In what has been a big week for Newcastle’s retired train stations, it was announced on Wednesday that the Wickham railway station would be demolished and replaced by a new light rail depot building.

Scot Macdonald, the parliamentary secretary for the Hunter, said the depot was to be used for Newcastle light rail’s operations, maintenance and overnight stabling.

It will include offices, with a staff entrance fronting Stewart Avenue.

The Wickham station opened in February 1936.

“The Wickham signal box housed the equipment for Australia's first television equipped level crossing, with a closed circuit television link to the Hannell Street/Beresford Street level crossing from 1966,” Revitalising Newcastle director Michael Cassel said.

“Items of historical significance including signal box equipment and the original ticket window will be retrieved and stored, and archival recording of the station will be available in Newcastle City Council Library.”

Work will start this month.

Earlier this week, the state government revealed the results of its community consultation over the future of the other disused stations – Newcastle and Civic.

While Newcastle would be preserved and could be considered a future home for eateries, an arts centre or an outdoor piazza, the future of Civic was much less assured.

The government’s report said feedback showed respondents were divided over Civic, with some in favour of demolition and others wanting to retain the building.