
A timeless collection of black-and-white photographs dating back to the 1920s shows the immense construction effort behind Sydney's iconic Wynyard Station.

The historic images, preserved by the State Records Authority of NSW, have been revealed as builders continue major renovations of the very same railway station, due to be finished before the end of the year and costing the government millions.

From immaculate refreshment and dining rooms long since demolished, to giant escalators and crowds of commuters flushing out of train doors - the stunning photographs perfectly capture the spirit of early 20th century life in Australia.

Designed by eminent Australian engineer John Bradfield, famous for overseeing the design and building of the Harbour Bridge, excavations for Wynyard Station didn't begin until 1927.

The city railyway plans were given the green light after a Royal Commission into city improvements in 1909, but were pushed back a number of years after World War I broke out in 1914, of which over 330,000 Australians served in.

After five years of construction, which saw the huge job of excavating and rebuilding Wynyard Park, the station was officially opened on 19 March 1932 as part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening celebrations.

Built with six platforms across two levels (only four of which are used today), it instantly became the busiest station on the city line.

Wynyard has directed commuters in and out of the bustling metropolis for the best part of nine decades.

Serving as a perfect meeting point for city dwellers, the station has train lines stretching across the eastern suburbs, north shore, far west and city circle.

An artist's impression of the new and improved Wynyard Station reveals the 'lighter, brighter, cleaner' look of the station, which is also tipped to have an increased capacity.

The upgraded Wynyard Station will also create a gateway to Barangaroo and Sydney’s financial district.

Labourers pour roof slab Wynyard Station on to the top of the train station on May 19, 1930

Rail commuters travel up and down on the escalators at Wynyard Railway Station in 1948

Rail commuters at Wynyard Railway Station in May 1948 make their way out of the station

Work on Wynyard Station takes place along York Street and Carrington Street in 1930

A look inside Wynyard Railway Refreshment Room in 1946 shows the Grill Room with its many full dining tables

A general view of the Wynyard Station concourse taken back on February 27, 1932

An artist's impression shows what the new Wynyard Station will look like after its upgrade

The new station will have a fururistic feel to it if the artist's impressions are anything to go by

A view of Wynyard Park in Sydney in 1920 shows what the area used to look like before work began on the train station

Commuters walk through Wynyard Station today as renovation work continues on a daily basis

Wynyard Station's shore track platform looking northwards is pictured here in 1932

One of the biggest jobs at Wynyard Station in 1930 was the erection of the building's escalators

A newly finished City Inner and Outer tracks platforms are ready to be opened to the public at Wynyard Station

Rail commuters entering the platform area at Wynyard Station in 1948 check the board to see the times of their trains

The departures indicator board sits high above the entry barriers at Wynyard Railway Station in 1948

Labourers continue working at Wynyard Station today as commuter walk to catch their train

While people sleep, workers labour overnight making changes at Wynyard Station including a major retiling program at platform 6

This picture was taken of Wynyard Station's concourse floor looking eastwards in 1930

A similar photograph was taken in 1930 of Wynyard Station's concourse floor level that was under construction

The large steel framing for Wynyard Station is slowly erected on February 19 in 1930

The $100 million Wynyard Station upgrade will create a new gateway to Sydney’s financial district and western CBD

The Wynyard Station Upgrade is due to be finished later this year with increased capacity for the future

When it was time for some food in 1936 the refreshment room at Wynyard Station was where you'd be

Chefs go about their business in the grill room in the Wynyard Railway refreshment room in 1946

Wynyard Station's refreshment room also had a spacious reception area where commuters could wait in

Tired and hungry commuters settle down for a deserved meal at the refreshment room in Wynyard Station