A new train station named after traditional indigenous owners has been unveiled, but the move has divided locals.
The yet-to-be-built metro station in Sydney has been officially named ‘Gadigal Railway Station’ by the NSW state government and was announced on Wednesday.
The station, which will be built in 2024, recognizes the Gadigal people who are the indigenous owners of the land known as the current Sydney CBD.
A new metro station to be built in Sydney has been officially named ‘Gadigal Railway Station’ by the NSW state government (photo)
NSW Premier Chris Minns took to Twitter on Thursday evening to confirm the appointment of the name, which he said recognizes Sydney’s Indigenous heritage.
“Welcome to Gadigal Train Station – coming 2024,” Mr Minns wrote.
“We are proud to announce that Sydney’s newest Metro station will be named after the country’s traditional custodians – the Gadigal People.”
The station, located below Pitt, Park and Bathurst streets in the heart of the city, received overwhelming support to be named after its traditional owners.
The name ends the dispute over what to call the $500 million piece of infrastructure that is part of the $21.6 billion Sydney Metro City and Southwest project.
The Prime Minister’s social media post was flooded with hundreds of comments from users approving the name given to the channel.
‘Excellent choice of channel name’. “Good job,” one user wrote.
“About time,” wrote another.
‘Love it!’
The station (pictured), which will be completed in 2024, received overwhelming support to be named after its traditional owners
Others, however, expressed opposition to the measure, which some called a form of “virtue signaling.”
“I will never call this station by this ridiculous, virtue-signalling name. For me it will be Pitt St. (sic) Station,” said one user.
“More virtue signaling nonsense from a party that specializes in virtue signaling nonsense,” said another.
‘Nice channel, rubbish name’.
The Sydney Metro City and Southwest metro is a 30 kilometer underground rail project that will connect North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, the inner west and parts of the western suburbs.
Tube stations will be built at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Waterloo and several other tube stations near Central Station.
Commuters could travel from Gadigal station to Crows Nest in under ten minutes, while journeys to Chatswood and Sydenham would take less than 15 minutes travel time, with trains expected to run every four minutes
Gadigal station (pictured) will be part of several metro stations to be built in Sydney’s CBD, including Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo and Martin Place
The Sydenham and Chatswood lines will form a rail link stretching 10 miles between the two suburbs.
The centerpiece of the project is the Sydney Metro West, which will also speed up travel time from western Sydney to the CBD.
The service will also connect Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek.
The Sydney Metro Northwest is the only metro project to open to date after train services began operating from May 2019.
The Gadigal train station announcement comes after Australians overwhelmingly rejected the Voice to Parliament referendum.
Every state and one territory votes no to constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.