About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked Series...a series probably familiar to anyone that has been caching in the United Kingdom. SideTracked Caches are intended to provide quick Cache-and-dashes at Train Stations...a distraction for the weary traveller. And of course, anyone else can go and find them too. More Information can be found at the SideTracked Website
About Parliament Station
Parliament Station was the second of the underground City Loop Stations to open in 1983. Of all the underground stations, Parliament is the one located furthest below surface level. It has similar architecture to Flagstaff Station at the platform level with walls separating adjacent platforms.
Track Layout
Located adjacent to Parliament House, the parliament theme is reflected in the station architecture with photographs of the parliamentary buildings located amongst the banks of escalators. Blue panelling is provided within the concourse and at platform level, while large column edifices are decorated around the station.
Southbound view from Platform 3 in March 2020
There are five main access points to Parliament Station from street level with two separate concourses. The main concourse is located at the southern end with access points to street level near the Spring Street/Bourke Street intersection, between Collins Street and Little Collins Street on the west side of Spring Street and on the east side of Spring Street opposite Little Collins Street. The concourse is accessed from these points via a series of steps and walkways. The Station Master's office is located within this concourse.
Entrance to Parliament station on Spring Street in 2004
A separate concourse is located at the northern end of the station with two access points located in the trapazoidal block surrounded by Lonsdale Street, Spring Street, Little Bourke Street and Nicholson Street. Lift access is available to this concourse from street level.
Each concourse contains separate ticket booking offices and ticket barriers. Escalators go down from each concourse firstly to the upper platforms and then to the lower platforms.
Parliament Station Escalators
When the station had originally opened it had the longest escalator in the Southern Hemisphere; however, in 2022, this was overtaken by the escalators at Airport Central station in Perth.
One of the first jobs that I applied for when arriving in Melbourne from Perth in 1983, was on the maintenance crew for these escalators.
Sadly, my application was unsuccessful but I did get a guided tour of the station before it opened to the public.
The Cache
The cache is a magnetic key hide and can be reached from the footpath.
There is room for smaller Travel Bugs and perhaps even some small trade items.
Please replace the cache as you found it.
This cache also pays homage to the 2010 cache by 80degrees.
GC2H6GV - Parliament Station which had over 1,000 finds before being archived recently.