Monday 18 August 2014

1972: Wynyard's Double Decker Walkways

As Sydneysiders know, Wynyard is one of Sydney's busiest railway stations and has been getting busier by the year. In the early 1970's, the footpaths in streets around the station were getting congested and it was proposed that double-decker walkways could be the answer.




Source: Anonymous. 1972. "Threat to Million Dollar Plan For Wynyard". The Daily Telegraph, August 19: 17. 

There were also plans to provide underground retail complexes that would link the station. The Hunter Connection when completed about a decade later, would include a link along with the Metcentre. The render above shows an artists impression of the retail complex that would be above the concourse of the station. That did not eventuate for two decades.

Also, it is mentioned that the scheme could be "wrecked" due to plans for a Telephone Exchange in the block bounded by Erskine, Kent, Margaret & Clarence Streets. The Exchange did get built, closer to Erskine Street and a walkway was built through to Kent Street, minus the retail (apart from one shopfront at the Kent Street end, and one small space under Clarence Street.

That is now forming the new Wynyard Walk which will link the station with Barangaroo.



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