880s was the publication of the first edition of
The Queensland Racing Calendar ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
in 1886. A boom in racing at the end of the 1880s led to a mushrooming of clubs and meetings. The senior club was the QTC, which staged four 2–3 day meetings per year at Eagle Farm Racecourse, coinciding with the main public holidays:
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
,
New Year's Day New Year's Day is a festival observed in most of the world on 1 January, the first day of the year in the modern Gregorian calendar. 1 January is also New Year's Day on the Julian calendar, but this is not the same day as the Gregorian one. Wh ...
, the
Queen's Birthday The King's Official Birthday (alternatively the Queen's Official Birthday when the monarch is female) is the selected day in the United Kingdom and most Commonwealth realms on which the birthday of the monarch is officially celebrated in those ...
, the
Brisbane Exhibition The Ekka is the annual agricultural show of Queensland, Australia. Its formal title is the Royal Queensland Show, and it is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds. It was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition, but it is more commonly known as the ...
and the Prince of Wales's birthday. With several clubs and courses in operation in Brisbane, meetings often clashed; consequently, in May 1890 the leading racing clubs agreed to empower the QTC to allot dates for meetings, thereby confirming it as the premier club. The second major metropolitan club was the
Tattersall's Club Tattersalls Club is a heritage-listed club house at 206 Edward Street (with a second frontage on Queen Street), Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Hall and Prentice and built from 1925 to 1949. It was added to the Qu ...
, which did not have its own track but preferred to rent the Eagle Farm course for per year for its two meetings, in autumn and near the end of the year. The Tattersall's Club held its first meeting at the Eagle Farm Racecourse on 10 December 1884. In the early years, race-goers drove in their buggies or rode their horses to the track. Others were reported as arriving by a small steamer known as the "shuttlecock boat". A major achievement for the Queensland Turf Club was the opening of the Brisbane and South East Railway Line extension from
Eagle Junction Clayfield is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Clayfield had a population of 10,555 people. Geography Clayfield is by road from the Brisbane GPO. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the east by ...
to Ascot on 3 September 1882. Unlike
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
and
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, Brisbane was too small to have railways built just to serve its suburbs; however, some of its lines, such as the seaside lines to Sandgate and the branch to Eagle Farm Racecourse, were built solely to benefit Brisbane residents. While horseracing was controlled and patronised by the elite, large numbers of people from all strata regularly attended race meetings. The spatial organisation of the Eagle Farm Racecourse reflected class hierarchies. All non-members paid to enter the racecourse and once inside, patrons, if they wished to pay more, were separated according to the additional price for certain areas. Entrance to the St Leger Stand cost less than the entrance to the Paddock Stand and saddling area, while members were located in their own stand. The area where the totalisator (introduced 1879) was located was one space that was less defined where punters of all classes placed bets. Working-class people tended to gather in the "outer", an area in the middle of the racetrack. This space was especially popular during major race programmes, with all manner of entertainment including boxing tents, sideshows and drinking booths, competing with the
bookies A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays off bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds. History The first bookmaker, Ogden, stood at Newmarket in 1795. Range of events Bookma ...
stands in operation. A riot at the Spring Meeting on 12 November 1887 highlighted these divisions. During the Sandgate Handicap, clear favourite (and heavily backed ''Touchstone'') was beaten by ''Honest Ned'', due to a controversial start. The QTC decision to judge the race legitimate led to an outraged crowd from the outer occupying or surrounding a range of spaces including the grandstand, stewards' room, saddling paddock, judges stand and QTC committee enclosure. While minor fighting occurred and nine rioters had charges brought against them, the transgression of these elite spaces occurred in a fairly peaceful manner. This incident resulted from a series of false starts before the disputed final race start. At this time horses raced at the drop of a flag. By the turn of the century a rope barrier was introduced. Barrier stalls were used shortly afterwards, however, it was not until 1959 that mobile gates were introduced. On 21 September 1889 tenders were called by
Hunter and Corrie Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/ hide, bone/tusks, horn/ antler, ...
and JH Buckeridge, as joint architects, for the construction of a
grandstand A grandstand is a normally permanent structure for seating spectators. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap a ...
, as well as stables and sheds. The grandstand, constructed in the Paddock area, became known as the Paddock Stand after it opened in 1890. The depression in 1893 severely affected racing. Attendances dropped considerably and the prize monies offered fell from 3,455 sovereigns in 1890 to 1,615 sovereigns in 1894 for the Queen's Birthday meeting. All the main clubs found themselves in financial difficulties. Consequently, a decision to extend the track from 8 furlongs (one and a half kilometres) to 10 furlongs (two kilometres), was reversed, and the extension was not made until 1901. The railway enabled access by a larger racing public, although the competition of cheap weekend rail returns to Sandgate (then Brisbane's most popular beach) lessened the anticipated numbers. By 1885, a fork siding for turning around the rail engines had been laid adjacent to the grounds, in what is now the members' car park at the corner of Lancaster and Kitchener roads. In 1897 the name of the railway station was changed from Racecourse to Ascot (after the famous
Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced , often pronounced ) is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races and ...
in England), and in the same year the line was extended to
Pinkenba Pinkenba is a town and eastern coastal suburb within the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Pinkenba had a population of 368 people. Geography Pinkenba is a long narrow strip of land on the northern side of the Brisbane River ...
. The timber station was built in 1898. The advent of the electric tram along
Racecourse Road Racecourse Road is a road in the suburb of Hamilton in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a dining, shopping and entertainment precinct in Brisbane, that connects Kingsford Smith Drive and the Eagle Farm Racecourse. Geography ...
from 1899 also provided an alternative means of transport for patrons. The early twentieth century brought with it further improvements to the grounds and facilities. Over a period of 29 years, from the late 1880s, conferences between the major racing clubs of Australia were held to reach agreement on uniform rules of racing. On 14 October 1912, Queensland agreed to and accepted the final draft of the Australian Rules of Racing. From that time, the Club progressed. In January 1913, GHM Addison, architect, placed a tender notice for the construction of a
totalisator A tote board (or totalisator/totalizator) is a numeric or alphanumeric display used to convey information, typically at a race track (to display the odds or payoffs for each horse) or at a telethon (to display the total amount donated to the chari ...
building (also known as the Tote Building). Also in January 1913,
Hall and Dods Hall & Dods was an architectural partnership in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The partners were Francis Richard Hall and Robin Dods and the partnership lasted from 1896 to 1913. Works Works of the partnership include: * Australian Mercantile L ...
, architects, placed a tender notice for the construction of a new St Leger Stand at Ascot Racecourse. Tenders for the construction of entrance gates to the Eagle Farm Racecourse were called on 11 January 1913. Designed by architects
Chambers and Powell Chambers may refer to: Places Canada: *Chambers Township, Ontario United States: *Chambers County, Alabama *Chambers, Arizona, an unincorporated community in Apache County *Chambers, Nebraska * Chambers, West Virginia * Chambers Township, Holt ...
, the gates were constructed by A Gillespie at a cost of . Later, on 6 February 1914, Addison called for tenders for the construction of latrines at the racecourse, which were constructed by
Manuel Hornibrook Sir Manuel Richard Hornibrook Order of the British Empire, OBE (7 August 1893 – 30 May 1970) was an Australian builder and civil engineer. He founded the firm M R Hornibrook Pty Ltd that after merger with Baulderstone became one of the largest ...
at a cost of . GHM Addison was also the architect for the ticket boxes at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Tenders were called on 10 April 1914 and accepted on 17 April 1914. The successful tenderer was James Malskrey and the cost of the ticket boxes was . On 17 March 1916, W Lindsay's tender of was accepted for the construction of a bandstand at Eagle Farm Racecourse; the architects were
Atkinson and McLay Atkinson and McLay was an architectural partnership in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It produced a number of significant works and is the origins of one of Brisbane's major architectural firms in the present day. History The partnership between ...
. Railway facilities at the Eagle Farm Racecourse were also improved at this period. A railway overbridge adjacent to the Ascot Railway station was completed in October 1911, and in 1912 a new siding was constructed at the Hendra end of the platform, to store trains on race days. At this time the 1880s fork siding was removed. Following lobbying from the Hamilton Town Council, a second railway station was constructed on the western side of the line in 1913–14, opening on 20 February 1914. This was a pre-cast concrete building with a terracotta tile roof, and is now the earliest surviving pre-cast concrete railway station still in operation. Earlier (now demolished) examples were Northgate (1911–12) and Chelmer (1913), while Kuranda (after September 1914) is the next oldest surviving. Congestion on race days at the racecourse station resulted in several further changes in the first decades of the twentieth century. The QTC had found that the level crossing gates, inserted when the rail line was extended to Pinkenba, obstructed access to the course. In 1914 the Club agreed to pay the cost of building a subway underneath the railway embankment. Wartime delays hindered its completion until April 1916. In 1920, plans were devised to duplicate the railway line to cater for the ever-increasing number of patrons, but this did not come to fruition. In 1924–25 a new Members' Stand was constructed, designed by
Hall and Prentice Hall and Prentice was an architectural firm established in 1919 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, through the partnership of Thomas Ramsay Hall (T. R. Hall) and George Gray Prentice (G. G. Prentice). The firm designed many prestigious building ...
, the architects responsible for the design of
Brisbane City Hall Brisbane City Hall, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the seat of the Brisbane City Council. It is located adjacent to King George Square, where the rectangular City Hall has its main entrance. The City Hall also has frontages and entranc ...
. Later additions by Hall and Prentice included alterations to the main and "flat" totalisators as well as a new lavatory block in April 1923. In June 1938, tenders for extensions to the St Leger Stand were closed. The architects were Hall and Cook. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the Club's regular race meetings continued until December 1941 when Australia faced the threat of invasion by Japan. Military authorities took over the racecourse on 19 December 1941. Until 1946, Eagle Farm Racecourse was known as Camp Ascot, occupied by thousands of Americans. The first contingents of American servicemen from the
Pensacola Convoy The Pensacola Convoy is a colloquialism for a United States military shipping convoy that took place in late 1941 as the Pacific War began. The name was derived from that of its primary escort ship, the heavy cruiser . ''Pensacola'' was official ...
marched from Bretts Wharves down Racecourse Road and through what has since been termed "The Gateway to Victory" in December 1941. In the early 1940s, eight "igloo" stores were erected at Eagle Farm Racecourse for the
Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...
and
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
Armies. Throughout World War II, the QTC conducted races at
Albion Park Albion Park is a suburb situated in the Macquarie Valley in the City of Shellharbour, which is in turn one of the three local government areas that comprise the Wollongong Metropolitan Area, New South Wales, Australia. Although it is surround ...
, the Victory Cup Meeting in May 1946 marking the return of racing to the Eagle Farm Racecourse. In the 1950s the totalisator building which straddled the Paddock/St Leger boundary was extended and the John Power Stand, designed by architect Martin Conrad, was built in 1958 by KD Morris & Sons, Pty Ltd, at a cost of . It was named after Dr John Power, the President of the QTC from 1947 to 1965. Conrad designed a number of other buildings at the racecourse in following years, including the Judge's Box (1963), and a ladies toilet (1966). The Club celebrated its centenary with a carnival on 8–15 June 1963. By then Eagle Farm Racecourse was one of the premier racecourses in Australia. Racecourse developments since 1963 have taken several forms. In 1969 a new
kikuyu grass The tropical Poaceae, grass species ''Cenchrus clandestinus'' (previously Pennisetum clandestinum) is known by several common names, most often kikuyu grass, as it is native to the highland regions of East Africa that is home to the Kikuyu peop ...
training track, aluminium running rails, horses' swimming pool, state-of-the-art testing facilities for the Laboratory, covered betting ring and opening of the famous Guineas Room – a restaurant situated on the second level of the Members' Stand (John Power Stand) – were added. In 1990 there was major track extension between the and the and the QTC acquired several properties bordering the up to the starts. The new start was used for the first time in February 1991. Restoration of the old Totalisater building in 2006 and relocation of the Racing Museum there took place some time afterwards. Prolonged drought led to the existing dam being expanded, a new dam excavated and a fence and underground water tanks installed in 2008. There was upgrading of Eagle Farm in 2005 with work undertaken to the St Leger Stand and lawns and setting up of the Champagne Bar facing the mounting yard as a temporary measure until permission was granted for the permanent addition in 2006. The QTC, recognizing the "important heritage value for Eagle Farm" and its "range of challenges as the ageing facilities require maintenance", commissioned
Riddel Architecture Riddel may refer to: * Riddels, or riddel curtains, posts, rails etc, curtains at the sides of a church altar. * Peter Riddel (died 1641), English politician * Eliza and Isabella Riddel, who endowed Riddel Hall to Queen's University Belfast in 19 ...
to prepare a Conservation Management Plan for Eagle Farm racecourse. This was finalised in 2008. Changes to the management of the Eagle Farm Racecourse have also taken place. At the QTC's AGM on 9 September 1997, the membership unanimously voted for incorporation to allow the Club to have freehold title of Eagle Farm racecourse in its own name as of 31 March 1998. Circa 2002 there was an in-principle agreement by the QTC Board to a joint venture to merge the QTC and the Brisbane Turf Club to form one entity. Merger of the QTC and
Brisbane Turf Club Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
(which managed
Doomben Racecourse Doomben Racecourse is a horse racing venue in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located in the suburb of Ascot, 7 kilometres north of the Brisbane central business district. The Doomben course neighbours another thoroughbred venue cal ...
) to form the Brisbane Racing Club subsequently took place on 8 August 2008. This was regarded as a prudent business decision to ensure "a vibrant future for Eagle Farm and Doomben racecourses." On 1 July 2009 the new Brisbane Racing Club became operational. One of the first objectives of the Board was the creation of the Master Plan to develop Eagle Farm and Doomben Racecourses to give Brisbane the finest racing facilities in Australia. A Master Plan was announced in April 2009 which proposed "world class racing facilities in a precinct which
ould Ould is an English surname and an Arabic name ( ar, ولد). In some Arabic dialects, particularly Hassaniya Arabic, ولد‎ (the patronymic, meaning "son of") is transliterated as Ould. Most Mauritanians have patronymic surnames. Notable p ...
have a variety of lifestyle, residential, retail and commercial developments". Track and facility enhancements were to include "infield stabling for 400 horses and a dedicated veterinary clinic at Eagle Farm." It also promised `extensive landscaping of the whole area... and 16.5 ha of open leisure space and parklands have been set aside for use by the community.' A further Conservation Management Plan has been prepared by Brannock & Associates in 2011 to inform development plans. A published history of the QTC stated that "the development of the Brisbane Racing Precinct will give due respect to the historical significance of the area... maintaining, enhancing and showcasing the magnificent heritage of Eagle Farm". The same publication recognized that the QTC has a "special position in Queensland history... and played a pivotal role in the early days of settlement". The book was commissioned "because it is imperative Queenslanders had a record of the role the Club played in the history of the state and the racing industry". In 2012 the mounting yard and the race day tie-up stalls, previously located at the western end of the John Power (Members) Stand, were moved behind the public grandstand, where they had been positioned until 1946. Today, Eagle Farm Racecourse remains one of the premier racecourses in Australia. Ascot railway station is the last station in metropolitan Brisbane to retain semaphore signalling and a mechanically interlocked
signal cabin On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetabl ...
, and is one of only seven such systems intact in Queensland. In 2008 the seven mechanically interlocked signal cabins still commissioned were Ascot (not used),
Charters Towers Charters Towers is a rural town in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. It is by road south-west from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. During the last quarter of the 19th century, the town boomed as the rich gold deposits under ...
, Ingham, Innisfail, Kuranda, Laidley (rarely used) and
Mackay Mackay may refer to: *Clan Mackay, the Scottish clan from which the surname "MacKay" derives Mackay may also refer to: Places Australia * Mackay Region, a local government area ** Mackay, Queensland, a city in the above region *** Mackay Airpor ...
. There are about 19 surviving decommissioned interlocked signal cabins complete with their frames in Queensland (six have been relocated), along with 36 signal cabins minus their signal frames, and 10 known signal frames in various states of intactness. Approximately 100 mechanically interlocked signal cabins have been demolished at stations around Queensland.


Description

Eagle Farm Racecourse occupies a large flat site in Ascot bounded by Lancaster and Nudgee roads to the south and east, the house lots along Mein and Gordon streets in the north and Kitchener Road in the west. The railway line passes along the southern and western boundaries with Ascot railway station located at the south-western corner of the site.


Ascot railway station

The station comprises two buildings, one on each side of the rail line. The 1880s station building, on the north-east side of the line, is a timber-framed and clad structure with sections of exposed framing, while the 1914 building, on the south-west side of the track, is of precast concrete with decorative timber lattice elements. Both buildings have terracotta tiled
gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...
roofs with large overhangs. A timber pedestrian overbridge is located just south of the station buildings, connecting the course to McGill Avenue. There is another timber overbridge at the Hendra orthernend of the site, where a laneway leads from Gordon Street to it, giving access to Kitchener Road.


Ticket offices and entrance gates

The public face of the racecourse is provided by the Federation style ticket offices and decorative
wrought iron Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content (less than 0.08%) in contrast to that of cast iron (2.1% to 4%). It is a semi-fused mass of iron with fibrous slag Inclusion (mineral), inclusions (up to 2% by weight), which give it a ...
gates in Lancaster Road, terminating the view down Racecourse Road (1913). These structures consist of brick walls with an upper section (above sill height) of rendered bands above a face brick base and gabled terracotta tiled roofs with large
eaves The eaves are the edges of the roof which overhang the face of a wall and, normally, project beyond the side of a building. The eaves form an overhang to throw water clear of the walls and may be highly decorated as part of an architectural styl ...
supported on
corbel In architecture, a corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal jutting from a wall to carry a superincumbent weight, a type of bracket. A corbel is a solid piece of material in the wall, whereas a console is a piece applied to the s ...
s and central ridge ventilators. Either side of the ticket buildings are timber gates and beyond these are low level stone retaining walls extending approximately . The members' car park is located at the corner of Lancaster and Kitchener roads on a parcel of open grassed land which includes a number of mature trees. Behind the Lancaster Road entry gates a subway leads under the railway line to ticket offices and turnstiles similarly constructed of brick with terracotta tiled roofs. A bitumen access road lined with well maintained gardens leads away from the main entry to the eastern end of the course.


Public racecourse area

The public racecourse area occupies the south-west corner of the site inside the rail line and comprises a series of grandstands and associated structures located to the south of the main straight. Whilst all structures exhibit differing levels of alterations and additions they are all reasonably intact. The race track itself occupies the majority of the remaining land to the north of this development, with stabling facilities to the west of the stands, and maintenance and management areas to the east. Further stabling and training facilities occupy the south-easternmost corner of the site on 5/RP33741.


St Leger spectator's stand

The most eastern spectator's stand is the St Leger (1913 with extensions in 1938). It comprises a face brick, towered component on the south and extensive tiered seating facing the track, with a gable roof supported on a composite cast iron and timber frame and clad in metal sheeting and ornate cast iron
handrails A handrail is a rail that is designed to be grasped by the hand so as to provide safety or support. In Britain, handrails are referred to as banisters. Handrails are usually used to provide support for body or to hold clothings in a bathroom or ...
. The stand sits on a brick base that houses toilets, refreshment rooms, and other facilities. An earlier ticket office is located to the south of the stand. Constructed of brick with a terracotta tile roof, this structure still retains its original timber counter joinery. The southern informal forecourt contained between the ticket office and the stand is shaded by the canopies of a number of mature trees.


Totalisator Building and the Paddock Stand

To the west of the St Leger Stand are the Totalisator (or Tote) Building and the Paddock Stand. The Tote Building (1913, extended 1917) has a long, narrow plan running north to south between the stands, with an L-shaped extension on the southern end (1928). An additional part-storey, built for the Hodsdon's tote system in the 1950s, now houses the Julius Totalisator apparatus it replaced. The Paddock Stand is similar in construction to the St Leger Stand; however, it is characterised by a large galvanised iron vaulted roof with a gabled ridge ventilator that extends its entire length. It comprises ornate cast iron posts and handrails as well as decorative timber battening to the eastern end of the vaulted roof. The base of the stand accommodates a range of public and private spaces. This stand was extended to the west in the 1920s and the fabric and form of the addition are clearly discernible from the original structure.


Members' Stand and John Power Stand

Further to the west again is the 1925 three-storey rendered brick Members' Stand, attached to which is the Camera Tower. Nearby is the Judge's Box (1963). A range of original timber fittings and fixtures remains throughout this building. Adjoining the stand and connected by an upper level walkway is the 1950s John Power Stand. Both of these stands overlook the parade ring and saddling area. The John Power Stand is constructed primarily of reinforced concrete and its form and detail are typical of architecture of the period. Unlike the other stands the roof of the John Power Stand is also an open, cantilevered viewing area with tiered seating. The base of this building accommodates ticketing booths, a bar and refreshments area, public seating and open space for bookmakers.


Other structures

Located to the south of the Paddock, Members' and John Power Stands are a collection of single-storey buildings including ticketing booths, public toilets, refreshment stands, the former race-day stalls/stables and other facilities. They include brick structures with terracotta tile roofs to the south-west boundary of the public concourse as well as a collection of timber-framed and weatherboard-clad structures with galvanised iron roofs, sited between the brick structures and the stands. The ground surface surrounding these structures varies from bitumen, concrete, paving and lawn, and includes well maintained gardens where mature trees create a shade canopy to this entire area. Located at the far western end of the site is a collection of five timber race day stalls and stables. Entry to this part of the site is via a secondary access from Gordon Street marked by two white rendered masonry pillars. Apart from this point of access there are a number of secondary entrances into the site from the roads bounding the course. The stable buildings are simple partially open timber structures with gable roofs. The external walls are generally clad with weatherboards on the ends, while the rear long walls are partially in-filled with battens. The stalls are formed with half-height timber-framed walls with timber boarding infill. The roofs are clad with corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. A number of brick, fibrous cement and corrugated iron-clad additions have been made throughout this complex. A concrete
apron An apron is a garment that is worn over other clothing to cover the front of the body. The word comes from old French ''napron'' meaning a small piece of cloth, however over time "a napron" became "an apron", through a linguistics process cal ...
slab surrounds these structures. The development to the east of the course beyond the St Leger Stand and between the track and the railway line includes a brick structure which houses the managers office (was turnstile building), an early timber residence (previously the caretaker's residence, damaged by fire in 2010 and demolished), a green house, car parking area and collection of timber-framed and clad maintenance buildings. The gardens that surrounded the residence are well maintained and terminate the gardens which bound the access road leading to this part of the site. Located in the south-east corner of the site is large stabling and exercise complex (stalls known as scraping stalls). The grounds of the racecourse create a parkland setting and include well maintained gardens, specimen trees, avenues of trees, arched creeper trellises, flower beds (including seasonal bedding out schemes) and expanses of lawn.


Heritage listing

Eagle Farm Racecourse and Ascot railway station was listed on the
Queensland Heritage Register The Queensland Heritage Register is a heritage register, a statutory list of places in Queensland, Australia that are protected by Queensland legislation, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. It is maintained by the Queensland Heritage Council. As a ...
on 25 June 2004 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. The Eagle Farm Racecourse and Ascot railway station (1863 and 1914 respectively) complex is important in demonstrating the development of horse racing since the 1860s into a major sport and industry in Queensland. The provision of a suburban branch railway line and station to serve the racecourse from 1882 demonstrates the importance of racing from very early in Queensland's history. Eagle Farm Racecourse is one of Queensland's earliest racing venues. Its evolution and development into the premier racing venue in Queensland is evidence of its importance to the state. The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage. Ascot railway station has rarity value as the last station in metropolitan Brisbane to retain semaphore signaling and a mechanically interlocked cabin, and is one of very few such systems left in Queensland, a form of signaling that was once common. Additionally, it is the earliest surviving pre-cast concrete railway station still in operation. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places. The place is important as a good example of a large operating racecourse in a capital city, the principal elements of which include: track, stalls, scrapping yard, blacksmith, starting gates, fencing, grandstands and associated buildings and structures ncluding betting facilities various structures associated with the calling and televising of races, and sheds and garages for grounds equipment. The prestige of the Eagle Farm Racecourse as the premier racecourse of Queensland attracted a variety of architects to design for the Queensland Turf Club (QTC, Brisbane Racing Club since 2009), and the place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of the work of a number of prominent Queensland architects from different decades, including JH Buckeridge, Hunter and Corrie, Hall and Dods, GHM Addison, Chambers and Powell, Atkinson and McLay, Hall and Prentice, Hall and Cook, and Martin Conrad. The buildings designed and extended by the various architects include the well composed Paddock Stand which is characterised by a large galvanised iron vaulted roof with a gabled ridge ventilator. The stand comprises ornate cast iron posts and handrails as well as decorative timber battening. The St Leger Stand, is also a characteristic cast iron and timber building with a galvanised iron gable roof and ornate cast iron handrails. The collection of early 20th century structures and buildings including gates, ticket offices, St Leger Stand, railway station and other buildings and structures demonstrate the principal characteristics of Federation-style design: use of terracotta, decorative brick and timber work. It is a remarkably intact grouping of such buildings and structures in Queensland. The 1898 timber railway station building is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of its type, while the 1914 station building is an intact example of a pre-cast concrete structure which includes decorative timber lattice elements. The place is important because of its aesthetic significance. The Eagle Farm Racecourse and Ascot railway station complex is significant for its aesthetic values, including the spatial arrangement of buildings and structures around the track, the Victorian cast iron, brick and timber grandstands, Federation-style ticket offices, decorative wrought iron entrance gates, landscaped grounds, and the railway station buildings. The main entrance gates on Lancaster Road are a notable local landmark which contribute to the streetscapes of both this and Racecourse Road and are the highly visible public face of the Eagle Farm Racecourse. The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. The Eagle Farm Racecourse is especially important for its strong social significance, including its association, over 130 years, with QTC members, officials, owners, trainers, jockeys and with generations of race-goers from all strata of Queensland, interstate and international society, who have attended the Eagle Farm races for social interaction, recreation and the enjoyment of this sport, so popular in Queensland. This association is reflected in the many changes that have occurred to the site, changes which demonstrate the continued relationship between the racecourse, the grandstands, (including later extensions and additions), and related structures, such as the totalisator building, the stabling areas and associated gardens and access ways and the entrance gates and ticketing offices, throughout the extensive grounds. These changes, including the inclusion of a special railway branch for race-goers and associated railway station, have contributed to making this racecourse a popular Queensland institution. The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history. The Eagle Farm Racecourse and Ascot railway station has a special association with the QTC (Brisbane Racing Club from 1 July 2009). This organization has made an important contribution to the development of horse racing in Queensland, a major interest and industry since 1863. From early in the club's history it undertook a leadership role in the industry and in operating the Eagle Farm Racecourse as Queensland's premier racecourse.


Bibliography

* Brisbane Courier. The Courier-Mail, 1863–1954 * Brannock & Associates, Eagle Farm Racecourse Conservation Management Plan. Brisbane: Prepared for Watpac BRC Pty Ltd, January 2014, Building 14. The building was added to in 1982 and 1984. * Coughlan, Helen. Queensland Turf Club TC A Place in History, Boolarong: Brisbane, 2009. * Doran, Bob. `The First Automatic Totaliser', The Rutherford Journal,@www.rutherfordjournal.org/article020109.html. accessed 30 May 2012. * Jamison, Brian, `Racecourse Riot, 1887' in Raymond Evans, Carole Ferrier and Jeff Rickertt, eds, Radical Brisbane: an unruly history, The Vulgar Press, North Carlton, Vic, 2004. * QHR 602627 Signals, Crane and Subway, Charters Towers Railway Station, * QHR 600755 Cairns Railway, Section from Redlynch to Crooked Creek Bridge. * Riddel Architecture, Eagle Farm Racecourse Conservation Management Plan. Brisbane Riddel Architecture, 2006. * The Age, 10 Aug 1939. * The Courier Mail "2012 Brisbane Racing Club Carnival" supplement * "Totalisator history", http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bconlon/, .accessed 30 May 2012. * Ward, Andrew and Peter Milner, Queensland Railway Heritage Places, Study: Stage 2, vol. 4, Dept Environment and Queensland Rail, Brisbane,1997.


References


Attribution


External links

{{Commons category multi, Eagle Farm Racecourse, Ascot railway station, Brisbane Queensland Heritage Register Ascot, Queensland Sports venues in Brisbane Articles incorporating text from the Queensland Heritage Register