After lying dormant for half a century, the “ghost” station at Woollahra, Sydney will finally come to life. The NSW government has confirmed plans to complete and open Woollahra train station by 2029, alongside a major rezoning that will unlock up to 10,000 new homes in Sydney’s inner east.

The abandoned station, left unfinished in the 1970s after fierce local opposition, is set to become Sydney’s first new heavy rail station in a decade. Premier Chris Minns declared that this time, the project will go ahead – whether residents like it or not.

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Key Points

• Woollahra station construction to begin in 2027, opening by 2029
• Station expected to connect Woollahra to Central in just 8 minutes
• Rezoning within 800m of Woollahra and 400m of Edgecliff to allow up to 10,000 new dwellings, some up to 21 storeys
• Affordable housing to make up to 10% of new developments
• Project cost of $150m–$200m, partly funded through developer “value capture” fees of at least $12,500 per dwelling

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Project Significance

The revival of Woollahra station is being positioned as a bold response to Sydney’s housing crisis. With the city expanding 74% over the last 50 years while Woollahra’s population has shrunk by 11%, the government argues the area has avoided its share of growth.

For the government, it’s a test case of urban consolidation – building up in areas with existing infrastructure, rather than pushing all growth to Sydney’s outer suburbs.

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Further Details: Controversy and Opportunity

As in the 1970s, opposition is expected to be fierce. Local residents have already raised concerns over lack of consultation, heritage impacts, and the scale of rezoning. Liberal MPs have criticised Labor for leaving families “in the dark” about the details.

But proponents argue the benefits outweigh the costs. The station will slash commute times, bring investment into under-utilised land, and deliver affordable housing in one of the nation’s most expensive suburbs. Essential services – schools, water, and utilities – have already been assessed as having capacity to absorb new residents.

Developers, meanwhile, will shoulder part of the cost through value capture on higher land prices, while the rezoning will gradually shift Woollahra from low-density housing towards higher-density apartments.

Still, as Minns admitted, the plan will not bring “universal happiness.” For some, it’s a long-overdue correction to a 50-year planning stalemate. For others, it’s the loss of Woollahra’s quiet character. Either way, the ghost station’s time has finally come.