- Repairs have begun on the old Freight Depot at the historic Gympie Railway station precinct.
- Works will include a fresh paint job, plumbing and electrical upgrades.
- The building will be available for community groups once repairs are completed.
Gympie community groups will soon have access to an upgraded and refurbished Queensland Rail building, with repairs starting on the old Freight Depot at the historic Gympie Railway station precinct.
The Freight Depot had been used by the Gympie Men’s Shed for more than 11 years, however inspections undertaken in 2024 identified a range of building condition issues making the building unfit for long-term use and requiring repairs.
Queensland Rail has completed a tender process for repairs to the old Freight Depot with Higgins Coatings awarded the contract to undertake the works.
Works will be in keeping with the heritage aesthetic of the precinct while ensuring the building is functional and fit for ongoing use, including a brand-new roof and decking, painting, plumbing and electrical.
Queensland Rail is currently working through options to lease out the upgraded building, to ensure it returns to community use following completion of the repair works.
Member for Gympie, Tony Perrett MP, welcomed the project, saying it would give the historic building a new lease on life for the Gympie community while preserving an important piece of the region’s heritage.
“It’s great to see this historic building being given a new lease on life for the benefit of our community
“The Freight Depot has been home to the Gympie Men’s Shed for more than a decade, and these works will preserve an important part of Gympie’s rail heritage while ensuring the building remains a valuable community asset for years to come.
“I commend Queensland Rail for investing in the restoration and look forward to seeing the facility returned to community use.”
Queensland Rail Head of Corporate Affairs Nev Conway said the project reflects a shared commitment to preserving local heritage while supporting community use.
“This project is about protecting an important piece of Gympie’s rail history and ensuring it remains a valued asset for the community,” Mr Conway said.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Gympie Regional Council to enable the Old Freight Depot to be restored and repurposed for local community groups.”
The works are expected to be completed in coming months.
ENDS