Metro Tunnel bringing world-class art

A major new artwork has been installed in North Melbourne, at a new train station due to open in 2025 as part of the Metro Tunnel.

Arden Station will be at the heart of a planned urban growth precinct, creating a connection for a thriving future neighbourhood with jobs and homes.

Australian artist Abdul Abdullah visited the station to see the completed installation of his artwork Come Together.

Abdullah uses the historic painting View from Royal Park across West Melbourne Swamp (1860) by J.S. Calder as a background to the work.

Two 36-metre-wide aluminium hands sit on top of it, representing the coming together of people at this site, from First Peoples prior to colonial settlement through waves of migration to future residents. 

“I grew up next to a train station and I always saw it as a nexus point of different communities coming together,” Abdullah said. 

Installation of the art on the station’s facade began back in March, with crews delicately lifting more than 100 mosaic tiled panels into place before aluminium hands were affixed on top.

Arden Station was the first Metro Tunnel station to be finished back in January this year. Crews have continued putting the finishing touches on the station, including testing the systems and preparing for service operations next year.

Arden Station has more than 100,000 Victorian made bricks to make up its grand entrance, with the station platforms situated more than 14 metres below the surface. 

There are nearly 400 solar panels on its roof, capturing the best of the Australian sun and reducing carbon emissions by around 146 tonnes per year. 

The station also features three 16m by 3m skylights, allowing natural light to flow down to the concourse and platforms. 

Arden Station is at the centre of the Arden Precinct – a future home for new jobs and more housing for Victorians. 

The future generations of Victorians coming together in this place will ring true to the spirit of Abdul Abdullah’s art. •