VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Parramatta Road Light Rail as envisioned in 2002

Below is a 2002 newspaper article from The Daily Telegraph reporting on a proposal to build a light rail line along Parramatta Road. Twenty-five years later, it is still being explored as an option to revitalise the road corridor, which has struggled to attract business and development. 

The aim was to build the line to take advantage of the construction of the M4 East Expressway (which eventually became WestConnex), which would have removed cars from Parramatta Road.

It didn't mention of any specific stretch of road but forewarned that branch lines could have been included to connect with railway stations on the Inner West line.

Work on the expressway was estimated to have commenced in 2005, but the road itself (WestConnex) did not open until 2019. The M4 East was built as part of the broader project, which also included the construction of the M8 motorway to connect the M4 and the M5. Construction had commenced in 2015, meaning it took an extra decade for it to become a reality. 

Source: Skelsey, M. 2002. "Light is right for clogged Parramatta Rd". The Daily Telegraph, October 30: 6. 

Momentum for light rail has gained traction in recent times. Inner West mayors have expressed their support for a Light Rail Line, and that could lead to the construction of 50,000 homes along the road. Click here to read a 2025 article from The Daily Telegraph (Subscription Required).

Property Advert of the Week: The Allen Estate, Leichhardt

Below is an advertisement for town houses and apartments in The Allen Estate at Francis Street, Leichhardt.

Source: Ray White Real Estate. 1995. "The Allen Estate, Leichhardt" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 24: 92.

Property Advert of the Week: 47 Wharf Road, Birchgrove (1968)

Below is a 1968 advertisement for units that were on sale at 47 Wharf  Road in Birchgrove known as The Outrigger. Birchgrove has progressed significantly over the past five decades. As for the ten boat marina, there is a wharf, but I don't think ten boats (like those in the advertisement) would fit there. 10 Tinnies maybe???

Source: Vale & Co. Pty Ltd. 1968. "Untitled" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, September 22: 32.

Property Advert of the Week: Dockside Balmain (2000)

Below is an advertisement for the Dockside Balmain complex, which was part of the redevelopment of the former Unilever site at Rozelle. Apartments were on sale from $370 000.

Source: CB Richard Ellis. 2000. "Dockside Balmain" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 10: 23A (Domain Apartments Liftout).

Property Advert of the Week: Warehouse 82, Chippendale (1998)

In 1998, you could purchase a designer warehouse apartment at 82 Myrtle Street, Chippendale.

 

Source: Bay Developments & McGrath Partners Project Development, 1998. "Exquisite Warehouse Conversion" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 11: 17RE (Real Estate Liftout).

1995: Sydney's Olympic Road (M4 East)

With the WestConnex now planning to snake its way under Sydney, lets look at one dead scheme that was proposed for the inner west from 1995 as a solution to the traffic gridlock on Parramatta Road.

However it was not going to be a motorway and the road would run above ground through a section of Concord and Five Dock before connecting with the City West Link at Wattle Street, Haberfield. A wise idea to not proceed with it because I think it wouldn't have had any major impact on traffic on Parramatta Road. The bottlenecks would have shifted east along the road into Haberfield and Ashfield. This appears that controlling traffic there would be so challenging as you'd not just manage traffic coming out of the new road but also the City-West Link, Parramatta Road and Frederick Street, Ashfield.

Two alternative routes were considered. One would have included a tunnel under Parramatta Road like the WestConnex Motorway but would have required closure of parts of Parramatta Road or the construction of a viaduct along Parramatta Road.

Source: Larkin, J. 1995. "RTA in push for Olympic road link," The Sunday Telegraph, August 20: 5.