Flinders Street Area is one of Melbourne's most recognisable sites and has a rich and eventful past. A brief history of the city's first train station is provided here.
Flinders Street Area has been the beating heart of Melbourne since it opened in 1854. It is now one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. Nevertheless, few people realise that it is the first train station to be constructed in an Australian city or that it was haunted by a ghost named George.
Melbourne's Flinders Street Train Station
We have unearthed these fascinating tidbits under the clocks at Flinders Street Station.
Station Construction Began in 1910.
In 1854, a series of weatherboard buildings served as the site's initial station. It was the world's first steam rail station, located in Melbourne, where it was called the Melbourne Station. One might enter a design for the new structure into a contest that took place in 1902. The project began in 1909 and finished in 1910, costing about 514,000 pounds. A Swanston Street terminus had a concourse with ramps leading down to platform levels. The iconic clocks have stayed mostly in the same place since they were first installed; they were originally part of the plan.
Australia's Original Radio Station
Flinders Street Area, Australia's first railway station, opened to the public on September 12, 1854. On its inauguration day, the first steam locomotive journey in Australia departed from the station, then known as Melbourne Terminal but now a cluster of weatherboard buildings, and headed to Sandridge.
The World's Busiest Train Station
In 1926, Finders Street Area surpassed Gare Saint-Lazare in France, Metro Center Station in Nyc, and Liverpool Street Area in London to become the world's busiest passenger station. The Argus newspaper stated on December 11, 1922, that over 200,000 people used the station daily.
During the refurbishment, 10 tonnes of pigeon droppings were removed.
As it was restored recently, the famous dome received its first thorough cleaning in 100 years. An estimated 10 tonnes of pigeon poop were cleaned off the dome throughout this process. Everything from the building's exterior to its clock tower underwent restoration work as a part of this project. Almost 3.5 million stones were cleaned and restored as the renovations were underway, while 650 windows were checked. The entire structure was also repainted towards its original colours as part of the renovation. The architects supplied at least 20 colour swatches for a precise colour match.
Around 1100 LED Lights Project Incredible Light Displays
Spectacular light shows have been added to the structure as part of a renovation and will be shown for special occasions. More than a thousand individually controlled LED lights spread out across twenty kilometres of wiring. The hues of the original floodlights were carefully studied, and the new system was made to mimic them. It has almost 600 more bulbs than the original design yet consumes significantly less power.
There's A Hidden Ballroom
An empty ballroom has been left to fall into disrepair above Flinders Street Station. The Ballroom on the third level used to be a great venue for concerts, dance competitions, and other events.
In the middle of the twentieth century, the floors above the main hall or platforms were a bustling hub of activity. The third floor included the ballroom, auditorium, classrooms, and library. Concerts, meetings, dances, and more used to be held regularly at the Grand Ballroom. After it was sealed off from the public in 1985, it has changed little.
It was one of Melbourne's most popular dance venues in the 1950s and 1960s and also hosted dances for Allied service members during WWII. The venue has been off-limits to the public since the last dance on September 10, 1983.
It Has A 100-Year-Old Shop.
City Hatters is one of the few Melbourne businesses still operating from the same site after more than a century. Melburnians' heads have been adorned at this cosy little shop just below the station for almost a century. The Buck family has owned the business for many decades, and throughout that time, they have expanded their selection to include a wide variety of hats, including tweeds and trilbies. They also offer maintenance and customization services. It would be best if you went to see them after they reopened in 2020.
A Ghost has Supposedly haunted the Station.
There is talk that a spirit named George haunts the train station. Passengers on Platform 10 have seen what they believe to be the ghost of George Mansfield, a fisherman, who stands there looking vacantly out over the river. It turned out that he was Ernest Leahy. When rescuers found him in the Yarra River in 1902, he had been the victim of a boating accident.
Once a month, the Lost Property Department receives three thousand items.
Platform 1 has a chamber with thousands of pieces of lost property hidden behind an unmarked door. The most obvious ones are purses, cell phones, and cash. However, things like cellos, golf buggies, car seats, and bicycles are more out of the ordinary and leave one wondering how they got forgotten. Every month, roughly three thousand new things go unclaimed, adding to the vast collection. After two months, if they have not been claimed and are in good shape, they are given to a charity.
Gingerbread Recreates the Station
A Gingerbread Village at Epicure has become a staple of the city's Christmas celebrations. Every year, gingerbread versions of Flinders Street Area and other Melbourne landmarks are displayed around the city. Little stories about the city's people can be hidden within and around the statues. Proceeds from the show benefit the Royal Pediatric hospital and the use of more than 600 kg of gingerbread in the displays.
American Cultural Museum and Institute Exhibition Hall
Platforms 13, 14, and 15 of Princes Bridge Train Station, which became Flinders Street Station in June 1980, were converted into ACMI's Gallery 1 over the air. These days, significant shows may be found in the 87-meter-long room.
Confused Personalities
A common urban legend claims that Flinders Street Area and Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus) were originally planned for other cities. A contest was organised in 1899 to create plans for a new station for Melbourne. James Harrison and Andrew Ashworth took first place and $500 for their project "Green Arrow", based on the French Renaissance. Another Gothic-style station was allegedly built in India, while a building with vaguely East-Indian influences was reportedly constructed in Melbourne.
Gymnasium
Beside the Ballroom is an abandoned gymnasium that was originally used by the male staff of the station. It contained a boxing match and a billiards area. Men can frequently be seen sprinting on the required to perform long rooftop race courses atop Flinders Street Area.
List of Performers in a Film
Mostly on Beach (1959), starring Gregory Peck, Ava Parker, Arthur Astaire, & Anthony Perkins, features a scene set in Flinders Street Area. Background for the TV miniseries South Pacific directed by Steven Spielberg, also included this location.
The Nursery
The Railways Division opened The Children's Daycare in June 1933, with three cot rooms, three playrooms, a kitchen, and a rooftop play. Travelling mothers took advantage of the daycare centre. However, the nursery temporarily closed in 1937 due to a polio epidemic and remained closed until 1942.
Heated Steps
So under clocks has long been a hub for Melburnians and a gathering place for various subcultures; however, did you know that steps are usually steaming hot? Martin Kingham, a former secretary of a Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union in Victoria, said the station's steps were heated during the late 1980s renovations. This was done so passengers waiting on the steps wouldn't have to stand in the cold.
Under The Clocks
The clocks, which have been showing departure times since the 1860s, are a permanent fixture on the station's exterior. A training officer had to manually adjust the clocks at least 900 times in a single eight-hour shift. They're now scheduled to run without human intervention.
Conclusion
The Flinders Street District is a well-known landmark in Melbourne with a long and interesting history. It was the first steam rail station in the world, and a spirit named George haunted the Melbourne station. On September 12, 1854, the first public steam locomotive ride in Australia began. In 1926, Finders Street Area was the busiest passenger station in the world, surpassing Gare Saint-Lazare in France, New York's Metro Center, and London's Liverpool Street. The famed dome was given its first complete cleaning in 100 years during the refurbishment, during which 10 tonnes of pigeon droppings were removed. As part of the restoration, the entire building was painted to seem as close as possible to its original hues.
Over 1100 LED lights were installed as part of the upgrade to Flinders Street Station. The new lighting system was developed after extensive analysis of the colours produced by the old floodlights. Once upon a time, the Ballroom on the building's third floor was a fantastic location for performances of many kinds. In addition to hosting dances for Allied service members during WWII, the Grand Ballroom was one of Melbourne's most popular dance venues in the 1950s and 1960s. One of the rare Melbourne businesses to remain for almost a century in the same location is City Hatters, which has been open for 100 years.
The train station is home to a rumoured ghost named George, and every month, Lost & Found receives around three thousand items. The Princes Bridge Railway Station's Platform 1 houses a hidden room containing thousands of pieces of missing property. The most common goods are wallets, phones, and money, while the less common ones are cellos, golf carts, car seats, and bicycles. Over three thousand additional items are added to the stockpile each month and go unclaimed. Without a claim after two months, the items are donated to charity. The Train Station, as Recreated in Gingerbread Epicure's annual Gingerbread Village, has become a tradition for many Chicagoans during the holiday season. More than 600 kilogrammes (kg) of gingerbread were used in the exhibits, and proceeds from the show went to the Royal Children's Hospital.
Others say Flinders Street Area and Shivaji Terminus (previously Victoria Terminus) were meant for other cities. However, this is just a myth. The French Renaissance-inspired "Green Arrow" by James Harrison and Andrew Ashworth won first place and $500. From its opening in the 1860s, Flinders Street Station in Melbourne has served as a focal point for the city's residents and a meeting place for many communities. There's a daycare for kids, a boxing ring, a billiards room, a pool table, and some abandoned, heated bleachers in there, too. Unfortunately, a polio epidemic forced the Children's Daycare's closure, which started in 1933. The outdoor clocks have been showing departure times since the 1860s; they are manually adjusted by a training officer at least 900 times during a typical eight-hour shift. When the station was renovated in the late 1980s, the steps were heated so passengers waiting on them wouldn't have to endure the cold.
Content Summary
- This article provides a quick overview of the origins of the city's first train station.
- From its opening in 1854, the Flinders Street District has served as Melbourne's central business district.
- These intriguing nuggets were discovered beneath the clocks at Flinders Street Station.
- The Melbourne Station was the first station to use steam locomotives and was the first of its kind anywhere in the globe.
- On September 12, 1854, the Flinders Street Area opened as Australia's first public railway station.
- In the neighbourhood of 1100 LEDs Make Amazing Light Shows As part of the refurbishment, spectacular light shows were added to the building and will be performed on special occasions.
- An Inconspicuous Ballroom
- There is a vacant ballroom above Flinders Street Station that has been allowed to deteriorate.
- There's a room on Platform 1 with thousands of people's misplaced items behind a nondescript door.
- Over three thousand additional items are added to the stockpile each month and go unclaimed.
- Epicure's annual Gingerbread Village has become a tradition for many Chicagoans during the holiday season.
- Models made entirely out of gingerbread of the Flinders Street District and other Melbourne monuments are on exhibit all throughout the city every year.
- More than 600 kilogrammes (kg) of gingerbread were used in the exhibits, and proceeds from the show went to the Royal Children's Hospital.
- In 1899, the city of Melbourne held a competition to design a new train station.
- It has been reported that another Gothic-style station was built in India, and that a building with some East-Indian characteristics was built in Melbourne.
- In the Flinders Street District, it's not uncommon to see men competing in long-distance races on the rooftops.
- In June of 1933, the Railways Division opened The Children's Daycare, which featured three cot rooms, three playrooms, a kitchen, and a rooftop play area.
- The polio epidemic of 1937 forced the nursery to close temporarily, and it remained closed until 1942.
- From the early 20th century, the area under the clocks has served as a crossroads for Melburnians and a meeting spot for a wide range of subcultures.
- A former secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union in Victoria named Martin Kingham recalled that the station's steps were heated during the makeover in the late 1980s.
- Departure times have been displayed on the station's façade clocks since the 1860s.
FAQs About Melbourne
Flinders Street is responsible for two of Melbourne's busiest pedestrian crossings, both across Flinders Street, including one of Melbourne's few pedestrian scrambles. The station's current main building was completed in 1909 and is a cultural icon of Melbourne.
It is named for the explorer Matthew Flinders, erroneously credited with discovering Port Phillip at its naming. It extends eastwards as Spring Street and the Treasury Gardens and westwards past Batman's Hill to the Melbourne Docklands.
The architectural style of the building is unique in Victoria. While it is broadly Edwardian Freestyle, the main building, originally described as French Renaissance, is strongly influenced by French public architecture of the 1900s, the only such example.
The Melbourne railway network consists of 17 railway lines and the central City Loop. There are also 19 stations on three heritage, volunteer-operated, tourist railways, which are not a part of the suburban network.
Some of Melbourne's busiest metropolitan train lines – Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham – will run exclusively through the new tunnel. By taking these lines out of the City Loop, other lines will run more services.
Flinders Street Stations History
In 1854, Flinders Street Station was known as the Melbourne Terminus, essentially a massive collection of weatherboard sheds. It became the very first steam rail station in all of Australia. With thousands of people coming together surrounding the track to see the first public steam train. The next two train stations of Princes Bridge and Spencer Street opened in 1859, but they were not connected to Flinders Street until many years later. Rather, the trains from Flinders Street went to Port Melbourne and St Kilda, with Southern Cross Station catering for country areas.
It wasn't until the beginning of the 1900s that the development of Flinders Street Station became necessary due to the increasing demand. A competition by the railway commissioners was publicised to the public. Calling all to design a new and improved station, with the first prize to win 500 pounds. J.W. Fawcett and H.P. C Ashworth were the champions, designing the station still standing today. The entire station's reconstruction cost around 514,000 pounds, taking ten years to fully complete.
The Myth Surrounding Flinders Street Station
An urban myth known to most, if not all Melbournians, is the tale that somewhere along the way of this design, there was a colossal mix-up and the firm who won the competition sent over the wrong designs, plans for another train station in Mumbai, which is why there is a slight Indian touch to Flinders Street Station. Whether this is true may never be confirmed; however, you're sure to hear if you take a tour around the city.
The Clocks of Flinders Street Station
The main portion of the building was completed in 1909 and was a part of the original design plans, remaining in almost the same section as they were in the early construction years. They quickly became a cultural icon of Melbourne, with their recognisable dome, a grand entranceway, and its tower and selection of clocks. There are 13 clocks still displayed to this day, all indicating the different train departures to each suburban train line.
There are very few Melbournians out there that haven't muttered the words "I'll meet you under the clocks", which refers to the row of clocks that line the wall above the main entrance. Thanks to its central location and easy-to-recognise design, this marks a hugely popular meeting place for locals. Although the clocks are operated by a computer, back in the day, the clocks were manually operated, with a railway staff officer having to change the times an average of 900 times every eight hours.
The Steps of Flinders Street Station
If you meet a Melburnian who hasn't arranged to meet someone under the clocks, they've probably arranged to meet someone on the steps. This references the wide staircase that sweeps up underneath the clocks. It's even used as a popular hangout place, with groups sitting here to chat while soaking up the sun. The steps are so popular that they were refurbished in the late 80s to incorporate heating so that the seats would remain warm even in the winter.
The historic charm of Flinders Street Station is second to none, thanks to its impressive architecture and its place in Melbournian culture. Whether you've got a train to catch or are just visiting to experience the exquisite design of the place, it's well worth stepping foot inside. Take some time to kick back and relax with a hot drink from one of the stalls and watch the flurry of the action unfold in front of you.
Conclusion
There are numerous historical attractions in Melbourne City that boast brilliant histories and fascinating stories, and Flinders Street Station is no different.
The railway station sits on the edge of Flinders and Swanston Streets. It is serviced by the entire metropolitan rail network, seeing thousands of commuters and travellers pass through its doors every day.
You'll find the Yarra River at its rear, which weaves its way through the city centre and provides a picturesque backdrop to the surrounding scenery. Sprawling out over two whole city blocks, Flinders Street Station is a popular attraction for visitors and a popular meeting point for locals.
It is also the oldest train station in the whole of Australia, showcasing a historic design with a yellow façade and a green copper dome which can be seen throughout the city. Inside, stalls serving hot food and cold drinks line the concourse, while the upper floors were created especially to house a gym, library, and a lecture hall which was later used as a ballroom.
As the busiest suburban railway station in the southern hemisphere, it sees more than 1500 trains and 110,000 commuters every day. It is now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, thanks to its 708m main platform, the fourth-longest in the world.
FAQs About Melbourne
In 1854, Flinders Street Station was known as the Melbourne Terminus, essentially a massive collection of weatherboard sheds. It became the very first steam rail station in all of Australia. With thousands of people coming together surrounding the track to see the first public steam train.
explorer Matthew Flinders
It is named for the explorer Matthew Flinders, erroneously credited with discovering Port Phillip at the time of its naming. It extends eastwards as far as Spring Street and the Treasury Gardens and westwards past Batman's Hill to the Melbourne Docklands.
British explorer Matthew Flinders was the first person to circumnavigate Australia. Flinders charted much previously unknown coastline, and the maps he produced were the first to accurately depict Australia as we now know it. Flinders proved Australia was a single continent.
Flinders probably began as a seasonal fishing settlement, with a small number of farms as selections were taken up during the late 1850s and 1860s. A pier was built in 1865 and a school was opened in 1866. In 1869 a submarine communications cable from Tasmania was joined to Victoria's shoreline at Flinders.
Flinders University is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia, with a footprint extending across 11 locations in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
