Below are some of the links to The National Trust’s concerns about Eveleigh.

The 2008 Our Heritage at Risk Nomination: www.heritageatrisk.org.au/Large_Erecting_Shop,_Eveleigh.html

The 2008 Our Heritage at Risk List: www.heritageatrisk.org.au/Announced_Top_10_List_2008.html

National Trust NSW – Bring Back 3801 to Eveleigh: www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/news/bring-back-3801.asp

National Trust NSW – The Future of Railway at Eveleigh: www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/news/redfern2.asp

National Trust NSW – Trust Concerns on RWA Built Environment Plan: www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/news/redfern.asp

The following “Trust Action” item appeared in the  National Trust Magazine NSW Spring 2008 and gives a good idea of the National Trust (NSW) concerns including that “The present approach to rail heritage in NSW negates virtually all the interstate and international tourism opportunities that exist in the rail heritage sphere”.

Redfern/Eveleigh railway history under grave threat

The Trust has argued for the identification of North Eveleigh in Redfern, Sydney, as a railway heritage precinct for over two decades. During this time a series of changes have progressively altered and constrained this potential.

Although the conversion of the carriage workshops to house a performing arts space may be an acceptable adaptive reuse of one building in isolation, it ignores the heritage significance of the building (except architecturally) and it greatly limits the ability of the rest of the site to be used for rail purposes.

Future planning by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority for the North Eveleigh precinct will further limit any opportunities for the conservation of rail heritage.

While there may be attractive short-term financial benefits with the redevelopment of North Eveleigh for residential and commercial purposes, the long-term management of rail heritage in NSW is placed at jeopardy through an inappropriate, virtually inaccessible location, lack of fundamental facilities and insufficient support to the potentially large volunteer rail heritage community.

The present approach to rail heritage in NSW negates virtually all the interstate and international tourism opportunities that exist in the rail heritage sphere.

These would be fundamental in ensuring that rail heritage is not a drain on the public purse. The loss of these opportunities means that the conservation of this popular and significant transport technology will remain problematic and costly. Such short-sighted public sector planning is disappointing and, in our opinion, does not reflect the desires of the public at large.

We support the Friends of Eveleigh’s nomination of Eveleigh’s Large Erecting Shop, its contents, including the 3801 steam engine and carriages (now removed from the building), and the connection to the main rail line for listing on the National Heritage List.

The Trust is also deeply concerned about the disposal by Railcorp of historic rolling stock and the present condition of the 3801.

Despite government assurances, this highly significant item of rail heritage is not under cover, and is currently in a state of disrepair. 3801 engine, at Thirlmere Loco in May 2008

Source: National Trust Magazine NSW Spring 2008