Government Revives “Ghost Station” at Woollahra to Tackle Housing Crisis
Compiled using Gemini AI based on a Ministerial Media release with fact checking in the newsroom
Sydney 09 January,2025
On Friday, January 9, 2026, NSW Transport Minister John Graham participated in a media conference with the Premier C.Minns at the site of the long-abandoned Woollahra railway station to announce a major infrastructure and housing push. The conference marked a “back to the future” moment for the Eastern Suburbs, detailing the transformation of a site that has sat dormant for half a century.
Queen St.- Woolhara Village shopping Centre
Minister Graham outlined three core pillars of the government’s plan for the precinct:
1. The Revival of Woollahra Station
The primary announcement was the official commencement of work to complete Woollahra Station. Originally part of the Eastern Suburbs line construction in the 1970s, the station was left as a “ghost station” due to budget constraints and local opposition.
Minister Graham confirmed that introductory site assessments and ground testing would begin immediately, coinciding with a scheduled shutdown of the T4 line.
The project, estimated at $200 million, is slated for completion by 2029, providing an eight-minute direct commute to the Sydney CBD.
2. Strategic Rezoning for 10,000 New Homes
To justify the infrastructure investment, the government is initiating a state-led rezoning of the land surrounding both Woollahra and Edgecliff stations. The plan aims to “rebalance” Sydney’s growth by delivering high-density housing in the East, where infrastructure already exists, rather than pushing further into the Western suburbs.7
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Target: 10,000 new dwellings within an 800-meter radius of the stations.
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Design: The government is investigating “over-station” developments—high-rise apartment towers built directly above the rail corridor, similar to the existing structures at Bondi Junction.9
3. Mandated Affordable Housing and Social Cohesion
Addressing the “brain drain” of young families leaving Sydney, Minister Graham emphasized that 10% of the new construction would be strictly classified as affordable housing. This move is designed to ensure that key workers and younger generations can afford to live near the city.
The conference also touched on broader community safety and social cohesion, following recent regional tensions. Graham noted that the density increase would be matched by investments in local “vibrancy” and public spaces, ensuring the new development integrates with nearby green belts like Centennial and Trumper Parks.
“For decades, this site has been an opportunity squandered,” Minister Graham said. “This station just makes sense. We are not afraid to take on the ‘NIMBY’ sentiment to deliver housing where the infrastructure and the capacity already exist.”
