They've been home to war bunkers, film sets, mushroom farms and possible seances.
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But soon the abandoned tunnels and train platforms of St James station in Sydney's city centre could house hip bars, restaurants, shops or an art gallery in the next few years, under a plan to revitalise about 6000 square metres of underground space.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said on Monday the NSW government would seek expressions of interest to transform the hidden spaces into a tourist drawcard to rival similar attractions in London, Paris and New York.
He described the ghost tunnels as "a blank canvas" for arts, hospitality or retail and said the plan was "an exciting opportunity for interested parties" from the Australian and international market.
"The time is right to open it up, the time is right to say 'no longer is this going to be a hidden part of our history'," he said.
"This is going to become part of our international tourism marketing campaign to encourage people to come to NSW, come to Sydney, but do it in a way that is fun."
The plan would revive the north section of the disused tunnel network that sits about 30 metres below street-level and snakes beneath Hyde Park and Macquarie Street, towards Martin Place.
Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins said he had believed for a long time the tunnel space had "global potential".
"Many global cities use these spaces in a great way for tourism, for bars, for visitors," he said.
"I've been down here many times thinking, 'Why should it just be rail employees and a few special visitors who see this space?'
He said any revamp should take into account the space's heritage.
"It's got a historic feel to it, I don't want to lose that," he said. "You can still hear the trains running, you get the atmosphere of a time gone by."
The station's two ghost tunnels -- which have been ruled out for future use as rail links --were built in the 1920s as part of John Bradfield's design for a major transport interchange that would connect the eastern suburbs and northern beaches.
The site was designed to support four tunnels, but only two were fully constructed.
Parts of the southern tunnel were used as an air raid shelter during World War II, and as a mushroom farm between 1933 and 1934.
Films and television shows, including the 1990s series Police Rescue and The Matrix Revolution, have also been shot in the tunnels.
The dank spaces are also believed to have been used by secret societies for meetings and seances.
The expressions of interest process for the subterranean area's revamp will be managed by Sydney Trains and international real estate agent CBRE.
CBRE's retail leasing director Leif Olsen said customers were looking for "new experiences and something that's unique" and "St James tunnel gives us that in spades".
He pointed to the food hall at Grand Central Terminal in New York and Dupont Underground, a thriving arts and cultural precinct beneath Dupont Circle train station in Washington DC.
Mr Constance hoped a preferred proposal for the tunnel space would have taken shape within 12 months, with the new attraction completed in two to three years.
"There's an incredible shell here, it's about fitting it out."
