The A to Z of 2205: Firmstone Gardens

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

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

From Wollongong Rd end



From Wollongong Rd end



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

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




View Larger Map

Photos taken 10 Aug 2008 and January 2001