The Flinders Street Station is far more than just a train station; it stands as an iconic symbol of Melbourne’s identity that truly represents the rich history and cultural heritage of the city. Flinders Station’s timeless architectural beauty seamlessly blends with the vibrancy of modern life.
Flinders street is the oldest station in Australia and was opened on 12th September 1854 with a collection of weatherboard sheds. Particularly, when large crowds gathered around the tracks to witness Australia’s first steam train for the public. It serves as a meeting point for Melburnians and a vital transit hub for thousands of daily commuters. Initially, it served as the stopping point for the Melbourne & Hobson’s Bay Railway, and it later connected to Princes Bridge Station in 1865 and Spencer Street Station in 1891.
Flinders Street Station is Perfectly Positioned
Flinders Street Railway Station is located on the edge of Swanston and Flinders Streets. At its back there is Yarra River flowing which makes its way through the CBD and provides a scenic backdrop.
The station spans two city blocks in the heart of Melbourne CBD. Federation is directly across the Swanston Street, while St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne is diagonally opposite near the station’s main entrance.
The Design Competition!
Over the years, the original design of the building became outdated. In 1899, a design competition held to create a new, more grandiose structure. The competition was by James Fawcett and HPC Ashworth with a first prize winning money of 500 pounds. Both designers were railway workers, who shared a vision to blending functionality with grandeur. Their French Renaissance-style design resulted them with winning a prize of 500 pounds and became Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks.
The construction works kicked off in 1905, it took five years to complete with a building opening in 1910. However, the final design saw some modifications from the original plans. Architects added an extra floor and replaced the initial arched roofs over the concourse with a simpler, flat roof structure. The entire cost of the project amounted to 514,000 pounds.
Named in Honour of Australia’s First Circumnavigator
The name “Flinders” is indeed widespread across Australia, thanks to the lasting impact of Matthew Flinders, an English navigator and explorer. Matthew Flinders was the first man to circumnavigate Australia, and his maps were remarkably accurate. He was born on 16th March 1774 in Donington, Lincolnshire, England. Flinders received his childhood education from Donington Grammar School. at very early age he developed a yearning to go to sea and pursue a life of exploration inspired by Robinson Crusoe. Flinders got into Navy in 1789 at the age of fifteen. Within just two years after entering into Navy he embarked on his first voyage to Tahiti.
In the year 1802, Flinders reached to the western extreme of Australia for the very first time. Flinders proved that Australia was a single continent. Notably, he extensively used the word “Australia” in his writings, which eventually popularized the term. Flinders Street Station is named after Matthew Flinders.
“Had I permitted myself any innovation upon the original term Terra Australis, it would have been to convert it into Australia; as being more agreeable to the ear, and as an assimilation to the names of the other great portions of the earth.”
Flinders in Voyage to Terra Australis, 1814.
Let’s Meet Under the Clocks, a popular meeting point
The clocks at Flinders Street have been a popular meeting place for Melburnians for over 100 years. The distinctive clocks, 13 in total, at either end of the main entrance is impossible to miss as you pass through the bustling concourse of Flinders Street Station. More than just timepieces, these clocks have become iconic gathering spots and cultural landmarks for generations of Melburnians. These clocks can clearly be seen from the St. Paul’s Cathedral located diagonally at the corner.
Furthermore, the clocks’ legacy dates back to Flinders Stations initial years. In early days, the original clock was installed in a central location. Though the design has been updated to reflect modern technologies. But the clocks still occupy nearly the same location as in today.
Its prominent position and easily recognizable design have made it a popular meeting place for locals. While the clocks are now controlled by computers, there was a time when they were manually operated. Interestingly, the clocks still evoke a sense of nostalgia and tradition that is firmly ingrained in the collective consciousness of Melburnians. A railway staff officer had to adjust the time approximately 900 times every eight hours.
Flinders Street Station in Longest Platforms of the World List
In 1954, the Degraves Street subway was extended to the north side of Flinders Street to accommodate growing traffic and the 1956 Summer Olympics, leading to the creation of Campbell Arcade. Then, in March 1966, Platform 1 extended to a length of 708 meters. Stretching across two city blocks from Swanston Street to Queen Street, Platform 1 is now the longest in Australia and the eleventh longest in the world. The platform 1 was designed to accommodate long distance trains but it currently serves the South Morang and Hurstbridge lines.
India’s Hubbali Railway Station located in Karnataka has earned a remarkable title a couple of years ago and securing a spot in the Guinness World Records for having the longest railway platform in the world. The length of Hubbali railway station’s platform stretches 1,366 meters, nearly twice the length of Flinders Street Station’s platform.
For more information on the longest platforms in the world please follow the link.
Flinders Street Station is also the oldest train station in the whole of Australia. It also showcases 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 specially to house a gym, library, and a lecture hall which was later used as a ballroom.
The Team Perky Pulse has curated a special 2-minute video on Flinders Street Station, please do watch!
Here’s what we need to know about Flinders Street Station
- The station is named after Matthew Flinders, Australia’s first Circumnavigator
- The Flinders Street Station has world’s eleventh largest platform.
- It is the oldest train station in Australia.
- The total number of Flinders Street Station’s clocks are 13.
- During the 2023-24 period, roughly 20 million passengers passed through Flinders Street Station.
