The NSW Government will commence early works this weekend at Woollahra Station, marking the first significant activity on the long‑stalled site in more than four decades. The move follows last year’s announcement to revive the project as part of a broader transport‑oriented housing strategy that could accommodate up to 10,000 new homes across the surrounding area.

The station—located between Edgecliff and Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburbs Line—was partially built in the 1970s before community opposition and a lengthy court battle brought construction to a halt.

Site Investigations to Support Future Construction

Transport for NSW staff will undertake ground and structural investigations during a planned shutdown of the Eastern Suburbs Line. The work will assess conditions ahead of detailed design and future construction, which is scheduled to begin in 2027 and finish in 2029.

Transport Minister John Graham described the milestone as “a back to the future moment” for one of Sydney’s most prominent unrealised stations.

“Woollahra Station will provide locals an eight-minute journey to the CBD and take cars off busy local streets,” he said.

“This station just makes sense when you consider the young families that are being forced to move out of Sydney because they can’t afford a home.

“About 10,000 new homes in this area is part of the solution to that problem and a rebalance from all housing growth happening in Sydney’s west.”

Rezoning to Support Housing and Transport Integration

The proposed rezoning—covering Woollahra and nearby Edgecliff Station—aligns with planning work already underway at Burwood North and along Parramatta Road. Affordable housing will form part of the residential mix, though final proportions have not yet been determined.

The rezoning process is expected to take two years, with public exhibition anticipated in the second half of 2026.

Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said the investigations were “an important step toward delivering a station that meets the needs of the community for decades to come.”

“This work will be critical to inform plans for the design of the station. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and be completed in 2029,” he said.

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said undertaking the work during the shutdown would ensure a safe and efficient program while minimising disruption to passengers.

Community Response and Political Context

The revival of the station has prompted mixed responses within the Woollahra community, which famously opposed the project in the 1970s. Federal Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and state Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane, now NSW Opposition Leader, have expressed conditional support, while noting concerns about density and local impacts.

With early works now commencing, Woollahra Station is set to re‑enter Sydney’s medium‑term transport pipeline, forming a key link in the state’s housing and infrastructure integration agenda.

Source: The Australian