The NSW Government has announced Gadigal Railway Station as the name for the future metro station deep below Pitt, Park and Bathurst streets at the southern end of the Sydney CBD.
The station name acknowledges the Gadigal people, the original custodians of the land around Sydney’s CBD.
Transport for NSW engaged with key Aboriginal stakeholders and communities, including the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, and received overwhelming support for Gadigal as the new station name.
“Gadigal Railway Station is a fitting name in every respect. The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council asked for this landmark station in Sydney to be named Gadigal, and we are listening to that request,” NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
“A big thank you to our Transport for NSW Aboriginal Engagement team who took the time to consult with Aboriginal language experts and the local Aboriginal community to confirm their support of this meaningful name.”
The name request comes following a Greek-led proposal to name the new metro station after Captain Reginald Saunders – an Indigenous ANZAC with ties to the Greek island of Crete.
Despite this proposal having now been formally rejected, the Secretary of the Joint Committee for the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, Nick Andriotakis, told The Greek Herald there’s still hope to acknowledge Captain Saunders at St Marys in Sydney’s west.
“The Joint Committee is supportive of recognition for Indigenous Australians and we welcome the renaming of the station. We also believe there’s other opportunities to acknowledge Captain Saunders,” Mr Andriotakis said.
In 1960, Captain Saunders was elected President of the St Marys Returned Servicemen League (RSL). Mr Andriotakis said with the new station interchange at St Marys, there could still be an opportunity to create a site of recognition for the Indigenous Australian.
“We look forward to consulting with the NSW government on this,” Mr Andriotakis said.
New metro stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross in North Sydney, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal at the southern end of the Sydney CBD, Waterloo, as well as new platforms at Central and upgraded platforms at Sydenham will open in 2024.
