IMPROVEMENTS to the Old Northam Railway Station were officially opened by the member for Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies on Saturday.
Opened at the well-attended ceremony were a cantilever roof over the resident PMR locomotive and three carriages and structural improvements to the eastern end of the building.
The old station is the home of the Northam Heritage Forum and forum chair Genny Budas welcomed those who attended.
"The forum has been operating at the Old Northam Railway Station for the last two years and has made great progress in obtaining funding from Lotterywest to put a cover over the locomotive and carriages and renovate the eastern part of the building by putting on a roof to join the main building and the toilets, helping to make the building secure," she said.
"Groups at the Old Northam Railway Station are the Northam and Districts Historical Society which included the Northam Railway Preservation Group, Northam Army Camp Heritage Association (NACHA) and Avon Valley Vintage Vehicles Association." There was no shortage of speakers.
Shire president Steve Pollard reinforced council's support for the station project and Geoff Pollard outlined the train set's history.
Simon Dempster of Splice Projects, which built the roof, outlined the complexities of the task.
It had to be built on a gibbet-like structure as heritage considerations meant there could be no anchoring on the railway platform.
Ian Gibbs of builder W Gibbs and Son said he would enjoy doing more work at the site.
Politicians also had their say. As well as opening the project, Ms Davies took the opportunity to congratulate the volunteers on their work.
Another guest was the Liberal candidate for the Federal seat of Pearce Christian Porter who was accompanied by his wife Jennifer. "Governments can't do anything," he said.
"You have done the work yourselves with a bit of government financial help."
The project was made possible by $70,000 Lotterywest funding.
