Inland Rail—Glenrowan and Wangaratta Railway Stations

The Glenrowan Heritage Precinct is listed on the National Heritage List (NHL), Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) and Victorian Heritage Inventory (VHI) due to its association with the notorious siege leading to the capture of the bushranger Ned Kelly. It is also noted for its potential to contain archaeology relating to the siege. Wangaratta Railway Station is also listed on the VHR and VHI for its historical and archaeological significance. Both railways required alteration to accommodate vertical clearance for double-stacked freight trains to operate as part of the Inland Rail works.

McConnell Dowell engaged GML Heritage to prepare archaeological management plans (AMPs) and heritage protection plans (HPPs) for the proposed railway upgrades in Glenrowan and Wangaratta. Staged alongside the construction, these AMPs and HPPs assessed the potential impacts of the works on the stations’ heritage significance. We also provided ‘on call’ archaeology services, as our staff travelled to site when unexpected archaeological features or deposits were uncovered by works, and provided 12-hour supervisions during total occupations (24 hours to 50 hours) of the sites.

We assisted McConnell Dowell with completing permit applications and permit exemptions for heritage items within tight turnaround periods. GML also provided cultural heritage due diligence assessments and heritage assessments when construction methodologies changed in order to provide McConnell Dowell with accurate advice on its statutory obligations under various relevant state Acts, and any risks.

GML also undertook photographic archival recordings to assist McConnell Dowell in meeting its permit obligations.