Thornleigh Zig Zag Railway History Walks
The Thornleigh Zig Zag Railway was an engineering marvel that helped build the Great Northern Railway in the 1880s. Unearth local history buried under suburban streets in Sydney’s north with a 90-minute tour tracing the route from the station, past bushland and into an historic old quarry, this May.
The Thornleigh Zig Zag is one of Sydney’s forgotten railways, an unearthed gem from the late 19th century. The third ‘Zig Zag’ after those in the Blue Mountains, this little line helped build the Great Northern Railway, by connecting to a picturesque quarry deep in nearby bush and hauling crushed sandstone back up again.
Unearth this local history buried under suburban streets in Sydney’s north with a 90-minute tour tracing the Zig Zag route from the station, past bushland and into the historic old quarry, including a stop at the site of an old workers’ township, Hall’s Camp.
Tour guide Tim Sowden, a long-time local resident and former journalist, explores how this 1.2km Zig Zag played a role in Sydney’s growth, sharing rare photos, maps, interviews and clippings.
The walk is hosted by the Hornsby Shire Historical Society as part of the 2025 National Trust Australian Heritage Festival. The story has featured on commercial and local television, newspapers and radio.