Our History

Opened 16 November 1930

Railway Built

The Auckland railway station was built by the New Zealand Public Works Department between 1928 and 1930 and sits on reclaimed land on Beach Road close to the wharves. It replaced a smaller terminal on the site of Britomart. The grand and ornate building was intended to serve as a gateway to the city, and its construction cost of £320,000 was the largest independent contract awarded in New Zealand. It has great historical importance for its associations with the public building programme of the 1920s, and with the central role played by the railways in national transport. The Auckland railway station building has been a city landmark from the time it was opened in 1930, and is a grand architectural statement in beaux-arts`{`2`}` brick and mortar, having been called ``one of the most self-consciously monumental public buildings erected in early twentieth-century New Zealand``.The building was designed by William Henry Gummer (1884–1966), a student of Sir Edwin Lutyens and architect of various notable New Zealand buildings such as the Dilworth Building in Queen Street

known as The Strand Station

Rebuilt

The station platforms remained open until July 2003 when Britomart was opened. A single platform remained in use to serve a limited number of peak-hour suburban services which continued to operate for several months after the opening of Britomart, known as The Strand Station. In the decade that followed, the platform was occasionally used by excursion trains although, along with the rest of the platforms, it became largely dilapidated.

Subsequent Usage

Events&Function

In 1999, the Auckland Railway Station building was converted into The Railway Campus for Auckland University student accommodation, with 426 rooms across 230 apartments. However, due to weather-tightness issues in 2007, tenants were relocated for restoration, and apartment values dropped drastically. The building was later converted into the Grand Central Apartments. The Platform 8 restaurant now occupies the station's foyer. In 2011, The Strand Station was reopened as platforms 1 & 2, initially meant as a backup during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but now serving as an emergency backup and terminus for the Northern Explorer service. Since 2013, it has been used as a stabling facility for suburban trains.

Art Centre

Nowdays

Thanks to the cultural heritage and striking architecture of the Old Railway Station, it has become the venue for many classic films and major film productions, including: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) Rugby World Cup 2011 (used as a potential backup station) Netflix productions (specific series or films shot here) Pacific Fusion Fashion Show 2017 (held at the station) Crew and Greg Johnson music videos Atlas music videos Cowboy Bebop (live-action series filmed partially at the station) Since 2023, the station has been providing a space for numerous artists and hosting a variety of artistic events. In November 2024, the IWS New Zealand International Watercolor Competition and Exhibition was held at the station, showcasing outstanding global talent in the art of watercolor painting.