Central Station - From Cemetary To Train Station

10 Things You Might Not Have Known About

 - Central Station

1. Central Station Was Built On Top Of A Cemetary. Devonshire Street Cemetary Was Acquired By The Government To Build The Station in 1901. 

2. Central Station As It Stands Was Sydney's Third Station.The Original Station Was Built In Redfern in 1855. An Upgraded Station Was Built In 1870 But Both Were Considered Too Small & Too Far Away From The City Centre By 1885. 

3. The Station Opened on August 4th, 1906. Stage Two, Incorporating two Additional Floors, Began In 1915 But World War 1 Slowed Construction Considerably & It Was Not Completed Until 1921. 

4. The Foundation POf Central's Sandstone Clock Tower Was Laid On Setember 26th, 1903.It Was Not Completed Until 10.22amon March 3rd, 1921, When The Clock Started Ticking

5. Prior To Electric Trains & Underground Lines, Central Consisted Of 19 Terminal Platforms.,.In 1926 , New Platforms (16-23) Were Built At A Higher Level To Service The City circle & North Shore Lines Over The Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

6. Platforms Servicing The Eastern Suburbs Were Built In 1979.  They Are Platforms 24 & 25

7. The First Train To Leave The New Station Left From Platform 12.  It Made A Special Run To Parramatta. 

8. central Is The Busiest Station In Sydney.  It Services About 146,000 Travellers Per Day. 

9.Many Sites & Plans Were Put Forward Before The Old Devonshire Strret Cemetary Was Chosen. A Hyde Park Station Was ALso On The Drawing Board

 

10. Pitt Street Was Widened  & Eddy Avenue Created As Part Of The Station Master Plan. The Plan Required The Relocations Of Major City Infrastructure, Including A Tram Depot, The Police Superintendant's Residence In Pitt Street, The Police Barracks, The Benevolent Society & Christ Church Parsonage.