Postcode 2205 in the local paper

In October last year I was contacted by a journalist from the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader who had noticed this Blog. She wanted to do a story on how I got inspired - general human interest stuff.

Just a couple of small corrections: (i) I was blogging long before Alan Waddell died; what he did inspire me to was the series on every street in the postcode - a work in (intermittent) progress! and (ii) It's Postcode 2205, not 2204 (typo I am sure).

The A to Z of 2205: Duncan St

Duncan St, on the eastern side of the Princes Highway , was named by Mrs Martha McInnes, who subdivided this area as the Innesdale Estate, after Duncan McLennan, her son by a previous marriage.

Above: View from Kyle St

Above: View towards Sydney Airport from the high part of the street towards West Botany St.

Below: Looking back towards Kyle St from the same point.

Below: The bend as Duncan St joins West Botany St. The large building is the Mercure (formerly Hilton) Hotel

Below: The Companionship of the Shopping Trolleys in Ajax reserve, looking towards the Princes Highway. This Reserve is over the top of the South West Ocean Outfall Tunnel, which comes across from Argyle St (see Argyle St entry)



Above: Ajax Reserve
Below: Looking from Ajax Reserve to the elevated tunnel on the other side of the Princes Highway.

Below: Looking back up Duncan St from the bend near West Botany St

Below: From West Botany St

Below: The air vent in West Botany St (I call it the Fart Tower) from Duncan St

Below: A sandstone two-storey semi, and next-door, perhaps a work in progress!

The A to Z of 2205: Duff St

There's a few notable things about Duff St: the views to the city of Sydney, the air intake area for the M5 tunnel which travels underneath, and some contemporary architecture. I have it on good authority rather close to home that it's also a favourite for kids hurtling down on their bikes!

Below: Land for sale right next to the air intake vent for the M5 motorway tunnel. This tunnel has been the subject of much controversy, since before it opened. It has not had an air filtration system within the tunnel. Air was taken in here, and expelled, unfiltered, through a stack in Henderson St (Turrella) - we'll see it when I get to "H" for Henderson! Anyway, after many protests, much pressure on the government, demonstrable sickness of residents, and the fact that subsequent tunnels were built with filtration systems, a filtration system is being installed in this tunnel.



Below: The white buildings in the distance are associated with Sydney Airport.

Below: Duff St is a dead end at the western end, with a walk way down the hill not visible to the left.



Below: Sydney CBD. You can see the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Tower quite clearly.



Below: Looking down the hill towards Hirst St and the corner of Arncliffe Park

Below: The Hirst St intersection - lookign across to Mitchell St, which runs alongside Arncliffe Park.

Below: Looking up Duff St from Hirst St

The A to Z of 2205: Dowling St

Named by the solicitor James Arthur Dowling, a grandson of the early Chief Justice, Sir James Dowling. (The Origins of the Street Names of the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by R.W Rathbone, 1990)

There are some seriously gorgeous houses in Dowling St, mainly towards the Wollongong Rd end, where there are some magnificent Victorian and Federation houses, nicely restored. Most of these are opposite Athelsatne Public School (which was once a beautiful Victorian mansion).

Below: Athelstane Public School





Below: Looking along Dowling St from Wollongong Rd; fence of Athelstane PS on left.

Below: The mixed business shop on the corner of Wollongong Rd - the Dowling St aspect.

Below: The next few pics are the beautiful Victorian and Federation houses





















Below: And possibly the not-quite-so-beautiful?

Below: 19 Dowling St was once a Federation house, but these days its the place to get along to if you want to denounce homosexuality or celebrate the resurrection of the founder's dead daughter. It's now called the Life Centre. As their website explains:

"The church was founded by Pastor Elizabeth Brookshaw in 1982, just after her daughter was miraculously raised from the dead. From this incident, her whole family surrendered their whole lives to God and committed themselves to true repentance. From here, her whole family started to gather together to pray and worship God. This home fellowship continued to grow into a church that was known by the name of The Body of Christ Mission Centre and was blessed with a 2700 square metre property in Arncliffe, Sydney.In November 2003, the senior leadership of the church was handed over to her son and daughter-in-law; Ben & Cisca Irawan, leading a new generation church with a Godly influence. In November 2004, the church formally changed its name to Life Centre. "

“We firmly stand against and denounce homosexuality, adultery, sexual perversion, same-sex marriages, pornography, gambling, drug use & partaking of intoxicants, physical abuse, satanism, or divination in any form.”

Below: Looking towards Wollongong Rd, across Hirst St
Below: With back to Hirst St, looking along Dowling St

Below: From Gipps St to Hirst St

Photos taken 2001, July 2006 and 17 August 2008