Latest News
| Author: Cathy Jones | Date: October 2006 |
A breakfast was held on Friday 27 October 2006 in the Strathfield Town Centre to raise money for breast cancer research. Over $1200 was raised. Many thanks to members of Strathfield District Historical Society and support of Strathfield Council.
| Author: Cathy Jones | Date: March 2006 |
CALLING FOR INFORMATION ON
STRATHFIELD SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL
In 2006 Strathfield South Public School is celebrating its 125th birthday.
The school was opened in February 1881 as Druitt Town Public School with an
enrolment of 84 pupils. Located on the school property was a brick school room
designed to accommodate 150 pupils and a separate residence for the headmaster.
These buildings have long since been replaced. In December 1892 the school's
name changed to Strathfield South Public School.
Past students, staff and others with an association with the school are invited
to join us at our school fete on Saturday 29th July to share in birthday
celebrations. In the meantime, if anyone has memories of their school life at
Strathfield South Public School (or photos, memorabilia etc) that you are
willing to show or share with us, please contact us by email at general@ssps.nsw.edu.au
or phone 9642 1359.
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Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre [Port Enfield] |
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| Author: Cathy Jones | Date: February 2006 |
Sydney Ports Corporation have placed
the Environmental Assessment [EA] on public display. Submissions must be
lodged with the Department of Planning by 20 February 2006. Copies of
the EA are on display at Strathfield Council, Bankstown Council, Burwood
Council, Auburn Council, Canterbury Council and Department of Planning.
The Environmental Assessment is online at
www.sydneyports.com.au and
www.planning.nsw.gov.au
Comments by
Strathfield Council are available at www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au
The Strathfield District Historical Society have lodged a submission to Department of Planning in response to the Environmental Assessment.
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Breast X-Ray Screening |
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| Author: Cathy Jones | Date: October 2005 |
BreastScreen NSW Central & Eastern Sydney's mobile unit has returned to Strathfield offering free screening mammograms to eligible women [aged 50 years and over] for the early detection of breast cancer. The mobile unit will be in Parnell Street, near corner of The Boulevarde, opposite Strathfield Plaza from Monday 24 October to 2 December 2005, from 8.30am to 4pm. No doctor's referral is necessary. Appointments can be made on 9515 7842. For interpreter assistance, women can call 13 14 50.
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State Heritage Icons |
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| Author: Cathy Jones | Date: 1 May 2004 |
The NSW Heritage Office is currently accepting nominations of heritage items to be included on the State Heritage Register from local communities. Nomination period is open for the next two months. Nominations can be lodged online and the nomination form is available from www.heritage.nsw.gov.au The nomination process is very simple to encourage non-heritage professionals to nominate items of value to the community.
It is obvious that many important properties in Strathfield are missing from this list, which should be included on the State Heritage Register. This one-off project provides our community with the opportunity to directly participate in the management of our heritage in Strathfield.
The Strathfield District Historical Society can provide historical information, if available, for nominations to the NSW Heritage Office.
The scope of items on the State Heritage Register is very broad, ranging from Aboriginal and archaeological sites, natural and moveable items, or built environment. The Heritage Office will present a list of the most popular heritage icons to the Heritage Council later this year. The Heritage Council will then review the list and make its recommendations to the Minister for Planning.
Strathfield Municipality is currently represented on the State Heritage Register with only 7 items, which include: Enfield Railway Marshalling Yards, St Anne’s Catholic Church [former], Homebush Railway Station Group, Pressure Tunnel and Shafts Potts Hill Road to Waterloo Pumping Station, Strathfield Rail Underbridges, Strathfield Railway Station group and the Western Outfall Main Sewer [Rockdale to Homebush].
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Senate Inquiry into Children in Institutions |
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Author: Cathy Jones |
Date: April 2004 |
I was contacted by Leonie Sheedy of Care Leavers of Australia [CLAN] - a support group for Children who grew up in Institutional Care [wards, foster children etc]. A Senate Inquiry is being held and CLAN are coordinating responses to the Inquiry. They would like any information on institutions which have operated in your local areas, contacts with former occupants and any histories [oral histories] which may have been recorded. The enquiry has been extended until 21 June 2004.
The homes identified in Strathfield are: Adelaide Walker Home [cnr Llandilo & Cotswold], Dill Mackay Home [Albert Rd], 'Winbin' 8-10 Victoria St and 'Agicourt' Albert Rd. If anyone knows of any others operating in Strathfield or has any information, please contact Cathy Jones on 9642 3145 or cathy@strathfieldhistory.org.au.
Leonie can be contacted on 9709 4520 and her email is careleavers@hotmail.com.
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Moore's Bridge, Liverpool Rd Strathfield South |
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Author: Cathy Jones |
Date: February 26 2004 |
The Strathfield District Historical Society recently wrote to Strathfield Council about the removal of signs at the Cook’s River crossing on Liverpool Rd indicating Moore’s Bridge. Liverpool Rd opened in 1814 and a crossing at the Cook’s River was necessary for access. Early Parish maps and a Cadastral Map dated c.1831 note Moore’s Bridge at this location. While I am unsure about the actual age of the original bridge, it would date prior to 1830’s and thus, be one of the oldest landmarks in this district. The Council have indicated that they are willing to erect new signs, which will be in the form of a historic signage. I am unsure as to the bridge is named for. The only Moore I can find attached to the local district is William Henry Moore [1788-1854], one of the first Crown Solicitors of NSW. Moore owned ‘Brighton Farm’ which is located in Enfield. It is believed that the track which later became Coronation Parade was built by Moore for access through his property. If anyone has any information or thoughts on the naming of Moore’s Bridge, I would be pleased to hear from you on 9642 3145 or email: cathy@strathfieldhistory.org.au
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Grace Bros to cease name in NSW |
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Author: Cathy Jones |
Date: February 6 2004 |
This week Coles Myer, owners of the Grace Bros stores in NSW, announced that it would be ceasing use of the Grace Bros name and all stores would in future be known as Myer. This announcement saddened many with the loss of yet another local identity, but it was also of particular interest to the Strathfield district, as Albert Grace, co-founder of the Grace Bros stores, was a former resident of Strathfield. Albert Grace resided at 'Murrumbah' from 1918 to 1928, which is now part of Santa Maria Del Monte.
Strathfield has been home to many prominent merchants, particularly families of prominent Sydney-based retailers in late 19th and early 20th century, such as David Jones, Anthony Horderns, Gowings, W T Waters and Grace Brothers.
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Albert Grace & 'Murrumbah' Albert Grace, with his wife Isobel, purchased 'Murrumbah' in 1918 from grazier Richard Henry Mears. This property was originally built in 1887 for flour miller John Brunton Spencer, which he named 'Brunyarra'. Under ownership of Richard Mears, the house name changed to 'Murrumbah'. The Graces sold ‘Murrumbah’ in 1928 to Mrs Mary Bailey, who changed the name of the house to ‘Del Monte’ and established a prominent function and wedding reception centre. Mrs Bailey bequeathed the property to the Sisters of St Dominic and the school Santa Maria Del Monte was established in 1951. |
Grace Bros, one of NSW's most enduring stores, was founded by the Grace brothers, Albert and Joseph Neal Grace in 1885. The two Grace Brothers, Joseph and Albert, migrated from England in the 1880’s and sold goods door-to-door. In 1885, they opened their first small shop in George St City and by 1906, they had opened a five story building at Broadway [now the site of the Broadway Shopping Centre]. In 1931, Joseph Neal Grace died and Albert Grace became Managing Director of Grace Bros Ltd. Prior to his death in 1938, Albert Grace planned suburban expansion of the Grace Bros stores from the City. A move which is considered the reason Grace Bros survived when many of their contemporaries perished such as Anthony Hordern’s and Mark Foys. Isabel Grace died in 1970 at age of 86 years. Grace Brothers was taken over by Myers in the 1980’s and became a division of retail giant, Coles-Myer.
Information sources: Pollon, Frances, Shopkeepers and Shoppers, Retail Traders Association of New South Wales, 1989 & Jones, Cathy., 'Santa Maria Del Monte', Redmire, Strathfield District Historical Society, 2003.