Karmactive Staff
The NSW government has announced plans to finish the partially-built Woollahra Station and rezone surrounding land to create up to 10,000 new homes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The station, which sits on the Eastern Suburbs railway line between Edgecliff and Bondi Junction, has remained incomplete since construction was abandoned in 1976.
Premier Chris Minns said the project would “rebalance” housing development from western Sydney to areas with existing infrastructure in the east. “For too long, young people and families in NSW have been forced to choose between moving away from the Sydney CBD or not being able to afford a home at all,” Minns said.
The government argues Woollahra is a logical location for housing growth, citing a dramatic population decline in the area over recent decades. While Greater Sydney’s population has grown by 74% since the 1970s, Woollahra’s has fallen by 11%. Officials also noted that the Bondi-city rail line currently runs at just 43% of peak capacity, the lowest utilization of any Sydney line.
When completed, the new station would allow commuters to reach the CBD in approximately eight minutes. Most construction work would not require closing the Eastern Suburbs Line, according to the premier’s office.
The station’s history dates back to the 1970s when it was originally planned as part of the Eastern Suburbs railway. Construction began but was halted in 1976 when the Wran government decided to abandon the station to save $3.4 million (equivalent to about $26 million today). Local opposition played a significant role in that decision, with residents concerned about increased traffic and noise.
Today, concrete foundations for an eight-car-long island platform remain at the site, visible from a small lookout off Edgecliff Road. The area has become known for special sound-dampening infrastructure installed around the tracks to minimize noise for nearby residents.
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The government plans to implement a value capture mechanism on new apartments in the rezoned land, charging between $12,500 and $15,000 per unit. This would help offset the estimated $150-200 million cost of completing the station.
Housing Minister Rose Jackson confirmed that rezoning around Woollahra and nearby Edgecliff station would include “a dedicated portion of affordable housing.” With no government land holdings in the area, this would likely come through incentives for developers, who could access greater floor space ratios and building heights in exchange for including affordable housing.
Local response has been mixed. Woollahra Mayor Sarah Swan has called for proper consultation, noting that council had previously received assurances from state planning officials that “there was no plan for the Woollahra Station site.”
The rezoning process is expected to take approximately two years, making its completion unlikely before the next state election in March 2027. Sydney Water and Infrastructure NSW have indicated the area has capacity for the proposed new homes, contrary to earlier assessments that cited limited water and sewer infrastructure.
The announcement comes after plans for 25,000 homes near a potential station at Rosehill in western Sydney fell through when the racecourse owners decided not to sell the site.
