Southern Cross Station

Southern Cross Station

Southern Cross Station is located in Melbourne’s central business district and is one of the city’s oldest railway stations. From a distance, its wavy roof resembles rolling blue waves, making it a new iconic landmark of Melbourne. The entire station acts like a giant sunshade—and of course, an umbrella—sheltering passengers from the sun and rain.

Southern Cross Station perfectly blends the old with the new, people with transportation, and architecture with light. It was the first Australian building to win the Lubetkin Prize, which honors outstanding architecture from countries outside the European Union. The station’s most distinctive design feature is its undulating metal and glass-fiber-reinforced concrete roof that seems to stretch all the way toward Port Phillip Bay. Trains coming to a stop here appear as if the surging waves have momentarily paused in their advance. The massive roof fully covers all 14 platforms, and from afar, it looks like a soft blanket tossed into the air and spread out in graceful waves—an awe-inspiring sight.

Southern Cross

Reason to visit: The most beautiful wavy-style train station

Continent: Oceania

Country/Region: Australia

State/Province: Victoria

City: Melbourne