The Goods Line
{{Short description|Pathway in Ultimo, Sydney, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox park
| name = The Goods Line
| image = The Goods Line 201708.jpg
| image_size = 270
| image_alt =
| image_caption = The Goods Line in August 2017
| type = Urban linear park; public park
| location = Sydney ({{maplink|type=line|icon=no|zoom=17}})
| coords = {{coord|-33.8826|151.2025|display=inline,title|format=dms|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark}}
| area = {{convert|800|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long
| created = {{start date|2012|||df=y}}
| operator = Property NSW
| visitation_num =
| status = Open
| website =
| map =
| map_width = 270px
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
}}
File:The Goods Line November 2016.jpg
The Goods Line is an {{convert|800|m|ft|0|adj=mid|abbr=on|-long}} linear park and shared pedestrian pathway and cycleway in the suburb of Ultimo, in the City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The corridor connects Railway Square to Darling Harbour in the south and passes both the University of Technology Sydney Broadway campus and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sydney head office. The Goods Line terminates in the north at the corner of Sussex and Hay Streets, in the Sydney central business district.
Description
From the southern end, the Goods Line walkway commences at the southern end of Central station at the beginning of the Devonshire Street Tunnel. The tunnel is a {{convert|300|m|ft|0|adj=mid|abbr=on|-long}} pedestrian tunnel that was opened in 1906, joining Devonshire Street with Lee Street. From the exit of the tunnel one enters Henry Deane Plaza, which sits slightly below the level of Lee Street and descends a ramp at the other end of the Plaza to enter the extension tunnel beneath Lee Street.{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/SUB/SUB-08.htm |title=Tunnelling through the past |work=Sydney Architecture }}{{cite NSW HD|4801296|Central Railway Station & Sydney Terminal Group|date= |accessdate= }} The extension tunnel continues under Lee Street, Railway Square and George Street and, at each of these points, the extension tunnel can be exited or entered by stairs and escalators; there are no entry/exit points to the tunnel via any buildings.
The extension tunnel then continues under the TAFE Marcus Clark Building. The Marcus Clark Building was formerly owned by Marcus Clark & Co., a nine-storey department store was constructed in 1913 at 827–837 George Street, Railway Square. Marcus Clark & Co. originally served as a furniture showroom and an extension of the flagship store located at the corner of Pitt and George Streets. This building was remodelled in 1928 to become the company’s main store. The store ceased operations in 1965, and the building was acquired by the Sydney Institute of Technology the following year, in 1966. The extension tunnel opens behind the Wembley House at 841 George Street.{{cite web |title=Sydney's Railway Tunnels |url=http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/rail-tunnels.html |website=Pocket Oz Travel & Information Guide Sydney |access-date=28 April 2019}}
To the west of the end of the extension tunnel, two steel rails appear from under a pair of large gates. The gates block entry to the northern end of the Railway Square road overbridge, which in the past provided access for trains using the railway line to Darling Harbour. From this point, the Goods Line walkway makes use of the former railway's infrastructure, including the Ultimo Road railway underbridge. The walkway exits the rail corridor near the Powerhouse Museum, crosses Darling Drive and terminates at the corner of Sussex and Hay Streets.
Background
File:Darling Harbour Goods Line.jpg and tramway power station – now the Powerhouse Museum – can be seen. The Goods Line passes by the tram depot and ends at the museum.]]
The Goods Line uses the route of a former freight railway line that connected Sydney Yard and the Sydney–Parramatta railway line to the shipping port of Darling Harbour.
= Historical background =
The railway line opened in 1855 and was extended to Dulwich Hill in 1922, providing a way for freight trains to access Darling Harbour without interfering with passenger trains.Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), Stations & Tracks; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 97.{{cite web|title=The Goods Line|url=http://www.darlingharbour.com/things-to-do/the-goods-line/|publisher=darlingharbour.com|access-date=11 September 2015}}{{cite web|last=Bozier|first=Rolfe|title=Rozelle – Darling Harbour Goods Line|url=http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:wardell_road_central|work=NSWrail|access-date=18 May 2007}} A short branch from Lilyfield to Rozelle served another goods terminal.
= Transition and decline of freight use (1980s) =
The port facilities at Darling Harbour closed down and the precinct was extensively redeveloped in the 1980s. In the following years, the Lilyfield – Sydney Yard section became disused and with the Inner West Light Rail that opened between Pyrmont and Central station in 1997 using part of its alignment."Sydney's new light rail system" Railway Digest September 1997 page 14 The light rail leaves the former railway corridor at Hay Street, leaving a short section of the corridor disused.
= Redevelopment into The Goods Line (2012) =
The section of the former goods line corridor from the northern end of the Devonshire Street Tunnel to Ultimo Road was converted into a pedestrian pathway and was originally called the Ultimo Pedestrian Network until it was renamed The Goods Line in 2012. Plans were then announced to expand the pathway through to Hay Street; this second section opened on 30 August 2015.{{cite news|last1=McKenny|first1=Leesha|title=New York-style elevated park plan for Ultimo|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-yorkstyle-elevated-park-plan-for-ultimo-20121113-29aib.html|access-date=11 September 2015|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 November 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Robertson|first1=James|title=Sydney version of New York High Line to open between Central and Darling Harbour|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/a-dormant-goods-line-reconnects-sydneys-east-and-west-20150827-gj95kf.html|access-date=11 September 2015|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 August 2015}} The adjacent Dr Chau Chak Wing Building opened earlier in 2015; an entrance to the building is provided from The Goods Line.
Design
The Goods Line was designed by ASPECT Studios and CHROFI.{{cite web|title=The Goods Line|url=http://www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/sydney-Our_places_and_projects-Our_projects-The_Goods_Line.htm|publisher=Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority|access-date=11 September 2015}} Design features include grassy lawns, dining tables, table tennis tables, study pods and a children's water play area with a sand pit. The design choices also took cues from the railways, and the designers suggested that instead of transporting materials and produce, the corridor now transports commodities of the modern economy: ideas, people, social and cultural interactions.{{cite news|last1=Tan|first1=Monica|title=The Goods Line: it's no High Line, but a welcome green corridor for Sydney|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/aug/31/the-goods-line-its-no-highline-but-a-welcome-green-corridor-for-sydney|work=The Guardian|date=31 August 2015}} Several rail artefacts have been preserved, including the Ultimo Road railway underbridge, built in 1879, and a lever frame from the Ultimo Street Signal Box.{{cite news|last1=Marks|first1=Lucy|title=High-rise public walkway and recreation space to connect Railway Square to Darling Harbour|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-28/pedestrian-corridor-recreational-space-to-open-darling-harbour/6731704|access-date=11 September 2015|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=28 August 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Simpson|first1=Margaret|title=The Goods Line – then and now|url=http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/insidethecollection/2015/09/the-goods-line-then-and-now/|website=Inside the collection – Powerhouse Museum|publisher=Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences|date=3 September 2015}} The design won a 2014 Australia Award for Urban Design in the Policies, Programs and Concepts – Small Scale category.{{cite web|title=2014 Winners & Commendations|url=http://www.planning.org.au/awards/2014-winners-commendations|publisher=Planning Institute of Australia|access-date=14 September 2015}}
Future
The original section, from Railway Square to Ultimo Road, will be upgraded. Transport for NSW is conducting a feasibility study on an extension towards the disused Regent Street railway station using the rail tunnel under Railway Square.
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Railways|New South Wales|Environment}}}}
- {{maplink|from=Central station precinct, Sydney.map|text=Map of the Central Station precinct|zoom=16}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{cite web |url=https://darlingharbour.com/things-to-do/the-goods-line/ |title=The Goods Line |work=Darling Harbour Authority |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=n.d.}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.property.nsw.gov.au/goods-line |title=The Goods Line |work=Property NSW |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=n.d.}}
- {{cite web |url=http://thegoodsline.aspect.net.au/ |title=The Goods Line |publisher=ASPECT Studios |date=n.d.}}
{{Parks in Sydney|state=autocollapse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goods Line}}
Category:2012 establishments in Australia
Category:Closed railway lines in Sydney
Category:Ultimo, New South Wales
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2012