Anzac Station pedestrian underpass has opened beneath St Kilda Road, linking the Shrine of Remembrance to surrounding landmarks.
Built 15 metres underground, the 120-metre-long Anzac Station walkway safely connects people to the Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Road Reserve and the Albert Park precinct. No Myki required, making it accessible to everyone whether they’re catching public transport or not.
Entrances at the edge of the Shrine and Albert Road Reserve take people straight down to the underpass, bypassing six lanes of St Kilda Road traffic. It’s a game-changer for one of Melbourne’s busiest precincts, particularly during major events like Anzac Day and the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, and it’s all part of the huge Metro Tunnel works.
Anzac Station pedestrian underpass
- Where: Beneath St Kilda Road, connecting Shrine of Remembrance and Albert Road Reserve
- Opened: Now open
- Access: Free, no Myki required
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Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams and Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman joined military veterans and Shrine of Remembrance CEO Dean Lee to officially open the underpass. From Sunday, passengers will catch trains to Anzac Station for the first time when Metro Tunnel opens.
Anzac Station itself doubles as a place of remembrance, featuring artwork honouring Australia’s military history. Etched glass panels showcase species tied to wartime service including the Lone Pine, Gallipoli Oak, Gallipoli Rose, Flanders Poppy, Lombardy Poplar and Rosemary. These plants grew where Australians fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
A Path of Remembrance runs from the station to the Shrine, marked by 11 bronze poppies symbolising the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Set into bluestone with etched poppy fields, the walkway leads passengers directly from Anzac Station to the Shrine.
Bronze sculptures of two Victorian-bred carrier pigeons stand at the entrance, both awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in World War II. One saved a stranded boat in New Guinea, the other carried a warning under heavy fire on Manus Island.
Works included realigning St Kilda Road three times and building Melbourne’s first tram-train interchange with extra-long platforms fitting four trams at once. Albert Road Reserve received upgrades including seating, barbecues and the restored South African Soldiers’ Memorial, while South Yarra Siding Reserve gained better lighting, landscaping and accessibility.
Metro Tunnel represents the biggest transformation of Victoria’s rail network in 40 years. Opening Sunday, it doubles the size of Melbourne’s underground rail system and adds hundreds of new services each week. Public transport will be free every weekend until Sunday 1 February when new stations fully integrate into the network as part of the Big Switch.
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