Queensland Rail is turning back the clock and returning the old Ascot station to its former glory following the commencement of conservation work on the historic building. The 120 year old station is being restored under Queensland Rail’s Heritage Conservation Maintenance Project which preserves historic rail property on the State Heritage Register.

Built around 1890, the timber station has already undergone some major repairs and maintenance, which involved the replacement of a considerable number of external weatherboards, and is now being repainted in heritage colours.

Queensland Rail Historian Greg Hallam said the paint scheme chosen will reflect the colours used by Queensland Railways in the early part of the 20th century.

“I think people would be surprised to know that colour pallet contains beautiful rich Edwardian colours like deep red, browns and smoky blue,” Mr Hallam said.

“When completed, the old Ascot station will provide a window back in time to when Brisbane was a small town with dusty streets and a population of around 50,000 people.

“The Ascot railway station, known as the Racecourse station until it was renamed in 1897, was built as a simple shelter shed on the newly opened racecourse branch of the suburban rail network.

“In the following decades the building was extended and adapted and still today features a large ticket and waiting area that reflects the large number of punters who travelled by train to the races.

“In 1914 a new pre-cast concrete station building was constructed on the southern side of the track and is still the Ascot station today.

“And perhaps another little known fact - the popular park area that is used by people attending the races was once a turning triangle where steam locomotives would be turned around after unloading punters at the gates.”

It’s expected the works will take several weeks to complete and Queensland Rail is currently looking at the station being used on race days to sell tickets to racegoers.