Railway Station

It’s the year 1906, and a steam train curls around the bend, sending a soft plume of smoke into the morning air. On the platform at Chatswood, children in wide-brimmed hats play and chatter, while ladies in long dresses wait beneath the timber awning. It’s an ordinary day — and yet, a moment full of quiet wonder.

At the time, Chatswood was a growing suburb on the outskirts of Sydney, and the railway was a lifeline — bringing with it not just people, but news, goods, and the promise of connection. For many, this platform marked the beginning of a journey: to the city, to opportunity, to something new.

The wooden station building, the gas lamps, the curious eyes of the children — all of it captures the spirit of a young Australia stepping confidently into the 20th century. This photograph is more than a glimpse into the past; it’s a reminder of how railways didn’t just move people — they shaped towns, dreams, and entire eras.