Construction and conversion of the first section of line from Central station to Wentworth Park started on 25 January 1996 and took 16 months to complete.

The new government blamed hasty planning by their predecessor for the delay and cost overruns, and the lack of an active transport masterplan for the deferral of the Greenway.

[17] The line was closed between Central and Convention in January 2017 to allow for construction work at the George and Hay Street intersection as part of the CBD and South East Light Rail project.

The company was formed in March 1994 was awarded a 30-year concession to operate the light rail system until February 2028 when ownership would pass to the New South Wales Government.

[26][27] In December 2014, the Connecting Sydney consortium (which was renamed ALTRAC Light Rail) was awarded the contract, meaning Transdev retains the right to operate the Dulwich Hill Line.

A "TramLink" ticket which allowed travel on Greater Sydney train services and the light rail was available from railway stations.

[32] This improved integration with the broader Sydney ticketing system led to a 30% to 40% increase in patronage on the line in the first months after introduction.

A transport plan released by the New South Wales Government in 1998 reported that the line carried an average of 5,000 passengers on weekdays.

[43] The 2016–2017 statistic was affected by a partial closure of the line in December 2016/January 2017 for construction works on the CBD and South East Light Rail.

Following the incident temporary speed restrictions of 25 km/h (16 mph) were imposed at all crossovers (that allow vehicles to change between the two tracks) along the line.

The government was also investigating the purchase of four new vehicles to permit service at six minute frequencies, increasing capacity by 1,000 passengers per hour.

[49] In August 2017, a government report, obtained by the media under freedom of information provisions, revealed patronage was "exceeding all expectations" of transport planners.

This is because of constraints associated with the single track near Dulwich Hill, stabling capacity, power, signalling, maintenance facilities and fleet size.

[citation needed] On 28 October 2021, service was suspended after cracking in welds was discovered in some of the Urbos 3 vehicles during routine inspections.

[54] L1 services resumed with the borrowed trams on 12 February 2022, but continued to be supplemented by buses between Central & the Star and ferries between Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

[55] Customers on the light rail and replacement bus services received a 30 percent fare discount while the Urbos 3 vehicles were repaired.

[62] Also heritage listed, the Pyrmont and Glebe railway tunnels carry the line on opposite sides of the Wentworth Park viaduct.

The CBD and South East Light Rail run along George Street, creating a level junction at the intersection.

It was connected to a multi-storey car park, with a footbridge across Darling Drive and the light rail providing access to the Powerhouse Museum and the suburb of Ultimo.

[69] The area to the north of the light rail stop forms part of a major redevelopment of the Darling Harbour precinct.

Prior to redevelopment, a public square existed between the stop and the Sydney Entertainment Centre – a former multi-purpose events venue.

The redevelopment plans included the demolition of the Entertainment Centre, car park and monorail stop, and the creation of a 'creative quarter' named Darling Square featuring retail outlets, offices and apartments.

A pedestrian boulevard was constructed through the site of the Entertainment Centre, providing improved access from the stop to Darling Harbour.

[74] It is named after the former Sydney Exhibition Centre – a complex for holding expositions and trade fairs that was located on the opposite side of Darling Drive.

The stop is located at the edge of a wide cutting, beneath the City West Link road which passes overhead.

The citybound platform connects to a pathway that leads to either the southern or northern parts of Charles Street – the latter via a bridge over the City West Link.

Pathways were built between the closest streets – Hawthorne Parade in Haberfield and Darley Road in Leichhardt – including a bridge over the canal.

Taverners Hill is a well known locality name for the area to the east of the stop extending up Parramatta Road to Norton Street.

Future redevelopment will see this balance tip significantly in favour of catchment with the stop potentially becoming a focus of the local area.

The stop's name is a reference to the nearby Arlington Recreation Ground (Oval) – a local sports venue on the opposite side of Johnson Park.