The Daffodils at Rydal festival is set to showcase the Rydal Railway Station which will turn 150 years old in 2019.
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The Rydal Village Association has been able to secure the lease of the station master's residence and it will now be available for short term stays.
It is self-contained, and the heritage listed building is in good order and contains modern facilities. There are three bedrooms, living and dining rooms, a kitchen and bathroom.
According to Rydal Village Association publicity officer Lindsay Green this will be a unique place to stay and will bring a new life to the station.
"It means it will be cared for by the local community, many of whom have a connection with the railway in one way or another," he said.
"They themselves or their family may have worked on the railway or were stationed at Rydal."
According to Mr Green it had been a long process to secure the lease and Lithgow Solicitor Andrew Joseph helped the Rydal Village Association through the complicated process of dealing with the labyrinth of Rail Corp.
To take a look at the residence it will be open during the Daffodils at Rydal festival on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 and on September 14 and 15 between 10am and 4pm.
For more information, check out 'places to stay' at www.rydal.com.au.
A $15 entry fee for the Daffodils at Rydal Festival will take you to all the gardens, exhibitions and musical events. There will be an all day BBQ and a hop on hop off bus to take you around the village.
This year Daffodils at Rydal is supporting Lithgow Legacy and Lithgow Vinnies.
History of the station
When the first train came through all those years ago the train line only went as far as Rydal and everyone had to get off and then take a horse, a coach or a wagon to get to their next destination.
By 1876 the railway line was extended and the very busy days of Rydal were over.
However, it was still an important station and its loading dock was well used by the local farmers and grazers. Passenger trains were frequent and people came from Tarana and Sodwalls to do their shopping at Rydal.
By 1989 the station was no longer staffed and the only passenger train to stop if you booked it was the XPT going through to Dubbo.
Next year [2020] however, the Bathurst Bullet will be stopping regularly at Rydal.
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