Sydney's Central Station Clock Tower is 100 Years Old

A century before smartphones and digital watches, commuters in Sydney relied on the Central Station clock tower, standing 85 metres high, for the accurate time. On 12 March 2021, this major Australian landmark, visible from Surry Hills, turned 100 years old.

Preserved throughout the years, the clock tower “has seen more than 73,000 rotations of the hour hand and 876,000 rotations,” according to Transport for NSW chief Andrew Constance.

“The clock tower was designed to dominate the surroundings as a beacon, and it remains one of our most recognisable landmarks,” Mr Constance said.

A Brief History of the Clock Tower

Construction of the Central Station’s sandstone building, designed by prominent architechts Philip Thalis and Peter John Cantrill, started in 1901.

The railway station was built on the old Devonshire Street Cemetery on Surry Hills. It had all the modern features of that period, including restaurants and comfortable waiting rooms.

The train station opened in 1906 but it took until 1921 for the completion of the clock tower, which was skillfully designed to align to the nearby streets: Albion, Broadway, Foveaux, Pitt, Valentine and Wentworth Avenue.

“The tower, which will be situated near the north west corner of the station will be a commanding feature, and will be provided with a clock which will be visible from most parts of the city,” an annual report from the Sydney government underscored during the planning of the Central Station, per the NSW Heritage listing.

Photo Credit: NSW State Archives & Records

In 1920, architect Walter Liberty Vernon worked on the clocktower, which has 272 steps from the clock face and 303 steps to the flag pole.

Each of the four clock faces, which have an intricate mechanical working inside, has a circumference of 4.8 metres. Its hour hands measure 2.3 metres whilst the minute hands are exactly three metres long.

1937
Photo Credit: Archives & History Resources

1952
Photo Credit: Archives & History Resources

1986
*Photo Credit: Archives & History Resources*

2000
*Photo Credit: Archives & History Resource*s

This landmark was meant to be seen around the city for workers to sync with their pocket watches on their way to work thus the tower earned the nickname “The Working Man’s Watch.”

In 2011 to 2012, the government commissioned Otto Cserhalmi to refurbish the landmark.

Whilst the external architecture has not changed much in the modern period, the Central Station has had a number of improvements inside for its kiosks, bookstores bars and food and refreshments areas.

Looking back at the expansion of Central Station, Sydney and the addition of the clock tower which began operating 100 years ago! Standing tall at 85m, it was so visible around the city that it became known as ‘the working man’s watch’. pic.twitter.com/Wv0txu5WND
— NSW State Archives (@nswarchives) March 11, 2021

Meanwhile, an upcoming major city development threatens to block the view of the clock tower, with the construction of the Atlassian skyscraper and technology hub on Lee Street. The State Government approved this $1-billion project to improve Central Sydney’s connections with bordering suburbs like Chippendale, Redfern, Surry Hills, and Ultimo.