The Goods Line, once a utilitarian railway corridor, now a new place for a casual social call. Image: Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.
Sometimes when obsolete infrastructure withers away and dies, it’s not often that someone with power and influence will to take pity on it and resurrect it from the ashes.
But that’s exactly what happened to the ‘Goods Line’, a decommissioned railway corridor that was once used to carry freight between the Sydney – Parramatta railway line to the shipping port of Darling Harbour.
However since that shipping port was closed in the 1980s, the line was converted into a light rail line for public transport – however an artefact of this change was a small piece of the corridor that was tossed aside for years until the government decided to plan to redevelop that space.
It was a rather lonely sight, with the disused space going to waste and missing out on its potential to be utilised for other purposes.
So the New South Wales government decided to give it a much-needed urban renewal facelift by creating a new pedestrian and cycleway, which kicked off in December 2011 when the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority commissioned a unique design from ASPECT Studios and CHROFI.
The goal was to capture the look and feel of the original heritage corridor, rail underbridge and signal box. And it would function to include a vibrant elevated pedestrian walkway and cycle path, featuring recreational and entertainment spaces, grassed areas, a children’s water playground, table tennis tables, seating (including a communal table) and study pods nestled in trees.
After about three and a half years of planning and development, the site was unveiled in August 2015 by NSW Minister for Finance, Services and Property Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Planning Rob Stokes.
Mr Perrottet said it is “fantastic to see what was frankly a drab, dead urban space transformed into an outdoor hub that locals and visitors will really enjoy”.
“The Goods Line is an outstanding example of the Baird-Grant Government working hard to ensure the people of NSW get the best possible value out of public spaces.”
The unique urban hub will enable exciting new opportunities for pop-up events and recreation, Mr Perrottet said.
Mr Stokes said The Goods Line would also provide an important link to the arts, education and cultural institutions along Sydney’s Cultural Ribbon, as well as providing two new east-west connections between the city and Ultimo and one new north-south connection between Ultimo/Darling Harbour and Central Station.
“This urban corridor will connect more than 80,000 tertiary students and visitors to Darling Harbour’s major harbourside attractions, world-class bars, cafes, restaurants and attractions, bolstering the precinct’s annual $800 million contribution to the visitor economy,” Mr Stokes said.
According to Mr Stokes, the Goods Line is one of many strategic urban renewal and infrastructure projects that the Liberal National government is delivering, ensuring that Sydney remains one of the world’s most desirable places to live and visit.
