Sydney's Abandoned Underground Tram Station

The story of an underground railway station that ended up being a tram station that closed in 1958 to reopen as a car park in 1964 only to close itself in 2018 and then briefly re open to the public a light installation as part of the VIVID Festival in 2023.

Videos on this channel are not meant to be 100% accurate historical records. Having said this, we try to ensure they are factually correct by using multiple sources from what we think are credible books, websites, blogs and articles. But we do make mistakes....

Of note: Sydney's original tramlines didn't use colours (or even route numbers) to denote lines - instead they used the 'termini' of each line as their names. In the route animations we have arbitrarily selected colours to differentiate the lines visually on the maps.

#darkspectrum #vividsydney #sonymusic

[davidtaylor]

We had a great tram system, muppets destroyed it, and now newer muppets are trying to bring it back but with different, incompatible systems. The obscene idiocy and cost just blows my mind.

Great video, thanks!

[bigm]

Thank for another excellent video. Bradfield was the Nikola Tesla of town planning. He foresaw Sydney as it is today and wanted the government to set aside corridors for rail radiating out from the CBD like the spokes of a half wheel. Imagine the public money saved if we had followed his vision?

[Anon-fvee]

Fun fact: at the end of #1 Up stub tunnel @8:38 you can see a large white plate against the rock, and again close-up @9:00. This is the hidden staircase which lead from the basement of the former State Lottery Office (York & Barrack St), the entrance when the tunnel was an air raid shelter. City of Sydney archives online has a building surveyor’s report for 8-12 York & 8 Barrack St which confirms this. Above ground corner Wynyard St & York La is an under-developed lot (convenience store with carpark area) - the staircase runs underneath preventing development.

[michaelhayden]

I am old enough to remember seeing the trams departing for routes over the Harbour Bridge. It would have to be over 60 years ago. I can still remember those departure bells being activated by the conductors.

[holt]

excellent clip, , i have worked for same company for 27yrs paving the strrets of sydney, , have seen tracks, they are protected and covered, , we did paving to most of george st william st oxford st, , , have seen many things dug up, , BEST was we did paving a bondi pavillion, , the stuff the dug up there, , AMAZING, , old bolttles, many intact, ink bottles, old medicine bottles, , , some worth big $$$, and in my job i have buried time capsules, with old aussie pennies and notes lol

[mnbalfour]

The old trams should never have been disposed of. Now our idiotic governments understand that trams are actually a good idea and are resurrecting them in Sydney, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast.

[leokimvideo]

The section you couldn't get access to is used for weapons training. It's convenient because it's soundproof, in the city and secure. Maybe the other really interesting station with as many secrets is North Sydney and if you have a really keen eye Waverton. Lots of stuff hidden in plain sight

[sigmaoctantis]

I recall, as a small child, on a platform at Wynyard. My father lifted me up so I could see over a wall. I could then see the tops of trams moving about. I have often wondered exactly where that was and what the trams were doing there. Thank you.

[Lanz]

Truly the biggest injustice discontinuing the original tram system

[Thans]

There used to be a shooting club with a range in the old Tram tunnels under the bridge, which you would access from Cumberland Street in Circular Quay

[aussiejohn]

Another amazing video of yesteryear. I remember the tram station at Wynyard and I remember crossing the Bridge on the last day of trams and I remember being terrified of the tunnels as I was only 6 years old. I remember the stop just outside the portals and the feeling of relief I had at seeing daylight. My grandmother took me on that journey and I have never forgotten it.

[peteraldridge]

Travelled by tram during the 50's from Naremburn to Wynyard to go to school.
I remember those days. Progress has its benefits, but what a tourist attraction it would have made today. Sad to see history lost.

[andrewjohnholt]

What a fascinating description. Your voice is very natural and makes for an interesting listen. Well done. As a voice over artist myself I always try to have a more natural tone that you are already achieving. Good on you.

[ourjeffie]

I lived in North Sydney as a child and made many trips across the Harbour Bridge by tram, by train, and even on foot.

This video brought back many happy memories. Thank you.

[richardparrott]

Governments should hang their heads in shame for not implementing all of these rail lines! Great history presentation!

[MrAllanWGray]

As much as I love and enjoy modern technology I still miss the old Sydney, I rarely visit modern Sydney as it doesn't grab me, and thank you for this nice video...I am very sorry if my comment offends anyone. From an old man.

[yvonnemorton]

As a Sydneysider, I have an interest in the history of Sydney, particularly with the old tram system (I was not yet born when they took them out). I've always wanted to go inside the Wynyard tram tunnels. I finally got this opportunity with Dark Spectrum, part of Vivid, and took photos and videos. Thank you much so much for this comprehensive video and comparing to what was there before and now.

[trainstrains]

If you stand on the Central end of platform 3 at Wynyard you can see that the tunnel wall has been infilled with newer brick rather than the smoother concrete of the regular tunnel walls. That's because that part of the wall was never there and it was possible to look into the old tram platforms. When that work was done I'm not sure but it was long before my memories.

[static-san]

My Year 12 Formal was in The Menzies hotel. I drove in and parked in that carpark and never knew for years later it was where Wynyard's tram platforms were! It was valet parking for a long time too, for increased capacity as it wasn't a big carpark.

[areyashore]

I walked in some of them as a teenager. Parked cars in Wynyard for my job interview with a parking company. Thanks.