Postcode 2205: Arncliffe, Turrella, Wolli Creek

The A to Z of 2205: Firmstone Gardens

2011-06-14T15:38:00.001+10:00

Named after Mr H.A. Firmstone, the Mascot real estate agent who owned the land and subdivided it. (Source: The origins of the street names of the municipality of Rockdale, compiled by R.W. Rathbone, 1990)

Firmstone Gardens runs off West Botany Street. Its most distinctive feature is the large Riverine Park.

I once went to a protest meeting in Riverine Park - protesting against development. This would have been in the early 2000s

Older 1940s and 50s style red-brick houses are being replaced by larger, more modern rendered ones.

Beautiful example of red-brick suburban style, with roses along the fence line.

Meandering front fence

The A to Z of 2205: Farrar St

2011-06-13T15:25:00.000+10:00

Farrar St - named after Alderman F.H. Farrar, MBE, an alderman of Rockdale Council 1920-28. Previously called Gordon St. (Source: The origins of the street names of the municipality of Rockdale. Compiled by Alderman R.W. Rathbone, 1990)

It's a pretty street, running between Forest Rd and Wollongong Rd, with some lovely older houses. The most distinctive feature is the old fire station on the Forest Rd corner.

From Forest Road looking down Farrar St

The old Arncliffe fire station, on the corner of Farrar St and Forest Rd. Now a preschool

Panoram of the old fire station

Looking down Farrar St from Forest Rd end

It is very unusual to find a tennis court in the suburbs these days. I must revisit soon to see if this has been developed!

A lovely sandstone fence. The house has nice views because Farrar St is at the top of the Forest Rd ridge

A tranquil garden setting

From Wollongong Rd end

The A to Z of 2205 : Fairview St

2009-08-23T14:16:00.013+10:00

Fairview St runs between Fripp St and Wolli Creek Road. It was named after "Fairview", the Wollongong Rd home of Alexander Milsop. Milsop was the first Mayor of neighbouring municipality, Hurstville.

Below: Looking down Fairview St from Wolli Creek Rd.

Below: Political viewpoints near Wilson Rd

Below: Feed the birds at Wilson Rd

Below: The back of Macquarie Lodge, the Salvation Army Aged Care residence which fronts on Wollongong Rd - the former grand house 'Dapeto' is part of the complex.

Below: These boats seem permanently parked in the street.

Below: Front yard sculptural installation

Below: Olive trees aren't a common front yard tree, but these ones look terrific in front of a traditional California Bungalow.

Below: Plastic bottle tree?

Below: Garden at the corner of Fripp St

Below: Looking back up Fairview St from Fripp St

The A to Z of 2205 : Eve St

2009-08-22T13:59:00.028+10:00

It has taken a fair while between posts to get this street up. Eve St has lots of interest to me, mainly because it is adjacent to some fascinating wetlands.

Eve St was named after an early landowner in the area, Benjamin Eve.

In inner urban Sydney there are some remnant natural habitats which have been degraded over the years. It's always a battle to protect them, and the Eve St salt marsh wetlands are no exception. They are bordered by a motorway and recreational lands, including a bike path and golf range. Efforts have been made in more recent years to rehabilitate them. They provide a haven for local and international birds who come to feed and rest there.

I am not sure of its status at the moment; last time I was there access was denied (officially).

Eve St also has a bikepath along it which I've ridden a few times. It connects Marsh St with the continuation of the path to Kyeemagh and Botany Bay. [In the other direction you can reach Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush and Ryde].

The entrance to Eve St is from busy Marsh St, just near the Wickham St intersection, or from Brennans Rd off West Botany St. It is a no-through road at its southern end, where the cycleway continues along the Barton Park Golf Range.

We'll start our look at Eve St from the Marsh St end.

Below: Looking along Eve St from Marsh St

Below: Looking slightly northeast from Marsh St across the reserved land towards the M5 motorway

Below: Looking southeast from the corner you can see the Arncliffe fire station, on West Botany St/Wickham St intersection

Below: Across that patch of grass in the photo above, visible in the adjacent backyard is this old sandstone outbuilding:

Below: Looking towards Marsh St from near the elbow bend in Eve St:

Below: Part of the way along this stretch is Eve St Reserve

Below: The M5 from Eve St Reserve

Below: Eve St Reserve on the right, and straight ahead the cycleway where it joins Eve St, having come under the M5 from Marsh St.

Below: Looking across to the reserve from the end of the cycleway

Below: Images of the cycleway as it curves under the M5

Below: The wetlands from the cycleway

Below: The Wetlands

Below: Access denied

Below: The wetlands

Below: Looking along Eve St towards the cycleway (which joins at right at the bottom)

Below: Enjoying the cycleway

Below: From the crest of the hill, looking north

Below: Looking south over the golf driving range

Below: And the cycleway continues towards Botany Bay

The A to Z of 2205: Esdaile Steps

2009-06-09T19:29:00.006+10:00

This delightfully verdant set of stairs enables one to get up the ridge towards Forest Rd from the lower elevation Station Street. Towards the top of the steps is the modernist house. The steps and path link Station St and Esdaile Place.

A couple of years ago, one of Sydney's most well known architects, Harry Seidler, died. He was the architectof more than one controversial project, none more so than Blues Point Tower on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour. However, before all that, between 1958 and 1960, he built an ultra modernist house for his prents. This became a very influential house. In the 1960s, many such houses were built in suburban areas. Unlike today's huge McMansions, they were often small, fuctional, with clean lines. As far as I know, this house is the only example of the type of 1960s modernist architecture in my area. Love it, or hate it, it is an example of an era, and I suspect that this one won't survive much longer - many have already been demolished to make way for the larger houses demanded today.

A - Z of 2205: Esdaile Place

2009-06-08T19:00:00.003+10:00

Esdaile Place is one of my favourite little pockets of Arncliffe. It was named after local resident Edward William Esdaile. He was an optical and precision instrument manufacturer. . Edward Esdaile married Caroline Anne Simpson. One of their sons, Sydney George (born in Arncliffe in 1895) was killed at Moquet Farm near Pozieres in the Somme on 29 August 1916. Other children survived them. More about the Esdailes can be found after the photos.

Below: One end of Esdaile Place

Below: The end at the edge of the cliff

The Esdailes from The Powerouse Museum, which has some Esdaile made instruments in their collection.

The firm was founded by William Edward Esdaile (1858/9-1947), who arrived in Sydney with his wife in 1883. At this time, Edward's occupation was listed as Mathematical Surveyor and Telegraphic Instrument Maker. By the time of his arrival in Australia, Edward, who was trained by, and worked for, his father had received a sound knowledge of the instrument making business.

Edward's first job upon arrival in Australia was in the workshops of the Post Master's General, and shortly thereafter he managed the instrument shop for the firm Favelle/Flavelle and Roberts, Sydney. Esdaile left this firm to start his own instrument manufacturing business in 1891. He advertised himself as E. Esdaile, Optician. At this time, Edward was established at 11 Hunter Street, Sydney, in a building known as Parkes House, which was formerly occupied by Sir Henry Parkes.

In 1894, the family took up residence in the city, and rented the residence on the top floor of 54 Hunter Street, which eventually became the firm's first (major) industrial premises. Business expanded rapidly, so the family returned the administrative section to Arncliffe, while the top floors at 54 Hunter Street were converted into instrument-making workshops, and remained there until 1919. One interesting characteristic of the firm's identification was that at this time the 'Sirius' trademark (named after the flag ship of the First Fleet) was adopted and placed on a range of instruments.

The business then moved to 42 Hunter Street in 1919. Esdaile House, as the building was known, was an early reinforced concrete building to be erected in Sydney. The building was erected in 1920 and opened for business. Edward Esdaile was joined in Business by his five sons and in 1924, the firm had changed name to E. Esdaile and Sons.

The Second World War kept the firm busy with orders for surveying equipment, ship's compasses, and gun sights. To keep production abreast of demand, the firm was sufficiently capitalised to employ 60 staff at this time.

When Edward Esdaile died in 1947, an application was made to make Esdailes a public company and was renamed E. Esdaile and Sons Pty Ltd. There was another name change in 1953 to Esdaile (Holdings) Limited. E. Esdaile and Sons Pty Ltd and Esadaile (Holdings) advertised surveying, drafting, scientific and industrial instruments as their core business. The traditional 'Sirius' trademark was retained by the firm.

About 1960, E. Esdailes and Sons (Esdaile Holdings) opened new facilities at 53 Flinders Street, Adelaide. There were three main sections, namely, surveying, scientific and industrial, and drawing office. Surveying included steel tapes, aneroid barometers, abney levels, levelling staves, optical squares, and stereoscopes. Scientific and industrial included anemometers, barographs, thermographs, industrial thermometers, binoculars, and stopwatches, while the drawing office section specialised in drawing instruments, scale rules, set-squares, protractors, T-squares, and drawing boards.

In 1962, Esdaile House was sold to an insurance company and the firm moved to premises at 31 Bay Street, Glebe.

Esdailes were commissioned to undertake important instrument work for a number of science and engineering projects. Edward (Jnr.) was a member of the Sydney Branch of the British Astronomical Association, through which he made contact with Father Edward Francis Pigot (1858-1929), founder and director of Riverview College Observatory, Sydney. Edward's first job for the College was to set up a small telescope at the Observatory, and later he fitted a large astrograph for photographing the stars to the seven-inch refractor telescope that was installed at the Riverview Observatory.

Edward also worked with William Cooke and James Nangle, Government Astronomers for New South Wales, especially in regard to the fitting of the automatic clockwork drive for the large refracting (11 1/2" or the astrograph?) telescope at Sydndey Observatory. In 1952, Edward presented a sun clock to the Observatory, which he made from Cooke's design. This item has been retained for the Museum's collection (H10258).

The firm were engaged for other major engineering projects. Esdailes were commissioned to supply the surveying instruments when the original survey contour maps for Canberra were being prepared. The firm also supplied specialist theodolites for the survey and construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and instruments for measuring the tension in wire (saddle) cables, which held the arch in place during its construction. Finally, the Snowy Mountains Scheme presented many challenges to engineers and surveyors. Esdailes supplied many of the survey instruments for the Scheme. Their instruments were used in ordinary survey work, and in more specialised aspects of surveying including magnetic, and photogrametric surveys. The firm also made instruments for gravimetric analysis.

More generally, Esdailes supplied and repaired surveying instruments to the New South Wales Lands Department, Sydney, established the 'world globe' that once adorned the rooftop on the Ashfield Council Chambers, and manufactured the turnstiles and counter registers for the Sydney Showground and Cricket Ground.

Reference:
Oral history taken from descendants of Edward Esdaile.

A to Z of 2205: Edward St

2009-06-08T12:00:00.000+10:00

Edward St is named after Edward Manicombe Farleigh of "Cairnsfoot". It was formerly part of the Cairnsfoot Estate.

Below: A huge tibouchina plant at the back of the old Streets building.

Below: This factory is on the corner of Hirst St. It seems to be a furniture upholsterer - I often see timber frames of sofas being unloaded.

Below: From Hirst St

Below: former St David's Anglican church, now home to St George potters.

Below: Looking towards Willington St

Below: looking from Willington St

Below: At the bend

Photos taken 24 August 2008

A to Z of 2205: Eden St

2009-04-29T09:00:00.000+10:00

Eden St was originall part of Rocky Point Road (Princes Highway) before its diversion. Ron Rathbone says it could just be a romantic name alluding to the many market gardens in the area. It runs along the eastern side of the railway line. The white apartment block is built on the land which used to surround the large house, Glenwood.

Below: The cul de sac end of Eden St which is near where the M5 tunnel comes out at the Princes Highway.

Below: The sound barriers of the M5 tunnel exit.

Below: The Masjid Darul Imaan Mosque. For more on this mosque, see here.
Below: Looking along Eden St from Burrows St

Below: The Housing Commission (now department of Housing) flats which face Princes Highway, and back onto Eden St. They were opened in 1949.

Photo taken at opening. http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=217705
Below: Glenwood. Despite losing its grounds to apartments, Glenwood managed to survive, unlike some of the other beautiful grand houses around Arncliffe. The original house was also converted into apartments.
Below: Looking north towards Burrows St

Below: Lookign towards Forest Rd, with the new apartment development on the corner. Across Forest Rd is St Franci Xavier Catholic Church and school.
Below: Eden St houses the Consulate of the Republic of Vanuatu.
Below: From Forest Rd

The A - Z of 2205: Earle St

2009-04-28T17:00:00.000+10:00

Quite a short street, running between Forest Road and Wollongong Road.
Earle St was named after Alderman Lancelot lewis Earl, alderman of Rockdale Council 1925-1937. The name has been mis-spelt.

Postcode 2205 in the local paper

2009-03-30T18:11:00.004+11:00

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

2009-03-29T21:11:00.000+11:00

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

2009-03-02T15:00:00.000+11:00

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

2009-03-02T12:43:00.004+11:00

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

The A to Z of 2205: Done St

2008-12-22T21:01:00.000+11:00

Done St runs between Wollongong Rd and Firth St. It was named in memory of Rev. John Done, Anglican rector of the Parish of St George in the 1870s. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: From Firth St

Below: The corner of Forth and Done Sts

Below: From Wollongong Rd

Below: I adore this tree, growing out of the sandstone cutting.

Photos taken 17 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Denison St

2008-12-12T21:00:00.000+11:00

Denison St was named after Sir William Denison, Governor of NSW 1855-1861. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: View over Turrella towards Turrella Reserve and the M5East motorway ventilation stack.

Below: Beyond the intersection with Realm St, Denison narrows.

Below: Steps down from Hill St, which is a cul de sac fnishing at a sanstone outcrop

Below: Looking along Denison towards Alexandra St

Below: Shed. or house?
Below: Towards the shop on the intersection with Alexandra St.

Below: Looking back along Denison from Alexandra St

Below: Trees, which have an unusual growth pattern, probably due to repeated Council or electricity company prunings.

Below: I love this afternoon reflection from the coloured glass in this older weatherboard house.

Below: Postcode 2205 still has several independent corner shops. Many areas have lost their corner shops, or in the case of newer suburbs never had them.

Photos taken 17 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Cook St

2008-12-07T20:59:00.000+11:00

Cook St was named after Henry Aloe Cook, an early landowner in the area.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Above and below: The older style street signs, above, which was black on white wood, have been replaced by the metal blue on yellow in most places. A few of the older style remain.

Below: A fabulous castle in Cook St

Below: One of the things I love about the area are the flights of steps you come across in various places there are rocky outcrops or ridges, enabling you to cut through from one street to another

The A to Z of 2205: Charles St

2008-11-10T20:58:00.000+11:00

Charles St - rather undistinguished. The factory seems neglected, which is a shame because one of the good things about suburbs like Arncliffe is that they have provided a mix of blue-colour jobs and affordable residences. Not oo long ago a single blue-colour worker could afford a house and family in suurns like this. Increasingly, two white-collar jobs or background resources are needed to buy the simplest of houses, and jobs become casual and part-time service jobs, or disappear into distant suburbs.

Named after Mr Charles Thomas Richardson who subdivided this area as the Wickham Estate.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: The end of Charles St between Wickham St and the bend before Kyle St is neat, well-cared for houses.

Below: After the bend, the former foundry dominates one side of Charles St.

Photos taken 17 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Carlton St

2008-11-08T20:56:00.000+11:00

Carlton was a popular word in the 1880s because Carlton House Terrace was the London headquarters of the Prince of Wales.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: Wyndyknowe: one of the lovely old mansions of the area, right along the ridge line looking towards Botany Bay. Wyndyknowe has definitely seen better days.

(July 2006)

(July 2006)

(July 2006)

Below: Looking along Carlton St from Wolli Creek Rd

Below: I just love that Italianate tower

Below: From the dead-end of Carlton St looking towards Wolli Creek Rd

Below: A beautiful nature strip display of freesias

Photos taken 17 Aug 2008 (except where indicated)

The A to Z of 2205: Butterworth Lane, Arncliffe

2008-11-07T20:55:00.000+11:00

Butterworth Lane is a tiny side lane running between Eden St and the carpark near the station at the end of Arncliffe St.

Below: Looking from Eden St you can see the back of Arncliffe Scots club.

Below: From the other end looking towards Eden St

Below: The little park flanking one end of Butterworth Lane, near the eastern side of Arncliffe Station

Photos taken 10 Aug 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Burrows St, Arncliffe

2008-11-02T16:23:00.002+11:00

Named after Alderman J B Burrows an alderman of Rockdale Council 1931-41 and Mayor of Rockdale 1939-40.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Above: Taken 09 March 2008.

Below: Taken from the Princes Highway, with the Masjid Dural Imaan mosque of the Islamic Malay Australian Association (IMAAN) on the right, and the land reserve of the M5 Mortorway behind.

Below: The Arncliffe Scots club, looking towards the Princes Highway from Arncliffe St.

The A to Z of 2205: Broe Ave, Arncliffe

2008-11-01T16:02:00.001+11:00

Named after Alderman Henry Broe, an alderman of Rockdale Council 1904-14 and 1917-20 and Mayor of Rockdale 1909-14 and 1918-20.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: It's Sunday morning and the cars parked all along here are not only residents', but worshippers at St mark's Coptic Cathedral in Wollongong Rd.
Below: The most gorgeous feature of Broe Avenue is the sandstone entrance to Arncliffe Park on the corner of Hirst St, and the sandstone fence which runs the length of the park.

Below: Cricket nets, and one of the two kids' playgrounds in the park
Below: Newly developed town houses (2008) where once several smaller, single-fronted weatherboard houses stood.
Below: I posted this previously, and one of my readers explained it is the remains of a Water Board sewer vent from just after World War One. Apparently they were made with melted down German artillery pieces brought back after the war. Now THAT'S really interesting!
Below: Looking back towards Hirst St from Wokllongong Rd
Below: Looking towards Station St from Wollongong Rd
Below: From Station St to Wollongong Rd, with the fence of St MArk's on the left.

Photos taken 10 Aug 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Brodie Spark Drive, Wolli Creek

2008-10-18T10:17:00.001+11:00

Brodie Spark Drive is the main road along which the Wolli Creek development has taken place. It goes around the back of Tempe House, and is named after the man who had Tempe House built between 1834 - a836, Alexanber Brodie Spark.

For an eight-part tour around Wolli Creek/Tempe House, have a look here: my Sydney Daily Photo blog. I have also posted about it and the Cooks River previously on this site. See here.

Below: The roundabout intersection of Brodie Spark Drive and Arncliffe St, looking towards the Princes Highway. In the centre is a sculpture named Wolli Dancing.
Below: Wolli Dancing.

Below: An indication of apartment prices in 2008 (photo taken 4 August 2008)
Below: Looking along the Princes Highway
Below: From the Princes Highway end. The light industry in the area is changing or folding.
Below: Brick wall
Below: The vacant area below has been a scrap metal dealer's site, now gone.
Below: The sign points along Arncliffe St, which is narrow and has a much increased volume of traffic. There is no dedicated cycleway, and I would be ver wary of cycling along here. I've only ever seen one or two bikes in my time.
Below: From 1884 to 1983, Tempe House was occupied by Catholic nuns, the Magdalen Sisters, and the church dates from that time. It is now de-commissioned as a church. It is meant to function as some kind of community facility, but as yet, nothing seems to have happened there - it is always locked and off-limits.

Below: Tempe House and Magdalen Chapel
Below: The apartment development at the back, linked with the back of Tempe House.

Below: From Brodie Spark Drive, the back of Temoe House was visible beyond the swimming pool until frosted glass was installed to prevent the look-through.

The A to Z of 2205: Brennans Rd, Arncliffe

2008-10-15T07:00:00.002+11:00

Named after James Brennan, a contractor who once owned this land. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: Brennans Road from West Botany St
Below: Danger! Contact with wires will cause death. Do you think there will ever be a time in Sydney that overhead wires become underground wires? Below: Panorama of Brennans Rd from Eve St (wait til we get to E for Eve - I LOVE Eve St....the wetlands!)

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The A to Z of 2205: Booth St, Arncliffe

2008-09-26T22:00:00.003+10:00

Named after Thomas Booth, an early settler and local landowner.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: From Thompson St end

Below: The Meriton apartment development at then end of Booth St
Below: The rise after you come around the corner from Thompson St

Below: Bus depot and Jetmaster gas log fires in Martin St

Below: Playground of Al-Zahra Islamic College

Photos taken 10 Aug 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Bonar St, Wolli Creek to Arncliffe

2008-09-25T07:00:00.002+10:00

Named after Andrew Bonar, Chairman of the Australian Trust Company, a land development company. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: Looking up Bonar St from Lusty St, Wolli Creek, showing the Meriton apartment development

Below: From the intersection of Thompson St looking back towards Lusty St

The next three photos are from Jan 2001 when the development was just beginning.
Below: Looking from Thompson St across to Bonar St

Below: Building that was in Bonar St
Below: Also from Thompson St towards Bonar St
Below: From the Thompson St intersection looking along Bonar St towards Arncliffe. The apartments are behind me now.

Below: Looking back along Bonar St towards Thompson St intersection

Below: Looking along Bonar St towards the bend it takes to the left.

Below: Looking towards Wollongong Rd.

Below: The former Streets factory at the corner of Bonar St and Hirst St. It is now occupied by someone called One-Ten Enterprises, and seems to consist of a warehouse for bailed up, and often overflowing rags.

Below: Street sign at the Wollongong Rd end. Sadly, the bowling club is now derelict. I had heard there were plans by Rockdale Council to turn it into a youth centre (much needed) but nothing has happened.

Below: The abandoned Arncliffe Scots bowling club

Below: Inside the clubhouse

Below: From Wollongong Rd

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Photos taken 10 Aug 2008 and January 2001

The A to Z of 2205: Belmore Walk, Arncliffe

2008-09-12T15:18:00.000+10:00

Below: From Station Street looking towards Wollongong Rd

Below: From half way down looking towards Station St and Belmore St

Below: Mural on the all of the newsagency at the corner of Wollongong Rd and Belmore Walk.

Photos taken 08 August 2008 (080808)

The A to Z of 2205: Belmore St, Arncliffe

2008-09-05T22:40:00.001+10:00

Named after Rt Hon Somerset Richard, Earl of Belmore, Governor of NSW 1868-72.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: From Firth St looking along Belmore St

Below: Figs on the rock cutting at the Station St end of Belmore.

Below: At the corner of Belmore and Station St. Elderly men often sit here to chat in the sun.
Below: looking down Belmore St from Station St

Below: The rock cutting at Station St corner

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Photos taken 08 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Bellevue Lane, Arncliffe

2008-08-23T20:28:00.001+10:00

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Photos taken 10 Aug 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Bellevue Court, Arncliffe

2008-08-22T21:35:00.000+10:00

The A to Z of 2205: Bellevue St, Arncliffe

2008-08-21T20:00:00.001+10:00

Descriptive local name meaning "a beautiful view". Refers to views over Botany Bay.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: Looking up Bellevue St from Terry St

Below: Bellevue St from Bellevue Court
Below: Here is a house with disable parking outside. I don;t know how you get that.

Below: In the section between Avenal St and Bellevue Court

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Photos taken 10 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Beehag Avenue, Arncliffe

2008-08-20T19:48:00.001+10:00

Named after Alderman James Beehag Snr, Mayor of Rockdale 1934-40 and grandson of pioneer settler and landowner.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: From the Princes Highway
Below: From Hattersley St to the Princes Highway

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Photos taken 08 Aug 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Bayview St, Arncliffe

2008-08-18T18:49:00.001+10:00

A descriptive geographical name. The street commands sweeping views over Botany Bay.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: Bayview St at the Forest Road end
Below: I was really taken with this smoothly cut hedge
Below: Looking towards Withers St intersection

Below: Looking back from Withers St
Below: from Withers St, Bayview heads down hill, and views across the airport and Port Botany open up
Below: I am quite taken by this example of modern (1960s?) architecture
Below: Panoramic view from Arncliffe Public School on the left, over Sydney Airport, and Port Botany
Below: Sydney Airport, from the end of Bayview St
Below: The view to Arncliffe Public School
Below: Sydney Airport, and the cranes of Port Botany in the background on the right
Below: Looking back up Bayview St from the cul-de-sac end, above the steps down to Mount St
Below: The steps at the end of Bayview St down to Mount St
Below: From the bottom of the steps up to Bayview St

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Photos taken 08 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Barden Lane, Arncliffe

2008-08-16T16:00:00.001+10:00

Below: From Barden St
Below: Looking towards Barden St. The fruit market car park is on the left.
Below: The fruit market car park

The A to Z of 2205: Barden St, Arncliffe

2008-08-15T13:55:00.002+10:00

Named after Frederick Barden, early Arncliffe settler and owner of the "Highbury Barn" Inn, who subdivided this area. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: From Station St towards Forest Rd
Below: Looking back towards Station St along the elevated footpath
Below: Under the cliff where the elevated footpath is

Below: Coronation Hall. There is a playgroup and various activities run by the YMCA from the hall. I had my 6th class "graduation dance" here in 1968!
Below: From Forest Rd. Sheridan, a manchester manufacturer, has a factory outlet shop here. At one stage it was a Blockbuster video store.

Below: The modest headquarters of an astounding artist in stained glass, Kevin Little. See my photo essay on him here.
Below: Kevin Little at work in his studio

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Photos taken 11 Nov 2006 (Kevin), 07 & 10 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Avenal Lane, Arncliffe

2008-08-13T00:01:00.005+10:00

A lane without a street sign.

Below: Something must happen on Tuesday mornings! My guess is it would be garbage collection.
Below: The view downhill from Avenal St
Below: Picnic table in the small park on the corner of Marinea St, Avenal St and Avenal Lane
Below: From Tantallon Ave to Avenal St

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The A to Z of 2205: Avenal St, Arncliffe

2008-08-12T11:03:00.009+10:00

Named after a castle in Scotland. Most streets in this subdivision have Scottish names. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Our first street on the "other" (eastern) side of the Princes Highway.

Below: I don't know what the red border around the street sign means. This is at the West Botany St end.
Below: The street sign at the Princes Highway end is obscured by tree foliage.
Below: Looking from the Princes highway. Arncliffe Public School is on the left. It has frontages on Princes Highway (elevated), Avenal St and Segenhoe St. More views will be provided at those entries.
Below: Arncliffe Public School - the stairs lead to the path and footbridge across the Princes Highway.
Below: The original school house at Arncliffe Public School is still standing in the grounds of the present school. It is the oldest school in the St George district. In 1877 residents petitioned to have a school opened in the are. It opened on 12 July 1880, in the stone building, built to accommodate 135 children, with qn attached teachers' residence. Then known as West Botany Public School, its name was changed to Arncliffe in September 1885.
Below: Before school traffic jam in Avenal St. With more and more people shopping around for schools, and greater cotton-wooling of kids, the "school drop off" is a relatively recent phenomenon. In days past few kids were driven to school; most walked or cycled.
Below: Kiss and drop zone, with 15 min parking.
Below: View back towards the Princes Highway
Below: View from near the top of the ridge at Segenhoe St towards West Botany St and over Sydney airport. Despite its proximity to the airport, Arncliffe gets very little aircraft noise. The north-south parallel runways are further north at Sydneham. This part of Arncliffe is closer to the east-west flightpath, which is not used as much.
Below: This backyard displays the older style black and white wooden street signs
Below: A classic fibro house and wooden paling back (or side) yard fence, and corrugated iron gate
Below: Street view from West Botany St
Below: Also from West Botany St
Below: The Segenhoe St frontage of frontage of "Teluba" , occupying the corner of Avenal and Segenhoe Sts. It is owned by the DEpartment of Education and Training, used as a Regional Office. It was once Arncliffe Intermediate Girls High School, until the late 1960s/early 1970s when it closed.

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The A to Z of 2205: Atkinson St, Arncliffe

2008-08-11T07:00:00.002+10:00

Atkinson is thought to be the maden name of Mrs Patience Amelia Knight who subdivided this area after the death of her husband. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Real estate blurbs often tout Atkinson St as "the best street in Arncliffe". I don't know about that, but I did meet a man on my walk who claimed this to be so! Personally, I think Atkinson Lane has a better outlook, and many other streets have more attractive architecture. However, it is true I haven't been into any of the houses on the low side of the street, which have panoramic views over Botany Bay, so maybe that's what contributes to "best".

Below: From Wolli Creek Road
Below: One of the more modern examples of architecture
Below: A pair of typical 1950s red brick houses. How long will they last? I do like the white wrought iron railing on the balcony.

Below: Atkinson St from the Knight St end
Below: The view over Botany Bay. The houses on the lower side of the street all look this way. There are views over Gardiner park as well.

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The A to Z of 2205: Atkinson Lane, Arncliffe

2008-08-10T07:00:00.002+10:00

Atkinson Lane runs off Atkinson St. It leads down to a magnificent view of Gardiner Park (which is in Banksia (postcode 2216). Unexpectedly, there are some houses with their frontages onto the lane, probably having been subdvided from land on Atkinson St, or Knight St. There are also soem Knight St backyards.
Below: The view from Atkinson St, looking over Botany Bay towards Kurnell. Atkinson St is on the highest point of the ridge along which Forest Rd runs.
Below: The view looking back towards Atkinson St. Gardiner Park is on the left.
Below: Gardiner Park below

Below: A Knight St backyard, with lemon tree and rotary clothes line (Hills Hoist)
Below: Atkinson Lane frontage continue along the top of Gardiner Park

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Photos taken 04 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Athelstane Ave, Arncliffe

2008-08-09T07:00:00.005+10:00

One of the fine houses along Wollongong Rd was "Athelstane", built by William George Judd. Judd left school at ageseven, later worked in the brick pits of St Peters and attended school at night. He became an egga nd butter salesmanbeofre opening a produce store. By the late 1870s he had obtained a financial interest in the district's brickworks. he was elected to Rockdale Council in 1882 and served several tems as Mayor. In 1906 he was appointed the first president of Sutherland Shire.

After World War Two, the Department of Education resumed the land that "Athelstane" was on, desite the objections of Judd's son and daughter-in-law who lived there still and did not want to sell. Temporary buildings were erected. Students were transferred from nearby Wilsons Road Public School, which was too small. Athelstane Public School opened on 20 June 1952, and the old house demolished in September 1954. The school operated from a conglomeration of temporary weatherboard (some of which are still there) and aluminium structures until 1973 when a campaign by arents and teachers resulted in a new school being built.

Judd had subdivided his land, which was seven acres, one rood and twenty-four perches and put in Athelsatnd and Horsell Avenues.

Today I go to Athelstane whenever there is an election on in order to vote.

Below: State election March 2007. Athelstane Avenue entrance.
Below: Looking along Athelstane Avenue from Wollongong Rd. The school is on the right. In 1968 Mum and dad considered buying the house on the left, 1 Athelstane Avenue. They bought in Bexley instead.

Below: Interesting gate
Below: I'm always a sucker for jasmine, even though it rambles everywhere and can take over your garden! Here's a nice sunny spot on this fence. The house is California Bungalow style.

Below: Athelstane Avenue is now a dead-end where it meets Hirst St, Fripp St, Lorraine Avenue and John St at the roundabout.
Below: From the dead-end looking towards Wollongong Rd

Below: This beautiful shrub was in the front garden of a house in Athelstane Avenue. I posted it on Sydney Daily Photo and it emerged that it is a Leucospermum from South Africa. To keep an eye on this plant, visit Sydney Daily Photo Extra.

Below: Here is a sub-divided block, where one house is built behind, and there is access along a side easement.

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Photos taken 04 Aug 2008 (and Mar 2007)

The A to Z of 2205: Arncliffe St Arncliffe to Wolli Creek

2008-08-08T08:00:00.002+10:00

Arncliffe St is a street mainly of light industry and car workshops etc. Many of the car yards on the Princes Highway back on to Arncliffe St. It is narrow. Recently the Wolli Creek end has been re-developed with multi-storey apartments. At first I thought that surely the road must be widened to cope with the increase in traffic. No! Then there was a breakdown in undergound services uner the road (water and electricity, I think) and it was dug up for months on end. I think it is a case study in how NOT to undertake a development. I am not necessarily troubled by re-use of land for alternative purposes, but such developments cause unnecessary inconvenience and seem designed to benefit the developers more than anyone else.

Starting at the Wolli Creek end

Below: Looking from Brodie Spark Drive up Arncliffe St from the Wolli Creek end
Below: "Proximity" is the high rise development fronting Arncliffe St. The amazing thing is that this narrow road, which carries a large amount of the traffic into and out of Arncliffe is also a designated "cycle route" ! They have to be joking.
Below: Proximity, by developer Multiplex. Two bedroom apartments routinely cost over $400 000
Below: What is this? A Substation?
Below: Warehouse building currently used for indoor Go-Kart racing

Below: Looking towards Brodie Spark Drive at Wolli Creek, 'Proximity' on the left.

Below: Morris McMahon was the site of a prolonged industrial dispute in 2003
Below: There used to be houses, however, there are only two left, and they have been converted to other purposes. One is a sandwich and lunch shop servicing the factories in the area, and this one.
Below: Looking towards the Arncliffe end. On the right, the other house, now afood outlet, and across the railway line the Al-Zahra mosque
Below: Looking from the corner of Allen St
Below: On the station side of Arncliffe St, near Burrows St, looking along Arncliffe St. Allen St corner is in the middle. This is the station's commuter car park
Below: Looking in the oppositie direction from the previous shot.
Below: From the corner of Allen St. Empress resewrve is on the left. The green box near the letter box is a mail collection box for the postie to pick up from.

Below: The station from the commuter car park
Below: The park at the end of the carpark, behind Arncliffe Scots. The walkway extends from the end of Arnclife St where it meets Burrows St to the station overpass.

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Photos taken 03 and 04 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Argyle St

2008-08-07T14:47:00.004+10:00

Named after the county of Argyll in Scotland, birthplace of John McInnes who subdivided this area as the Innesdale Estate.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Part 1: The residential end

Below: At the Ann St end, the street sign is one of the older black and white variety
Below: Nothing but units in the stretch between Allen and Ann Sts.
Below: looking from Allen St towards Ann St
Below: from Ann St
Part 2: The Other End

Below: The end of Arglye St looking from Allen At. It goes around the corner at then end and emerges on the Princes Highway.

Below: Looking towards the Princes Highway
Below: The most interesting thing about Argyle St is that it has a "mound" cutting off one end from the other. It is an elevated section of the Southern and Western Ocean Outfall Sewerage pipes.

Below: The next bit of Argyle taken from on top of the sewer
Below: Lookign along the sewer, back to the Princes Highway. You can see the minaret of Al-Zahra mosque.
Below: The last stretch of Argyle St
Below: From Princes Highway

Below: Looking towards the sewer
Below: The Princes Highway at the end
Below: From Allen St to the sewer

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Photos taken 03 and 10 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Ann St, Arncliffe

2008-08-06T07:00:00.002+10:00

Named after Ann McInnes, mothe rof John McInnes who owned this land before it was subdivided as the Innesdale Esatte.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: This grass is growing from the guttering of Purnell Motors on the Ann St side.
Below: This prettily decorated house is one of only four remaining in Ann St. Unit blocks are more prevalent.

Below: Looking from the Princes Highway end of Ann St. The empty land is a reservation to do with the M5 East tunnel; there is an exit right near Ann St.
Below: Looking from Arncliffe St towards the Princes Highway

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Photos taken 3 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Amy St Turrella

2008-08-05T20:34:00.005+10:00

Named after Amy jeeves, eldest grand daughter of Samuel Jeeves, pioneer Arncliffe settler, who still owned this land when it was subdivided.(The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

A tiny residential street with only four houses. The most interesting features are the sound-barrier wall of the East Hills Railway at the end, and some rather natty garden decorations.
Below: Looking from Hannam St to the end of the cul-de-sac that is Amy St. The East Hills railway passes along the bottom of the street.
Below: Looking from the cul-de-sac end towards Hannam St

Below: This wonderful tree climber belongs to a house facing Hannam St, but the iguana is on the Amy St side.

Photos taken 4 Aug 2008

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The A to Z of 2205: Allen St Arncliffe

2008-08-04T20:30:00.004+10:00

Name may be a mis-spelling. Alland and Ann Streets were named after the parents of John McInnes who owned this land before it was subdivided. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: A small park, Empress Reserve, on the corner of Allen and Arncliffe Streets.
Below: Looking along Allen St towards the Princes Highway. The large building is Ford motor repairs and service

Below: Looking towards the Princes Highway from the intersection (a roundabout) with Arncliffe St

Below: Looking from the Princes Highway down Allen St
Below: Intersection of Princes Highway and Allen St
Below: Purnell Motors Used cars is on the corner of Princes Highway and Allen St. It goes through the whole block to Ann St (more photos from that side in Ann St entry)
Below: I like this mosaic at Purnell Motors

Below: Mazda repairs and service is on the corner of Allen and Arncliffe Sts (opposite Empress Reserve)
Below: This pair of semi-detatched cottages are the only houses left in Allen St

Below: On the southern side of the street there are a couple of large blocks of 3 storey walk-up flats.

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Photos taken 3 August 2008

The A to Z of 2205: Alexandra St, Turrella

2008-08-03T20:06:00.013+10:00

Named after Queen Alexandra, Consort of King Edward VII. All streets on this estate are named after the English Queens. (The Origins of Street Names in the Municipality of Rockdale, compiled by Alderman Ron Rathbone, 1990)

Below: Looking south from Willington St
Below: looking north from Denison St
Below: Behind No 9 there are squash courts
Below: A pretty fence and garden at No 19
Below: It's great to see the corner shop survives in Postcode 2205. No 1.

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Gone But Not Forgotten - Martin St Turrella

2008-08-03T10:23:00.003+10:00

I came across this sign down by the railway line at Turrella, (at the end of Rickard St I think). Nice to see an acknowledgement of what went before. It loks like the sign may be a bit forgotten and neglected though! It would be great if there were something in the Almond St Reserve.

A big thanks to all the locals with such vast knowledge who let me know about the history of Almond St (see previous post).

Also, one corrspondent, Vik, has put up a page showing us the BEAUTIFUL exterior and interior of Glenwood in Eden St. <--------Click on the link to go to Vik's page. Coming soon - an update on Dapeto with the work taking place there now, and some new photos in the Wolli Creek/Tempe House area.

The Mystery of Almond St

2008-04-09T21:48:00.005+10:00

Here's an attractive little pocket-handkerchief park at the roundabout on the corner of Wollongong Rd and Firth St. But where is Almond St? There is no Almond St in Postcode 2205.

Looks like a job for the local history section of the public library....

Faith

2008-03-23T23:59:00.003+11:00

If you’re prone to belief in the supernatural, there’s no shortage of venues to express your belief in the company of the like-minded.

Places of worship in Postcode 2205 are a pretty good microcosm of looking at the way multicultural change has taken place in the past 100+ years....

...from traditional churches re-inventing themselves, to the reuse of churches by alternate faiths or branches, to newly built structures….from the western Roman Catholic church to Eastern Orthodoxy, varieties of Islam and the newer breed of holy rollin’ Pentacostalism, you can pick your poison. Want to public denounce homosexuality? Get along to the Community Life Centre, where at various times you can also partake in a halal sausage sizzle (reaching out to Islamic neighbours…) (It probably also helps to go along with the belief that the church founder’s daughter was resurrected from the dead)

Like your Christianity mainstream non-conformist Protestant, mixed with social concern? The Uniting Church may be for you.

St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church has recently become part of the Rockdale parish…..wonder if they’re bucking the trend of the rest of the Roman Catholic Chrurch in Australia and seeing healthy numbers?

St David’s, is still part of the Anglican fold, but now styles itself a “Cross-Culture Bible Church. . . a church for people from all backgrounds, cultures and ages….a Bible-believing church that wants everyone to hear of God’s great love shown in Jesus Christ .” (That would be in contrast to all the non Bible-believing churches, I suppose).

Roman Catholicism, Bible-believing Anglicanism, Uniting sincerity or resurrection within the founding family not your thing? Then you might want to look at Eastern Orthodoxy via the Pope (Shenoudah III that is) blessed St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (and theological college).

Perhaps you’ve been swept up in the new Pentacostalism Hillsong-style. Pastor Brian Houston of Hillsong fame is a dedicated "church planter" and cites one of the success as the Assembles of God “planted church” , the Bay City Church.

If none of that is your cup of tea, we can offer a Lebanese Shi’a mosque, the Masjid Fatima Al Zahra, or the Masjid Darul Imaan – Islamic Malay Australia Association mosque.

Sorry, as yet, not Buddhist, Hindu ,Shinto, Taoist or Jewish options.

According to 2001 Census figures, the religious affinity of the population of Arncliffe/Wolli Creek was (percentage & total):

Islamic 22.9 (2 086 people)
Catholic 22.3 (2 036)
Orthodox 19.2 (1 582)
Anglican 12.8 (867)
Uniting 2.4 (221)
Buddhist 1.6 (150)
Presbyterian 1.6 (142)
Hindu 1.1 (99)
Salvation Army 0.9 (78)
Baptist 0.6 (58)
No religion 7.8 (715)
Inadequate or not stated 7.8 (715)

Subsequent posts look at each religious building in turn.

St David's Anglican Church

2008-03-23T23:58:00.002+11:00

The original St David's Anglican Church is in Hirst St, on part of the land granted in 1833 to convict overseer Reuben Hannam by Governor Bourke, as a reward for developing the sandstock brick much used in early colonial building.

Reuben’s son David made the land available to the Church of England from his father’s estate and a small primitive chapel was erected on the site sometime prior to 1861.

In 1875, the Rev Stanley Howard, Rector of the Parish of St Peter’s Cooks River visited the church and left this description:

“We rode for about a mile and a half to Arncliffe Church, which was certainly a remarkable edifice. The vestry is an old clothes horse done up with canvass and white wash. Ove the (prayer) desk is a hole in the ceiling from which frequently appears a large green tree snake, hanging down over the preacher’s head. On the walls are tacked pieces of bent tin supporting ‘patty pan’ to hold the candles. Very old-looking table and a few clean benches complete the ecclesiastical furniture of this Cathedral Church!” (Rathbone p 58)

The new church (seen above) was built in 1879, and served for the next thirty years. The following description appeard in the Town and Country Journal if 27 August 1892:

“It has not much pretension to architectural beauty but is not unpicturesue and what there is of architecture is of an early English character. The weather stained shingle roof gives a good bit of rich brown grey and the primitive belfry is, in its way, not uncomely.” (Rathbone p. 58)The brick nave of the present building, an example of the style known as ‘Commissioners’ Gothic’ was erected about 1879 by Samuel Jeeves, a local builder, the project receiving considerable support from Mrs David Hannam. It was named St David’s in memory of her husband who had died in September 1872. The transept, entrance porch and chancel were added by Samuel Jeeves in the early 1890s.The original cedar seats and the lectern were removed in 1915 to furnish the new Anglican Church on Forest Road."

Old St David's Church has, since 1974, been the home of the St George Potters.

“In March 1906, a larger more prominent location in Forest Road was obtained….the foundation stone of the new church was laid by Archbishop J.C. Wright in January 1910, and work was proceeding to erest the walls when, on July 18, Sydney was hot by hurricane force winds which caused widespread damage. …blew out the back wall of the partly completed St David’s, resulting in a protracted court case for damages which delayed completion of the first stage of the church until January 1915.” (Rathbone p. 99)

n June 1919, St David’s became a separate parochial district (it had previously been part of Bexley Parish), and in 1920 it became a full parish. Professor Leslie Wilkinson of Sydney University was engaged to modify the original plans and preparations were made to finish the building. In 1934 it was completed, and opened by the Governor of NSW, Sir Philip Game, on St David's Day, 1 March 1934. (Rathbone p. 139)

Nowadays St David's, still an Anglican church, styles itself a “Cross-Culture Bible Church. . . a church for people from all backgrounds, cultures and ages….a Bible-believing church that wants everyone to hear of God’s great love shown in Jesus Christ .”

St David's website.

St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church

2008-03-23T23:57:00.001+11:00

Website of Rockdale/Arncliffe parishes

The first Catholic church in Arncliffe was opened on 3 Dec 1911. It was a brick structure capable of sitting 400 people, used as a school during the week and a church on Sundays.

This church was built at the height of the Great Depression. Other land owned by the church was sold. The architect was Clement Clancy. It incorporated a distinctive 107 feet high round Celtic tower. Estimated cost was 14 000 pounds. The external brickwork is particularly fine, as is the internal fittings of Cudegong and Kaloolah marble and polished silky oak.

Merged with Rockdale Parish on 1st January, 2003.

St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral

2008-03-23T23:45:00.001+11:00

70 Wollongong Rd
This was previously a Methodist Church.

“Primitive Methodist services had been held in a small building in Arncliffe St since 1875. They were organised by a local resident, John Walker, an enthusiastic lay preacher, who later became a fulltime Salvation Army officer. Sunday School classes were conducted nearby in the home of Henry Nelson, but in 1880, these were transferred to the Municipal Council Chambers. The same year land was acquired in Wollongong Rd and a weatherboard structure erected on it.

“It was used from about 1882, but soon proved inadequate, and in 1894, a larger hall was completed facing Station St, In 1905 the original building was demolished and the current one with its imposing façade was erected in its place. It was opened in October 1907 and served the Methodist community for the next seventy years. " (Rathbone p 87)

In January 1882 a chamber organ was ordered from Hill & Son (job no. 1810) by William Angus, a well known amateur organist, of the Sydney carriage and coach building firm, Angus & Son, then in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. The organ was aquired by Arncliffe Methodist Church in 1940 and in 1979 it was moved to St John's Lutheran Church, Wollongong.

http://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/WollLuth.html

In 1977, the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union formed a union to become the Uniting Church of Australia. Many church properties became surplus to requirements, which is what happened to this Methodist Church.

It changed ownership, and on 8 May 1980, His Holiness the Pontiff, Pope Abba Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark and the Coptic Church Worldwide, laid the foundation stone of St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral.

St Mark's website

Arncliffe Uniting Church

2008-03-23T21:12:00.004+11:00

Arncliffe Uniting Church
29 Hannam St

The Uniting Church was born on June 22 1977 as a union of three churches: the Congregational Union of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The Uniting Church is the third largest Christian denomination in Australia.

Arncliffe Uniting Church has a unique feature, opened in 1998, the Garden of Hope and Remembrance — a place where missing persons can be remembered and where family and friends of missing persons can lay flowers for their loved ones.

There used to be Congregational, Presbyterian and Baptist Churches in Arncliffe as well. None of those exist any more. This is the last surviving non-conformist protestant churches.

Arncliffe Community Life Centre

2008-03-23T21:00:00.002+11:00

Formerly the The Body of Christ Mission Centre

From their website :

"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. "

The congregants appear to be mainly Indonesian, and there are weekly services held in Indonesian.

What they believe: http://www.lifecentre.org.au/beliefs.html

A taster:

“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.”

If all that makes your head hurt, you can have it read, utilising the services of their own psychological service - HUM Psychology (Headz Up Ministeries) - see here.

One of the buildings is an old Federation style house, address 19 Dowling St.

Al Zahra Mosque - Masjid Fatima Al Zahrah

2008-03-23T20:59:00.003+11:00

Established in the 1980's, is mainly the centre of religious activities of Shi'ite Muslims originating from southern Lebanon.

Masjid Darul Imaan

2008-03-23T20:29:00.002+11:00

Cnr Princes Hwy and Eden St. This is a re-use of an older church building. I am nit sure which, so if anyone knows I'd love you to let me know.

Islamic Malay Australian Association (IMAAN) is an Islamic Community group representing the Malay Muslim community and wider Muslim community in Sydney, Australia.

Website

Bay City Church

2008-03-23T19:00:00.001+11:00

This church, in an industrial area near the Princes Highway is a utilitarian office-looking building. It started 1 Sep 2004, as a result of successful "church planting".

Website: http://www.baycitychurch.com/ :
"Bay City Church pioneered by Andrew and Maryanne Harper and planted out of Liverpool CLC. Andrew is a great example of a strategic church planter and is already seeing over 100 people in attendance. We are particularly interested in using the experiences of these new church planters to assist Districts and churches as they strategise towards planting churches. "

Church planting: http://www.churchplanting.com.au/index.php

Charismatic Hillsong-variety pentacostalist outfit. Wonder if they wear tartan and sway along Bay City Rollers style?

Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene)

2008-03-23T16:00:00.001+11:00

Station St.

I don't know who they are, or what the original building was, but it looks to me like a non-conformist Protestant one - Congregational, Methodist, Baptist or Presbyterian.

Victorian Domestic Architecture: some more modest examples!

2008-02-25T18:40:00.003+11:00

Modified Victorian cottages, Wollongong Rd

'Tardis' , Stanley St (bigger inside than it looks on the outside, just like Dr Who's police phone box, I guess!
Victoria St
Old coach house/stables at rear of Victoria St terrace

78 Wollongong Rd

Wollongong Rd
Semis, Stanley St
Semis, Stanley St

71 Hirst St

23 Walters St

16 and 18 Wollongong Rd

16 Mitchell St. A lovely modest weatherboard cottage

9 Dowling St

1 Dowling St

3-4 Mitchell St. Terrace-style semis

Victorian Domestic Architecture: Teluba

2008-02-25T12:13:00.003+11:00

It is owned by the NSW Department of Education who use it as a professional services centre/district office. It shares the grounds of Arncliffe Public School.

As late as 1973 it was the Arncliffe Girls Intermediate High School, meaning it was not a full academic high school. Prior to that it was Arncliffe Domestic Science School. In 1974, it amalgamated with Tempe Boys' Junior Technical High to form a comprehensive, co-ed full high school at Tempe.

I remember when that merge too place, as I was at high school and our school donated old books to the newly created school. Some act of noblesse oblige no doubt, but I wonder what the kids at Tempe thought about a library stocked not with new books, but the cast-offs and donations from some snooty nosed kids from a selective school! I hope they've been culled by now!

Victorian Domestic Architecture: Belmont and Fairview, built 1881

2008-02-25T09:59:00.002+11:00

Fairview. 197 Wollongong Rd

Belmont: 215 Wollongong Rd

Brothers Thomas and Alexander Milsop were attracted to Australia in 1852 by gold discoveries in Victoria. They failed to make their fortunes there or in New Zealand. They then struck it rich on the Kurrajong goldfield near Forbes in NSW.

The Milsop brothers moved to Wollongong Rd in 1881, purchasing six acres each and erecting two identical houses, Belmont and Fairview. Alexander became the first Mayor of Hurstville.

I don't know anything about their current use, but supect they are either boarding houses, halfway houses or some kind of rehabilitation centres.

Victorian Domestic Architecture: Coburra, built 1905

2008-02-24T23:14:00.001+11:00

Built in 1905, a date more usually associated with Federation style architecture, this ornate rendered brick house is more typical of the late Victorian era.

The western NSW town of Cobar comes from an Aboriginal word, Coburra, meaning 'burnt earth', which was used as a body decoration.

Still a private home.

Victorian Domestic Architecture: Myee/Wilga built 1893. Myee Babies' Home

2008-02-22T17:08:00.008+11:00

220 Forest Road.

Like Dappeto (next entry), this house played a role in the institutional care of children made wards of the state through the 20th century. Subsequent government enquiries have painted a chequered view of the motivations and legacies of such policies.

Brick and stucco. Built in 1893 by John Horatio Clayton, Mayor of Rockdale from 1895 to 1898. Transition in Victorian architecture from rendered brick to use of face brick. Clayton was a solicitor, and founder of law firm Clayton Utz & Co.

Originally called Myee. I discovered that at one stage Myee was a home for Wards of The State, babies who were in "care" for various reasons, and known as . Myee Babies Home - National Library pictures. This was in the era when it was policy to remove children from their parents for various reasons. Children could be classed as state wards on various grounds including any variation on 'being uncontrollable', 'neglected' or 'in moral danger'. In other words, children were often declared 'uncontrollable', 'neglected' or 'exposed to moral danger' and deemed to be wards of the state, not because they had done anything wrong, but because the circumstances in which they found themselves resulted in them being status offenders and often they were institutionalised. In the case of babies, it was often because the mother was unmarried. Other reasons wer eparents' deaths or divorce, parents unable to care for children, economic stress, social disadvantage, Aboriginality.

In 2004, the Australian Senate Community Affairs Committee published a report called Forgotten Australians: A report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children. Included in it was this testimony in Chapter 3 - Why Children Were In Homes:

Single parents (usually mother)

3.40 The Committee received stories from people about how they came to be placed in care because of lack of support for their mothers. This occurred mainly in times when government or other financial support to unmarried mothers was clearly lacking and when being a mother out of marriage carried a stigma, which for many women, would have been too much to endure:

My story begins on 6 September 1932 when I was born to an unmarried 19 year old. My mother had no support from her family, so when I was born at Crown Street Women's Hospital, I stayed there till I was one month old. I was then taken to Myee Children's Home at Arncliffe and made a State Ward...I remained at Myee till I was 18 months old and was then fostered by the Newman family of Campsie. (Sub 179)

Above: Myee Babies' Home, National Library of Australia, 1971

Victorian Domestic Architecture: Dappeto, built 1885. Girls' Home, Retirement Village

2008-02-22T15:58:00.013+11:00

171 Wollongong Road, Arncliffe. A very interesting history associated with this building...including playing its part in the institutional care of girls, with the chequered legacy that left...but first:

One of the finest examples of High Victorian architecture. Built 1885 by oyster merchant Frederick Gibbins (1841 - 1917). Constructed of sandstock face bricks mixed with whale oil to protect against dampness. Patterned Welsh slate roof, surmounted by ornate Captain's Walk.

Gibbins made a fortune as an oyster merchant with leases on nearly all the rivers of northern NSW. He built his own ships to transfer the oysters to Sydney where he had his head office and depot. In 1907, Gibbins' daughter, Ada married naturalist David Stead. Gibbins bought another local house, Lydham Hall, for Ada and Stead. Ada was Stead's second wife; he and his first wife, Ellen Butters, who died in 1904, were parents of Christina Stead (b 1902), who became a noted author. Her works included The Seven Poor Men of Sydney, Letty Fox Her Luck, The Man Who Loved Children. Stead lived most of her life outside of Australia, and was probably most known in the USA. (Lydham Hall was bought by Rockdale Council in 1970. They operate it as a museum. Though close by, it is in Postcode 2216 - Rockdale so out of the scope of this blog!)

Stead wrote of her stepmother, Ada Gibbins: " My stepmother did not like me, very natural, as I was the kind of child only a mother could love and then probably with doubts: her treatment of me was dubious. Sometimes servants thought I was my father’s illegitimate child, at other times, they fancied I was an orphan on my stepmother’s side: friends who came to the house took me aside and told me what I owed the kind people who had taken me in." Here's a fascinating piece about Christina Stead.

When Gibbins died in 1917, the property was bought by the Salvation Army.

From 1917 to 1965 they operated it as a girls' home. In 1916 it was called Arncliffe Girls' Industrial Home; in 1930 it became The Nest - Children's Home and between 1941 and 1969 The Nest - Girls Home. (Information from Senate Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care 2004). Part of the land was subdivided and sold.

In 1969 the Salvos turned it into an aged care home and retirement village. One of the conditions imposed by Council ws that the original building had to be restored. It is still serving that function, and is called "Macquarie Lodge".

Information from: A Village Called Arncliffe by R. W. Rathbone, 1997 and http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/13/oct94/brooke.htm

*David George STEAD was born 6 MAR 1877 in Mount Street, North Sydney, NSW, and died 2 AUG 1957 in Watson's Bay, NSW. Son of Christina McLaren and Samuel Stead. He married Ellen "Nellie" BUTTERS 17 AUG 1901 in Sydney, NSW, daughter of Richard Cameron BUTTERS and Mary BOOTE. She was born 1876 in Sofala, NSW, and died 9 DEC 1904in Camperdown, NSW. He married Ada "Tot" GIBBINS 1 JAN 1907 in "Dappeto", Bexley, NSW, daughter of Frederick GIBBINS and Catherine PICKETT. She was born 12 JUL 1878 in Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW, and died 2 JUN 1951 in Mortdale, NSW. He married Thistle Yolette HARRIS 13 JUN 1951 in Bondi, NSW, daughter of Charles Thomas HARRIS and Ilma Richardson ROKES. She was born 29 JUL 1902 in Mosman, NSW, and died 5 JUL 1990 in Summer Hill,NSW.

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db=dwmeale&id=I0692

Victorian Domestic Architecture: Gladstone and Wentworth, 1886

2008-02-22T14:54:00.005+11:00

134/36 Forest Rd, Arncliffe

Built in 1886, original builder unknown. Pair of Victorian semis. Rendered brick, cast iron lace featuring angels.

Victorian Domestic Architecture: Cairnsfoot, built 1880s. Special School

2008-02-22T14:23:00.008+11:00

Edward Manicom Farleigh was born County Mayo, Ireland in 1838. In 1865 he migrated to Victoria with his wife and two sons, and in 1873 came to Sydney. He established a leather firm at Mascot, a suburb not too distant from Arncliffe (or at least these days!).

In 1884 he bought 5 acres of land in Loftus St, Arncliffe and built this two storey Italianate mansion. By 1885 he and his wife had 10 children!

Farleigh died in 1909 and the land at Cairnsfoot was broken up. The family remained in the residence, and Mrs Farleigh lived here until she died in 1939, aged 98.

In 1955 the final member of the family, Miss Elizabeth Farleigh died. Cairnsfoot was bought by the NSW Department of Education who opened the 'Loftus Street Special School' in 1959.

Since then the Department has restored the building and restored its name. Today it operates as the Cairnsfoot School For Specific Purposes (SSP), for approximately 80 children aged from 4 to 18, with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Information from : A Village Called Arncliffe by R.W.Rathbone, 1997.

Arncliffe Park Part 3

2008-02-22T11:28:00.007+11:00

, park

Above: Tai Chi 25 August 2006
Early autumn, February 2007
Regrassing the cricket pitch 8 Feb 2008

Arncliffe Railway Station

2006-10-10T17:24:00.002+10:00

above: September 2000

8 Sep 2006 - the old indicator boards - soon to be no more.

above: Iron lace work feature, typical of Victorian architecture

The Illawarra railway line, linking Wollongong and the South Coast with Sydney was talked about and supported from the 1860s. At the 1874 election, the voters of west Botany Municipal District enthusiastically supported those candidates who supported the extension of the railway.
By 1878 the route of the line through Arncliffe was clearly defined, and in on 30 November 1881, was approved by Parliament. The result was a modest population explosion, and a lot of subdivision in the Arncliffe area.

The railway opened in October 1884.

Arncliffe station is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture.

Update 22 Feb 2008. Taken Jan 24, 2007 - The electronic boards arrived. Unfortunately they are almost impossible to read; as the light hits the screens they are illegible. That's progress.

Arncliffe Park Part 1

2006-08-07T15:54:00.003+10:00

Arncliffe Park is bound by Wollongong Road, Mitchell St, Hirst St and Broe Avenue. It was originally a Chinese market garden, the property of Kim Too. In March 1889 it was officially proclaimed as a public park.

Before WW1, Wollongong Road grocer, Hugh Wilkins, a Rockdale Council representative 1911-1917, complained bitterly about the lukewarm attitude of police to the "Push" which frequented the park and had attacked "a respectable Chinaman", about footballers undressing in the park, and of people playing cricket and cards on Sundays.

Estate agent Arthur Goddard, a representative of the area 1908 - 1914, criticised the use of the park by open air motion picture operators and the Arncliffe Brass Band playing "ragtime" music in the park on Sundays.

A very big tree in Arncliffe Park

Soccer and cricket are played in the park.

Fog in the park - June 2006

The War Memorial

The Avenue of trees, planted about 1904

Arncliffe Park Part 2

2006-08-07T15:41:00.003+10:00

Local women chat in the park

Local men chat in the park

The cricket nets

I don't know what this is, but suspect it might be the base of an old lamp post.

Children's playground

Arncliffe Post Office opened 1884

2006-07-16T09:36:00.002+10:00

Postal services began in Arncliffe in April 1878, and were located in various general stores until 1884 when they moved to the railway station. The station master, Mr W Marsden conducted the postal business from the railway booking office.

This handsome building of brick and stone was completed in March 1898. Part of it - which was probably the Post Master/Mistress's residence - is now a real estate agency. This lovely building remains one of the best examples of this kind of public building in Postcode 2205. It was restored in recent years.

And here's the Post Office at Arncliffe, Yorkshire

Below, I am making a phone call from Arncliffe, Yorkshire to Arncliffe, Sydney

Cooks River Catchment: Muddy Creek

2006-04-25T23:43:00.002+10:00

Muddy Creek outlet showing concrete channel and across to Sydney Airport.

Fishing in Muddy Creek

This shot and the next one show Muddy Creek where it meets the Cooks River. Directly opposite the mouth is Sydney Airport, which was once a large estuary of the Cooks River.

Boats on Muddy Creek near the Cooks River

Muddy Creek is the Cooks River’s last tributary before it flows into Botany Bay. It drains stormwater runoff to the northeast from Carlton, Kogarah, Rockdale, Banksia, Brighton-Le-Sands and Kyeemagh.
It consists of a brick and concrete lined channel (owned by Sydney Water). There are market gardens alongside it.

Cooks River catchment - Wolli Creek 2

2006-04-25T23:00:00.002+10:00

Wolli Creek where it meets the Cooks River at Tempe, looking upstream.

Looking upstream from the Wolli Creek / Cooks River confluence. The apartment blocks form part of the recently "invented" suburb of Wolli Creek (North Arncliffe). This area was a "brownfields" development - former light industrial - small factories, panel beaters, and even in the 1930s a film studio.

A Cape Barren Goose at Wolli Creek, upstream at Turrella.

Cooks River Catchment: Wolli Creek Valley

2006-04-25T22:59:00.002+10:00

View from Nannygoat Hill. Shows the M5 exhaust stack, the creek, East Hills railway line, the high rise development on and near the Tempe House site at North Arncliffe (now renamed Wolli Creek). Sydney Airport is in the distance.

Wolli Creek looking downstream. A lovely urban creek. Generations of local kids have played in and around the creek and its bushland valley.

Nannygoat Hill. A 1967 proposal, defeated by local residents would have seen this hill levelled to provide fill for the Sydney Airport runway. The original 1978 plan for the F5 Freeway would have seen the east side (right hand side) of the hill completely removed for an 8-lane highway.

Ducks on Wolli Creek. There is also a myriad of local bird species living in and around the creek.

Wolli Creek is a tributary of the Cooks River. Upstream it is mainly confined to a channel, but through Postcode 2205 it is more or less “natural”. It flows into the Cooks River at Tempe railway bridge (you can see the railway bridge in the previous blog).

The Wolli Creek Valley contains the last patch of genuine bushland in the inner southwest of Sydney. It was under real threat when the M5 Motorway was planned to run through it. Fortunately strenuous campaigning by locals such as the Wolli Creek Preservation Society was successful in making the government decide to put the tollway underground (which has caused other problems not least pollution in the tunnel through inadequate ventilation, and the single smoke stack visible in the valley.

The valley is not safe yet – the road reservation has not been lifted, and there are delays in the development of the promised Wolli Creek regional Park, announced six years ago by the state government.

For more information, visit the Wolli Creek Preservation Society.

Cooks River 2

2006-04-25T11:06:00.003+10:00

Looking east along the Cook's River and the bridge at Tempe. The island is called Fatima Island.

Fatima Island and Tempe House

Boats on the Cook's River east of Tempe bridge (visible in the background)

Update - 4 July 2008.

I wondered how Fatima Island got its name. according to this Marrickville Council website:

"It was formed in 1901 and named after October 1951. Hundreds of Catholic nuns and children bearing torches made a ‘Rosary Crusade’ on the river banks in homage to the Virgin Mary symbolised in a statue of Our Lady of Fatima from Portugal. Pope Pius XII asked Catholics across the globe to pray to the Virgin Mary ‘with greater fervour of the heart as is demanded by the increasing urgency of the need’ as well as the conversion of Russia back from Communism."

At the time Tempe House, on the Arncliffe side of the river (see Tempe House blog entry) was a Good Sisters of St Benedict retreat.