Castlereagh Street's northern terminus is at the junction of
Hunter Street, with its southern terminus at the junction with
Hay Street, near
Belmore Park.[2] The street is one-way southbound to motorised traffic, with a
bicycle path running in both directions from
Liverpool Street to Hay Street.[3]
Previously Chapel Row and Camden Street, Castlereagh Street was named by
GovernorMacquarie in 1810 in honour of
Viscount Castlereagh, the Secretary of State for the Colonies. At the time the street included what is now known as Loftus Street, named as Castlereagh Street North, until 1881, and what is now known as
Chalmers Street, prior to the establishment of Belmore Park, until 1905.[5][6]
History
Castlereagh Street once contained the
Australia Hotel, whose foundation stone was laid by Sir
Henry Parkes, and the
Theatre Royal. Both of these buildings were demolished during the 1970s.
The Circular Quay to
Central station line was an important part of the
Sydney tram network. It was an extremely busy service for passengers transferring from suburban trains, particularly prior to the opening of the
City Circle underground railway line in 1926. Trams operated in a loop from Central station, running north along
Pitt Street to Circular Quay returning south via Castlereagh Street. These tracks were also used by some
eastern and
south-western routes during busy periods. The line closed on 27 September 1957 with four tram services replaced with buses and three others diverted to operate via
Elizabeth Street.[7][8] The line made use of the sandstone viaduct onto the colonnade above
Eddy Avenue at Central station, which since 1997 has formed part of the
Inner West Light Rail.
Having previously operated as a
one-way street in a northerly direction, in February 1987 Castlereagh Street was changed to operate in a southerly direction.[9][10][11] In 1997, a
bus lane was introduced between
Hunter and
Bathurst Streets.[12]
Renowned theatre architects
Lewis Kaberry and Clifford M. Chard practised from offices at no. 67, and both continued to do so after the dissolution of their partnership (which began around 1920[13] ) in 1940.[14]
Significant heritage buildings located on Castlreagh Street include, from north to south:
The Trust Building – 72–72a Castlereagh Street, located on the corner of
King Street, and constructed between 1914 and 1916. The building is an example of the
Interwar Commercial Palazzo architectural style and was the site of the former Daily Telegraph offices and is one of four surviving newspaper offices built between 1900 and 1930. The building is listed on the
NSW State Heritage Register.[15]
Metropolitan Fire Station – 211–217 Castlereagh Street, located south of the junction with
Bathurst Street, and constructed from 1887. Partially designed by
James Barnet, the building is an example of the
Victorian Free Classical architectural style and has been used continuously since 1888 as a fire station by the
NSW Fire Brigades. The building is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.[16][17]
Downing Centre – 302 Castlereagh Street, located with an entire city block bounded by Castlereagh, Liverpool,
Elizabeth and
Goulburn Streets, and constructed from 1908. Designed by
Arthur Anderson, the building is an example of the
Interwar Stripped Classical architectural style and was the site of the former
Mark Foy'semporium. The building is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.[18]
^Decoration and glass., vol. 4, Waterloo, N.S.W.: Australian Glass Manufactures, 1 March 1939, nla.obj-374111330, retrieved 15 February 2024 – via
Trove