Rural
11 July, 2026
Cottage to go before the end of the month
The former Station Master’s Cottage in Tarago will be demolished within days because of lead and asbestos contamination.
The former Station Master’s Cottage in Tarago will be demolished within days because of lead and asbestos contamination.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has advised that demolition will commence on July 13 and will be completed before the end of the month.
The building in Goulburn Street – also known as Lavender Cottage - was built at about the same time as the Tarago Railway Station in 1884 and is recognised as holding historical, cultural and community significance.
However, TfNSW says it has no option but to demolish the building and is planning a “meaningful commemoration” that respects the significance of the site but which is “in line with budgetary and logistical considerations”.
The site will need to be fully remediated before any commemorative tribute can be installed.
It is likely to be a signage project explaining the significance of the site.
Transport for NSW has previously advised that demolition of the building is the most cost effective and efficient way of progressing remediation of the site given that it generally does not manage community assets.
The site will be simply resumed back into the existing rail corridor.
“Transport is not able to sustain the ongoing maintenance costs of keeping the cottage and Goulburn Mulwaree Council have confirmed with Transport that they are unable to maintain the asset.
“While we acknowledge the community’s desire to preserve the site, Transport maintains that demolition is the most suitable option for this site and will proceed to demolish the cottage,” it advised earlier this year.
Surprisingly, the building has no heritage listing at either a State or local level and is not included in the Tarago Railway Precinct state heritage listing.
It is regarded as a ‘typical’ station master’s residence and has not been selected in a representative selection as part of the Regional Rail Heritage Strategy.
A Review of Environmental Factors relating to the site found lead contamination in the soil “at concentrations exceeding national guideline values for the protection of human health and the environment”.
Demolition of the site is expected to generate approximately 50 cubic metres of building waste while remediation of the site will include the excavation of approximately 250 cubic metres of contaminated soil.
Demolition of the cottage itself will be completed before the end of the month but remediation of the entire site isn’t planned until 2027.
In its latest update, TfNSW has advised that a licensed contractor would remove asbestos-containing material before demolition commences.
It is expected that most of the building waste will need to be disposed of at a licensed facility because of lead waste and that recycling won’t be an option because of lead paint on most of the material.
“Controls will be in place to protect the community, environment and workers during the demolition,” TfNSW says.
“The site will be fenced and all asbestos will be watered down before its safe removal.”
TfNSW says historical signage is the “preferred option” to acknowledge the site’s significance moving forward.
“This approach represents the most appropriate outcome given the extent of contamination at the site which limits the feasibility of other options.”
The cottage has been used as a private residence and has changed hands a number of times in recent years.
A property search shows it sold in 2021 for $450,000.
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