The Large Erecting Shop
Under the RWA proposed zoning the Large Erecting Shop could be replaced by an up to 12 storey building and the current heritage rail tours, maintenance and training being undertaken from the site could have been lost. There has been a long campaign to save the this operational heritage. RailCorps decision in 2008 to retain the building for heritage rail use has been welcomed. Properly managed the "Large" could not only be an important operational heritage site but it could also be a significant heritage tourism attraction.
In their submission to the NSW Tourism Review Friends of Eveleigh have spelt out their vision for how the Large Erecting Shop could continue as a functional Heritage Railway Workshop servicing rail heritage throughout the state while at the same time providing a tourist destination for public access into the "Large" to view heritage rail items and the operations of the Shop. This File has a couple of typing corrections from the original submission and is 974 Kb PDF.
The Eveleigh heritage meeting of 28 October 2008 coincided with the AGM of 3801 Ltd at which it was revealed that the RailCorp Board had approved the retention of the large Erecting Shop fort rail heritage purposes subject to final funding approval. It was also revealed that 3801 Ltd were in discussions with the Office of Rail Heritage continued occupancy of the "Large". Further details of the issues raised about the Large can be found here.
On 30 November 2018 Transport for NSW announced a new Heritage transport centre at Chullora. The media release below, along with the factsheet also below, made specific reference to the Large Erecting Shop (LES) at Eveleigh as being "adapted for new uses". The ATP sale sale to Mirvac contained a provision which allows it first right of refusal to the LES if not required by Transport for NSW. The media statement also makes reference to the Paint Shop at Eveleigh but it is not referenced as being "adapted for new uses". The text of the statement and the fact sheet are below.
Under the RWA proposed zoning the Large Erecting Shop could be replaced by an up to 12 storey building and the ongoing heritage rail tours, maintenance and training could have been lost. There has been a long campaign to save the this operational heritage and RailCorps decision to retain the building for heritage rail use has been welcomed. In the campaign to save the "Large" there have been proposals made to include a tourism element along side its heritage operations. You can read more about the campaign to save the "Large" and its potential as a heritage attraction on the South Eveleigh section of the website.