Museum railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Museum
Location	3 Elizabeth Street, Sydney CBD, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°52′34″S 151°12′35″E / 33.8762°S 151.2097°E / -33.8762; 151.2097
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	Sydney Trains
Line(s)	City Circle
Distance	4.99 km (3.10 mi) from Central (clockwise)
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Platform levels	1
Parking	Limited on-street parking only
Disabled access	Yes
Architect	John Bradfield (designer)
Architectural style	Inter-War Stripped Classical
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	MSM
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	20 December 1926
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	28,190 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	19
Services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station St James toward Parramatta or Leppington Inner West & Leppington Line Central as the Airport & South Line toward Macarthur St James toward Lidcombe or Liverpool Bankstown Line clockwise only Central toward Lidcombe or Liverpool St James as the Inner West & Leppington Line toward Parramatta or Leppington Airport & South Line Central toward Macarthur
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Museum Railway Station
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	1207
Type	Railway Platform/ Station
Category	Transport - Rail
Builders	Department of Railways
Route map City Circle route map

Museum railway station is a historic underground train station in Sydney, Australia. It is located under Hyde Park in the city centre. The station is part of the City Circle train line.

It is served by Sydney Trains and connects to many parts of the city. The station gets its name from the nearby Australian Museum. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because of its important history.

History of Sydney's City Rail

Early Needs for City Trains

Sydney's first railway line opened in 1850. The main station was on Devonshire Street. This was quite far from the city's shops and workplaces. People had to walk or take trams to get to the city centre.

As Sydney grew, its streets became very crowded. Trams could not handle all the passengers. People started asking for a railway line that went right into the city.

Early plans for a city railway began in 1857. Engineers looked at routes through Castlereagh Street to Circular Quay. By the 1860s, Hyde Park seemed like a good spot for a main station.

However, plans often changed due to different governments. In 1890, a special group was formed to study the problem. Many ideas were suggested. Some wanted the line on the western side of the city. Others preferred the eastern side through Hyde Park. This would avoid buying expensive land.

The idea of using a large part of Hyde Park for a railway was not popular. So, no major action was taken for a while.

New Plans for Sydney's Railways

In 1908, another group suggested a loop railway. This line would go through York Street to Circular Quay. Then it would return to Central station via Macquarie Street and Hyde Park.

This plan included six underground stations. These stations are similar to today's Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, and Museum stations.

John Bradfield's Vision

In 1912, the government asked engineers for new ideas. Then, in 1915, a brilliant engineer named John Bradfield presented his plan. He had studied city railways in Europe and North America.

Bradfield's plan was very advanced. It included an electric underground city railway loop. It also had viaducts and tunnels out of the city. His vision even included a Harbour Bridge crossing. He planned connections to northern and eastern suburbs.

In late 1915, the government approved a bill for these electric railways. They believed underground railways were essential for big cities. Sydney had a population of 800,000 people at that time.

Work on the city railway began in 1916. But funding problems and World War I caused delays. Construction stopped in 1918.

From 1917 to 1922, Bradfield worked hard to get support for his plan. He spoke to many groups and used the media. He argued that a city railway would help workers live in healthier areas. It would also increase property values and help Sydney grow.

Building Museum Station

Excavation for Museum Station began in 1922. At first, it was called Liverpool Street Station. People were fascinated and watched the construction daily.

Workers used a method called "cut and cover." This meant digging a huge trench in Hyde Park. Over 100,000 cubic metres of rock and soil were removed. Then, the tunnel walls and station were built with concrete and steel. Finally, the site was covered over.

Museum Station cost about £2 million to build. It was designed as one large tunnel arch. This arch covers both platforms and two tracks. It has no columns, like the "tube" style stations in Europe. Before it was finished, the station was renamed after the nearby Australian Museum.

St James Station was also built at this time. It had four platforms and four tunnels. However, only two tunnels have been used for trains. The other two were meant for a link to the Eastern suburbs, but this never happened.

The inside of Museum and St James stations were well-designed. They used many tiles and metal railings. The main entrances were grand buildings made of sandstone and brick. These buildings were in a style called "stripped-classical."

Opening Day and Later Years

Australia's first underground electric railway opened on 20 December 1926. The new line connected Central, Museum, and St James stations. Tens of thousands of people visited in the first few weeks. Newspapers called it "Dr Bradfield's super Christmas box to the public."

Museum and St James were very busy stations. But in 1956, the line through Circular Quay opened. This allowed trains to run in a full loop. Trains no longer needed to stop and reverse at St James. After this, fewer passengers used Museum and St James stations.

During World War II, the unused tunnels at St James were used as air raid shelters.

In the 1960s, a cafe was built near the Museum Station entrance. Even with some changes, both stations still look much like they did when they opened.

Station Design and Features

Museum Station crowd on platform, 1948

Museum Station was designed by John Bradfield. It is built in the Inter-War Stripped Classical style. The station has two platforms. Each platform is about 158.5 metres long and 3.8 metres wide. They are under a large arch that is 14.6 metres wide.

The station's signs and cream tiles with maroon colours look like a London Underground station. But its wide central arch is more like older Paris Métro stations. Until the Airport Line was built in the 1990s, Museum was Sydney's only underground station without an island platform.

Museum Station is a partner to St James station. Both opened at the same time. Their station signs use a round design similar to the London Underground. Museum Station became part of the City Circle loop on 22 January 1956.

The main entrance is at the corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets. Another entrance has a sandstone front. This entrance is on the corner of Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets. It is at the base of the Downing Centre, which was once a department store. Other entrances are at the intersection of Elizabeth and Bathurst Streets.

All exits lead to one of two concourses. The main concourse is in the south, near Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets. It has toilets, the station office, and lifts. The northern concourse is near Elizabeth and Bathurst Streets. It has fewer facilities and is only open on weekdays during the day.

You can see photos of the station being built in the pedestrian tunnels. The platforms also have old advertisements. In 2015, lifts were added to make the station easier to access.

Platforms and Services

Heritage Importance

Museum Station is very important to New South Wales history. It was one of Australia's first underground stations. It shows how London's "tube" style stations were adapted for Australia.

The station is well-built and designed. It represents many years of effort to create a city railway system. It is a key part of Sydney's railway network. It is also linked to important people like engineer J. J. C. Bradfield.

The entrance building on Liverpool Street is a great example of the Inter-War Stripped Classical style. It adds to the area's character. The station's original details, like tiles and signs, are still mostly there. They help us imagine what train travel was like in the past.

Museum railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it meets certain important criteria.

Historical Significance

• Museum Station, along with St James, was one of the first underground railway stations in Australia.
• It is strongly connected to the railway plans of engineer Dr J. J. C. Bradfield.
• During World War II, unused tunnels at St James were used as bomb shelters.

Design and Beauty

• The sandstone entrance building is a good example of its architectural style.
• The station's interior has kept most of its original details. This includes tiles, railings, and signs.
• The station's underground location means it does not spoil the look of Hyde Park.

Community Connection

• The station's construction shows how much citizens wanted a city railway system for many years.
• Its underground design was chosen because people did not want to lose Hyde Park land.
• The station helped workers travel easily into the city. This allowed them to live in healthier suburbs further away.
• It helped Sydney's suburbs grow from the early to mid-20th century.

Research Potential

• Museum Station shows the railway technology used in New South Wales and Australia at the time.
• The huge scale of its construction was a major engineering achievement.

Gallery

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  Main entrance on Elizabeth Street

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  Main concourse

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  Station trackplan

Images for kids

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  An A Set departing from Platform 2

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  Exit stairway from platform

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  Concourse and ticketing gates

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  Stairway down to platforms

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  View of Platform 2

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  Speedos vintage advertising

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  Arnotts biscuits vintage advertising