Pahiatua Goods Shed

Architecture

This building has its origins in the standard Vogel-era goods shed. It is a standard 9 m wide by 33 m long,  with lapped weatherboards and a corrugated-iron roof. It has large sliding doors at each end to allow railway wagon access for loading and unloading. There are also four sliding doors on the road elevation. The only windows are three four-pane windows on the track elevation. The interior arrangement is structurally largely original.

History

The goods shed was built in 1897, at the same time as the original station building. It was used for freight handling and storage until the mid 1980s, when it stopped handling less-than-wagonload freight. Early photographs suggest that the building may originally have been shorter,  but in 1909 it was at its present length – the longest and rarest standard goods shed [Check].  It was reroofed in 1956-57.

Architectural Significance

Pahiatua goods shed is one of the best-preserved provincial goods sheds. There were three standard types of goods sheds: this is the only known example of the longest type, and has the highest level of integrity of any surviving shed.

Historical Significance

The goods shed has great regional significance as the only remaining original structure in the Pahiatua station precinct. Railway goods sheds were significant buildings in rural areas and the size of this shed indicates its importance to the local farming community. As a very fine and unique survivor it has considerable representative national significance.

Townscape / Landscape Value

The goods shed is not a building of great prominence and is some distance from the town.