The Sydney Metro changes how you experience Sydney

With the opening of the Sydney Metro, I’m setting out to visit each of the new stations, see the artworks and discover how the Sydney Metro will change the way I travel in Sydney.

As I live north of the city, I’ll start at Chatswood station and head south. Instead of hopping from one station to the next in a linear fashion, I’ll leapfrog a couple, turn around at Waterloo and stop at the ones I missed on my way back north.

My first stop is Crows Nest Station. I don’t often visit Crows Nest. I’ve bought several appliances from Winnings in Crows Nest over the years and with my partner being into sailing I’ve visited Whitworths for him a few times. It’s always difficult to find parking there, and public transport until now has been awkward.

Being mid-morning, I easily get a seat for the 11-minute ride from Chatswood Station.

Crows Nest Metro Station

At Crows Nest Station, I take escalators up to Clark Street. Three grey-haired women follow me. They look around briefly, turn around and go back down to the station. I suspect that they too are discovering the Sydney Metro for the first time.

Besides getting from A-B, the artworks at the metro stations are another reason to discover the metro.

Rays swim above the lifts at Crows Nest
Ceramic Wall relief by Esther Stewart

The Ceramic Wall Relief by Esther Stewart hints at “North Sydney’s once booming brick and tile industry.” I’ve lived on the North Shore for many years, and that’s something I didn’t know.

Considering there are plenty of eateries and a few bars in Crows Nest, I’m now more likely to meet friends for a meal or drink now that it is so accessible.  

Martin Place Station

It takes 11-minutes to cross under the harbour to Martin Place Station, right in the heart of the city. A large group of electricians in their union T-shirts follow me up the escalators. On their way to a protest at Parliament House, they join the throng of tradies waving flags and chanting as they march through Martin Place.

Mikala Dwyer’s Continuum
Tradies protest at Martin Place

There’s plenty of art to explore in Martin Place Station. Apart from Mikala Dwyer’s Continuum, two works in the north and south exits, Muru Giligu, Gadigal for “path of light,” is a changing light and soundscape in the passage to Hunter Street.

Muru Giligu
Artwork in 1 Elizabeth

Up a few stairs, there’s more art on the walls in 1 Elizabeth Street. An informative panel explains each work, and a second simplified panel which aims to engage young people in the artworks.

Waterloo Station

Waterloo Station is only six minutes away. There I find three sculptures, one in the concourse, one on the wall lining the escalators and one at the entrance to the station. These artworks are Footprints on Gadigal Nura by Nicole Monks. (Nura means country). Of course, Waterloo Station is on Gadigal land. The works were developed through workshops in collaboration with people who live or work in or visit the area.

Youth Dance by Nicole Monks
Community Footprints

When I walk around behind the escalators – there are lots of escalator rides today – I meet a couple who have come into the city from Emu Plains to explore the metro. They’re reading about the archaeological finds uncovered when the ground was excavated for the station.

Artefacts found when excavating Waterloo Station

I won’t visit South Eveleigh, the site of the former Eveleigh Railway Workshops today, but it’s only a short walk from the station and definitely worth a visit.

Waiting for the train back north, I see a family group, one of whom is in a wheelchair. With lifts at all stations and level access from the platform onto the carriages, the Metro is fully accessible.

Central Station

I often change trains at Central Station and almost gave it a miss today. I’ve seen Rose Nolan’s All Alongside of Each Other previously. It’slike a giant athletics track ‘mapped out’ on the floor.

Artwork resembles an athletic track
Map of early Sydney?

But stopping at Central pays off. Behind the top of the escalators, I discover metal panels with an image of early Sydney etched into them. In one section holes reveal artefacts uncovered when the station was being built.

After a quick stop at Central, I make my way to Gadigal Station, a good place to find somewhere for lunch.

Gadigal Station

Two towering murals decorate the Gadigal Station two exits. Called The Underneath, they’re by Callum Morton and reference the Tank Stream, the freshwater stream which is the reason for Sydney being is where it is.

Callum Morton’s Underneath
At the other Gadigal Station Exit

From the station it’s a short walk to Sydney Town Hall, the Galeries and Queen Victoria Building (QVB) where I find a café for a sandwich and coffee. 

After lunch, on the way to the Bathurst Street entrance to Gadigal Station, I pass a loud group of tradies. Their protest over, they’re enjoying a beer at the Edinburgh Castle.

Barangaroo Station  

While Crows Nest Station references brickworks, Barangaroo Station references Sydney sandstone. The crowns of seven tree sculptures protrude from the sandstone walls as if commuters were looking at them from above. They represent the same species of trees as those found in Barangaroo Reserve.

Bronze bands inscribed with the Aboriginal names of other trees from the Sydney Basin wrap around four station columns,

Tree Sculptures
Nawi Cove

Nawi Cove, at the station exit, sparkles in the late winter sun. There’s no one braving the water today. Office workers enjoy a lunchtime harbourside walk.

With Barangaroo station only a short walk from Walsh Bay, I realise that I can use the metro next time I go to a play at Roslyn Packer Theatre.

Victoria Cross Station

On my home run now, I stand for the minute the train takes to cross the harbour to Victoria Cross Station. I’ll change there for a train home.  

While Metro staff were stationed at most of the other Metro stations, there is no one at Victoria Cross to tell me how to access North Sydney Station.

An aspect of Victoria Cross Station

I take a wild guess and step onto the escalator to Miller Street. A map at the top of the escalators has references to bus stops, but nothing about trains. Finally, I find the orange station symbol at the edge of the map.

Fortunately, I have a vague idea of where to go and follow my nose across the Pacific Highway and through the Greenwood Plaza.

In my confusion, I miss the Sundial artwork.

What did I think of the Sydney Metro?

The Sydney Metro is impressive. Apart from the hiccup at North Sydney, it was easy to navigate the stations, and the ride was smooth and fast. As I was travelling off-peak, I was able to get a seat for each leg of the trip.

From the number of people that I saw touring the Sydney Metro for the first time, their cameras at the ready, I can see the Metro becoming an Instagram phenomenon.

Useful Information

  • During the weekday peak, trains depart every every five minutes. On weekdays off-peak and on weekends, trains run every ten minutes.
  • Indicator boards announce when the next train will arrive.

16 Comments

  1. Thanks for this very interesting post… I’m adding to my ‘must visit/experience’ list now, can’t wait to see the art works and get familiar with this new system.
    Hopefully can use my Gold Opal on it (?)

  2. Great info. I can’t wait to try it. I like the look of the artwork and the different textures of the stations
    My new local metro will open next year 🥳

  3. Hi Joanne loved your reflections on the Metro. I went to the 4 stations in the cbd mainly to see the artwork. I was dazzled by a giant video up on one wall of water breaking over rocks think. It was mesmerising! Can’t remember which station si I’m going again this week to track it down! Maybe take a stool!!!
    Best wishes
    Patricia

    1. Do let me know where it is, Patricia. I missed that one, although I went back to Victoria Cross and found another digital art one.

  4. We’ve been using the Metro since it opened from Tallawong to Chatswood in 2019. It’s made our travel to the city and other parts very much easier. We’ve been “hanging out” for the opening of the extended section from Chatswood to Sydenham. We were travelling with a group from Barangaroo to Parramatta on the ferry a couple of days after the new section opened so it was a breeze for us to travel from Cherrybrook Station to Barangaroo and then make the short walk to the ferry.

    The following week we were lunching with friends in Ashfield. We took the Metro from Castle Hill to Central and changed to the heavy rail to get to Ashfield. We could have changed at Epping and taken a train to Strathfield and then to Ashfield, but that would have entailed an additional change. So it was only a few minutes more to go all the way to Central.

    We use TripView and the Opal travel app to plan our transport. But using the Metro exclusively means we don’t have to worry much about timing because of the frequency.

    It’s a massive game changer for Sydneysiders.

    I hope I’m still around to see the loop closed as this Metro system has been decades in the planning and will ultimately take in the new airport.

    1. It’s definitely a game changer, Valerie. I’ll follow your tip re getting to Ashfield, and can’t wait for the Bankstown extension as it will facilitate our regular trip to Hurlstone Park.

  5. I’ll have to organise a new “ Metro day”on my next visit to Sydney. Looks incredible- love the artworks and the materiality.

    Hopefully, our new stations in Melbourne will look just as impressive and that the new line will streamline the whole system.

  6. I’ve photographed metro station architecture and art installations in more than 60 cities and was very impressed with the Sydney metro art. I did miss several works. The 2019 portion seemed devoid of art. I was however more impressed with the older station architecture than with that of the new addition. Please install artworks in stations along the older route. I was only offered a seat as a senior on one occasion. This was an anomaly in my travels.

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