Flinders St Station

About Flinders St

Flinders Street Railway Station was, and still is, the main the surburban railway station for Melbourne.

Viewpoints

The station can be photographed from almost 360 degrees, and given some thought, from different elevations. Finding a new viewpoint is challenging though.

1. From diagionally across the road at St Pauls. This is a classic view. It needs a wide angle lens (24 mm or less) and there is likely to be traffic to content with. See the image at the top of this page.
2. From Federation Square. 'Fed Square' is over Swanston St (called St Kilda Rd at this point) from the station. Federation Square is an interesting place to photograph in its own right. Photos of the station from here though have to content with the traffic going down St Kilda Road, but also a lot of fixed infrastructure.
3. From Flinders St (west). Walking down Flinders St to the west, there are several views of the side of the station. The station goes for at least two blocks. One of the key pedestrian access points is from Elizabeth St, and there is a substantial entrance way here. Further west still are the unusual 'vaults' at Banana Alley.
4. From Princes Bridge. Princes Bridge is a good spot for any keen photographer to visit anyhow, and it is only 50M from the station. From here there are good shots of Southbank, the city, and that Station.
5. From Southbank. Southbank is directly south of the station, on the banks of the Yarra. (yep, and inventive name) From here you can see the 'other side' of the station from the view on Flinders St. As there is no traffic this side, I prefer the view this side. It does lack the entrance way that is on Elizabeth St though. It is easy to walk west down Southbank, to cross the pedestrian bridge, visit the Casino, or have a cup of coffee or lunch. if you head east under St Kilda Rd, you also come to Alexander Gardens, Kings Domain (gardens) and over the Swan St bridge, to Olympic Park, Birrarung Marr and back to Flinder St.
6. From Sandridge Bridge. The Sandridge Bridge is a pedestrian Bridge over the Yarra between Flinders St Station and Southbank. The Bridge itself is interesting, and there are good photos to be had up and down the Yarra of the city, Flinders St, and Southbank.

Other Things to Look Out For

How I photographed the Station

What I took - what was in my kit

I took my LowePro Backpack loaded with Linhof Technorama with Velvia 50 film for the panorama, and Canon 5DSR body, Canon 24 mm TS, Canon 16-35mm and 50mm Sigma Art Lenses, Manfrotto 190 Tripod, and of course a range of lens wipes, spare batteries, sunscreen and bug repellant.

Techniques

My chosen view point was from across the road, at the steps of St Paul's cathederal. There is a small alcove there that is almost made for photographers. My style for this photograph was my normal style.

The only problem with this viewpoint, is that, as it diagonally across the corner of two busy roads and looking at a major pedestrian transport hub -- was the amount of traffic obstructing the view. I like to capture the Station without people, or with very few people. I also like the warm, lived in feel that comes with it having the lights on. I therefore captured it at dusk (after some laneway photos nearby earlier in the day) and I used multiple exposures to 'erase' the cars and pedestrians.

Nearby Locations

Melbourne is a vibrant and large city. I suggest you go to a tourist information centre or look online for the sort of subjects that you are interested in. Melbourne has architecture, lanes, street art, victorian era architecture, people, events, many parks, one river ...

Location

Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street at Swanston Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000

Main entrance coordinates: approximately -37.81795, 144.96702.

The numbered map markers identify practical public viewpoints. Always use pedestrian crossings and keep clear of traffic lanes, tram tracks and station entrances.

Apple Map – Location and Nearby Photographic Locations

The Apple Map identifies the main entrance, seven complementary exterior viewpoints and two nearby photographic extensions. Marker positions are approximate public observation points; check pedestrian access, construction barriers and traffic conditions on arrival.

How to Get There

Flinders Street Station is at the southern edge of Melbourne's CBD, at Flinders and Swanston streets. It is served by metropolitan trains and numerous tram routes and sits within the Free Tram Zone. The Degraves Street Subway also connects the station directly with Town Hall Station.

Walking or public transport is normally simpler than driving. If arriving by car, use a commercial car park and check current restrictions. Carry equipment compactly and allow time to cross major roads safely between viewpoints.

Driving from the State Capital

The state capital is used as a consistent reference point. Apple Maps calculates the automobile route to this location; your actual route may vary with your starting point, traffic, roadworks and temporary closures.

Current Access / Conditions

Information checked September 2026. Public viewpoints remain accessible, but works associated with Town Hall Station can affect the eastern side of the precinct. The Swanston Street entrance opened in January 2026, while the Federation Square entrance is scheduled to open later in 2026; hoardings and pedestrian diversions may alter compositions.

Check current public-transport disruptions and central-city road or construction notices before an important dawn, blue-hour or tripod-based visit.

Best Time to Visit

The station operates 24X7, and the weather in Melbourne is mild. There is no season that is better than another to visit. If a visit to the station is accompanied by a visit to the nearby gardens, then spring / summer is perhaps better. However, Melbourne is famous for '4 seasons in one day' meaning that there can be quite sunny times in winter and showers in Summer. In terms or photographing the station, the key issue is people. During the day, the station is quite busy, and the streets are full of traffic. If you are looking for a busy scene, then this is fine. However, if you are looking to record the architecture, you are better off around dawn and dusk when both the numbers of pedestrians and vehicles reduce, but also the lights on the building come on to give is a warm, lived in feel.

Accessibility

As a key public transport hub, the station is well equiped for wheelchair access. The roads and paths are essentially flat for a block or two around the station, so it is quite suitable for easy walking or bike riding, etc.

Where to Stay

Melbourne has many many hotels, hostels and caravan parks. The caravan parks tend to be out on the fringe of the city. I am not aware of any camping grounds.

Photography Recommendations

• Decide whether traffic and people are context to include or clutter to minimise.
• Use a tilt-shift lens or careful camera levelling for the long facade and dome.
• Carry a wide zoom for close city viewpoints and a short telephoto for clocks, platforms and river-side details.
• Bracket blue-hour exposures to protect illuminated windows while retaining shadow detail.
• Work at dawn for cleaner architecture, or make several frames from a fixed position to find gaps in traffic.
• Keep tripods compact and never obstruct tactile paving, entrances or commuter flows.

Field composition sequence

Begin with the full station frontage, then use the clocks, entrances and architectural details as secondary subjects. Make separate frames with and without passing trams or pedestrians to choose between a clean record and a lively city scene.

Suggested Photographic Sequence

1. Begin at the Elizabeth Street entrance and work east along the long facade while activity is low.
2. Photograph the clocks, dome and main entrance from close range.
3. Cross to St Paul's Cathedral for the classic three-quarter view.
4. Move through Federation Square and onto Princes Bridge for elevated and contextual compositions.
5. Cross to Southbank for the river elevation, then walk west to Sandridge Bridge.
6. Return to the main entrance near dusk for illumination, traffic movement and reflections.

How Long Should a Photographer Stay?

Allow two to three hours for the principal viewpoints, or four to five hours for an unhurried circuit from late afternoon through blue hour. Traffic gaps, weather changes and the walk between river viewpoints reward additional time.

My Priority Photographs

1. The dome, clocks and main entrance from the St Paul's side of the intersection.
2. A closer photograph of the clocks and commuters beneath them.
3. The long river elevation with trains, reflections and the CBD behind it.
4. An elevated rail-and-city composition from Sandridge Bridge.
5. A blue-hour frame combining the illuminated station with tram or traffic movement.
6. The Elizabeth Street entrance and repeating western facade.
7. A rain photograph using reflections and umbrellas to express Melbourne weather.