Strathfield History

Strathfield Station

26 September 1855

Opening of the Sydney to Parramatta railway, with the vice-regal train driven by William Sixsmith, would have passed what is now Strathfield station at about 11.40 a.m. Fares were high: first class 4s, second class 3s and third class 2s. Over 4000 people travelled on the first day with the journey taking 40 minutes, a revolutionary improvement.

Opening of Homebush station at a cost of £275. The station provided revenue because of substantial traffic to Homebush racecourse (on the present site of Sydney Markets at Flemington). The station was officially 12.74 kilometres from the city and was also valuable because of its proximity to the main Great Western Road. Both platforms were 99 metres long. Racecourse traffic was only maintained for about five years after the original opening because the racecourse was moved to Randwick.

1870

Cattle yards erected at Homebush station and progressively expanded until Homebush became the central sale yards and eventually abattoirs for Sydney.

1875

Deputation by Sir Daniel Cooper, a Director of the Sydney Tramroad and Railway Company for a ‘halt’ without a formal platform to be erected at the new estate called ‘Redmyre’.

9 July 1876

A ‘halt’ established where passengers flagged down the train approved for Redmyre at about the current site of Strathfield station. Halt officially called Redmyre.

1877

Platforms completed at Redmyre. About 68 metres long, relatively short.

8 March 1885

Name of the station changed from Redmyre to Strathfield.

1886

Major work and new long platforms, 134 metres, for the opening of the new northern line that reached Hornsby in 1894.

 3 July 1892

Completion of four tracks from Homebush to the city, greatly improving travel speeds and allowing express trains from Homebush to Sydney. Strathfield now had the best train service in Sydney.

23 September 1901

New station opened to the public.

1927

Construction of completely new station with major roadworks. Six tracks now at station.

27 August 1928

Electrification: Homebush to Sydney.

Source: New South Wales Public Transport Commission Archives Section as quoted in Jones, M. (1985), Oasis in the West.