Client
Transport for NSW
Sector
Rail Infrastructure
Location
Towradgi
Wodi Wodi Dharawal
State
NSW
Towradgi Station Upgrade
The upgraded Towradgi Station has been transformed into a modern, accessible hub, designed to better serve the local community.
The Degnan project team collaborated closely with DesignInc, which involved working closely with Traditional Custodians to integrate local Indigenous stories and connections to the land into the station’s design.
Sustainability was central to the upgrade, with the project incorporating numerous environmentally conscious initiatives to achieve an Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) Leading As Built certification.
Collaboration with Dharawal Elders and Knowledge Holders resulted in a design that honoured the cultural significance of the land. The story of the sperm whale, the totem animal of the Saltwater Wodi Wodi people, was reflected in the station’s design through luminescent motifs etched into meeting places in Webers Cres Park.
The new footbridge and lift screening reflects the pattern and rhythm of a forest canopy. The footbridge is open and transparent at each end, directing views west to the Illawarra escarpment and east to the ocean.
The footbridge, stairs and lifts connect the two platforms over the rail corridor.
The project emphasised social sustainability by integrating First Nations cultural stories and ensuring full compliance with accessibility standards, meeting the diverse needs of the community.
The station platform walls were moulded to resemble the ocean, acknowledging the importance of the coastal landscape to the Dharawal people.
Scope of Work
- A new footbridge over the rail corridor connecting the platforms of Towradgi Station
- Two new lifts which has three stops including platform level, road/pedestrian level and footbridge level. Lift landings also has weather protection canopies at the waiting areas
- New footpaths to connect Towradgi Road and Weber Crescent to the station and the new footbridge, as well as footpaths to the new accessible car spaces and kiss and ride area
- Accessible parking spaces and a kiss and ride zone on Weber Crescent
- New stairs on either side of the footbridge
- Improved toilet facilities, incorporating a family-accessible toilet with an adult change table
- Replacement of platform shelters
- The station platforms have now been reformed and widened
- Refreshed landscaping throughout the station precinct with two meeting places with seating in Weber Park
- Upgrades to the closed-circuit television (CCTV), lighting, handrails, drainage works, wayfinding and signage
- Construction of a new station services equipment room (SSER) next to Weber Crescent.
- Weather protection in all waiting areas
Degnan’s Illawarra Station Upgrades:
Finalist in the 2024 Banksia Foundation awards for Placemaking.
Our goal was to produce station upgrades that prioritise user experience and accessibility, using a holistic approach that embraces urban design principles and celebrates natural elements.
History
Towradgi Station was opened in 1948
Towradgi is derived from a Dharawal word Kow-radgi, meaning guardian of the sacred stones
One of the Towradgi landmarks is the small bridge on Towradgi Road that passes over the train
This bridge is affectionately known in the area as the Towradgi Hump due to its short and steep rise* It has been provided entertainment for many young drivers in the area!
