Redevelopments at one of Collie’s tourism and heritage hot spots have been taking shape.
The Collie Railway Station Group was closed over the school holidays to refurbish the ceilings/re-do the joins in-between the ceiling boards and give the facility a fresh coat of paint.
The main halls, restaurant, kitchen and toilets have all been included in the refurbishments.
The changes have included painting the ceilings and top of the walls antique white and using cream-coloured paint for the remaining wall surfaces.
The group has gone to SignFX to design stick-on borders to be placed in-between both colours on the walls. The borders will include pictures of trains.
I am hoping that when we get it set up again we’ll get more people coming in because it will be a lot brighter.
- Jeanette MacLaren-Hall
The group has also looked into ordering new coal figurines, of animals and motorbikes, from a new factory.
Collie Railway Station Group president Jeanette MacLaren-Hall said the committee received:
- A $7,500 grant from Bendigo Bank
- $6,000 from the Coal Miners Welfare Board for the redevelopments
The Collie Railway Station Group also pitched in $1,500 for the face lift.
She searched for plasterers and painters in Collie and Bunbury over the past year.
“We had a big job, I think it was around about April last year I started trying to get quotes and we did not get one until July,” she said.
“I am hoping that when we get it set up again we’ll get more people coming in because it will be a lot brighter.
“With everything being done professionally it will look cleaner and tidier than having amateurs doing it.”
Volunteers helped to move the facility’s belongings in late March, with work estimated to be completed in early May.
Ms MacLaren-Hall said the Collie Railway Station Group volunteers conducted the plastering and painting in 2003 and 2004, getting the facility ready to open in 2004.
Since then, the joins had been coming apart.
She said getting professionals in to refurbish and paint was a good decision for the life of the facility.
