Following the nationalisation of failed private railways, construction began in the early 1880s on a new workshops complex, occupying an area of over 60 acres (240,000 m2), bounded by North Newtown, Darlington, Erskineville, Redfern, Alexandria and Chippendale.

Originally the workshops serviced and repaired the growing NSW rail fleet, but in 1908 Eveleigh began manufacturing steam locomotives.

Included in the complex was a running shed, opened in 1884, for steam locomotives used in the daily duties of train haulage.

The Eveleigh Railway Workshops are of great significance to Australia's industrial, military and social history.

In 1892, unions successfully negotiated to establish a six-day working week, and the 1917 General Strike, which began with the 3,000 workers at Eveleigh, eventually spread across Australia, involving almost 100,000 nationwide.

[9] It is the home of a growing community of researchers, entrepreneurs, incubator businesses, start-ups, mature technology companies and education organisations.

The Seven Network and outside broadcast company NEP Group are housed within four purpose-built high definition television studios.