By Jeremy Sollars
CALLS to transform the Warwick railway station precinct into a tourism hub have been re-ignited, and the Southern Free Times is backing the campaign to the hilt.
Warwick has a long and proud history as a railway town and while commercial rail activity locally isn’t what it used to be, the opportunity is there to tap into the tourism potential of this aspect of our heritage.
Shifting the current Visitor Information Centre to the rail precinct makes perfect sense. Its current location next to the Art Gallery and Library means parking for RVs and other travellers is severely limited. In contrast, the rail precinct has more than enough room to spare for parking.
The former parcel building next to the goods shed is ideally suited for a visitor centre, with plenty of display space and a counter, and is attractive in appearance. Likewise, the goods shed itself has a stunning interior, with its sandstone walls and timber rafters and flooring. It is already serving as a museum and function centre, and its uses could be expanded over time.
The station building itself has the potential for either a function centre or perhaps an eatery of some kind in the future. Anything would be better than what it is now, which is a target for vandals.
With the Southern Downs Steam Railway next door, it seems patently obvious that we have a heritage rail precinct begging to be brought together to give visitors to Warwick another reason to spend more time – and money – in our town.
None of these things are in the pipedream category costing millions – the buildings and other infrastructure are already there. The starting point of re-locating the Visitor Information Centre would involve minimal cost, if a deal could be brokered say between the Southern Downs Regional Council and the State Government. Needless to say, there is scope for the private sector to get involved too.
The Free Times will be putting more focus on this issue in the coming weeks – it’s a terrific, low-cost opportunity for Warwick to boost its tourism appeal.
