This site is dedicated to providing information on the history and heritage of the Strathfield district. There is a wide variety of information on this site. If you require further information or have suggestions about information or topics that could be included on the site, please post a comment or contact Cathy Jones via email: cathy.jones@optusnet.com.au
The Strathfield district is located in Sydney’s Inner West, about 11 kilometres from the Sydney CBD. It is often said that Strathfield is the geographical heart of Sydney, which may not be strictly accurate given the size of the Sydney Metropolitian Area but it is true that Strathfield is highly accessible to nearly anywhere in Sydney due to a highly connected rail system and proximity to major roads and motorways. Strathfield Rail Station is one of the largest and busiest railway stations in NSW. It is estimated that 120,000 people access Strathfield Rail Station each week.
Strathfield is a major centre for education and many public and private schools and universities are located in this area. Some of which include the Australian Catholic University in Barker Road Strathfield, St Patrick’s College, Meriden Ladies College, Trinity Grammar Preparatory School, Homebush Boys High School, Strathfield Girls High School, South Strathfield High School as well as a host of public and Catholic Primary schools.
Strathfield is renowned for its built and natural heritage which contributes to Strathfield’s distinctive streetscape character. Strathfield’s streetscapes feature large nature strips and street trees, which were first established by 19th century boulevarding programs. Heritage is represented by a number of architectural styles dating from the 1870s including Victorian, Federation, Californian Bungalow and Post War styles. There are a number of heritage conservation areas throughout Strathfield. Natural areas are represented and include Mason Park Wetlands, which is regionally and nationally recognised as a significant natural heritage site. This area features significant numbers of parks and reserves. The Cooks River finishes at Strathfield and creeks such as Powell’s Creek and Saleyards Creek flow into the Parramatta River.
Dear strathfieldheritage.org
I just recently drove through the more southern part of Strathfield Municipality, along Liverpool Road, and I think I saw a blank space where the old fire station had been.
Am I mistaken? And was that a heritage building?
Cheers,
John
Posted by John Byrnes | 25/08/2011, 11:39 amJohn
I drove past the old Enfield Fire Station and it has not been demolished. The station is a draft heritage item on the local environmental plan. However, there is a large construction on the corner of Liverpool and Holmwood Ave, maybe that was the corner you saw.
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Jones | 31/08/2011, 9:26 pmThanks Cathy,
Good to know the demolition site I saw was my mistake and wasn’t where the fire station (still) is.
Cheers,
John
Posted by John Byrnes | 31/08/2011, 10:19 pmHi Cathy Jones, my name is Greg Read and I am a long time resident of Strathfield, i notice one big important part of our History that you have left out is the Strathfield massacre in 1991, August why is that?
Posted by gregory read sc | 06/09/2011, 9:36 pmGreg
I haven’t not included information on the massacre for any reason except it is extensively covered on many sites on the web and there is probably little I can contribute which is different, however I will post information soon.
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Jones | 04/10/2011, 7:55 pmHi Cathy thank you for you response.
regards
Greg Read
Posted by gregory read sc | 04/10/2011, 8:01 pmHello Greg,
Have you been past the memorial recently .. in Strathfield Square?
Council has done a very good refurbishment of it and it is now prominent, and put onto a block of stone, whereas formerly it was very easily overlooked.
Another history point (but never heritage listed probably) is that behind the streescape there (at Strathfield Private Hotel more or less), TOTALLY hidden from anyone’s view, an old house somehow survived. It was there for many years but now seems to have been demolished.
Anyone know anything at all about it please?
Cheers,
John
Posted by John Byrnes | 08/02/2012, 11:05 pmJohn
There is a photo of the memorial on the page about the Strathfield Massacre on this site. I was speaking to someone recently and was told that the old house which was behind the shop facades was demolished a few years ago. I had never been in this building so I’m not sure what parts of the house were there but think it was part of Strathfield Private Hotel. It was never heritage listed.
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Jones | 09/02/2012, 5:21 amHi Cathy,
Being a long term resident of Strathfield, I was surprised to see that the Townhall has recently acquired
a large box like growth or mini tower that now thrusts up from the roof. This sadly looks rather odd.
Do you know what this appendage is, and do you think that they gave themselves planning permission for it?
—— Jenny Inglis
Posted by Jenny Inglis | 08/02/2012, 10:44 pmJenny
It’s a lift. There was no lift to the first floor where the council chambers is located, which is needed for disability access. It’s amazing how much space is needed to install a lift. Planning documents and approvals are available from council on request, if you want to view them. Any council development consent is available for public inspection under the Government Information (public access) Act.
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Jones | 08/02/2012, 11:04 pmJenny
It’s a lift. There was no lift to the first floor where the council chambers is located, which is needed for disability access. It’s amazing how much space is needed to install a lift. Planning documents and approvals are available from council on request, if you want to view them. Any council development consent is available for public inspection under the Government Information (public access) Act.
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Jones | 08/02/2012, 11:04 pmHello, I am John (contactable at john.mail@ozemail.com.au) and am seeking to locate descendants of Edward Powell who was a pioneer (free settler) at Liberty Plains, now Homebush; and also the Hawesbury River area (Cornvallis, and Curryburry on the Richmond Lowlands). Also looking for anyone else interested in this family (and some time ago found David Patrick with similar interests). Edward Powell ‘founded’ what’s now the area around Homebush station and shopping centre, as his grant named “Dorset Green”. Edward is thought to have returned to Sydney to rejoin convict Sarah Dorset and his son Edward Dorset Powell who he fathered as a seaman on an earlier trip here on the convict transporter Lady Juliana. But if this is true it was thwarted since the authorities had early on transphipped Sarah Dorset and the other female convicts of Lady Juliana to Norfolk Island. Powell after reaching Sydney the second time married a fellow passenger, Miss Fish. There must be very many descendants via Elizabeth Fish. There may be none via the Edward Powell jnr of Miss Dorset, since that Edward Powell seems to have died young (aged 31) with no children. The records however are sparse and hard to interpret, and so all this is not dead certain.
Posted by John Byrnes | 21/03/2012, 1:47 pmHello,
I’m John Byrnes (born at Ashfield and have lived most of my time at Strathfield, and a little at Croydon). I am interested in anything to do with the former “Dorset Green” first free settler land grant, which was granted to Edward Powell and is now the land around Homebush station and shopping centre. I’m one of at least three persons known to be interested in any Powell history or stories. If anyone has any queries or information to share on such please contact any of the following three researchers:
John Byrnes – john.mail “@” ozemail.com.au
David Patrick – patrickd “@” spin.net.au
Barry Hishion – bhishion “@” tpg.com.au
Thanks, John
Posted by John Byrnes | 27/04/2012, 12:51 pmHello,
Anyone know who “Oretone Pty Ltd” are?
This is the name appearing on a DA stuck to the front of the old Homebush Theatre building to construct 32 storey high towers there. Golly, how high are the tallest buildings in Sydney at the moment? Residential towers at Rhodes are, I think, now reaching 23 storeys (not yet occupied). Is Homebush to overtake that suburban record with on giant leap?
Regards, John
Posted by John Byrnes | 19/05/2012, 10:07 pm