rookwood

The stonework from this station was moved to Canberra in 1958 and reconstructed as All Saints' Anglican Church, Ainslie.

That is interesting to know - there is more about the history on the Australian Heritage Database

Although it was re-erected, it was much changed, transposed, and much of the decorative detail lost.

Damn. Shame as this would be the type of Historical structure I'd like to have seen unchanged. Not like the "historical" nonsense that they do fight tooth and nail to keep nowadays. This would have made an awesome photo shoot!

See also - www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-nsw/2798269301/

How was this dated at 1865? See similar carriages in a Powerhouse Museum photo: www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2376882538/

The photograph had been dated by StateRail before the collection was transferred to State Records from the StateRail archives. That is the date we put in our catalogue. However we do acknowledge that Rookwood No.1 Station did not officially open until 1869.

Thanks State Records NSW - that might help date the Powerhouse photo.

One of these stations ended up in Canberra as a church! see www.flickr.com/photos/miss_sonia/366757702/ Is this not the same one? Or is this image reversed!! It can happen some times! see also www.flickr.com/photos/das_simonster/2348809253/

Hi Spelio Yes the station was moved stone by stone to Canberra in 1957. The following link has an image showing the bell tower on the left like in our image www.sydneyarchitecture.com/GON/GON11.htm Not sure how to explain the difference in appearance. It's a mystery!

I wonder if this image is as old as the c.1865 one? The stonework etc still looks relatively new and clean.

I didn't realize before that the Rookwood Station was literally a 'dead end'. Did the trains have to reverse all the way from Redfern?

Those angel sculptures symbolize Death and Resurrection, and the young sculptor, Thomas Duckett, died in 1868 as the building was nearing completion - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13166461

It seems the No.1 Mortuary Station was completed in 1869. See this wiki article - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemetery_Station_No._1_railway_station which mentions a sign saying "commenced 14 April 1867, completed 10 August 1869".
And this article in the SMH 22/4/1868 with description of how the building will look -

" ... The receiving-house at Haslem Creek is placed in the centre of the 200 acres set apart for the cemetery, and also in tho centre of an inner ring comprising 20 acres. The chapels to be erected by the several denominations will be around it. This building is a specimen of the Italian Gothic style, beautiful in proportion and ornamentation. It is a paralelogram, 98 feet 6 inches by 42 feet. This figure is divided longitudinally into three parts, a nave with side aisles, by two rows of circular columns, with richly-carved capitals. From these columns spring pointed arches, carrying the wall upon which rests the main roof. The sides of the building are entirely open. The rails will run through the nave, the side aisles and a portion of the nave forming platforms. The plain walls are built of 6-inch courses of rock faced work, pointed with black mortar. The whole of the interior timber work of the open roof will be painted in neutral tint, .picked out in primitive colours. The roof will be covered with slate in ornamental design, the entire length being terminated with an iron ridge cresting of quaint design. In these buildings it is difficult to say which is the most remarkable, the taste of the architect, Mr. Barnett, or the faithful and persevering skill of the general contractors, Messrs. Stoddard and Medway for Redfern, and Mr. Aaron Loveridge for Haslem Creek. ... "

I reckon all these photos are 1869, not "c.1865"

Update 1871 by photographer Charles Pickering. See comments here -

Thomas Duckett the sculptor (see link above) - found on Flickr!

beachcomber australia [http://www.flickr.com/photos/hpeters]
Great links - thank you.
I think the c.1865 date given on one of those images may have been based around the date the Rookwood Cemetery rail line opened - 22nd October 1864. However a post August 1869 date would be more approriate. - AG