Sydenham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Burrows Avenue station entrance and concourse in July 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Gleeson Avenue,Sydenham Sydney, New South Wales Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°54′52″S151°10′00″E / 33.914525°S 151.1665333°E /-33.914525; 151.1665333 (Sydenham railway station, Sydney) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 9 metres (30 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Transport Asset Manager of NSW | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | Sydney Trains | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 5.31 km (3.30 mi) fromCentral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 6 (2island, 2side) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections |  Bus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Staffed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | SDN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Transport for NSW | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 15 October 1884 (141 years ago) (1884-10-15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrified | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous names | Marrickville (1884–1895) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023[2] |
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| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sydenham railway station is aheritage-listedsuburban andrapid transitrailway station located at thejunction of theSouth Coast,Bankstown andNorth West & Bankstown lines, serving theSydney suburb ofSydenham. It is served bySydney TrainsT4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line andT8 Airport & South Line services,intercitySouth Coast Line services, as well asSydney MetroNorth West & Bankstown Line services.
It was designed byNew South Wales Government Railways and opened in 1884, with William Robinson having built the original station buildings. It was added to theNew South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[3]
Sydenham was built on a duplicated line fromIllawarra Junction toHurstville and opened asMarrickville on 15 October 1884. The western platform contained a major 3rd class brick station building having a detached toilet block at each end separated by walled courtyards while the eastern platform contained a large 2nd class brick station building. The station was renamedSydenham on 19 January 1895 with the opening of theBelmore branch line.[3] The opening of this line also meant that Sydenham became a junction station with the current platforms 3 and 4 opened.[4]
The impressive station was obviously intended to serve the Marrickville township proper but it was distant, surrounded by industrial and rural estates and only grew as a station by reason of the need to cope with the branch line junction. In 1907, the line from Edgeware Road to Sydenham was quadruplicated to serve the Belmore toBankstown extension when it opened in 1909. This resulted in confining both buildings on island platforms so that passengers had to reach the platforms by an extended footbridge, whereas the substantial platform building on the current platform 2/3 island previously faced the street. A new timber overhead booking office on a steel support frame was built between platforms 3 and 4 and steel footbridges were eventually extended to all platformsc. 1914.[3]
To provide for the proposedEastern Suburbs railway line, two additional tracks were put in so that in 1925 the brick standard island platform building on Platform 6 was built. In 1926, the lines were electrified at Sydenham. Soon after in 1927, the refreshment room was opened for factory workers in the area. As the additional tracks were never utilised for the Eastern Suburbs Railway, they have been mainly used for the Bankstown line trains. In 1963, a brick parcels office building was constructed on Platform 1 but closed in the late 1980s.[3]
It had been intended that the tracks on platforms 1 and 2 would extend along the alignment toErskineville as an adjunct to the Eastern Suburbs railway.[5] This plan was never completed, although partial platforms were erected atSt Peters and Erskineville in preparation. Because of this, Bankstown line trains continued to run on the same tracks as East Hills services, and the result of the additional platforms was that the Bankstown line's junction with the Illawarra line was moved merely from the south of Sydenham station to the north.[6]
The weatherboard ticket office on the overhead footbridge burnt down in the mid-1980s. In the late 1980s a new brick overhead booking office and a new metal-clad shop were built on the existingc. 1914 footbridge structure, and new canopies built over the stairs and connected to platform buildings.[3]
Sydenham station now has side platforms at both the eastern and western extremities of the station (platforms 1 and 6 respectively) and two island platforms for the four inner tracks. Platforms 1 and 2 served the Bankstown Line until 2019 when the platforms were closed while construction was carried out to build theMetro North West & Bankstown Line. The platforms were re-opened in 2024 following the completion of the metro line fromChatswood railway station to Sydenham withSydney Metro services now using these platforms to terminate and return to the city andTallawong. Platforms 5 and 6 serve the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line. Prior to the opening of theAirport line in May 2000, allEast Hills line services operated via platforms 3 and 4. Most East Hills trains now run via the Airport line, although some peak hour services continue to travel via Sydenham using these platforms.
A new concourse including four lifts and new stairs to access the platforms opened in February 2013, replacing the previous concourse and footbridge.[7] The upgrade also included new ticketing facilities, a new family accessible toilet and staff facilities.[8]
Immediately south of the station, theMetropolitan Goods Line toPort Botany crosses via apratt truss bridge that opened in 1925, while beyond lies theXPT Service Centre.[9]
As part of theSydney Metro City & Southwest project, the station was upgraded with a new concourse on the northern end of the station, and platforms 1 and 2 upgraded and converted into use for the Sydney Metro.[10] When conversion of the Bankstown Line from commuter rail to a rapid transit line is completed in 2026, Metro through services will run on these tracks, taking commuters from Bankstown to Tallawong and vice versa.
Metro services to Sydenham were originally planned to commence on 4 August 2024,[11][12] but was postponed due to failure to secure an approval from safety regulators.[13] Metro services to and fromTallawong commenced on 19 August 2024.[14]
| Platform | Line | Stopping pattern | Notes |
| 1 | services toTallawong | Opened 1962, closed 2019. Reopened 2024.[15] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | services toBankstown (from 2026) and occasional services to Tallawong | Opened 1907, closed 1928, reopened 1962, closed again 2019. Reopened again 2024.[15] | |
| 3 | services toCentral & theCity Circle | Original platform[16] | |
| 4 | services toCentral & theCity Circle 8 weekday evening peak services toCampbelltown | Original platform[16] | |
| 5 | services toBondi Junction | Opened 1907[18] | |
| 3 weekday and 1 weekend morning services toBondi Junction[17] | |||
| 6 | services toHurstville,Cronulla,Waterfall &Helensburgh | Opened 1928[18] | |
| 2 weekday services toKiama viaBanksia[17] |
The station precinct includes the Platform 1 waiting shed (1925) and parcels office (1962), the Platform 2/3 building (1884), the Platform 4/5 Building (1884), the Platform 6 building (1925), the overhead concourse and stairs (2013), platform canopies (1986), Gleeson Avenue overbridge (c. 1920s), brick perimeter walls (1925), and platform faces (Platforms 1 and 6 dating from 1925, Platforms 2/3 and 4/5 from 1884).)[3]
Painted brick wall to northeast side of waiting shed with a timber tongue & grooved ceiling and a modern steel structure on brick posts (structure similar to Platform 4awning). This building is separated from and to the southeast of the brick 1962 parcels office on the platform.[3]
Located at the north-western end of the platform, this is a plain dark brick building withparapets to 3 sides and a cantilevered awning on steelbrackets with a timber tongue & grooved ceiling (similar to the Platform 4 awning), on the platform side. On the north-eastern (Railway Parade) elevation, this building has a gabled parapet at its north-western end.[3]
The Platform 2/3 building is a single storey painted brick building with a gabled roof form withgable ends at each end with rectangular timberlouvred vents. At the eastern end, there is a separate men's toilet building, a small square painted brick building with ahipped corrugated steel roof and 3 timber framed double hung windows on each side. This is connected to the main platform building via a recently roofedcourtyard with painted brick walls both sides and a moulded stucco capping course and central curved section. There are metal double doors to one side of the courtyard. The platform building has timber framed double hung windows, some plain, some with single horizontal glazing bars to eachsash. The building has timber panelled double doors with large arched timber framedfanlights above. The south awning to the platform building has a corrugated steelskillion roof, cast iron brackets and posts with very elaborate stucco wall brackets. The north awning has a timber tongue & grooved board ceiling and is clearly more recent, with modern steel posts and framing.[3]
The interior of the main section of the platform building is divided into rooms. The current Station Master's office (which appears to have been a former waiting area) has a decorativepressed metal ceiling andcornices, a modern tiled floor, a notablemarble mantelpiece to thechimney breast. The current waiting area to this building has a timber battened plaster ceiling, a chimney breast and moulded plaster chair rail, plastered walls to 3 sides, a timber tongue & grooved board wall to the 4th side. The fanlight to the waiting area has two vertical timber glazing bars.[3]
The building is remarkably intact, including an extant marble mantelpiece, considered very rare (only other example of an extant mantelpiece in a platform building on the Illawarra Line is at St. Peters).
A painted brick single storey building with a hipped roof form with two prominent transversegables, timber barge boards andfinials to gable ends. There are no extantchimneys and roofing is corrugated steel. The building features timber framed double hung windows with moulded stucco heads and sills. There is a lower gable roofed section at the western end of the platform building, which appears to be an extension. At the eastern end of the building is a separate former toilets building with a hipped roof and transversegablets at the peak of the roof. This is connected to the main section of the platform building by a now roofed brick walled courtyard. The Platform 4 (north) awning is on cast iron posts with decorative cast iron brackets and framing, with a corrugated steel skillion roof. The Platform 5 (south) awning is a skillion corrugated steel roofed awning cantilevered on steel posts and brackets, which does not extend the full length of the main section of the platform building.[3]
The waiting area to this building has a ripple iron ceiling with moulded timber cornice and one metalceiling rose, a chimney breast, and timber floor. The former female toilets have a plaster ceiling with a damaged plaster ceiling rose. The modern toilet building is separate.[3]
This is located at the far north-western end of the platform. This is a gabled brick platform building with a corrugated steel roof. Most windows are altered, however original windows are timber framed double hung with 9-paned top sashes. There is a 6-paned fanlight to one door. Mostly modern timber flush doors. The building includes a skillion awning cantilevered on steel brackets mounted on stucco wall brackets.[3]
Concrete and glass structure providing entry from Gleeson Avenue.
Modern canopies extend from the overhead concourse, over the stairs, connecting to the platform buildings on all platforms. The canopy to Platform 6 is very long due to the location of the Platform 6 building. These canopies have gabled corrugated steel roofing and steel supports with curved brackets.[3]
Brick bridge with brickbalustrades. Balustrades are painted with advertising facing Gleeson Avenue.[3]
Dark face brick walls partially defining the station perimeters, extending from Gleeson Avenue some metres along Burrows Avenue on the south and part of the station perimeter in Railway Parade on the north. The Burrows Avenue wall tapers up in height towards Gleeson Avenue. The Railway Parade wall has a flat top and part forms the wall of the 1925 waiting shed on Platform 1. Both walls have a bullnose brick capping course.[3]
Two side platforms; (Platforms 1 and 6) and 2 island platforms (Platforms 2/3 and 4/5). All 4 platforms have asphalt surfaces and brick faces.[3]
There are shrub plantings at the eastern end of each of the platforms.[3]
Sydenham Railway Station – inclusive of all platform buildings and awnings, parcels office, waiting shed, brick faced platforms, Gleeson Avenue overbridge and brick perimeter walls – is of State heritage significance. Sydenham Railway Station is of historical significance as a major junction station developed from 1884 to the present, with two 1884 platform buildings, 1925 platform building and waiting shed, 1962 parcels office, and 1920s Gleeson Avenue overbridge demonstrating its development over time, including the adaptation of the 1884 wayside platform buildings for island platform use.[3]
Of aesthetic and historical significance, the platform building awnings demonstrate the range of awnings used on railway buildings from the small original awning of two bays on the Platform 2/3 building (the original minor platform) to the addition of cantilevered awnings in 1925. All platform buildings are of aesthetic significance as good representative examples of their types and periods. The 1914 footbridge structure and stairs were of aesthetic and historical associational significance as a representative haunched beam structure and stair manufactured by Dorman Long & Co. engineers. The surviving interior and exterior detailing of the 1884 platform buildings and awnings is considered rare on theIllawarra line, with other examples at St. Peters,Tempe andRockdale.[3]
Sydenham railway station was listed on theNew South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[3]
The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.
Sydenham Railway Station is of historical significance as a major junction station developed from 1884 to the present. Sydenham Railway Station is of historical significance as a station which demonstrates its development over time, retaining two 1884 platform buildings, along with a 1914 overhead footbridge structure and stairs, 1925 and 1962 platform buildings. The development of the station over time has included the adaptation of wayside buildings for island use.[3]
The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.
The Sydenham Railway Station platform buildings are of aesthetic significance as fine examples of railway platform building designs from 1884 to 1962, and the platform building awnings demonstrate the range of awnings used on railway buildings from the small original awning of two bays on the No 2/3 Platform building (the original minor platform) to the addition of cantilevered awnings on the rear of the buildings.[3]
The 1884 platform buildings are of aesthetic significance as good representative examples of their type and the later island platforms illustrates the contrast in styles and philosophy between the different periods of construction. The 1914 footbridge structure and stairs are of aesthetic significance as a representative haunched beam footbridge manufactured by Dorman Long & Co engineers.[3]
The place has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
The place has the potential to contribute to the local community's sense of place, and can provide a connection to the local community's past.[3]
The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.
The station as a whole is rare, retaining structures from the first period of construction of the Illawarra line up to the 1960s. The Platform 2/3 building at Sydenham is rare, as only five stations on the Illawarra line retain an 1880s 3rd Class platform building (other examples atCarlton, Rockdale, St. Peters, andWollongong). The 2nd class brick Platform 4/5 building at Sydenham is rare, as only three stations on the Illawarra line retain platform buildings of this type and period (other examples atArncliffe and Tempe).[3]
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.
The platform buildings, awnings, footbridge, stairs, and overbridge are representative of railway structure designs over time from 1884 to 1962.[3]
Sydenham Trackplan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Current configuration after opening of Metro City 19 Aug 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence.
This Wikipedia article contains material fromSydenham Railway Station group, entry number 01254 in theNew South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 underCC-BY 4.0licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.
Media related toSydenham railway station, Sydney at Wikimedia Commons
