Central Station and The Goods Line
Trains have been pulling into Sydney’s Central Station for more than 165 years. The vast sandstone building that stands today was opened in 1906 and remains one of the city’s grandest buildings. The imposing 85m clocktower was added in 1921. More than 85 million people pass through the station each year, their footsteps echoing through the imposing Grand Concourse as they make their way into central Sydney or depart for Regional NSW.
Eddy Ave
Haymarket NSW 2000
Australia
Branching out from Central Station, The Goods Line was part of a 19th century freight rail line that ran from Dulwich Hill into the city. The line closed in 1984 and the area sat mostly silent until a $15 million renovation that was completed in 2015. Flanked by some of Sydney’s most notable educational institutions, cultural attractions like the Powerhouse Ultimo and high-tech media hubs, The Goods Line has been transformed into an urban hub of walkways, bike paths, parks, ping pong tables, outdoor workspaces and playgrounds. The line runs between Central and Darling Harbour and takes less than 10 minutes to walk – keep an eye out for the Frank Gehry-designed Dr Chau Chak Wing Building that resembles a crumpled paper bag. The suburbs surrounding Central are as eclectic as Sydneysiders themselves. Hunt down the best spicy noodles or sweet custard puffs in the bustling streets of Chinatown, have a beer in a grungy student pub in Chippendale, and explore the stylish boutiques of Surry Hills.
Central Station and The Goods Line will again be part of Vivid Sydney for 2023, with light projections, installations and music events across the terminal building and along the walkway.
How to get there: You can get a train or bus from just about anywhere in Sydney (or Regional NSW) to Central Station.
