Last night I went to shoot an image at Southern Cross station. I knew where I wanted to shoot it from having walked through there so many times. So I found my spot that I wanted to shoot from on the northern end of the platforms along the walk bridge to ‘the dome’ ( I refuse to call it that stupid new sponsors name – lol).
Within the time it took to put my bag down and set my tripod up and begin to get my camera out I was set upon by 2 security guards ! They claimed there was to be no photos whatsoever to be taken of the station and if I wanted to photograph it then I required a media pass or permission from control management ! They also informed me that I was on their security cameras (naturally) and that’s how they picked me up… Unbelievable ! I was at then entire place for less than 5minutes….
I asked them numerous times why I could not take a photograph of it or what was the reasoning – to which I never got a legitimate answer – very annoying ! What is this country coming to ?

It is almost embarrassing to be an Australian with crap like this !

Has anyone else ever had issues in photographing Southern Cross or any Melb’s other architecture, scultures etc ?

Hi Tony
MMM, SC has a no shoot without permission policy in place for a while, for whatever reason, they seem more stringent than all the other stations…

Hi Tony,
I went inside Southern Cross station last year to take photos, but thought before I did take out my gear, I better check with management there, as I didn’t want to cause a scene. I was asked some staff, and they weren’t sure, but then one person told me to go to the security management office located at the other end of the station and sign in.
They didn’t have any issue with me taking photos, but they didn’t want me to use a tripod. I questioned this and it was to do with OH&S reasons, in the event someone tripped over my tripod.
I assured them that I’d set up the tripod against the edge of the bridge railing and it would be between me and the railing, so no one would be in any danger and they were happy with that.
But it was a lot of effort just to get a few shots.
Sorry to hear that you had to go through what you did, it is sad how things are.

You can’t take photos at any of the loop stations, plus a few other I think. I’m pretty sure it’s for security reasons, i.e. they don’t want you taking perfect photographs of where to plant the bomb. It’s a right royal pain in the arse.

The issue in a lot of places seems to be the tripod. Eg at NGV at Fed Square no problems with taking photos but if using a tripod permission needs to be obtained.

At 333 Collins Street which has a lovely lobby with golden coloring and a dome I was told the rules are no tripod hand held ok. I was using a Mamiya RB 67 with prism hand held. For those who don’t know cameras the Mamiya with prism is just a bit smaller than a small tv.

I was a bit worried I may have to get permission to photograph at all. However the security guards laughed when they saw my camera and talked amongst themselves. They decided policy was policy and the Mamiya was ok.

333 Collins is a private building and I can understand them stopping hordes of tripod wielding photographers clogging up the lobby of a very expensive office block. Its not a good look.

For railway stations the policy seems a bit bizarre except for an OHS reason. I can understand tripods being a problem with the stations generally being crowded. As Jared said there are no problems taking pics the problem is with the tripod.

Maybe tripods are banned but there is no policy about monopods. Stand your ground if you are using a monopod, tell them to get their hands off you ahahha

connex have an amateur photography permit for use at all stationes except Southern cross and the underground stations.

http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/index.php?id=56

I think Southern Cross is run by the Southern Cross Station Authority so you have to ask permission seperately. City loop stations I have no idea why they don’t permit it, studitiy and ignorance are the most likely reasons.
I went into Parliament on a weekend and took some handheld photos and was only challenged on the way out, but that was 4 years ago now

The tripod is the give away. Many buildings staff and city councils will give you the benefit of the doubt and consider you a tourist or maybe amateur if you’re not using a tripod. As soon as you put your tripod down you’re effectively ‘installing’(their word, not mine) an apparatus in place which then would require signage and so on to prevent accidents(ie. lawsuits).

There is also the issue that some places use the desirability of their location as a way of making money via permits, etc.

I was shooting a model at the train station where I live and I’m in Gippsland Victoria – tiny station when the guard told me that due to the government’s new Anti-Terrorism laws, it is now illegal to take photos of any government owned building including trains stations and that you aren’t allowed to take photos at all anymore.

He was nice enough to not see me until i was finished though :)

when the guard told me that due to the government’s new Anti-Terrorism laws, it is now illegal to take photos of any government owned building including trains stations and that you aren’t allowed to take photos at all anymore

No there is nothing illegal in taking shots of government buildings here in Victoria – sometimes guards like to overstate the rules.

do i have to hand back the photos i took of puffing billy?

When the new Southern Cross Station was being built it was stated then that no photographs were to be taken due to terrorism. I use the station everyday and tourists seem to be able to take shots as long as you are quick. I have some great night shots of the platforms but I was stopped once when I was actually taking photos of the trains. It does depend on the time of day and how tired the staff are or if they can be bothered, hand held is easier than tripod. Great shots that I know I cannot sell but keep for myself.

It’s all just complete BS anyway. There has never been any evidence showing any photographic surveillence being done prior to any of the recent major terrorist attacks.

No you are wrong, sounds very much to me that you have swallowed the propoganda of your masters without the facts.