Thousands of people travel through Central Station every day, but how many know what once lay beneath it? Dead Central will take you on a journey back to 19th century Sydney, to rediscover a place you thought you knew.
This haunting story is told through a 35-minute audio recording using your own device. We recommend that you bring your own headphones for the best sound experience.
A vast cemetery once sprawled across the land bound by Sydney’s Elizabeth, Pitt and Devonshire streets — where Central Station now stands. The Devonshire Street cemetery opened in 1820, but the city’s major burial ground filled up quickly in the decades following, only to become overgrown and abandoned. In January 1901, when the state government announced its intention to clear the cemetery, well over 30,000 bodies were buried there.
Thousands of people travel through Central Station every day, but how many know what once lay beneath it? Dead Central will take you on a journey back to 19th century Sydney, to rediscover a place you thought you knew.
This haunting story is told through a 35-minute audio recording using your own device.
We recommend that you bring your own headphones for the best sound experience.
The Old Cemetery, Devonshire Street{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/old-cemetery-devonshire-street","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg?itok=v1dvfQ9D","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg?itok=QYJ8FiWd","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg?itok=v1dvfQ9D","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg?itok=QYJ8FiWd","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg?itok=T7N0ORCW","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg?itok=QUUS0t1M","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg?itok=qoa2VXgG"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/ml207_c14021_0001_m.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":3916,"height":2453}
The Sand Hills Burying Grounds, Sydney, illustration to scheme, No.1{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/sand-hills-burying-grounds-sydney-illustration-scheme-no1","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e17301_0001_m.jpg?itok=OW_GqRip","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e17301_0001_m.jpg?itok=i7XJMElg","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/e17301_0001_m.jpg?itok=OW_GqRip","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/e17301_0001_m.jpg?itok=i7XJMElg","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/e17301_0001_m.jpg?itok=hkiM8h_N","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/e17301_0001_m.jpg?itok=Tq5CcqHl","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/e17301_0001_m.jpg?itok=LAwC9snm"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/e17301_0001_m.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":1795}
George Bond, John Cadman, Maria Ann Carrod, William Carrod, Eleanor Cork{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/george-bond-john-cadman-maria-ann-carrod-william-carrod-eleanor-cork","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c15551_0023_c.jpg?itok=oaNzX0e9","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c15551_0023_c.jpg?itok=T9NFj46a","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c15551_0023_c.jpg?itok=oaNzX0e9","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c15551_0023_c.jpg?itok=T9NFj46a","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/c15551_0023_c.jpg?itok=DuZJklgH","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/c15551_0023_c.jpg?itok=jug-vp0f","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/c15551_0023_c.jpg?itok=ALkaWx_9"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/c15551_0023_c.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":1479}
Samuel and Easter [Esther] Bradley, Mary Martin{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/samuel-and-easter-esther-bradley-mary-martin","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg?itok=ekVRr741","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg?itok=ClD-QwlU","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg?itok=ekVRr741","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg?itok=ClD-QwlU","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg?itok=QPO_rh0R","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg?itok=kte8YpNN","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg?itok=teR0WIjv"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/c15551_0013_c_0.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":3474,"height":2480}
Devonshire Street Cemetery - Labourers preparing ground for Central Railway Station{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/devonshire-street-cemetery-labourers-preparing-ground-central-railway-station","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c16414_0001_m.jpg?itok=sMXZ_MD2","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c16414_0001_m.jpg?itok=JD0LEITB","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c16414_0001_m.jpg?itok=sMXZ_MD2","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c16414_0001_m.jpg?itok=JD0LEITB","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/c16414_0001_m.jpg?itok=K4naBugG","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/c16414_0001_m.jpg?itok=etvpCbR6","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/c16414_0001_m.jpg?itok=5Z4ZSTsN"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/c16414_0001_m.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":1415}
Central Railway Station at Railway Square, Sydney{"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/central-railway-station-railway-square-sydney","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c15551_0013_c.jpg?itok=eZqr4XbY","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c15551_0013_c.jpg?itok=j7mSkbn7","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/c15551_0013_c.jpg?itok=eZqr4XbY","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/c15551_0013_c.jpg?itok=j7mSkbn7","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/public\/c15551_0013_c.jpg?itok=PUc_CKX4","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/public\/c15551_0013_c.jpg?itok=r4GqGD8w","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/public\/c15551_0013_c.jpg?itok=TuvaTwjn"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/c15551_0013_c.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":2000,"height":1378}
Thousands of people travel through Sydney's Central Station every day, but how many know what once lay beneath it? Get ready to embark on a journey back to 19th century Sydney, to rediscover a place you thought you knew.
Episode 1: Hidden History
Human remains were recently discovered at Central Station. How long have they been there?
Elise is a senior curator at the State Library of New South Wales. With a background in Australian history and Museum Studies, Elise has worked with the Library’s maps, pictures and manuscript collections; acquiring, writing and promoting these to a variety of audiences. In 2009 she received a staff fellowship to research and scope the Library’s First World War collections. This led to curating several exhibitions highlighting the Library’s nationally significant First World War collections; Life Interrupted: personal diaries from World War I in 2014 and Colour in Darkness: images from the First World War in 2016.
Established in 1820, this cemetery became the final resting place for many Sydney-siders throughout the 19th century. The land was finally cleared in 1901 to make way for Sydney's new Central Station.
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