 During the Great Depression, the eastern part of Darling Harbour ("Barangaroo") became known as The Hungry Mile, a reference to the waterside workers searching for jobs along the wharves.Much of the land had been the site of the NSW Railways central marshalling yards and freight consolidation centre.The Enquiry into the NSW industry, including rail/road competition (1978–80), under Commissioner Gavan McDonell, found that this centre was inefficient, should be moved, and the land used for other public purposes.