wɪððə jˈuːs ʌv kəntˈeɪnɚz ænd ðə dᵻsˌɛntɹələzˈeɪʃən ʌv fɹˈeɪt tˈɜːmɪnəlz ɪn sˈɪdni tə plˈeɪsᵻz sˈʌtʃ ɐz tʃˈʌloːɹə, pˈoːɹt bˈɑːtəni ænd pˈoːɹt kˈɛmblə, dˈɑːɹlɪŋ hˈɑːɹbɚ tɹˈæfɪk ɹᵻdˈuːst kənsˈɪdɚɹəbli, wɪððə jˈɑːɹdz klˈoʊzɪŋ ɪn ɑːktˈoʊbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ.
With the use of containers and the decentralisation of freight terminals in Sydney to places such as Chullora, Port Botany and Port Kembla, Darling Harbour traffic reduced considerably, with the yards closing in October 1984.