The Goods Line

Built on a disused rail corridor, The Goods Line in Ultimo is Sydney’s equivalent of Manhattan’s High Line – a strategic pedestrian connection through unique green spaces in the inner city.

Extending from the end of Central Station’s Devonshire St Tunnel to Darling Harbour, The Goods Line links key landmarks along the ‘cultural ribbon’ on the southern fringe of the Sydney CBD. These landmarks include UTS, Chinatown, the Powerhouse Museum and the ABC.

Each week thousands of university students, workers, visitors and local residents make use of the elevated city park, which offers a variety of leafy and relaxed outdoor environments along the route through the UTS campus between Central Station and Darling Harbour. 

UTS was a key partner in the redevelopment of the formerly closed rail bridge and its opening to pedestrians in 2015. The project was delivered by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (now Property NSW) on behalf of the NSW Government.

The Goods Line development is part of a broader revitalisation of the southern gateway to the Sydney CBD, a precinct that has been transformed by ambitious projects including the rebirth of Darling Harbour, the construction of the Central Park complex and the implementation of the UTS Campus Master Plan.

The Goods Line provides a direct connection to UTS’s landmark Frank Gehry-designed Dr Chau Chak Wing Building. A courtyard extending from the building’s western façade offers an entrance to level 4, accommodating welcoming student commons and a small café. Visitors are encouraged to tour the building, which showcases a striking stainless steel staircase and unusual oval classrooms built from immense timber blocks.

The pedestrian network also provides a route to the Powerhouse Museum, where UTS students attend classes in two large theatre spaces.

Project snapshot

Project completed: August 2015 (Stage One, Dr Chau Chak Wing Building forecourt, completed February 2015)
Location: Ultimo, NSW
Architect: ASPECT Studios