Flinders Street Station is Melbourne’s oldest and busiest railway station, dating back to 1854. It is a Melbourne landmark and millions of commuters make their way through the station each year.
Here are are some interesting facts about Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station.
Interesting Things to Know About Flinders Street Station, Melbourne
1. Flinders Street Station was the first railway station to be built in any Australian city. It has a distinctive green copper roof and yellow facade.
2. When it first opened, Flinders Street Station was known as Melbourne Terminus. This consisted of little more than a collection of sheds.
3. Originally, the trains from Flinders Street Station ran to Port Melbourne and St Kilda.
4. The design of the station building was decided by a competition in 1902. It went to the railway employees James Fawcett and H. P. C. Ashworth. Their design, named Green Light, was in the French Renaissance style.
5. The station’s platform 10 is said to be haunted by a ghost named George.
6. There is a disused ballroom on level 3 of the station. Other facilities on that level include a gymnasium and classrooms. These were closed off to the public in 1985.
7. The City Hatters, found beneath the station, has been at the same location for more than 100 years.
8. Platform 1 at Flinders Street Station is the longest train platform in Australia at 708 meters. It stretches for two city blocks.
9. Platform 1 is reputably the fourth longest platform in the world.
10. In 1926, Flinders Street Station was the busiest railway station in the world.
11. There is a room hidden behind a door on Platform 1 that contains thousands of lost property.
12. At the rear of the station is the Yarra River. This makes the station a popular meeting spot for locals.
13. There is a row of 13 clocks at the station, each showing different train departure times. It is common for Melbournians to say, “I’ll meet you under the clocks”.
14. The main steps of the station are fitted with electrical circuits to keep them dry.
15. In 1993, Flinders Street Station and Mojiko Station in Japan became sister stations.
Points of interest around Flinders Street Station include the National Gallery Victoria, the Domain Parklands and Sea Life Aquarium. The rest of the City is also close by.
