History unearthed at The Bays Station site
27.09.2024
While The Bays Station has its sights set on being a massive part of Sydney’s transport future, a key piece of its history has been unearthed.
Located next to the former White Bay Power Station and the ports at Glebe Island and White Bay on Sydney Harbour, The Bays Station site has an extensive maritime and industrial history.
When excavations began in 2022, the remains of the locomotive turntable were uncovered. Using non-destructive digging, these remains were then exposed and recorded by archaeologists.
The locomotive roundhouse and turntable were built around 1916 to support the former Metropolitan Goods Line between the White Bay Power Station and the port at White Bay.
The turntable was 75 feet wide and its function was to turn the locomotive engines around to change their direction. It remained in operation until 1933 when the roundhouse was demolished, and the turntable was fixed and could only be moved in emergencies.