Due to popular demand: The infamous St James Gong!
Rumor has it this gong was built and installed by ABC sound engineers in the 1960s to simulate the sound of Big Ben.
Water level ranges anywhere from dry to about 6 inches.
Explorer_Anon
[Jan 23, 2008 at 10:10 AM]
at first i thought u had picture of tunnel near wollongong ever been to mushroom tunnel at stanni
Explorer_STO MAN
[Jan 24, 2008 at 02:51 PM]
THAT IS RIGHT BBC INSTALED IT , BUT CHECK YOUR RECODS THE GONG WAS REMOVED IN THE 1990'S . I WILL TAKE A WALK NEXT TIME ON BACK SHIFFT, AND LET YOU KNOW
OH.didn't know sorry , wont hapen again . i will let you know
Explorer_thief
[Feb 08, 2008 at 09:02 AM]
im guna take it from right under ur nerd noses!
Explorer_curious
[Feb 27, 2008 at 10:39 AM]
The Gong was actually an art piece that was installed there after it had been gonged once. There was a court case where producers were sued by the artist because a crew member hit the gong during a shoot - they didn't know it was a fragile piece of art! I know the producer who was sued - craziness.
I've not heard that story before. Why did they install an 'art piece' in a tunnel where all but a handful of people would ever see it?
Explorer_Curious
[Feb 27, 2008 at 11:03 AM]
Can find out the exact details about the artist and the circumstances for you. Will have to phone a friend though so may not be today. Apparently it was to celebrate some significant event in Sydney. The artist's theory was that it would only be gonged once and then locked away under the city. He sued the producer because when it was gonged again it destroyed his art. Do you know of any sites where I can get maps of tunnels under Melbourne or the areas of Melbourne that have tunnels under them?
There are atleast a few people around here that would be interested in the details if you do happen to find out more. / Melb CC are your answer, but as you know there's been some unfortunate media attention of late.
Explorer_Curious
[Feb 27, 2008 at 12:10 PM]
I have emailed them. Will wait with bated breath. Talk soon
Explorer_expert
[Mar 25, 2008 at 03:01 PM]
Anyone who wants to take that gong will have to go through me first. I'm not joking. Touch it and die! Also, could we possibly get some verification on that artists' theory please? Cuz its soooo awesome to leave a comment like that and not return for a month...NOT!!! Peace out.
Explorer_fukoffxpert
[Apr 08, 2008 at 02:26 PM]
Next time your there ur going to see me fucking ur mum where the gong USED to be. "touch it and die" im gonna fucking break you little (...)!!
Explorer_Anon
[Apr 12, 2008 at 07:17 PM]
Yeah, you do that right after you grow up
Explorer_Thief is back
[Apr 20, 2008 at 04:11 PM]
Anon is a dirty chode wrangler!! Im guna help steal this shitty gong of urs with the "OIH" Crew!! Fark all u nerd poofs
Explorer_Mikeey
[May 04, 2008 at 11:46 PM]
I remember watching an episode of Police Rescue on the ABC where they rang it. Love to see it in person!
3rd Season, 7th epp. Called Rush Hour. That's about as much as Google is telling me for now.
edit: Found some gold info on the gong: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsTUZkj0u4
Explorer_Josh_116
[Jun 20, 2008 at 02:12 PM]
Dont steal the gong! its apart of the cities history, not only that it would take away the whole experience of urban exploration. I would hate to go down there and not see the gong because some idiot wanted to hide it in his back shed!
The short answer is, you can't. Well not without railcorp coming after you and then calling the cops to meet you on the way back out. Sadly the gong might very well be a thing of the past.
Explorer_Fapfapfap
[Jul 22, 2011 at 10:45 PM]
Im gonna take a dump on the gong and mail it to your aunty!!!!
Explorer_Garysweet
[Jul 22, 2011 at 10:49 PM]
I rang the gong and your mums pussy roared at me, so i munched the shit out of it before my birthday breakfast
Explorer_snap
[Aug 14, 2011 at 11:58 PM]
They rang it the movie "The Tunnel". It makes a lot of nise (of course they might have just foleyed it). The movie's on ABC iView for the next month. It's a horror movie set in St James tunnels. It's a 2011 movie so the gong is still there.
The one in the movie is a prop on a set, both built to look like the actual thing.
Explorer_snap
[Aug 28, 2011 at 04:50 PM]
YEp - you're right - looks nothing like this room. Much smaller - I think this one would have sounded much better.
Explorer_cameraguy101
[Sep 28, 2011 at 07:51 PM]
it was the real room and real gong, i was part of the filming crew btw
Explorer_Soon2BeeRIP
[Oct 06, 2011 at 01:02 PM]
cameraguy.. your an idiot. BTW is it legal to get there on you own, I would like to scale it a bit. I wanna find some paranormal crap
Explorer_cameraguy101
[Oct 08, 2011 at 07:34 PM]
I'm an idiot because i was part of the film crew? Well at least i can spell
Explorer_Dean
[Dec 30, 2011 at 07:44 AM]
Would love to go down there one day. If anyone is planning a trip, i have lots of equipment for the exploration!
Explorer_railwaygi
[May 27, 2012 at 09:01 PM]
the gong was put there by the bbc,the room was used as a recording sound noices ect
Explorer_railwaygi
[May 27, 2012 at 09:09 PM]
paranormal my ass,its all bullshit if you want to believe in that crap go for it i have walked the tunnels down there as have many people i no and dont ask how to get in forget it,nothing has happened to us im still here,but if it gives you a hard on why not believe in it,and for the people that paint it all up what you dont have a life art my ass,if you wanna do art get a paint brush and paint your bedroom wall
hi wizard wanna show my son down there but all the access points are now to risky to get in as i dont work for the railway any more do you have any suddgestions email me if you could melisha82@hotmail.com just so we dont let antone else no thanks
Explorer_Jads.
[Sep 05, 2012 at 08:45 PM]
Hey Scarecrow,Its Jads how you been.. Long time no speak,Have been wanting to get in touch and just say hi really since those other two took over the expo's.. Anyways,I hope all is well with you. Hit us up,Would be good to get intouch..! Take it easy mate.. Jads.
Hi Jads, been doing well. Funny place to bump in to you here I'm doing the expos again now. Shoot me an email to sydneyATcaveclanDOTorg
Explorer_weirds
[Sep 15, 2012 at 08:57 PM]
This place is still accessable, i went there about 2 months ago. its full of scaffolding
Explorer_weirds
[Sep 15, 2012 at 08:57 PM]
This place is still accessable, i went there about 2 months ago. its full of scaffolding
Explorer_Fez
[Oct 09, 2012 at 07:41 PM]
This gong has since been moved to another room.
Explorer_Dallloabhzjdbjs
[Nov 04, 2012 at 10:48 AM]
Fez it has it is not there anymore it is moved to an isolated room wich is as scary as fuck! Me and my mates go down there all the time we enter from the gate from st James station
Explorer_Jads.
[Nov 11, 2012 at 06:14 PM]
Sounds awsome,Will do.
Explorer_gong
[Dec 16, 2012 at 01:45 AM]
i was there 2 months ago, theres all metal poles on the ceiling n shit. i think they're fixing it up.
Explorer_gong
[Dec 16, 2012 at 01:45 AM]
i was there 2 months ago, theres all metal poles on the ceiling n shit. i think they're fixing it up.
Explorer_gong
[Dec 16, 2012 at 01:47 AM]
since when did they move the gong ?
Explorer_explorer_indico
[Jul 14, 2013 at 01:37 PM]
ive always been so interested with everything about st.james, especially the abandoned sections, i really hope i can get down there sometime soon before its too late..
Explorer_Explorer_trlp
[Jul 27, 2014 at 11:22 PM]
Nothing has changed from a week ago when I visited it. All that you will notice is that there is no water on the floor. Completely drained and dry, ofcourse the gong is not standing anymore... Very well rusted and laying on the floor.
Explorer_jag
[Sep 11, 2014 at 01:03 PM]
any more info on this?
Explorer_UrbexSyd
[May 18, 2016 at 07:18 PM]
my nuts have touched gong
UrbanTwilight...
UrbanTwilight is photographing the underground tunnels, abandoned buildings, rooftops, and hidden industry that most people would never normally get to see. The images contained on this site have been shot in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, and countless country locations inbetween. Nearly all have been taken in low to very-low lighting conditions, and most on Canon digital equipment.
The Julia Farr Home for Incurables
After sitting vacant for more than 30 years, the Julia Farr Hospital's 'Home for Incurables' has finally been demolished.
Urbantwilight hid a camera on the roof of a neighbouring bulding and filmed the 4 week demolition process. Checkout the timelapse video.
14/02/13
UrbanTwilight turns 10 this year so I've finally made some time between the tunnels and abandoned buildings (and my day job) to make a few improvements around the place.
The images are bigger, the old ones have been colour corrected, and a handful have been given the flick. Most importantly there's a whole new section called 'Archives' -
You should check it out from time to time, you never know what you might find.
The Funnel
An expedition report of sorts, this has been hiding on Urbantwilight for years. 'The Funnel', 'The Pothole', 'Skate or die'. Whatever you choose to call it, this place is awe-inspiring.
Approach.doc
If you think this shit is cool and you plan on becoming the next K-rad-elite drain explorer, then you need to read this. It could save your life.
edit: Found some gold info on the gong: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsTUZkj0u4