Hunter Street Station Explained - Sydney Metro West - Includes Hunter Connection closure

[@mikmop]

One of your best videos ever. I thought it was funny how you originally pronounced "falafel", lol. But anyway, I think this video will become a significant historical archive for future generations to appreciate. Great job and a wonderful contribution to Sydney's CBD history.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! - I put a lot of effort into this! Yes my original pronunciation of "falafel" definitely got a few laughs. I was going to leave it in, until I realised that I'd pronounced Bligh street incorrectly as well! Yes, I hope it will, and one of the reasons for putting lots of effort into this video, is that I'm hoping that people will be watching it in many years to come!

[@mikmop]

@@TransportVlog 👍

[@dagwould]

Hi, a great video, thanks. I worked in this area many years ago. The work for Martin Place station had started back then. I'm very familiar with the shops, Hunter Connection ,etc. But even so, I found out more about the Hunter Connection than I had experienced! As others have commented, this is a great historical record. It will be good to see the nondescript old office blocks removed, but I hope that there will remain tenancies for the micro businesses that thrived in the area. It would be a great pity if the city were to become dominated by large anonymous anti-community chains. Glad to see my old hairdresser still operating!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Glad you learned some new things about the Hunter Connection. I'm sure there will still be office space for smaller businesses, and with more companies having a hybrid working model, demand for office space has reduced. I went to the Hunter Connection and Taroo Cuts has now closed, but they do have new premises. Savvy Hair Boutique closed last week and they were clearing stuff out today! Only Jimmy's Falafel remains open now, along with some of the office buildings!

[@daiatnara971]

Great video - had me nervous at the start, so I was relieved when you mentioned that the ground floor walkway opening onto Pitt St won't be closing, that's where I get my lunch every day.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Daia! So I had you in suspense for a few minutes! I think a couple of businesses within the Hunter Connection have moved to this walkway.

[@kevinchan9936]

Love the hunter connection. Only affordable food court left in the CBD. Sad to see you go.

[@TransportVlog]

Yes it is a little sad. The Hunter Connection closed its doors for the last time a couple of weeks ago.

[@kevinchan9936]

@@TransportVlog Only place you can get lunch for $5!

[@hardly.rivai_YT]

Sad to see Hunter Connection gone, but Sydney Metro West will transform how commuters travel between Sydney and Parramatta, and alleviate the crowded Western Line, especially in the busiest periods. Interesting to see if they will ever be built on time, unlike London's Crossrail scheme. *(REGARDING UPDATE VIDEO)* _A railway line to La Perouse seems long overdue. I suggest an additional station at Kensington in addition to Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Zetland, Randwick, Maroubra, South Maroubra, Malabar and Philip Bay._ _This knocks out many Eastern Suburbs bus services to City via Eastern Distributor, in tandem with light rail extensions to Coogee and La Perouse (via Anzac Parade). Will significantly lessen reliance on private transport (including cars) and provide cleaner ways of getting around the Eastern Suburbs._ _Good, efficient and reliable public transport always works._

[@aussiejohn5835]

I agree with you. When the ESR opened the direct bus services to the city were cut back severely and some were cancelled. The public protested as the trains were extremely overcrowded and there was poor access to the intermediate locations that were served by the buses. Most of the bus services were reintroduced and ran in tandem to the trains.

[@TransportVlog]

@therivais980 Yes it will be sad to see it go, and yes, Sydney Metro West is so needed as the T1 is pretty much at capacity already. Sydney has had a pretty good track record of delivering these projects on time. Sydney Metro NW opened on time, and the City & Southwest extension is running to schedule, even with COVID and RTBU industrial action affecting it. The only one that I think got significantly delayed was Sydney Light Rail (L2 and L3), so I'm consifent that Sydney Metro West will be delivered on time as well. Parramatta Light Rail is running a few months behind, but again I think COVID had an impact on that. One of the problems in the UK is that the cost and time of major projects is underestimated in order to get government approval! That doesn't seem to be the case here. The extension to La Perouse is just an aspiration at the moment, and I'm sure further work will go into deciding on the intermediate stations, but I agree that a station at Kensington would make sense.

[@TransportVlog]

@aussiejohn5835. Hi John, good to hear that the bus services were reintroduced after the ESR opened. Just noticed you have a KZbin channel! - I've subscribed!

[@aussiejohn5835]

@Transport Vlog Hi Paul, thanks for subscribing. I hope to be a little more active on my channel as my balance improves and I get rid of my stick.

[@Woodland26]

@@TransportVlog Thanks to private construction, the Metro NW project was always on time or ahead of time. I spoke to an engineer on the project asking for progress when the whole project began (2013) and he often replied it was months ahead. Same with the SW extension. By June 2023 testing can commence to Sydenham already.

[@Svendip]

Thanks for a great video. One day this video itself may become heritage listed :) I'm always excited by new shiny stuff, but I'm also happy to see that they old architecture will stay. We do have to be careful that we don't remove all examples of 60's and 70's architecture. Future generations need to appreciate the ugly stuff that we had to put up with. Having worked in the CBD for some 30 years it's good to know there will be video's like this one to bring back the memories when it's all gone and changed. One question that springs to mind is with all this fancy new expensive retail space, where will the cheap eat shops be? Hunter connection was my go-to place for a cheap lunch, cheap hair cut and a sneaky scotch on the rocks at places like the Burrow bar which used to be hidden away in that 'dodgy' back alley (Burrow Bar at de Mestre Pl) where the smokers hang out.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Svend! Yes I hope this video is available forever, but I guess that's up to KZbin! I'm sure some of the ugly 60s and 70s buildings will stay, perhaps not in central CBD areas, but more on the outskirts where is less pressure to redevelop. Yes, one of the reasons for doing this video was to capture what is currently here, before it gets demolished. I already struggle to remember what was at Martin Place and Pitt Street before the metro stations started being built. I think the cheaper eats will probably be a little further away, perhaps on Kent Street or closer to Circular Quay. It's been getting harder to get cheap lunches in Sydney's CBD (and in North Sydney) over the last few years, with quite a few food courts closing down. I didn't realise that there used to be a bar within the dodgy back alley! Thanks for sharing your memories!

[@electro_sykes]

@@TransportVlog i can confirm that in that new wynard lower concourse, there are provisions that were built to extend it into the hunter street metro station

[@francesconicoletti2547]

With all the reuse of shopping centres that the various Sydney Metros is making, this channel has become an accidental dead mall channel.😊

[@v666fromhell6]

I never knew Parramall existed until after its closure due to Parramatta Metro Station coverage.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Francesco! LOL! "Welcome to Dead Malls" doesn't have quite the same ring about it!

[@TransportVlog]

@v666fromhell6 I never got to see the inside of Parramall unfortunately, but it did look interesting from the outside!

[@danceingdave3]

you do a fabulous job Paul - us out-of-towners get a much better idea of what's going on around Hunter St Station. Just a minor, insiginificant clarification @10:02 the owner of St George Bank is Westpac Bank. So, with Westpac as building owner, I guess they have an agreeable tenant who is vacating!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Glad it helps you understand what is going on, from the comfort of your own home! Yes a few people have mentioned that St George Bank is owned by Westpac Bank, so yes that would have helped with St George vacating.

[@kismetau]

I always appreciate your detailed and informative updates on Sydney transport. Many thanks!

[@TransportVlog]

You're very welcome. Glad you enjoy them!

[@galaxyfarrahway]

love your videos! I worked in that area in the 80s, amazing to know its all going to be bulldozed

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Chris, glad you loving my videos! Yes it's going to be strange seeing all these buildings disappearing!

[@UltraXD.]

These videos are so amusing🤣 as well as informative, love it Paul!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! - Glad you like the splashing's of humour, as well as the information.

[@sandkipper1]

Massage parlors, 80s nightclubs! I'm seeing the Hunter Connection in a whole new light 👠🕺

[@TransportVlog]

Yes, its going up-market!

[@kennethyates]

Thank for this, was wondering about how Hunter St station would link with Wynyard and Martin Place.

[@TransportVlog]

You’re very welcome. Hope it all makes sense now.

[@michaellewis5171]

Great video which explains the people transit aspects of the Hunter St Station and touches on the new Martin Place one. I still can't understand why "half of Sydney" has been resumed at Hunter St, Martin Place and Pitts St for the installation of station boxes and underground connections. I have noticed the giant non-transit buildings appearing over the 2 last station sites. and for Hunter St. It seems that a transit solution has been used by the Government to create a real estate profit. I hope these profits are balanced against the construction costs, in the accounting.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Michael, Glad you enjoyed this video. To build new stations normally involves demolishing some or all of the existing buildings that are above where the new station will be. So new commercial developments help replace what was already there, although the new developments are normally much larger and higher! Do watch my Martin Place Metro video if you haven't seen if already. It talks about these new buildings and also the buildings that were there before. Here is the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5uThmyVnNllY9E. Yes I'm sure these developments help in someway with the construction costs.

[@StephenJosiahRose]

Hey! I’ve just started watching your videos. Might you ever do a video about the Bella Vista Station precinct? I live around the area and I’d love to know some details such as when they are planning on starting development and what sort of timetables they might be working towards for the first development to be completed. I’ve heard huge ranges from 10 to 20 years! But I’d hoped that some of the development might be completed far sooner than that?

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Stephen, I'm planning to do separate videos on all of the new Sydney Metro NW stations, and I can touch on the developments planned in these videos, but probably not in great detail, as I want to keep the channel predominately transport related. if I do them in alphabetical order, then Bella Vista will be the first one 😀

[@Woodland26]

@@TransportVlog at the moment it is totally empty, featureless... It would make a lot of sense to have medium density housing there. Same for Cherrybrook but there are submissions for some development.

[@josephlownang6992]

good video mate

[@paulgerrard9227]

9 Hunter was a Commonwealth Govt building . The Australian Tax Office. The pandemic and its closure aligned well. 16 OConnell has a lot of significance. It was the site of the futures exchange before it moved to Bridge St (1980s) where McCarthur had his HQ in the war!under ground . The Sydney Futures exchange moved then went electronic. Frankies also had a lot of history. The site of a live music venue called the Hunter Tavern back in 1980+. It was a cafeteria/pub and live music venue.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Paul, thanks for the extra info on these buildings. 16 O'Connell is still open,, but almost everything else mentioned in this video, including the Hunter Connection has now closed.

[@Diptera_Larvae]

Sad to see the Hunter Street food court go, I use to love getting my $4 Banh mi rolls for lunch! I use to work as a cycle courier and would pick up mail from the PO Box for a few of the companies near by, and swing by later in the day to grab lunch. If the pay wasn’t so terrible I would have been happy to do that job for the rest of my life.

[@TransportVlog]

Yes sad to see the Hunter food court go. Yes that sounded like a fun job!

[@andrewrussack8647]

Excellent, thorough explanation!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Andrew, glad you enjoyed it. I was at the Hunter Connection today and signs are up announcing its closure on 20 March.

[@btvbrendanstransportvlogs]

Great video Paul. This is the same one as the Other One. I’m going to be sad about the Hunter Street going to be closed. But I’m concerned that the Sydney Metro will open in 2024.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Brendan, it's slightly different with updates to pronunciations, and an updated section on the tunnel alignment on the east side of Hunter Street station which starts at 27:20.

[@nightmareonstilts]

26:43 that is awesome! I always like walking at lunch in the city, still need to even when it was raining. (Westfield through to Town Hall and beyond through the QVB and beyond was well travelled)

[@TransportVlog]

Yes it certainly is! I used to work in an office next to Westfield, and it didn't take me long to realise that I could walk all the way to Kathmandu on Kent Street and to George Street (south of Town Hall station).

[@ForTheBirbs]

Nice update to this video. Cheers

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Jim.

[@jamesbushell7280]

Do we have any idea how the vertical separation between Metro West as it goes into the Domain and the existing ESL lines will work? Will MW be set to pass over ESL or under, assuming it will be future proofed for use into the South? Could an alternative plan be to metroize the ESL from the Domain to Bondi Junction? Id think the vertical separation would be quite informative.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi James, the metro west lines will go under the existing ESL and this diagram shows where the interchange passageways will go - www.sydneymetro.info/sites/default/files/styles/media_gallery_lightbox/public/2021-09/Sydney%2520Metro%2520-%2520Martin%2520Place%2520interchange.jpg?itok=4tUxoAAH I'm planning to do a Martin Place Metro video quite soon, so I'll cover this in more detail then. I think if ESL ever becomes metro, it would be from Bondi Junction to Hurstville, as this can all be on tracks that are not shared with other services (assuming the south coast line services all start at Central).

[@alimfuzzy]

I hope the new food court is as good as the old Chinese one. I used to go there every day. Also sad to see Lee's did not survive covid...they would of been safe in the heritage building (maybe)

[@TransportVlog]

I'm not sure if they'll be a new food court, but I know that some of the food outlets have found other locations nearby.

[@tims8305]

Thanks for this Paul and sorry I'm a bit late in commenting. The city is changing rapidly - most of it good but it feels like a construction site for much of the time!. I'm slightly sad about the Hunter Connection though as I sometimes got my lunch there when I worked in the city in the 90s and 2000s. And it reminded me of when I worked in Hong Kong back in the day with its little passageways and eateries. I also liked the tiny watchmakers shop on the lower level there - a kind of hole in the wall really - and I had new watch batteries or adjustments to my watch strap done there by a guy while I was out of the office at lunchtime. Just also wanted to say that back in the 70s or maybe 80s that "drab office building on Hunter St" at about 5 or 7 Hunter used to be the Taxation Office because the ATO had a deposit slot out the front on Hunter St where you could physically hand drop your hard copy tax return around tax time in late June.A very different world back then! Look forward to your next one mate - thanks again.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Tim, Glad you enjoyed this video. Yes the Hunter Connection is very similar to what I remember in Hong Kong too! Thanks for sharing your memories of the watchmakers shop. I guess a drab office building was perfect for the Tax Office! Yes times have certainly changed!

[@andrewjameson5918]

Seeing all those buildings coming down is going to be a nightmare for the utility companies to sort out the power. I am sure there will be a few power outages during those works.

[@mrcool7140]

Why would that be an issue compared to any other big development? Genuine question.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Andrew, yes, utilities will need to be relocated, but as Mr Cool mentions below, this would be necessary for any big development. Being in the CBD, any power outages would probably be at weekend, when surrounding office blocks are empty.

[@dagwould]

What's the problem. Individual buildings will be disconnected from the power supply. This will not affect the supply lines at all. If there are power diversions, they are normal work for utilities companies and should present nothing but minor disruptions. An example of how well this is done is the massive services relocation competed for the tramway in George St.

[@gregorya72]

Thanks for the video :-), I always like the hidden pedestrian connections, Toronto's underground web is great (we just need Apple and Google to create a great indoor mapping system). It's a pity that we'll have to tap on/off if we want to walk through to Wynyard from Martin Place. We used to be able to walk fully indoors from Townhall under the QVB, and up into Myer, over to Centrepoint, through some clothes shop onto an airbridge and come out in Martin place - is that still possible, and if so does it link in?

[@TransportVlog]

Glad you enjoyed it. Yes me too! Unfortunately that airbridge (that goes over Kings Street) was removed as part a revamp of the MLC Centre. I can't understand why they removed it, as it was a very handy way to get all the way from Town Hall to Martin Place, and as it involved walking through H&M, they did quite well out of it too!

[@thefooltarotcard4700]

Amazing content

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks!

[@nicolasblume1046]

Very strange that the current plans include this old narrow tunnel as a bottleneck. They know for sure it would be congested

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Nicolas, Yes, I'd thought about that too. They may be plans to widen the tunnel, but these are not in the public domain, so we'll have to see what happens. It's a question I will ask when I next see Dan or one of this colleagues.

[@hfgj4874]

informative

[@BusaRider86]

Always interesting. Have they started work at Clyde? Or any other evidence of Sydney Metro West works (with Parramatta speed way closed down).

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Matt, yes they have started excavating on the northern part of the site (along Unwin Street). The remaining buildings have now been demolished, including the Speedway. The area around Rosehill Station is also changing quite rapidly and I'll be covering this on a video of what is left of the old Carlingford Line, which will probably be my next video

[@JeenRsHeart]

Jimmy's Falafel nooooooo 😢

[@Sema4beach]

Spot On!

[@TransportVlog]

😀

[@cmrocarlosmanuelronquilloor]

Habrá un pasillo de conexión entre Sydney metro West and City and Southwest en las estaciones de Martin Place y Hunner Street?

[@TransportVlog]

This question in English is "Will there be a connecting corridor between Sydney Metro West and City and Southwest at Martin Place and Hunter Street stations?" The answer is YES, and I explain that from 25:28 onwards.

[@isaiah513623]

I use to work at 37 Bligh street & celebrated Melbourne Cup there in Frankies years ago

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Hailey, yes Frankies would have been a fun place to celebrate the Melbourne Cup.

[@Yitao_Su]

The fried rice looks so delicious haha

[@TransportVlog]

Yes it was!

[@RGC198]

Hi Paul, excellent video. Incidentally, if they extend the Metro line to La Perouse, will this be all underground or will they use some of the former tram reservation in Anzac Parade? I was hoping that the former tram reservation would be used for an extension of the Light Rail to La Perouse from Randwick or Kingsford.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! - Glad you enjoyed it. I think it would all be underground, and if there are any above grounds bit, they would be elevated and segregated from other traffic. I'm sure it would be used if Sydney Light Rail was extended. It seems more suited to that.

[@RGC198]

@@TransportVlog The reservation previously used by the original trams out near La Perouse was mostly kept intact, though it has never been used again since the original tram system closed in February 1961. The buses use the main road there with the traffic. It would be great to see light rail trams re-using that area again. Incidentally, they used to have snake handlers doing demonstrations at La Perouse right near the bus (formerly tram) terminus. Would this be still happening these days?

[@TransportVlog]

@@RGC198 I've only been there once, and I don't remember seeing any snake demonstrations!

[@RGC198]

@@TransportVlog I remember back in the 1960's, they had snake handlers there demonstrating how to handle dangerous snakes. Each time, we saw them, there would be a different handler. I later found out that many of the handlers apparently died after being bitten by the snakes they were using for demonstrations.

[@paulgerrard9227]

The metro would never go to LaPerouse. Ever.

[@kevineadie1719]

It might be time to look at "The Bays" Metro station and the 1200 buses-a-day which pass by, over the Anzac Bridge, just 100 metres away. With a combined cost of forty thousand million dollars (Rozelle underground road junction plus Metro West) NO PROVISION has been made for people to transfer betwen the two major public transport services!

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Kevin, I have done a video on The Bays station. Here is the link to it - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHSkq6ichMaCj9E

[@BossboyGaming]

Hi Paul, can you do a video on the k sets? There are some in the peak hour at central. The one I take is the 4:15PM city circle at central platform 17 (runs on most weekdays). Thanks

[@TransportVlog]

Yes K sets are on my list, along with the V sets too. The K sets generally only run in the AM and PM peaks, but I have noticed one on the Bankstown line during the off-peak recently.

[@chesterdraws7144]

saw the same video last week!!!

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Chester, it's an updated version. The main difference is from 27:20 to 27:53. New video coming next week.

[@avaz9611]

Corner of Hunter and Pitt will all be demolished for a new timber commercial building

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! - I had a feeling something was planned for that corner! Hopefully that will allow the more northerly pedestrian link from Pitt Street to Hunter Street station to happen.

[@electro_sykes]

why isn't wynard and hunter street stations merged

[@TransportVlog]

Not sure of the exact reasons, but it would probably be construction or engineering related. Wynyard Station is complicated with lines at different levels, and the Metro Lines would need to fit around those too. I think the connection between trains and metro at Wynyard will be pretty good, as the stations are very close to each other.

[@electro_sykes]

@@TransportVlog they should also link it up to martin Place Metro Station. This would make like an Underground pedestrian transit system, which would be good for changing between Trains on the City Circle, both Metro Lines and the Eastern Suburbs Line

[@TransportVlog]

Yes that's happening too! You'll be able to walk from Wynyard to Martin Place via Hunter Street Station. I explained that in this video, at about 26 mins in - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5iQi6Z-or-Jq68

[@johnwatson2003]

I hated that Hunter Connection shopping centre. It was always either dead in some areas or completely cramped in others, especially at lunch time.

[@peterdowden7694]

14 floors? But #AllTubeStationsHave15Floors

[@TransportVlog]

Yes that's right! I guess you learnt that from Geoff Marshall!

[@dmr8914]

Cant say im sorry to see the place go. The upstairs/downstairs layout was a curse. The food court was crowded and always looked old and unless you like Asian food you were basically out of luck. The old building on the corner also used to be Advance Bank back in the early 90's. I installed equipment there! I also worked in 5 Hunter St. Glad that the area is being revitalised thanks to he Metro.

[@TransportVlog]

I was there last week, and the Hunter Connection is now getting demolished! Interesting that you worked in a couple of the buildings. It looks really sad at the moment, but will be much better in the future!