Campsies Past

Campsie’s Past A History of Campsie and Croydon Park NSW

by

Brian J Madden and Lesley Muir

No 1 in the series: Bicentennial History of C anterbury’s Suburbs

CONVERSIONS inch foot yard cha in m ile 1 acre 1d (penny) 1s (shilling ) ÂŁ1 (pound)

2.54 ce n tim e tre s 0.30 m etre 0.91 m etre 20.11 m etres 1.60 kilo m e tre s 0.40 hectare 0.8 3 cent 10 cen ts

$2

First p u b lish e d 1988

by C a n te rb u ry M un icip a l C o un cil C o p y rig h t 1988 C a n te rb u ry M un icip a l C o un cil A ll rig h ts reserved N a tion al Lib ra ry o f A u s tra lia C ard No. and ISBN 0 95 95 65 4 1 8 P rin te d in A u s tra lia by P rin ce & M a rtin Pty. Ltd. 361-365 C lyde S tree t, S ou th G ra n ville , N .S.W .

CONTENTS

Page Chapter 1:

The Pioneers (To 1840)

1

Chapter 2:

Farming Community (1840-1879)

9

Chapter 3:

The Campaign for Public Transport (1880-1887)

16

Chapter 4:

Campsie Becomes a Suburb (1888-1895)

22

Chapter 5:

The Railway Arrives (1895-1909)

29

Chapter 6:

Population Explosion (1909-1921)

35

Chapter 7:

Consolidation (1921-1939)

42

Chapter 8:

The War and After (1939-1980)

49

Chapter 9:

Present and Future (From 1980)

54

References

60

Index

61

iii

FOREWORD C a m psie’s Past is th e first of a se rie s of B ice n te n n ia l p u b lica tio n s co m m issio n e d by C o u n cil for the Bicentenary.

In rece nt years th e re has been a m arked in crea se in th e interest in o u r local heritage, as evid e n ce d by th e in cre a sin g n u m b e rs of p e op le using o u r Local S tu d ie s C entre, w h ich o p en ed e a rly in 1988.

This interest is pa rticularly pleasing because as local people take the tim e to research th e ir own fam ily tree, m ore inform ation be co m e s a va ila b le fo r all to use. U ltim a te ly it m ea ns an in cre a se d in te rest and in vo lve m e n t in th e com m u nity, both past and present.

T h is book, and th o se th a t follow, w ill fill a la rge g a p in th e lite ra tu re a va ila ble on th e histo ry of th e m u n ic ip a lity and w ill he lp fo ste r th e c o m m u n ity ’s g ro w in g in te rest in local affairs — It is C o u n c il’s hope th a t it w ill be kept and read by every h o use ho ld.

A n y person w h o has in d ivid u a l c o p ie s of local new spapers, or co p ie s of o th e r local p u b lica tio n s, w ritte n m aterial or p h o to g ra p h s of an histo ric nature, o r in fo rm atio n on local people, fa m ilie s, schools, chu rche s, clubs, s p o rtin g bodies, bu sin esses, etc, o r ab ou t e th n ic g ro u p s rep rese nted in th e M un icip ality, m ig h t m ake th e se a va ila ble to th e C a n te rb u ry and D istrict H isto rical S o cie ty a n d /o r th e C a n te rb u ry Local S tu d ie s C entre, 139 B eam ish S treet, C am psie, for cop yin g o r safe -ke ep ing . T h e se w ill the n be a va ila ble fo r a revised e d itio n , o r som e s u b se q u e n t exp an de d p u b lica tio n , o r for o th er re se a rch e rs fo r a va rie ty of purposes.

JO H N G O R R IE

MAYOR

PREFACE T h is book fo cu se s on C a m psie and C roydon Park, but m en tion s a d jo in in g areas w h en th is is needed to tell th e story of C a m p sie and C roydon Park. T he detailed histo rie s of th e a d jo in in g s u b u rb s is given in sep ara te books.

T h e book is w ritte n to be of interest to past, present and fu tu re residents, to inform them of events in th e past w h ich shaped th e s u b u rb s as th e y are tod ay and to rep ort som e of th e ch a n g e s o c c u rrin g at the pre sen t tim e. T he au th o rs have done th e ir best to m ake the book as co m p re h e n sive and in fo rm a tive as possible, but necessarily, it de als o n ly ve ry b rie fly w ith persons, organisations and events of the past. Details are invited of other persons, groups or organisations, or an im portant event not m en tion ed.

T he authors w ish to th a n k the m any people — local residents, representatives of local org an isatio ns and firm s, governm ent bo dies and C o u n cil staff — w h o have assisted th e m by s u p p lyin g in fo rm a tio n and ph otog rap hs. T hese in c lu d e Joyce O rm sby, Nora Peek, Les Hall, D aphne R u dd uck, Ernie S chu m an n, C live Tanner, Ju d ith Rooke, Adrian S alem , Kevin Cork, D e nise S m ith and D r C A G lu skie and oth ers too n u m e ro u s to list. T h e ir co-o pe ration is sin ce re ly ap pre ciated .

LE S LE Y M UIR BR IAN M A D D E N

v

CHAPTER 1: The Pioneers (To 1840) tim b e r. N u m erou s sm all cre e ks p ro vid ed fresh w a te r.

T he pre cise lo catio ns of trib a l b o u n d a rie s in th e S ydn ey region are not known, as the aborigines died out before any d e ta ile d a n th r o p o lo g ic a l re s e a rc h w a s a tte m p te d .

H ow ever, it is b e lie ved th a t from P ort J a ckso n to B ota ny Bay w as th e c o u n try o f th e C a d ig a l trib e , w ith th e W ang al im m e d ia te ly to th e w est. T h e G w iya ga l (or G w ea ga l) lived in the sw am ps betw een B otany Bay and Port H acking. The te rrito ry o f th is band p ro b a b ly s tre tch e d sou th from C o oks R iver, and from th e sh o re s o f B ota ny B ay w e stw a rd s to w a rd s Liverp ool, o r p e rh a p s it w as th e W a ra n jg a l w ho lived in th is area.

In th e S yd n e y reg io n, th e p o p u la tio n d e n s ity has been e s tim a te d at five to ten pe rso n s per sq u a re m ile. T h e local g ro u p m ay have c o n siste d o f a b o u t th irty to fifty persons, related to each o th e r as an e xte n d e d fa m ily. W ith ab ou t th irty such ba nd s in th e e n viro n s o f Port J a ckso n and B o ta n y Bay, th e to ta l w o uld be so m e w h a t u n d e r 2 000 persons.

In J a n u a ry 1788, eleve n s h ip s sa ile d in to B o ta n y Bay c a rryin g 1 300 p o te n tia l se ttle rs fro m B ritain. S ir Jose ph B an ks had re m e m b e re d th is bay a nd its s u rro u n d in g land as an ideal situ a tio n fo r a se ttle m e n t, so th e o ffic e rs o f the F irs t F le e t d u tifu lly e x p lo re d th e a re a to fin d th e re co m m e n d e d place w h ich had b ro u g h t th e m so fa r from hom e. A boat w as sen t up C o oks R iver, but th e o b serve rs w ere d isap pointed to fin d tha t the stream w as shallow , and th a t th e ba nks w e re a lte rn a te ly s w a m p y and rocky; not a suita ble site for a large tow n. T hey turne d back s om ew here be tw ee n to d a y ’s C a n te rb u ry and C a m p sie , and w e n t to look elsew here fo r m ore pro m isin g land, eve ntua lly find in g a site at Port Ja ckso n .

M ost go od s w e re tra n s p o rte d by w a te r in th e ea rly settlem ent, so the district south of Cooks River, served only

In th e d ista n t past, the s u b u rb o f C a m p sie w as co ve re d by a fo re st d o m in a te d by b la ckb u tt, gre y iro n b a rk, red m a h o g a n y and red b loo dw o od trees. A lo n g C o oks R iver w e re fin e sta n d s of ca su a rin a , and in the sm a ll g u llie s ru n n in g in to th e rivers and cre e ks th ic k m e la le u ca scrub in te rsp e rse d w ith a n g o p h o ra tre e s grew . In S p rin g , the bu sh w as fu ll o f S yd n e y g o ld e n w a ttle , red g re ville a s, p ink bo ron ias, fla n n e l flo w e rs and, on th e s a n d sto n e ridges, G ym ea lilies. Indigenous bird species included the colorful C rim so n and E astern R osellas, as w ell as ho ne yea te rs, m a g p ie s and cu rra w o n g s. G rey ka n g a ro o s and w a lla b ie s ro a m e d fre e ly in th e b u sh , and ko a la s, po ssu m s, b a n d ico o ts and su g a r g lid e rs w ere c o m m o n ly fo u n d . The te rra in s lo p e d g e n tly fro m th e rid g e w h ich is now C a nterb ury Road to C ooks River on the east and north, with a s te e p e r slo p e to C up and S a u ce r C re e k on th e south.

T he ab origin es of the coastal plain of NSW w ere hunters a nd g a th e re rs w h o w e re able to e xp lo it th e m arine e n viro n m e n t. T h e y used th e reso urce s o f th e land, the rive rs and th e sea. A t tim e s, th e ir live lih o o d w as rich, at o th e r tim e s ju s t ad equate. T h e re w ere periods of h a rdsh ip and hunger, pa rticu la rly durin g the late a u tum n and w inter.

T h e c o u n try a ro un d B ota ny Bay and P ort Ja ckso n m ust have been as clo se to p a ra d ise as an a b o rig in e could im agine, and the y had been there for perhaps 35,000 years.

T h e re w as an a b u n d a n t s u p p ly of fish in th e rivers, bays and th e sea, w h ich co u ld be ca u g h t w ith lines o f fib re and she ll hooks, o r by spe aring; th e rocks w ere th ic k ly covered w ith oyste rs. In th e sw a m p s th e re w as w ild fow l, and everyw here, birds (and th e ir eggs) w ere plentiful. Possum s co u ld be ch o p p e d from tre e s and b e e s ’ ne sts c o u ld be raide d fo r w ild honey. K a n ga roo s w ere hu nted , w h ile the w o m en g a th e re d yam s and bu lb s, h u nted g o a n n a s and sn a ke s and dug w itc h e tty g ru b s from th e ir n e sts in rotted

Aboriginal wom en fishing.

(Browne: Sketches in Australia and the South Seas 1842-52. Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

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by a stream to o sh a llo w fo r n a vig a tio n by a n y th in g la rg e r tha n ro w ing boats, w as le ft u n d is tu rb e d fo r th e first year o r tw o. It w as on ly w h e n th e C o lo n y a lm o st ran out o f food in 1790 th a t th e G o v e rn o r’s g a m e ke e p e r, M cE n tire , w as se n t s o u th w e s t o ve r th e “ n o rth arm s o f B o ta n y B a y ” (that is, C o oks R ive r and its trib u ta rie s ) h u n tin g ka n g a ro o s to he lp stave o ff sta rva tio n of th e p e op le o f S ydn ey. He had e a rlie r a n ta g o n ise d P em u lw y, one of th e local a b o rig in a l pe op le, and so w h en M cE n tire a p p e a re d in P e m u lw y ’s ho m e te rrito ry p o a ch in g his ga m e, he w as p ro m p tly sp e a re d to de ath. T h e G o ve rn o r re ta lia te d by s e n d in g out a la rge p a rty of s o ld ie rs to ca tch and “ c u t o ff th e h e a d s ” of th e o ffenders, but the y crashed th ro u g h the bush fo r tw o da ys w ith o u t s e e in g any o th e r h u m an be in gs, and cam e b a ck em p ty-h a n d e d .

F or so m e tim e , th e spre ad o f se ttle m e n t w as c o n fin e d to th e fe rtile d is tric t a ro u n d R ose H ill (P arra m atta ), w h e re th e soil lo oke d p ro m isin g . A rou gh tra c k from S yd n e y w as cle a re d , and e v e n tu a lly the a d m in is tra to r of th e C olony, L ie u te n a n t-G o v e rn o r G rose, w as p e rsu a d e d to g ra n t fa rm la n d alon g th is road. A m o n g th o s e to a c q u ire land betw een 1793 and 1799 was the C haplain of the First Fleet, th e R everend R ichard Jo h n so n , w ho w as gra nted a series of a d jo in in g p ro p e rtie s ab ove C o oks R iver w h ich he con solida te d into a ho ld ing called “ C a n te rb u ry F a rm ” . His assig n e d c o n victs g re w in d ia n corn , w h e a t and ora ng es, and Jo h n so n p ro u d ly sen t ho m e le tte rs to E ng la nd d e s c rib in g his fa rm in g a ch ie ve m e n ts. A tra c k w as form ed b ra n c h in g o ff P a rra m a tta R oad to C a n te rb u ry Farm , and th is w as e xte n d e d as fa r as th e G eo rg es R iver g ra nts near L ive rp o o l a fte r H u n te r ap p ro ve d se ttle m e n t in th is d is tric t in 1798. M uch o f th is road still e xists tod ay, and is still kno w n as “ G e o rg e s R iver R o a d ” fo r p a rt o f its d ista n ce .

T h e Rev. R ichard Jo h n so n w e n t ho m e in 1800, and his fa rm w a s sold to W illia m C ox o f th e N S W C orps.

U nfortunately, Cox overstrained his credit, and in 1803 was ord e re d to E ng la n d to e xp la in th e d e fic ie n c y to his s u p e rio rs . H is p ro p e rty, in c lu d in g th e C a n te rb u ry E state, w a s sold fo r th e b e n e fit of his c re d ito rs, and R obert C a m p b e ll, th e S yd n e y m e rch a n t, be ca m e th e new o w ne r of th e farm o ve rlo o kin g C o oks R iver. T h e fa rm h o u s e was lo ca te d on th e sid e o f a hill n e ar a stream (ne ar to d a y ’s T h ird S tree t, A sh b u ry), and C a n te rb u ry w as used as a g ra z in g p ro p e rty fo r stock.

No d o u b t w o rkers on C a n te rb u ry Farm w andered across th e rive r in to th e fo re st, but th e land sou th o f C o oks R iver rem ained unsettled until after G overnor K ing arrived to take ove r th e C o lo n y ’s a d m in is tra tio n . A fte r th e A m e rica n W ar of In d e p e n d e n ce , th is im p o rta n t s o u rce of sh ip b u ild in g tim b e r had been clo se d to B rita in . K ing, kn o w in g th a t s u p p lie s o f E ng lish o a k at hom e w e re n e arly e xh au ste d, sent exploration parties out under the leadership of Thom as M oore, th e G o ve rn m e n t B o a tb u ild e r, in sea rch of su ita b le tim b e r fo r th e use o f th e Royal Navy, w h ich co u ld be sent b a c k on th e e m p ty c o n v ic t sh ip s. M oo re re p orted ve ry fa v o u ra b ly on th e q u a lity of th e tre e s in th e d is tric t, and it w as probably his report in 1803 w hich induced King to grant th e firs t land sou th o f C o oks River.

1804 is the year in w h ich th e recorded history o f the area now kno w n as C a m p sie begins. In A u g u s t of th a t year, H a n n a h L a y c o c k , th e w ife o f T h o m a s L a y c o c k , Q u a rte rm a s te r o f th e N ew S ou th W a le s C orps, w as given a 500 acre g ra n t w h ich she ca lle d “ K in g ’s G rove F a rm ” , a p ro p e rty w h ich co n ta in e d h u ge iro n b a rk tre e s. Its no rth ern b o u n d a ry w as to d a y ’s W illia m S treet. In ad dition, G ove rn or King g ra nted her you ng er sons, W illiam (then 18) and S a m u e l (then 17) 100 acre s ea ch; land w h ich w as lo ca te d in to d a y ’s s u b u rb o f C a m psie . (See m ap fo r b o u n d a rie s). T h e y ca lle d th e ir fa rm s “ N o rth u m b e rla n d F a rm ” and “ P ercy F a rm ” . T h e se na m es h o n o u r Lord

P ercy, D uke of N o rth u m b e rla n d , w h o w as th e pa tro n of M a jo r G e o rg e Jo h n sto n o f th e N SW C orps.

Hannah and her unm arried childre n m oved to the K in g ’s G rove property alm ost im m ediately. T hey built a house and cle a re d an acce ss road, w h ich is now B ea m ish Street, c ro ssin g C o oks R iver by a b rid g e at th e n o rth e rn end, and jo in in g th e road w h ich ran from S yd n e y to the G eo rg es River.

No fu rth e r fa rm la n d w as gra n te d in th e d is tric t un til the tim e of the rebel g o ve rn m e n t of th e Rum C o rp s (1808-9), w h en L ie u te n a n t C o lo n e l P aterson g ra n te d 100 acres “ b o u n d e d on th e SE by S am u el L a y c o c k ’s fa rm , on th e E by th e p re se n t C a rt R o a d ” to Jo h n R e dm a n, th e C h ief C o n sta b le of S ydney. T he “ ca rt ro a d ” used as a b o un da ry by th e su rve yo r w as th e tra c k to K in g ’s G rove Farm .

R e dm a n, by his ow n a cco u n t in th e 1828 C e nsu s, had arrive d in th e S e co n d F lee t on th e “ S u rp ris e ” . He cam e fro m S usse x in E n g la nd, and had been trie d at East G rin ste a d in 1787 and se n te n ce d to tra n s p o rta tio n fo r 14 years. O ne of R e d m a n ’s d e scen da nts c la im s tha t the 1828 C e n su s is erro n e o u s, and th a t he ca m e to A u s tra lia w ith th e F irst F leet as one o f th e m arines. In an y event, he w as a free settler by 1809, a responsible citizen, and considered e lig ib le , alon g w ith o th e rs em p lo ye d to keep th e pe ace in th e C olony, to rece ive a la rge g ra n t o f la nd to c le a r and cu ltiv a te fo r his ow n use.

T h e re w as som e re sista n ce by a h a n d fu l of a b o rig in e s led by P em ulw y and his son T e d b u ry to the spread of w hite settlem ent. T hey w ere active from the G eorges R iver to the w e st o f P arram atta, and, in 1809, th e re w e re tw o in cide nts d ire c tly relatin g to ou r area. O ne w as an atta ck on the farm of W illiam Bond, w hose next-door ne ighbour was Frederick M e re d ith . T h e se fa rm s w e re a t to d a y ’s s u b u rb o f P u n ch b o w l, fu rth e r w e st alon g th e road to G eo rg es River.

S eve ral spe ars w e re th ro w n , one o f w h ich grazed th e ear of M r M ere dith w h o w as a ssistin g in th e d e fe n ce of the Bond Farm . W isely, the de fe n d e rs a b a n do ned the farm for a tim e.

A few days later, fo rty th re e sh e e p w e re d riven o ff from a flo c k be tw ee n p re se n t d a y H o m eb ush and C a n te rb u ry.

N ine rejoin ed th e flo c k and th e oth e rs w e re tra ce d as far as C ooks River, w h ich w as a b o u t tw o and a h a lf m iles from th e place w h e re th e sh e e p w e re ta ke n . T h e ne xt day, tw o sh e e p w e re fo u n d roa sting in a fire, o th e rs w e re dead but th e re m a in d e r w ere a p p a re n tly not fou nd. As w e know , the position of the aborigines was hopeless. W ithin a few years o f w h ite s ettlem ent, the a borigines had lost th e ir land, were s tric k e n w ith d isea ses b ro u g h t by th e E uro pe an settle rs, and s u ffe re d b re a kd o w n s in th e ir cu ltu ra l and e co n o m ic system s. By 1827, th e re w ere o n ly tw e n ty a b o rig in e s (nine m en, six w o m en and five c h ild re n ) le ft in th e w h o le o f the Live rp o o l p o lice d is tric t, w h ich in clu d e d th e B o ta n y Bay d istrict.

W h e n G o ve rn o r M a cq u a rie arrive d at th e end of 1809 to ta ke o ve r th e C o lo n y from th e rebel a d m in istra tio n , he c o n firm e d th o se g ra n ts m ade by th e R um C o rps w h ich he co n sid e re d had been m ade w ith th e rig h t m otive of encouraging self-sufficient farm ing. Redm an was given title to his 100 a cre “ Jo h n F a rm ” , and also a tow n a llo tm e n t in th e n o to rio u s B row n B ea r Lane in S y d n e y ’s R ocks District. T he town property w as w here Redm an and his new w ife, M ary G eo rg e, e sta b lish e d th e ir fa m ily ho m e (w hich eventually becam e a Public House called the “ Keep W ithin C o m p a s s ” ), w h ile he sen t c o n v ic t e m p lo ye e s to cle a r his fa rm . T h e la rge e u ca lyp ts on th e p ro p e rty su p p lie d the S yd n e y ga ol w ith fire w o o d and tim b e r fo r m an y years.

R e d m a n ’s ch ie f te n a n t, Jo h n B rice, la te r received his ow n g ra n t of 30 acre s in to d a y ’s Belm ore.

It w as G o ve rn o r La chlan M a c q u a rie ’s p o licy to get to know the C olony he governed as soon as possible. His first

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C lu e r’s farm w ith his fe llo w e m p lo ye e s fo r th e w h ole m o rn in g o f th e m u rd e r, and had no sig n of b lo o d sta in s on his blue ja c k e t and trouse rs, his on ly set of clo th es. He had b o rrow e d S ty le s ’s bro ad axe b rie fly on th e S u n d a y nigh t, b u t o n ly to sm o o th th e axe h a n d le s he hope d to sell in S ydney. His a ttitu d e to th e c o n sta b le s had been he lp fu l, and he had d isp la ye d no re lu cta n ce to lead th e m to the body. E m p lo ye rs had n o th in g but p ra ise fo r his ch a ra cte r.

O n th e o th e r hand, M r C ro o k te s tifie d th a t S tyle s had proved untrustw orthy in sm all m atters, and had com plained seve ral tim e s ab ou t R oberts. S tyles w as th e o n ly person w ho could point out the place of the m urder, and had shown th e m th e head and th e c lo th e s a good d is ta n c e ap a rt. He had also given H e n d ric k a b lo o d sta in e d bag to re tu rn to C lu e r’s farm .

T h e “ W e llin g to n ” had a lre a d y sailed , so n o th in g cou ld be d o ne to prove o r disp ro ve th e story.

A w e e k later, J a c k B rice fo u n d th e tw o dogs from the p ro p e rty u n d e r a red gu m tre e g n a w in g a m a n ’s leg and foo t. In ho rror, he ca lle d H e n d rick, w ho crie d , “ M y G od, th is m ust be T h o m a s ’s leg and fo o t” . T h e tw o m en took th e lim b aw ay from th e do gs and lo cke d it in the d a iry — th e n H e n d rick w e n t to ask T hom a s P ro sse r to m ind the farm (S tyles w as aw ay in S ydney) so th a t he cou ld rep ort th e fin d to M r C rook. In the m ea ntim e , J a c k B rice headed fo r S yd n e y to m ake his ow n rep ort. W hen P rosser and H e n d ric k cam e back, P rosse r su g g e ste d th a t th e y firs t fo llo w th e do gs, to see if th e y co u ld fin d a n y m ore of the body. T h e b la ck dog led th e w ay to th e fe rn s by th e river, w h e re th e y fo u n d a leg and th ig h o f a w h ite m an — and flo a tin g on the w a te r on e ith e r sid e of th e rive r w ere tw o m ore pa rts o f th e tru n k of the body. H e n d rick w e n t to S ydn ey to rep ort th e ir gru e so m e find , and, sin ce B rice had already reported the crim e, he w as prom ptly put in custody.

T hree co n sta b le s w ere s en t to th e farm to m ake enquiries, w ith J a c k B rice as g u id e, and th e re th e y w e re m et by P rosser, still m in d in g th e place. He offe re d to sho w the m th e body, and w as im m e d ia te ly a rre ste d , take n b a ck in to S ydn ey, and ch a rg e d , w ith S tyles, w ith th e axe m u rd e r of T hom as Roberts. Both m en pleaded “ not g u ilty” . H endrick w as released tw o days later, and appeared as chief w itness fo r th e pro se cu tio n .

In his sta te m e n t, S tyles a ccu se d P rosse r o f killin g R o b e rts w h ile H e n d ric k w as ab sen t, so th a t he cou ld rent th e farm from M r C rook. At th e tria l, ho w e ver, clo se q u e s tio n in g o f all w itn e sse s reve aled th a t P ro sse r w as at

Jo h n S tyle s w as fo u n d g u ilty o f th e m u rd e r, w h ile T h o m a s P rosse r w as a cq u itte d . T he J u d g e A d vo ca te ended his address by saying that “ he trusted (Styles) w ould fin d s u ffic ie n t aid d u rin g th e s h o rt in te rva l th a t m ig h t be allo tte d to him , to pre p a re him fo r th e aw fu l ch a n g e th a t w as at hand, and obtain m ercy and forgiven ess in the aw ful presence of his offended M aker. — T he S entence w as then p ro n o u n ce d ; w h ich d o om e d th e u n h a p p y c rim in a l to be e xe cu te d upon such a d a y as sh o u ld be a p p o in te d by His E xce lle n cy th e G o ve rn o r, and his bo dy a fte rw a rd s take n fo r d is s e c tio n ” . S tyle s w as e xe cu te d a fe w da ys later.

F re d e rick H e n d ric k die d of n a tural ca u se s in 1817, aged 36 yea rs, w h ile T h o m a s P ro sse r e v e n tu a lly rece ive d his absolute pardon and joine d the ranks of em a ncipist settlers in A ustra lia . Ja ck B rice w ith his w ife, E lizab eth, lived all his

Cornelius P ro u t’s “ Belle O m bre’: (Cooks River Cottage of the Under Sheriff 1847. Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

5

C lu e r’s farm w ith his fe llo w e m p lo ye e s fo r th e w h ole m o rn in g o f th e m u rd e r, and had no sig n of b lo o d sta in s on his blue ja c k e t and trouse rs, his on ly set of clo th es. He had b o rrow e d S ty le s ’s bro ad axe b rie fly on th e S u n d a y nigh t, b u t o n ly to sm o o th th e axe h a n d le s he hope d to sell in S ydney. His a ttitu d e to th e c o n sta b le s had been he lp fu l, and he had d isp la ye d no re lu cta n ce to lead th e m to the body. E m p lo ye rs had n o th in g but p ra ise fo r his ch a ra cte r.

O n th e o th e r hand, M r C ro o k te s tifie d th a t S tyle s had proved untrustw orthy in sm all m atters, and had com plained seve ral tim e s ab ou t R oberts. S tyles w as th e o n ly person w ho could point out the place of the m urder, and had shown th e m th e head and th e c lo th e s a good d is ta n c e ap a rt. He had also given H e n d ric k a b lo o d sta in e d bag to re tu rn to C lu e r’s farm .

T h e “ W e llin g to n ” had a lre a d y sailed , so n o th in g cou ld be d o ne to prove o r disp ro ve th e story.

A w e e k later, J a c k B rice fo u n d th e tw o dogs from the p ro p e rty u n d e r a red gu m tre e g n a w in g a m a n ’s leg and foo t. In ho rror, he ca lle d H e n d rick, w ho crie d , “ M y G od, th is m ust be T h o m a s ’s leg and fo o t” . T h e tw o m en took th e lim b aw ay from th e do gs and lo cke d it in the d a iry — th e n H e n d rick w e n t to ask T hom a s P ro sse r to m ind the farm (S tyles w as aw ay in S ydney) so th a t he cou ld rep ort th e fin d to M r C rook. In the m ea ntim e , J a c k B rice headed fo r S yd n e y to m ake his ow n rep ort. W hen P rosser and H e n d ric k cam e back, P rosse r su g g e ste d th a t th e y firs t fo llo w th e do gs, to see if th e y co u ld fin d a n y m ore of the body. T h e b la ck dog led th e w ay to th e fe rn s by th e river, w h e re th e y fo u n d a leg and th ig h o f a w h ite m an — and flo a tin g on the w a te r on e ith e r sid e of th e rive r w ere tw o m ore pa rts o f th e tru n k of the body. H e n d rick w e n t to S ydn ey to rep ort th e ir gru e so m e find , and, sin ce B rice had already reported the crim e, he w as prom ptly put in custody.

T hree co n sta b le s w ere s en t to th e farm to m ake enquiries, w ith J a c k B rice as g u id e, and th e re th e y w e re m et by P rosser, still m in d in g th e place. He offe re d to sho w the m th e body, and w as im m e d ia te ly a rre ste d , take n b a ck in to S ydn ey, and ch a rg e d , w ith S tyles, w ith th e axe m u rd e r of T hom as Roberts. Both m en pleaded “ not g u ilty” . H endrick w as released tw o days later, and appeared as chief w itness fo r th e pro se cu tio n .

In his sta te m e n t, S tyles a ccu se d P rosse r o f killin g R o b e rts w h ile H e n d ric k w as ab sen t, so th a t he cou ld rent th e farm from M r C rook. At th e tria l, ho w e ver, clo se q u e s tio n in g o f all w itn e sse s reve aled th a t P ro sse r w as at

Jo h n S tyle s w as fo u n d g u ilty o f th e m u rd e r, w h ile T h o m a s P rosse r w as a cq u itte d . T he J u d g e A d vo ca te ended his address by saying that “ he trusted (Styles) w ould fin d s u ffic ie n t aid d u rin g th e s h o rt in te rva l th a t m ig h t be allo tte d to him , to pre p a re him fo r th e aw fu l ch a n g e th a t w as at hand, and obtain m ercy and forgiven ess in the aw ful presence of his offended M aker. — T he S entence w as then p ro n o u n ce d ; w h ich d o om e d th e u n h a p p y c rim in a l to be e xe cu te d upon such a d a y as sh o u ld be a p p o in te d by His E xce lle n cy th e G o ve rn o r, and his bo dy a fte rw a rd s take n fo r d is s e c tio n ” . S tyle s w as e xe cu te d a fe w da ys later.

F re d e rick H e n d ric k die d of n a tural ca u se s in 1817, aged 36 yea rs, w h ile T h o m a s P ro sse r e v e n tu a lly rece ive d his absolute pardon and joine d the ranks of em a ncipist settlers in A ustra lia . Ja ck B rice w ith his w ife, E lizab eth, lived all his

Cornelius P ro u t’s “ Belle O m bre’: (Cooks River Cottage of the Under Sheriff 1847. Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

5

and Ja m e s C la rk (B u rk e ’s Farm ). A lto g e th e r, th e re were 615 acre s o c c u p ie d , 226 acre s c le a re d , but o n ly 21 acres cultivated, m ost of it on B u rke ’s farm . Six of the seven cattle in th e d is tric t w e re also lo cated on B u rk e ’s farm . T h e total population of to d a y’s sub urb of C am psie in 1828 was seven m en, fo u r w o m en and tw o ch ild re n .

D u ring th e boom yea rs o f th e 1830s, th e bu yin g and s e llin g o f land be ca m e a p o p u la r pa stim e, and the pro pe rties around the old cart road changed hands several tim e s. A b ra h a m P olack, a S yd n e y a u ctio n e e r, b o u g h t B ram shot; W illiam Laycock sold N o rthum berland Farm and an a d jo in in g p ro p e rty to his sister-in-law , Je m im a Jen kin s, and th e g ra n ts to B urke, M cC a be and B e n tle y w ere con solida te d in to one h o ld ing by a c le rk in th e O ffice o f the C o lo n ia l S e cre ta ry, C o rn e liu s Prout.

P rout b u ilt a b rick house on his c o u n try estate, w h ich he c a lle d “ B e lle O m b re ” (a ro m a n tic n a m e m e a n in g “ be au tifu l s h a d o w ” ), and, to get round th e in con venien ce of crossing C o oks R iver at th e P unch Bow l, opened a punt in 1833 at a po in t on th e river near his residence. T h is punt serve d tw o p u rpo ses: it gave him an e a sy w a y hom e, and it also p ro vid ed an in co m e fe rry in g o th e r p e op le ove r the river. He c ha rge d p a ssen ge rs o ne s h illin g for the sho rt trip across, but, despite the expense, the punt proved popular, and, w ith R obert C a m p b e ll’s a g re e m e n t, th e tra c k to the C anterbury Estate w as extended down to Cooks River, and up th e hill pa st N o rth u m b e rla n d Farm on the o th e r side.

T h is tra c k is now kno w n as C a n te rb u ry Road.

T h e na ture of the C o lon y cha ng ed d u rin g th e 1820s and 1830s, as fre e se ttle rs bega n to arrive: at firs t o n ly tho se w ho could afford to pay the ir passage, but later, im m igrants w hose passage w as s ubsidised un d e r the Bounty schem e.

By now, m a n y o f th e fo rm e r co n v ic ts had o b ta in e d th e ir fre e d o m , som e had be co m e ve ry rich, and m ost had a cq u ire d a se n se o f p ride in th e ir ow n a ch ie ve m e n ts.

A braham Polack w as one such em ancipist, w hile C ornelius Prout w as a free settle r. In 1827, th e y had cla she d over the c o u n te r in th e C o lon ia l S e c re ta ry ’s O ffice , and P rout, the p u b lic servant, had been m ade to ap ologise fo r being rude to a m e m b e r o f th e p u b lic. He w as ve ry a g g rie ve d at th is, and en de d his le tte r of e xp la n a tio n : “ I sh o u ld co n sid e r m yself to be m uch degra ded if I in any w ay entered the field of c o n tro v e rs y w ith a m an w h o w as sen t to th is C o lo n y for c rim e ” . P rout had yet to learn th a t S yd n e y w as no lo ng er a g lo rifie d ja il, and th a t, in th e new a tm o sp h e re w h ich had been cre a te d by G o ve rn o r M acq ua rie, it w as co n sid e re d ve ry bad form to refer to a m a n ’s c rim in a l reco rd a fte r he had serve d his tim e. S even yea rs later, P olack o b tain ed a c e rta in reve ng e fo r th e in su lt w h en he sold B u rke and M cC a b e ’s gra nts to Prout fo r a sub stantia l profit, and Prout w as fo rce d to sha re his ne ig h b o u rh o o d w ith th is m an, now his n e xt-d o o r n e ig h b o u r.

In 1834, W .H . M oore sold th e B rig hton E state to F rancis S tep hen , son of M r J u s tic e J o h n S te p h e n o f the S u p rem e C o urt. He s u b d ivid e d th e p ro p e rty in to sm all fa rm s, on a plan w h ich fo rm a lly c o n firm e d the e xiste n ce of th is section o f G e o rg e ’s R iver Road, and cre a te d a new no rth -sou th road (now B urw ood Road) th ro u g h the ce n tre o f the estate to a ford on C ooks R iver opposite R e dm a n’s S toneless Bay farm (now th e F ifth A ve n u e crossing ) A b ra h a m P olack, as S te p h e n ’s esta te ag en t, w as e m p lo ye d to w rite th e a d v e rtis e m e n ts fo r th e new s u b d ivisio n , and to c o n d u c t th e au ction . O ne o f his tasks w as to o ve rco m e an u n fa vo u ra b le im a ge of th e d is tric t in th e eyes o f th e p u b lic, as th e road via th e P un ch Bow l w as c o n sid e re d a d a n g e ro u s one fo r tra ve lle rs. S eve ral huts bu ilt on th e C a n te rb u ry E state at L iverp ool Road A sh fie ld w e re sly-g rog shops, th e “ reso rt o f all so rts o f bad ch a ra cte rs and a ha rb o u r fo r b u s h ra n g e rs ” , and the drays of bullock-drivers w ere re g ularly robbed of th e ir load by the

life in th e d is tric t, ea rn in g a livin g as a s h in g le s p litte r.

P erh ap s th is m u rd e r d re w a tte n tio n to th e d is tric t; fo r b e tw e e n 1816 and 1820 new fa rm e rs a p p lie d fo r th e rest of th e v a ca n t p ro p e rty in th e area a ro u n d th e road to L a y c o c k ’s farm . W .P . C ro o k re co m m e n d e d M ichael M cC a be , a s e ttle r o f C o n co rd , as a w o rth y re cip ie n t, as he w a s “ m a rrie d , w ith s to c k ” . He rece ive d a p ro m ise of 50 acres, and prom ptly m oved to the land and erected a “ good sub stantia l house, sheds, a s to ckya rd ” and cleared “ good p a stu re fo r c a ttle ” . W h e n C ro o k w e n t to T a h iti to co n tin u e his m issio n a ry a c tiv ity in 1816, he co u ld be c o n te n t tha t at least one farm er o f e xe m plary c h a ra cte r w as established in th e v ic in ity o f his ow n land to keep an eye on the o ccu p a n ts.

In 1817, T h o m a s C apon, a fre e s e ttle r, to o k ove r the a p p lic a tio n o f W .J. Speed fo r th e 200 acre s betw een Joh n F arm and th e river. He staye d in S yd n e y ju s t long en ou gh to reg ister the fa rm ’s nam e as “ S ton ele ss B a y” , and to sell it to Jo h n R e dm a n, th e n he w e n t to T a sm a n ia . T h is w as th e o n ly g ra n t in th e area w h e re th e d e ed s w ere registered p ro m p tly.

T h e fo llo w in g yea r, T h o m a s M oore, th e G o ve rn m e n t B o a tb u ild e r, re co m m e n d e d th a t one o f his saw yers, Joh n Burke, rece ive pro pe rty. He selected 35 acre s on th e river, w ith a s m a ll c re e k flo w in g th ro u g h th e la nd , and co m m e n ce d to fell th e tre e s. He had cle a re d and le ft the p ro p e rty by 1826.

T he last farm adjoining B ram shot w as 80 acres prom ised in 1820 to a retire d so ld ie r, Jo h n B en tley, w h o had arrived in th e C o lon y on th e “ P itt” in 1792. D espite his req ue st for land n e ar K in g ’s G ro ve to farm on his ow n be ha lf, he also p la ce d a te n a n t on th e land.

B en tley, M cC a be and B urke all rece ive d th e ir o fficia l gra nts in 1823, but C rook had to w a it until he returned from m issio n a ry w o rk in T a h iti in 1831 b e fo re his de ed s w ere issued.

By 1824, S am u el L a y c o c k ’s “ P ercy F a rm ” had passed th ro u g h th e ha nd s o f tw o ab se n te e ow ne rs, be fore it b e ca m e th e p ro p e rty of S o lom o n Levey, th e S ydn ey m e rch a n t. Joh n B e n tle y had also sold his farm ve ry soon a fte r gra nt.

North o f Cooks River, the large B righton Estate adjoining C a n te rb u ry Farm , th ro u g h w h ich L a y c o c k ’s a cce ss road led, w as sold by S im e o n Lord to W .H . M oore, s o licito r. He fe n c e d o ff his p ro p e rty and clo se d a cce ss to all tra ve lle rs, in c lu d in g th o se w h o w a n te d to cro ss C o oks R iver at L a y c o c k ’s B rid ge . M oo re a n n o u ce d th a t he had cle a re d a new road on th e w e ste rn sid e of B rig h to n Farm , le ad ing from the Liverpool Road (opened 1814) to jo in the G eorges R iver R oad, c ro ssin g C o oks R iver at th e P unch B ow l, a n a tu ra l ba sin in th e la n d sca p e . T h e new road is now C o ro n a tio n P arade, E nfie ld . T h is be ca m e th e o n ly w ay s e ttle rs co u ld reach th e ir fa rm s so u th o f th e river, so an a cce ss tra c k w as g ra d u a lly fo rm e d from th e P un ch Bowl acro ss R e d m a n ’s S ton ele ss Bay pro pe rty, w ith b ra n ch in g pa th s to th e old c a rt road and to B ra m sh o t. N one o f the se tra c k s e xist tod ay. L a y c o c k ’s B rid g e w as clo sed , and probably never opened again to cart traffic. Laycock’s road, ho w e ver, re m a in e d as a line on all o ffic ia l m aps.

In 1826, W illia m P ithers, a s e ttle r in the M oo rfield s area, w as ap pointed a con stable fo r the B otany Bay D istrict. O ne o f his e a rly o ffic ia l ta sks w as to tra ve l th e c o u n try s id e in 1828, fillin g in a ce n su s return fo r each o ccu p ie d farm .

A t th e 1828 ce n su s, Jo h n R e d m a n ’s esta te w as c le a rly th e la rg e st in th e d is tric t. T h e fa rm h o u s e w as on Joh n Farm , te n a n te d by th e saw yer, Joh n R yan, his fa m ily and his e m p lo yees; 200 of th e 500 acres had been cle are d, but o n ly fo u r a cre s w e re c u ltiv a te d . J a c k B rice had m oved on to his ow n pro p e rty. T w o o th e r sa w ye rs w e re also c le a rin g fa rm s in th e d is tric t — E dw ard Lenyen (B e n tle y ’s Farm ),

6

land, it w o uld be th e kn o w le dg e of having trod on th e sam e g ro u n d w ith th a t n e ve r to be fo rg o tte n m a n ” . His pa rtn e r added, in a su b se q u e n t ad ve rtise m e n t, th a t it w as an ideal site for a C ountry Villa: “ Indeed, w hen the house is erected, th e g ro u n d s laid out, and n a ture is b lo o m in g in all her gay array, it w ould req uire no stretch of the im a gin atio n to fan cy o n e s ’ s e lf on th e P ark o f R ich m o n d , o ve rlo o kin g the sp le n d id sce n e ry of th e lo w la nd s, w ith th e R iver T ham e s w in d in g its cou rse w ith sin u o sitie s along, th ro u g h the fertile m ea ds be lo w . . . To in valids, it a ffo rd s an o p p o rtu n ity of e re ctin g an A sylu m , w h e re th e y m ay bre a th e th e pure air, a p a rt as it w e re from th e w o rld ” .

T he B rig h to n E state sold w ell, a lth o u g h th e a llo tm e n ts

in h a b ita n ts. If th e se th ie ve s w e re s u c c e s s fu lly avo id ed, th e n th e road to th e P unch Bow l fo rm e d an a d d itio n a l hazard; in w et w eather it w as so m uddy as to be ‘ ‘absolutely im p a s s a b le ” . T he A u stra lia n , in A p ril 1836, d e cla re d : “ If a d ra y su cce e d s in s u rm o u n tin g th e hill at th e P un ch Bowl a fte r th e ne xt tw e n ty fo u r h o u rs’ rain, w e w ill en g a g e to eat it ” .

W hen th e B rig h to n E state w as su b d ivid e d , how ever, A bra ha m P olack de scrib ed the a llo tm e n ts as “ G arde ns of E d e n ” , and, w ith the typ ica l e xa g g e ra tio n of an esta te ag en t, cla im e d : “ T he cla ssic w a te rs o f o u r im m o rta l navig ator Cook, m ea nd er throu gh the se lu xuria nt grounds, and if a n yth in g co u ld po ssib ly e n h a n ce th e va lu e o f th is

Brighton Farm subdivision, 1836-38.

(Map by Lesley Muir).

7

w e re slo w to be se ttle d . T h e new o c c u p a n ts w e re m ostly m a rke t g a rd e n e rs, and five lice n se d inns w e re op ened a lo n g L ive rp o o l Road to re p la ce th e sly-g ro g sh o p s of the C a n te rb u ry E state.

W illia m Lees and his w ife S arah w e re p ro b a b ly th e e a rlie s t fa rm e rs s o u th o f G e o rg e s R iver Road on B rig h to n Farm ; the fa m ily hom e w as on the south-w est corner, facing th e P un ch Bow l cro ssin g , and to d a y ’s Lees A ve n u e runs th ro u g h th e ce n tre o f th e ir fo rm e r p ro pe rty.

By 1839, A b ra h a m P olack had m ad e en o u g h m on ey from real esta te to ta ke his fa m ily hom e to E ng la nd, so tha t his children could be educated in style. The S ydney M onitor re p o rte d on S e p te m b e r 22 th a t th e “ R o th sch ild of N ew S ou th W a le s ” had le ft b e hind a c ity house fu rn is h e d w ith “ tw o s u p e rio r p ia n o fo rte s, . . . ca rria g e s, gigs, . . . one of th e rich e st c u t-g la s s ch a n d e lie rs in th e c o u n try . . . and a s ilv e r d in n e r-s e rv ic e c o m p le te ” . H is tru ste e s w e re given th e ta sk o f se llin g th e c o u n try esta te , B ram sh ot, and o th e r land fu rth e r alon g th e rive r to w a rd s U n d e rc liffe . T e n a n t farm ers, Joh n Deam on and his w ife E lizabeth, w ere placed on th e p ro p e rty to look a fte r th e “ sw e e t v illa re s id e n c e ” ,

w ith its “ firs t rate ga rd e n , w e ll sto cke d w ith c h o ic e fru it tre e s ” and “ im m e n se la go on w ith a n e ve r-fa ilin g s u p p ly o f p u re w a te r” . T h re e a ssig n e d co n victs o ccu p ie d the o ve rse e r and m e n ’s huts, and th e p ro p e rty flo u rish e d .

J o h n R e dm a n retire d from th e C o lon ia l S e rvice at the age o f 70, in 1832, and w as a w ard ed a pe nsion o f £70 a year. He die d in 1837, le avin g his p ro p e rty to be d ivid e d a m o ng his sons. Jo h n ju n io r and Jo se p h sold J o h n Farm and S u d b u ry w ith in fo u r yea rs, but W illia m kep t St C lair, and R o be rt H a rris B land R e dm a n, th e y o u n g e st son, leased S ton ele ss Bay to his m othe r fo r a no m in al rent (one s h illin g per an nu m ) fo r 30 years, o r un til her de ath. The de ed , da ted M ay 23, 1849, a fte r R obert had rea che d 21 yea rs of age, said th a t M ary R edm an had been residin g on the farm , and that she had “ at her own and sole expense b u ilt a co tta g e c o n ta in in g six room s w ith the kitch e n and o th e r o u th o u se s on th e p ro p e rty and o th e rw ise im p roved th e sam e to th e value o f a b o u t £ 6 00” .

It is a lm o st ce rta in th a t M ary R e d m a n ’s fa rm h o u se , e n la rg e d and exte n d e d in b rick, w as still sta n d in g on the p ro p e rty (at the end of H a rco u rt A ven ue ) until ab ou t 1970.

Clearing the land.

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CHAPTER 2: Farming Community (1840-1879) T h e o w n e rs of th e su g a r fa c to ry d o n a te d a p ie ce o f land in M in te r S tre e t to th e T ru ste e s o f th e W e sle ya n C h urch , and, in 1841, a sm all ston e c h u rch , used th ro u g h th e w eek as a scho ol, w as b u ilt th e re . W h ile th is sch o o l w as m ea nt to pro vid e an ed u ca tio n fo r the c h ild re n o f th e b u ild e rs and e m p lo ye e s o f th e s u g a r fa cto ry, it also b ro u g h t sch o o lin g w ith in w a lkin g d is ta n c e of th e c h ild re n livin g sou th o f the rive r as w e ll. E d u ca tio n at th is tim e w as not c o m p u ls o ry a nd in m ost case s not th o u g h t to be o f m uch im p o rta n ce c o m p a re d w ith th e ne ed s o f da y-to -da y livin g , so the s c h o o l’s p o p u la tio n m a y have va rie d d e p e n d in g on th e a ttitu d e of th e parents.

O n ce th e fa c to ry bega n to o p e ra te in S e p te m b e r 1842, th e p e op le be yon d C o oks R iver fo u n d e m p lo ym e n t p ro vid ing w ood fo r the boilers. P ercy Farm w as ad vertise d as a very good buy: “ the tim b e r fo r bu ild in g and firin g pays over and above the clearing and ge tting the ground in order a nd a fte r all th is p ro fit, an e x c e lle n t a g ric u ltu ra l fa rm ” . It w as sold fo r £400 to C a th e rin e M a cp h e rso n , and she retained an interest in th e p ro p e rty th ro u g h m ortgages until th e end o f th e ce n tu ry. H e r hu sb a n d , J o se p h , fa rm e d the land.

By 1843, th e villa g e at C a n te rb u ry had be com e th e local cen tre for sh o pp ing and trading . The m en of the area could m eet at th e new “ C a n te rb u ry A rm s ” inn, w h ile the w om en p a tro n ise d B a rn a b a s and M ary H a rts h o rn ’s store, w h ich sold e ve ryth in g from axes to fin e bo nn ets. N ew se ttle rs could be assured that the y w ould no longer be isolated from civ iliz a tio n w h en th e y m oved to th e d istrict.

S eve ral p u b lic h o use s w e re to be b u ilt in C a n te rb u ry w ith in th e fo llo w in g fe w years: th e “ S u g a r W o rk s ” , bu ilt

by J a m e s M urp hy, lasted on ly on e ye a r as an inn, but C ornelius P rou t’s “ S ug ar Loaf” and G eorge D e nt’s “ Rising S u n ” each developed a loyal clientele from north and south o f th e river, c o n firm in g th e im p o rta n c e of th e su g a rw o rks v illa g e in th e life o f th e people.

Jo h n Farm w as sold again on A u g u st 10 1846, to R obert a nd H ugh S cott, fo r £200. T h e y ren am e d it “ C a m psie F a rm ” — a na m e b e lo n g in g to a ran ge of h ills n o rth of G lasg ow in S cotland. D uring th e 1850s, th e S cott B rothers o ccu p ie d th e p ro p e rty, b u t th e y e v e n tu a lly m oved to Q u e e n sla n d , and la te r b a ck to E n g la nd, le a vin g th e nam e o f “ C a m p s ie ” as a la stin g re m in d e r o f th e ir ow n e rsh ip .

T h e boom pe rio d of th e 1830s, w h ich m ade A b ra h a m P olack so rich, also b ro u g h t E n g lish in ve sto rs to A u s tra lia to seek th e ir fortune. In J u ly 1840, the “ A nn G a le s” arrived in S yd n e y H a rbo ur, c a rry in g tw o C o m p a n y D irectors, W illia m Knox C h ild and F rancis K em b le , th e ir fam ilies, th irty B ounty im m ig ra n ts, bound un d e r ag re e m e n t to w ork fo r a new co m p a n y in A u s tra lia — and “ one s u g a r plant, c o m p le te ” . R obert C a m p b e ll, alw ays on th e lo o ko u t fo r a p ro fita b le v e n tu re , o ffe re d a se ctio n o f his C a n te rb u ry E state p ro p e rty to th e new su g a r re fin in g co m p a n y, and, by th e end o f 1840, a sm all v illa g e of im m ig ra n ts, sto n e m a so n s, b ric k m a k e rs and c a rp e n te rs had form ed o p p o site P ro u t’s P unt. T he new b u ild in g w as to be c o n s tru c te d o f local m aterials, in c lu d in g iro n b a rk tim b e r fro m sou th of C o oks R iver, and it be ca m e ob vio u s th a t a m ore su b sta n tia l rive r c ro ssin g th a n ju s t a p u n t w o u ld be required. C o rne liu s P rout requested, and w as granted, the se rvice s o f e ig h t c o n v ic ts to w o rk u n d e r th e d ire c tio n of Jam es W alsh to replace his punt with a bridge, built o f wood on sto n e fo u n d a tio n s . T h e m en also cle a re d th e ed ge s of th e e xisting tra ck past J e n k in s ’s property (N o rth um b erla nd Farm ) to form a road w h ich w as able to be ne go tiated (with care) by w ood carts. T h e last c o n v ic ts tra n sp o rte d to S ydney arrived in 1840, so the men w ho built P rou t’s Bridge w e re p ro b a b ly th e last “ g o ve rn m e n t s e rv a n ts ” to w o rk in th e P arish of St G eorge. By the 1855 census, the cate gory of “ bond s e rv a n t” no lo n g e r e xiste d in th e d istrict.

S everal se ttle rs w ith p ro p e rty beyond C o oks R iver c o n trib u te d to w a rd s th e cost of th e b rid g e ’s c o n stru ctio n — R obert J e n k in s and Joh n S te p h e n so n C la rke (John Farm ) w e re tw o w h o rece ive d a p ro m ise th a t th e y had b o u g h t th e rig h t to cross th e b rid g e w ith o u t toll in future .

In all, six s e ttle rs d o n a te d £120 be tw ee n th e m , and all the la n d o w n e rs a lo n g th e rid ge be tw ee n th e new b rid g e and S alt Pan C reek prom ised to d o na te th e ir land to form a new road, w h ich m et th e G e o rg e s R iver Road (via th e P unch Bow l) at th e end of th e m a n g ro ve sw a m p at th e head of S alt Pan C reek. T h is b ro u g h t th e fu ll le n g th o f C a n te rb u ry Road into existe nce — at this tim e, on ly a g ra ce and favo ur tra c k beyond N o rth u m b e rla n d Farm , d e p e n d e n t on the g o o d w ill o f all p ro p e rty ow ne rs w h o se fa rm s it bisected .

A fte r P ro u t’s B rid g e w as bu ilt, in N o ve m b e r 1841, C o rn e liu s P rout ere cte d a toll ho use on his “ B rid g e w a te r E s ta te ” on th e sou th ba nk o f th e river. He a n n o u n ce d th a t a to ll o f th re e p e n c e per trip w o uld be levied at th e ga te on all w ho crossed, until the district had paid him back the £120 e xtra he had sp e n t on co n stru ctio n . T h is toll w as to rem ain fo r ove r th irte e n years.

A census o f the C olony was taken in 1841. It differed from th e 1828 C e nsu s, in th a t it liste d th e na m es o f o n ly th e he ad s of h o u se h o ld s, w ith a ta lly o f p e o p le in va rio u s categories living in each establishm ent. Four householders ga ve th e ir p ro p e rty nam e as “ Jo h n F a rm ” — it is likely, how ever, th a t m ost of th e se people lived som ew here in the vic in ity , p ro b a b ly on one of th e R edm an p ro p e rtie s, ra th e r th a n all on Joh n Farm itself. For in sta n ce , it is kno w n th a t one of th e se ttle rs in th is g ro u p , Ja m e s S he ed y, alias J a m e s S h e e d y M a cn a m a ra and his w ife Ja n e B lack, p a stu re d th e ir ca ttle on H in e s ’s gra n t, w h ich w as a farm on th e site o f to d a y ’s B elm ore S ou th P ub lic S chool. The o th e r th re e fa m ilie s n e ar Joh n Farm w e re th o se o f P atrick D ru m g o ld (or D rom goold), an e m a n cip ist; A n d re w Regan, an im m igran t; and Jam e s Davis, w h o had been born in the C o lon y. W ith Jo h n D eam on o f B ra m sh o t and C o rn e liu s P ro u t o f B elle O m b re th e y fo rm e d a sm all c o m m u n ity of p e o p le m ostly w ith g ro w in g ch ild re n , w h o se need fo r the se rvice s of schools, ch u rch e s, shops, and inns w h ere they c o u ld m e e t and e x c h a n g e n e w s w o u ld e v e n tu a lly e n cou rage the d e velopm e nt of sm all villages in th is district o f iso late d fa rm s and c le a rin g s in th e forest. T he b u ild in g o f th e su g a rw o rks at C a n te rb u ry cre a te d th e o p p o rtu n ity.

St. Thom as’s Church o f England, Enfield, 1907.

(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

In 1846, a fo rm e r co n vict, T hom a s H yn de s, bega n to b u ild a c h u rc h and scho ol on his A d e la id e P ark p ro pe rty, part o f th e su b d iv id e d B rig h to n E state. H yn de s had be com e a ve ry su c c e s s fu l tim b e r m e rch a n t and m e m b e r o f th e S yd n e y M u n icip a l C o u n cil, and w ish e d to use som e of his w ealth fo r the benefit o f the com m unity. T he A delaide Park Free School at St T hom as C hurch of England, Enfield, o p e n e d in 1847 and re m a in e d th e d is tric t’s e le m e n ta ry scho ol fo r a lm o st 40 years. A lso e s ta b lis h e d in th e 1840s w as a b o a rd in g sch o o l fo r yo u n g g e n tle m e n at “ T he

9

M e a d s ” on th e B rig h to n E state, east o f B u rw oo d Road.

T h is s ch o o l p ro ved a m arke d su cce ss, a ttra c tin g th e sons o f so m e of S y d n e y ’s fo re m o s t fa m ilie s.

T h e 1844 ra te b o o ks o f th e S yd n e y D is tric t C o u n cil fo r th e B rig h to n E state list C a ro lin e C h ish o lm , w h o p ro te cted m an y frien dless im m ig ra n t girls, as a resident of the V illag e o f E nfie ld . She had ju s t clo sed her S yd n e y Im m ig ra n ts ’ H om e, be cau se of th e su cce ss of h e r s ch e m e fo r s e ttlin g th e fem ale im m igran ts in th e co u n try d istricts o f N ew South W ales, and had ren te d a ho use to live in te m p o ra rily w h ile she p la n n e d fu rth e r pro je cts w h ich s e ttle d fa m ilie s on the land at S h e llh a rb o u r.

D u ring th e 1840s, the w e a lth y sp e cu la to rs o f th e C olony w e re hit by an e co n o m ic d e p re ssio n , and m an y w e n t b a n k ru p t. S im e on L o rd ’s sons w e re fo rce d to sell m ost of th e p ro p e rty th e y had in h e rite d from th e ir fa th e r’s estate — H annah L a y c o c k ’s K in gsg rove p ro p e rty w as am ong the land auctioned. In 1847 F rederick Lee, a Sydney m erchant, b o u g h t lots 33 to 36 and b u ilt a co u n try house, called “ The H e rm ita g e ” , fo r his y o u n g fa m ily. T h e h o m estea d stood in to d a y ’s B e xle y Road o p p o site N o rth co te S tree t — a s tre e t w h ic h w a s fo rm e d a ro u n d th e b o u n d a ry o f N o rth u m b e rla n d Farm as F re d e rick L e e ’s tra c k from C a n te rb u ry Road to his hom e.

He soon a c q u ire d new n e ig h b o u rs. J a m e s and M ary Q uig g, im m ig ra n ts from N o rth ern Ireland, b o u g h t 74 acres of N o rth u m b e rla n d Farm th e fo llo w in g year, and T hom a s and H a nn ah T roy s e ttle d on th e re m a in in g 2 4 1/2 a cre s at th e w e ste rn end o f th e p ro pe rty. W ith in both de ed s w as s p e c ifie d a rig h t-o f-w a y ove r P ro u t’s B rid g e and alon g a su rve ye d road past th e ir fa rm s — a rig h t w h ich had been p u rch a se d by R o b e rt Je n kin s, th e fo rm e r ow ne r, w ith his d o n a tio n to w a rd s th e b u ild in g o f th e bridge.

T h e firs t re lig io u s se rvice in C a m p sie w as p ro b a b ly co n d u c te d so m e tim e a fte r Q u ig g ’s a rriva l in 1848 by Dr Jo h n D u nm o re Lang, S y d n e y ’s firs t P resb yteria n M inister,

w h o a rrived in th e c o lo n y in 1823. A 1904 E vening N ew s a rtic le on C a n te rb u ry ’s histo ry says: “ T h e d is tric t had a g re a t a ttra ctio n fo r D r Lang. M any S u n d a y m o rn in g s M r Q uigg w ent over to B alm ain-road and m et him to drive over in a gig to preach in a barn on N o rthum berland F arm ” . John Q u ig g , son o f Jam e s, and th e Rev. Jo h n A uld o f A sh fie ld la te r p u rch a se d one a cre o f lot 38, B rid g e w a te r E state (in th e v ic in ity o f A llen S tree t) in tru s t fo r th e P resb yteria n C h u rch , but th e re is no e vid e n ce th a t it w as eve r used for th e pu rpo se.

A ll th ro u g h th e 1840s, pe op le c ro ssin g C o oks R iver at C a n te rb u ry w ith a ho rse and ca rt paid th re e p e n c e pe r trip to C o rn e liu s P ro u t’s to llke e p e r. It w as said th a t he “ had long sin ce been rep aid all his o u tla y w ith in te re s t” , and all th e m on ey had been d ire cte d in to his ow n po cket, and not to w a rd s th e up ke e p o f C a n te rb u ry Road, w h ich w as the n “ in a m ost w re tch e d state of re p a ir” . T he p ro blem w as e xa cerb ated w hen a N ew Line of Road to C a n te rb u ry (that is, N ew C a n te rb u ry Road) w as o p ened in 1851, in crea sing th e flo w o f tra ffic ove r th e u n m ad e tra c k on th e o th e r side o f C o oks R iver. T he local p e op le w ro te a le tte r o f appeal to th e G o ve rn m e n t, but, th o u g h th e C o lon ia l S e cre ta ry a g re e d th a t P rou t had been d e m a n d in g th e toll illeg ally, he refuse d to ta ke a n y actio n. P rout c o u n te re d by th re a te n in g to clo se his b ridg e alto ge th er, and fe n ce in his land, so th a t n o b o d y co u ld cro ss at all.

S e ttle rs in th e v ic in ity o f C a m p sie Farm w e re so n e ar to C a n te rb u ry th a t th e y w e re not re a lly in a po sitio n to find a n o th e r c ro ssin g o f C o oks R iver. T h e y had to pay P ro u t’s toll e ve ry tim e th e y w e n t acro ss to th e v illa g e to sell w ood, buy p ro visio n s, o r go to c h u rc h o r to scho ol. M an y pe op le evaded p a ym e n t by using th e ste p p in g sto n e s at th e top o f th e su g a rw o rks dam , b u t carts co u ld not be ta ke n th a t way. In 1851, a new W esle yan C h u rch w as b u ilt at M o o rfie ld s; and a store and p u b lic house, “ T h e M an of K e n t” , op e n e d at K in g sg ro ve — b u t th e se w e re now here

Workers on the Canterbury Estate near M ille r’s bridge about 1860.

(Detail from a Conrad Martens painting of Canterbury House. Courtesy State Library of NSW).

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a c o u n try re sid e n ce , and be in g o n ly a b o u t tw o m iles from th e P ete rsham R a ilw a y s ta tio n by th e road, w ill s h o rtly be brought to w ithin half an ho urs’ distance from the c ity ” . (The railw ay from S ydney to Parram atta Jun ction w as being built — it o p e n e d in 1855).

Lee fo u n d his p ro p e rty d iffic u lt to sell, b u t o th e r fa rm s attra cte d buyers. F rancis Hill B eam ish bo ug ht P ercy Farm in 1853 fo r £800, and J a m e s Q u ig g sold 2 4 1/2 acre s at the n o rth -e a ste rn end of N o rth u m b e rla n d Farm to J o h n G abb fo r £50 — p ro p e rty w ith th e rig h t-o f-w a y to T he H e rm ita g e e sta blished across it. T h is farm w as o ccu p ie d by Joh n and C h a rle s G ab b, w h o ren am e d it “ G a b b ’s G ro v e ” , and set up as w o o d ca rte rs. T h e y also b o u g h t a llo tm e n ts in C a n te rb u ry.

By M ay 1854 th e im p a tie n t re sid e n ts had p re pa red a n o th e r M e m o rial, s ig n e d by 104 pe op le, re m in d in g th e G o ve rn o r th a t th e b rid g e toll w o uld co n tin u e as long as the road rem a ine d u n p ro cla im e d . F re d e rick Lee ad de d a note to his signature: “ . . . I am not allow ed by M r P rout to travel the road ” . At last cam e som e success: a su rveyor w as sent to th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d to m ap th e e x is tin g tra cks, and give som e in d ica tio n o f th e rou te th a t a G o v e rn m e n t Road sh o u ld take . B ut w h en th e s u rv e y o r’s m ap w as d ispla yed , a sq u a b b le occu rre d betw een F re d e rick Lee and the oth er locals. He w as h a p p y w ith th e m ap pe d road w h ich on ly w e n t as fa r as th e e d ge o f L a y c o c k ’s G ra n t (C h a rlo tte S treet); it gave him a cce ss to his land. T h e rest, ho w e ver, w a n te d it c o n tin u e d as fa r as S alt Pan C re e k to serve eve ryb o d y alon g th e route.

In th e m e a n tim e , th e d ire c to rs o f th e s u g a rw o rk s m ade th e ir decision. On A u g u st 2 2 ,1 8 5 4 , the y resolved that: “ 14 d a y s ’ no tice be g iven to th e m en e m p lo ye d (at th e re fin e ry at C a nterb ury) . . . and th e house fo rth w ith c lo s e d ” . Local w o o d c u tte rs lost th e ir m a jo r so u rce o f in com e , as the b u ild in g w as not to open ag ain as a s u g a r refin ery.

T w o m on th s later, th e G o ve rn m e n t G a ze tte c a rrie d a no tice o f its in te n tio n to form “ a P arish Road . . . from P a rra m a tta Road at P ete rsham to P ro u t’s B rid g e at C a n te rb u ry ” . T h e no tice la b e lle d th e land on w h ich the b rid g e stood as “ C ro w n L a n d ” ; an a n n o u n c e m e n t w h ich pro vo ke d P rou t to d e m a n d co m p e n sa tio n fo r his loss of incom e: “ I am p e rs u a d e d the G ove rn m en t w ill n o t do m e the in ju stice o f a p p ro p ria tin g m y exp en sive u n d e rta kin g to the in d iscrim in a te use o f the p u b lic w ith o u t in de m nifyin g m e b y m a k in g an e q u a b le a llo w a n c e to m e co m m e n su ra te w ith the c o s t I ha ve in curred , a n d the b e n e fit o f w h ich w ill a c c ru e to the p u b lic b y h a vin g the u n lim ite d use in future o f the B rid g e a n d R o a d o ve r m y la n d ” .

He did not live to c o lle c t his co m p e n sa tio n ; C o rn e liu s P rou t die d at B elle O m b re on F e b ru a ry 19, 1855, and w as bu rie d in th e ce m e te ry o f th e g e n try at St P e te r’s, C o oks R iver. H is w id o w w a s le ft a lm o st p e n n ile ss, as the G o ve rn m e n t resu m ed th e b rid g e and th e to llh o u se . T hey also sen t a su rv e y o r to plan th e d e sire d e xte n sio n of C a n te rb u ry Road as fa r as S a lt Pan C re ek. F re d e rick Lee let T h e H e rm ita g e to W illia m W o o lco tt, P ro u t’s b ro th er-inlaw, and, on Ju n e 23 1856, C a n te rb u ry T ru s t R oad w as esta blished : “ th o u g h in bad co n d itio n and ne e d in g repair, [it] can be tra ve lle d w ith sa fe ty in d a y lig h t by c a re fu l p e rs o n s ” .

T h e B elle O m b re E state w as let fo r £70 p e r year, until P ro u t’s y o u n g e st son sh o u ld co m e o f age and it co u ld be sold. P ro u t’s w id o w , E liza, op e n e d a lo d g in g ho u se in R edfern, and later, a scho ol in N ew tow n. W ith in tw o years, th e to llh o u s e at th e b rid g e w as a lm o st d e m o lis h e d by n e glect. “ If it had not been b u ilt o f sto n e th e re w o u ld not have been a n y left. T h e w in d o w s are ta ke n out, th e in sid e w o od w ork gone, gates taken off the ir hinges and everything

n e a r as c o n v e n ie n t as th o se at C a n te rb u ry. T h e re w ere m an y co m p la in ts a b o u t P rout, and in 1851 one you ng m an a tte m p te d to cut do w n his gate. T h is re su lte d in fin e s and costs of £3/0/6 or fou rte en days in gaol for the c ulprit, w hich e ffe c tiv e ly stifle d fu rth e r p ra ctica l actio n.

New se ttle rs like A rth u r Je ffre ys, so n -in -la w o f R obert C am pbell, w ho bu ilt him self a new g o th ic revival residence on a hill o ve rlo o kin g C o oks R iver ca lle d “ C a n te rb u ry H o u s e ” , w e re p re c ip ita te d in to th e b a ttle ove r th e to ll as soon as th e y arrive d . P ro u t’s ears m ust have b u rne d co n sta n tly, but he see m s to have been re m a rka b ly th icks k in n e d w h e re his in c o m e w a s c o n c e rn e d . In th e m e a n tim e , M ay 1851 saw th e a n n o u n c e m e n t o f the d is c o v e ry of g o ld at S u m m e rh ill C re e k near B a th u rst, and m ost of S y d n e y ’s ab le -b o d ie d m en jo in e d the rush to the d ig g in g s to m ake th e ir fortun es. S u d d e n ly the sug arw orks w a s fa ce d w ith a sh o rta g e o f la b o u r as w ell as ra th e r e x p e n s iv e fre ig h t co sts fo r w ood, o n ce th e to ll w as added in, so th e m a n a g e rs bega n to look c ritic a lly at th e v ia b ility of the C a n te rb u ry factory. It m ig h t be be tte r to co n ce n tra te all o p e ra tio n s at th e ir B la ckw a ttle C re e k site in S ydney, ta k in g all th e d iffic u ltie s in to co n sid e ra tio n .

By 1853, th e te n sio n re su lte d in a co n fro n ta tio n . John C h a rd , a s e ttle r fro m M oo rfield s, c u t dow n th e ga te in full vie w of C o rn e liu s P rout. He w as arre ste d late th e fo llow ing nigh t, and d ra g g e d in to S yd n e y on th e p re te xt th a t he w as a “ v io le n t m a n ” . T h e w h o le d is tric t to o k up his cau se, led b y F re d e rick Lee o f “ T he H e rm ita g e ” , and, w h en C hard lost th e re su ltin g c o u rt case, (a lth o u g h d a m a g e s aw arded w e re o n ly one s h illin g ), th e y dre w up a p e titio n a sking th a t th e G o v e rn m e n t ta ke a ctio n on th e m atter: . . . a g re a t n u m b e r o f y o u r P etitio ne rs ga in an h o n e st subsistence for them selves a n d fam ilies b y felling tim ber a n d c u ttin g fire w o o d on la n d b e yo n d P ro u t’s a n d cartin g the sam e da ily to the S ug ar Works a t C anterbury to arrive a t w h ich w o rks is im p o ssib le w ith o u t c ro ssin g the sa id b rid g e . . .

The effect o f the Verdict (Prout v Chard) being to give P ro u t the rig h t o f clo sin g the ro a d a n d p ro s e c u tin g trespassers thereby throw in g som e hund reds o f laboring m en o u t o f em ploym ent a n d causing the greatest distress to them selves a n d fam ilies a n d co m p le te ly p re ve n tin g co m m u n ica tio n w ith the p o p u lo u s Village o f C a nterb ury w h ere m a n y o f y o u r P e titio n e rs’ ch ild re n a tte n d s c h o o l a n d a p la c e o f w o rsh ip T h e G o ve rn m e n t, ho w e ver, co n tin u e d to hedg e on the m atter.

T he fo llo w in g yea r saw m any ch a n g e s in “ C ooks R ive r” d is tric t, as it w as the n ca lle d . S am u el M ille r, te n a n t and, later, ow ne r of B ram sh ot Farm , in exasperation negotiated w ith A rth u r Je ffre y s th e rig h t to b u ild a n o th e r b rid g e in J a n u a ry 1854 be tw ee n his p ro p e rty and th e C a n te rb u ry Estate. He w as p e rm itte d to c le a r a “ s u ffe ra n ce ro a d ” w h ich en a b le d him to tra ve l fre e to his ho use in M in te r S tre e t and his inn, the “ C a n te rb u ry A rm s ” . M ille r’s B rid ge w as a low w o o d e n “ ru s tic ” stru c tu re , but it serve d the pu rpo se. (It has s in ce been replaced by th e Lind say S treet fo o tb rid g e ). U n fo rtu n a te ly it w as, a g ain, not s u ita b le for he avy ca rt tra ffic .

In th e m ea ntim e , F re d e rick Lee, d isg u ste d w ith the G o v e rn m e n t’s re lu cta n ce to a ct on P rout, and d o g g e d by th e th re a t o f b a n kru p tcy, put his ho use on th e m a rke t in M a y .“ T he H e rm ita g e ” w as d e s c rib e d as a “ fo u r-ro o m e d cottage, plastered, and room s papered th ro u g h o u t” . There w e re o u thou ses, stab les and co a ch h o u se , “ a w ell o f w a te r n e ve r know n to fa il” and an orch a rd o f ab ou t 9 a cre s “ fu lly stocked w ith cho ice fru it trees c on sistin g of orange, lem on, citron , apple, pear, peach, loquats, alm on ds hard and soft, ne ctarin es o f sorts, apricots, plum s, quinces, figs, m edlars, p o m e g ra n a te s and v in e s ” . It w as “ p le a s a n tly s itu a te d fo r

11

Cam psie farm s betw een 1850 and 1860.

(Map by Lesley Muir).

12

any w ay portable, carried o ff” . Eventually, P rou t’s daug hter C a th e rin e and her h u sba nd o ccu p ie d B elle O m b re and fo rm e d a dairy.

Letters from W illiam W oolcott to his brother-in-law in New Z e a la n d , Jo sh u a T horp , have been pre se rve d by the fa m ily ’s descendants. T his co rre spo nde nce gives us som e id e a of life on a “ c o u n try p ro p e rty ” at C up and S a u ce r C reek. W o o lc o tt w as m ost im p re sse d by the q u a lity of the soil, and p la n te d an o rch a rd of o ra n g e tre e s on his ow n purchase of 68 acres east of C up and S aucer Creek. W ithin tw o years, he se n t a c ra te of his firs t fru it to N ew Z ealan d.

H e asked fo r a fe w K auri Pine p la n ts in return to add an e xo tic to u ch to his ga rde n. By 1860, how ever, p ro p e rty va lu e s in th e S yd n e y d is tric t w e re v e ry de p re sse d , and every able-bodied m an was off to the digg ing s at the Snowy a nd the Lachlan R ivers. For in sta nce , Jam e s Q u ig g ’s sonin-law , R obert M cF adze n, w e n t o ff to th e T u ro n d ig g in g s and died there. W oolcott tried to rent his property, but gave up th e idea: “ O ne m an o ffe re d to go th e re if I w o uld a d va n ce him £20 to buy a horse & cart. He w o u ld then o b lig e m e by o c c u p y in g th e place rent free, but I d e clin e d his o ffe r” .

D e spite th e lack o f fin a n cia l in ce n tive , C u p and S au cer C re e k did gain in p o p u la rity as a place to settle. A llan W illia m s, a retire d g ra zie r, b o u g h t p ro p e rty o p p o site T he H erm itage in 1856, nam ing i t “ G le n o re ” . He m ade a furthe r s u b d iv is io n a ro u n d th e cre e k , and se ve ra l m a rk e t g a rd e n e rs m ade a living g ro w in g ve g e ta b le s on th e rich alluvial soil. T he north-w est allotm e nt (at th e end of to d a y ’s S cahill Street) w as bo ug ht by Jam es Q uigg. His son, John, be ca m e a b u tch e r, and th is land on “ S ha dy W a te rh o le s ” provided an ideal site for his sla ug hterho use . The build in gs co u ld be c o n s ta n tly w a she d o u t by th e a m p le s u p p ly of w a te r flo w in g o ve r th e rocky stream bed.

A s th e e x c ite m e n t o f th e gold rush bega n to sub sid e, in ve stm e n t in S yd n e y began to p ick up d u rin g th e 1860s.

In 1858, S op hia Ives C a m pb ell co n tra cte d th e fa sh io n a b le arch itect, E dm und B lacket, to design a sm all stone C hurch of E ng la nd on her ow n land at th e n o rth e rn o u ts k irts of C a n te rb u ry V illa g e . It w as co m p le te d in 1860, and her b ro th er-in-la w , A rth u r J e ffre ys o f “ C a n te rb u ry H o u s e ” , be ca m e one of th e firs t c h u rch w a rd e n s. S in ce the su g a rw o rks had clo se d , th e p e op le o f C a n te rb u ry had to look elsew here for th e provision o f essential services to the villa g e : in 1861 M iss C a m p b e ll b u ilt a sch o o lh o u se on C a n te rb u ry Road fo r th e e d u ca tio n of th e ch ild re n . O ne of th e ea rly te a c h e rs w as F ra n cis Bell, w h o is bu rie d in St P a u l’s ch u rc h y a rd . T he fo llo w in g year, a sch o o l opened at th e M o o rfie ld s M e th o d ist C h u rch , at firs t su p p o rte d by th e local pa ren ts. T h e G o ve rn m e n t ga ve th is scho ol P rovisional status in 1867, and F rancis B eam ish ju n io r was appointed as one of the early teachers in charge, from 1869 to 1878. He tau ght about forty pupils from the nearby farm s.

A rth u r Jeffreys died in 1860, and C a n te rb u ry H ouse was leased to a su cce ssio n o f ten a n ts. T he firs t of th e se w as M a jo r F re d e rick F ann in g and his w ife S ophia, a city m e rch a n t and p a rtn e r in th e im p o rt-e xp o rt firm o f G riffith s and F ann in g. L a te r te n a n ts in clu d e d Jo h n R ichard B lack, W illia m D u nca n S tew a rt, and B id d u lp h H e n n in g , all co n n e cte d in som e w ay w ith th e firm T u cke r and Co., spirit m erch an ts. B id d u lp h H e n n in g ’s sister, R achel, visite d the ho use in 1871, w ritin g from th e re to her sister: It is ab ou t the m ost charm ing cou ntry house I ever saw, even in E ng la nd . . . J u s t in fro n t o f the house the drive g o es ro u n d an im m e nse b e d o f azaleas, ca m e llia s a n d rhododendrons. There are, besides, roses a n d cam ellias a n d ge ra n iu m s everyw here. The a za le as w ere in fu ll b lo o m w hen I left. A m ass o f w hite, p u rp le a n d re d . . .

A very p re tty ho u se it is, ra is e d on a slo pe o f green turf, w ith a do ub le ro w o f w h ite step s le a d in g to the b a lc o n y

a n d door. Inside it is very c o m fo rta b le — a dining-room , d ra w in g -ro o m a n d b illia rd -ro o m a n d a n o th e r little room , and, upstairs, five large bedroom s. The kitchen, serva nts’ h a ll a n d s e rv a n ts ’ ro o m s are a ll a t the ba ck. There are also a laundry, dairy, etc., in a stone court, then up som e steps you com e to a b a c k paddock, ro u n d w hich are built the coa chh ou se, stables, cow -ho uses, m ilkin g bail, p ig stie s a n d fo w l houses, these la s t c o ve re d in w ith wire n etting. There is a la rge kitch e n garden, vineyard, etc., a n d a n y a m o u n t o f la w n a n d flo w e r g a rd e n . . .

C a n te rb u ry H ouse w as a p a rticu la rly fin e e xa m p le of the m a n sio n s o ccu p ie d by th e g e n try on S y d n e y ’s o u ts k irts in th e la tte r part of th e n in e te e n th ce n tu ry. It w as p ro b a b ly d e sig n e d by E dm u nd B lacket, th e a rc h ite c t w ho acce pted o th e r co m m is s io n s fo r th e C a m p b e ll F am ily, as its g o th ic style w as s im ila r to th a t o f th e R e cto ry, St M a rk ’s D arlin g Point, also bu ilt by B lacket. The Royal A ustra lia n H istorical S o cie ty ow ns an 1860 p a in tin g by C o nra d M a rte n s o f the house and estate from B ram shot on the south side of Cooks R iver, n e ar S am u el M ille r’s b rid g e and su ffe ra n c e road.

T he p a in tin g is now lo dg ed w ith th e M itch e ll Libra ry, Sydney. The house was dem olished in 1929 after the death of its last o ccu p a n t, Jo h n H ay G oo dle t, and th e land w as sold to th e C a th o lic C h u rch to b u ild St F ra n cis X a v ie r’s C h u rch and th e U rsu lin e C o n ve n t, A sh b u ry.

Cooks R iver in vicinity o f Canterbury about 1880.

(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

D u ring th is pe rio d in h isto ry, C o oks R iver w as th e site of several houses of the gentry, as it was a very picturesque place. O ne jo u rn a lis t on an e xcu rsio n up th e stream in A u g u s t 1868 d e scrib e d th e se ctio n from P ro u t’s B rid ge aro u n d to p re se n t day H a rco u rt thu s: The rive r is s p a n n e d b y tw o b rid g e s b e tw e e n M essrs.

Hill a n d C lissold’s p la ce [a w oolw ash on Cup a n d Saucer Creek] a n d Enfield. The C anterbury B ridge — com m o nly c a lle d P ro u t’s B rid g e . . . is a very s u b s ta n tia l stru ctu re o f w o o d p la n k in g u p on ston e piers. In s te a d o f the u su a l h a n d rails, it is g u a rd e d on e ith e r sid e b y stro n g iron chains. The o th e r b rid g e — o f a s im ila r ch a ra cte r, b u t m ore ru s tic a n d a p p a re n tly less substantial, is a t o r n e ar “ M ille r’s F a rm ” . “ M ille r’s B rid g e ” is ve ry low , a n d a lth o u g h the rive r w a s ra th e r b e lo w than ab o ve its o rd in a ry level, w e h a d to d o u b le ou rselves up p re tty c lo se ly in p a s s in g be n e a th it . . . The w a te r’s . . . extrem e cle a rn e ss a t th a t p la c e in d u c e d us to try its quality. We fo u n d it pe rfe ctly sweet. M uch m ore p u re than w h a t is often su p p lie d in Sydney. The rive r is as b ro a d ab o ve C a n te rb u ry as b e lo w it, a n d c o n tin u e s quite navigable a ll the w a y to Enfield. It n a rro w s a little a t som e place s, a n d o c c a s io n a lly g e ts deeper. Here a n d there w e m e t w ith a “ s n a g ” , o r sunken tree, fo r w h ich cla ss

13

o f obstru ction s the steersm an h a d to keep a lo o k out. B ut a ll o f these were easily avo id ed until we cam e to a regular c o lle ctio n o f them a b o u t a q u a rte r o f a m ile from Enfield.

T hrough these the b o a t h a d to be p ilo te d w ith very g re a t care. Three o f o u r p a rty g o t out, w h ile tw o others a c c o m p lis h e d this task. From there w a s no m a te ria l o b stru ctio n , u n til w e cam e to M r H illy ’s orchard, w here there is a ford, w h ich s ta ye d a ll fu rth e r p rogress.

d ista n ce from a g re a t c o m m e rc ia l c ity — w o u ld have its b a n ks s tu d d e d w ith villas, ea ch w ith its b o a t a n d b o a t­ house, a n d w o u ld also, in a ll probability, have a stea m e r o r tw o p ly in g upon i t . . . I dare sa y a ll this w ill be done bye a n d bye . . . a n d th a t p e o p le w ill be fo u n d e n te rp ris in g e n o u g h to e s ta b lis h tea -g ard en s, o r som ething o f the kind, high up the river, to w hich plea sant little trip s m a y be taken a t h o lid a y tim es.

The ba n ks o f the riv e r are fo r the m o s t p a rt h ig h e r a fte r p a s s in g C a n te rb u ry than b e lo w it, a n d in som e p la c e s th e y a tta in a co n sid e ra b le elevation. There is n o th in g g ra n d in the scenery, b u t it is very p re tty a n d varied. There are several residences on o r n e ar the banks o f the river, b u t n o t n e a r so m a n y as m ig h t be expected.

A n u m b e r o f cree ks e n te r the rive r . . .

By th e 1860s, th e re w as a re lia b le (a lth o u g h exp en sive) tra in se rvice alon g the W e ste rn ra ilw a y line, and m any m e rch a n ts and in d u s tria lis ts w h ose m on ey ca m e from “ tra d e ” m oved o u t o f th e o ve rcro w d e d c ity in to the se su b u rb s. La rge e sta te s like th e C a n te rb u ry E state were s u b d ivid e d in to sm a lle r a llo tm e n ts o f be tw ee n fo u r and tw e n ty a cre s each. T h is proved to be a p o p u la r size, as a m an sio n co u ld be b u ilt in th e ce n tre , w ith en o u g h g a rde n a ro un d to cre a te th e illu sio n o f a p rivate park. T h e re w as th e co n v e n ie n c e o f a c a rria g e road in fro n t, and a steam tra in se rvice to R e dfern ju s t do w n th e end of th e stre e t — th e h e ig h t o f c o m fo rt and co n v e n ie n c e in s u b u rb a n living.

M r H illy ’s o rc h a rd see m s a very fine one. It is fam ous, I am told, fo r its apples. We s a w a g o o d m an y o ra ng e trees there in bearing, a n d a s till la rg e r n u m b e r o f you ng er trees, looking very healthy a n d prom ising. The la n d o p p o site to th a t o f M r H illy belongs, w e are told, to M r Redm an. It is very w e ll situated. Here w e m ad e a fire, a n d re fre sh e d ou rselves w ith a c a p ita l “ p o t o ’ te a ” , in true b u sh fashion. O ur tea w a s m ade, o f course, w ith w a te r from the river, a n d very excellent it was. There w as no la c k o f cre a tu re com forts, e ith e r in the sha pe o f e a tables o r d rinka ble s . . .

O n th e frin g e o f th e se su b u rb s, m a rke t g a rd e n s and d a irie s flo u ris h e d — sm all fa rm s w h o se p ro du ce fed the p e op le in th e e x p a n d in g re sid e n tia l area o f S ydney. The new re frig e ra tio n p ro cess w as still in th e e xp e rim e n ta l stag e, so any food w h ich cou ld spoil had to be p ro du ced clo se to th e h o u se h o ld e r to m in im ise th e d ista n ce it had to be tra n s p o rte d . Each s u b u rb had its da iry, p ro d u cin g

In E ng la n d such a stream — lying w ithin a con ven ien t

.

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v,..v ■

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y.&JL. -

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Wedding o f John Q u ig g ’s daughter, N orthum berland Farm.

(Courtesy R. Dunstan).

14

*

* r-

o rg a n is e r o f race m e e tin g s at C a n te rb u ry. O ne of his h u n tin g m ee ts in 1874 w as w ritte n up in th e S ydney M o rn in g Herald: A m e e tin g to o k p la c e y e ste rd a y a ftern oon a t A sh fie ld . . . The h o u n d s th re w o ff n e a r M r C lis s o ld ’s [M oun tjoy, n o w A s h fie ld M a s o n ic H ospital], a n d g o in g a w a y a t a g re a t pace, le d acro ss tw o o r three p a dd ocks, a n d som e g o o d three-railers were throw n behind, over one o f w hich C o m et cam e dow n, a n d g e ttin g aw ay, le ft M r Town to w a lk back. A little fu rth e r on the y c ro sse d the road, an d fo u r fen ces w ere n ic e ly d is p o s e d o f b y the w e are rs o f sca rle t coa ts a n d a g o o d nu m b e r o f outsiders w ho jo in e d in. A b o u t a mile a t a g o o d so u n d pace, over a few fences, b ro u g h t them to a s tiff three -rail fence, a n d som e were th ro w n out. Then throu gh fo re st c o u n try up to a farm house, w here a c h e c k to o k place. A fte r a slig h t d e la y the h o u n d s ag ain s e ttle d d o w n to the ir w ork, and, g e ttin g on to the s c e n t o f the kangaroo, d a s h e d a w a y in to a th ic k scrub, a n d it lo o k e d as tho ugh there w o u ld be a fine run ; b u t the gam e, fin d in g h im s e lf h a rd ly pre ssed , c ro s s e d C o o k ’s River, n e a r F lo o d ’s P a d d o ck [C ro yd o n P ark to C am psie], a n d the fun w as stopped.

A n h o u r o r m ore w as s p e n t in c a s tin g about, a n d the M aster, in e n d e a vo u rin g to p ic k up the trail, le d ove r a lo t o f s u b s ta n tia l tim ber. The g ro u n d w a s very slip p e ry . . . A t length the hounds p ic k e d up the sce n t once again, and, a fte r a s h o rt b u t sh a rp spin through th ick scrub, ran in to the kan ga roo. Fortunately, M r B o w e s w a s clo se to them, and, a ssiste d b y others, s u cce e d e d in sa vin g him . . . The h u n t w a s n o t a very g re a t s ucce ss, as, o w in g to som e strange do gs g e tting on to the scent, the hounds d id n o t g e t fa ir play.

By 1877, m a n y p e op le had ch a n g e d th e ir m in d s ab ou t the virtues of incorporation of the d istrict into a m unicipality.

C harles G abb and J oh n N ightingale, next-door neighbours from S hady W aterholes, gathered 103 sig na tu res in favour, a nd th e ir p e titio n w as pre se n te d to th e G o ve rn m e n t as re p re se n tin g a m a jo rity o p in io n . T h is raised a sto rm in the a re a fu rth e r w e st, n e ar S a lt Pan C re ek, and a c o u n te r­ p e titio n w ith a h ig h e r n u m b e r o f sig n a tu re s w a s p ro m p tly p re se n te d . T he ne xt year, a seco nd p e titio n in fa v o u r of fo rm in g a M u n ic ip a lity w a s d ra w n up, and, to e n su re tha t th is o n e w a s a c c e p te d , th e a re a p ro p o s e d to be in co rp o ra te d w as a lte red to leave o u t th e te rrito ry of the o p p o sitio n . T h is le ft o u t all th e land in a line w e st o f to d a y ’s R ossm ore A ven ue and B o n d ’s Road, P unchbow l, and also the farm o f W illia m Lees on th e B rig hton Estate, he nce the u n u su a l m u n icip a l b o u n d a ry in th e E nfie ld area. M ost of th e p e op le livin g in th e C a m p sie a re a s ig n e d — and th is tim e , th e y w e re su cce ssfu l. F re d e rick C lisso ld w as a p p o in te d re tu rn in g o ffice r, and th e firs t e le c tio n s in th e new M un icip a l D istrict o f C a n te rb u ry w e re held on J u n e 9, 1879. T h e y re su lte d in Jo h n S p ro u le of C a n te rb u ry Road be in g re turn ed as M ayor, and six a ld e rm e n elected , including John N ightingale and F rancis Q uigg representing th e p e o p le of C a m p sie and C up and S a u ce r C reek. Neil W . Q uig g, son of Jo h n Q uig g, w as a p p o in te d p a rt-tim e C o u n cil C lerk, at a sa la ry o f five s h illin g s an hour.

T h e tim e of in co rp o ra tio n o f th e M u n ic ip a lity w as also a tim e w h en land sp e c u la to rs w e re b e g in n in g to b u y up fa rm la n d on the o u tskirts of S ydney, in th e hope o f m aking a p ro fit w ith in a sh o rt tim e . A lo n g th e e x is tin g ra ilw a y line fro m R e d fe rn th ro u g h P a rra m a tta J u n c tio n , c e rta in g e n tle m e n had d o u b le d th e ir in ve stm e n t by s u b d iv id in g land in to ho u sin g a llo tm e n ts, and th e y w e re b e g in n in g to look fu rth e r a fie ld to cre a te th e s u b u rb a n dre am . Land at th e o u te r frin g e s o f th e C a n te rb u ry and B rig h to n E states suddenly becam e too valuable to “ w a ste ” as farm land, and th e s u b d iv id e rs m oved in.

local m ilk and butter, and each b u tc h e r’s s ho p had its own s la u g h te ry a rd , so th a t th e m eat w o u ld reach th e c u sto m e r as fresh as po ssib le.

S om e of th e food p ro d u c e rs fo r A sh fie ld and B urw oo d lived around C a m psie Farm . Belle O m bre was sold in 1866 to a glassw are m erchant, Joseph G ould, w h ose son-in-law , R o be rt W ard, to o k ove r the e xistin g d a iry farm on the property and im proved and expanded it. S hady W aterholes w as known for its fertile alluvial soil, w h ere John S w a n to n ’s m arket garden pro spe red. Soon a sm all e n cla ve o f people s e ttle d here, in c lu d in g C h a rle s G ab b, fe n ce r, D onald Kennedy, w o od carter, T im F ullin, qu arrym a n, W illia m and C a th e rin e F irm an , Joh n Q uig g, b u tch e r, M ark F oster, fa rm e r, and W illia m M erkel, m a rke t g a rd e n e r. R obert S h e p p e a rd op e n e d a ge ne ral store b e sid e his o rch a rd on th e n o rth e rn sid e of N o rth co te S treet.

In 1870, Ja m e s Q u ig g died at th e age of 76, le avin g his esta te to his yo u n g e r c h ild re n . J a m e s ju n io r had a lre a d y m arried, and m oved to land fu rth e r w est along C a n te rb u ry R oad, w h ile Joh n o w ne d th e fa m ily ho m estea d, and a b u tc h e r’s sh o p nearby, b u ilt on 20 acre s next d o o r to T h o m a s T ro y ’s farm . Jo h n Q u ig g la te r b u ilt a sp le n d id V icto ria n m ansion fo r his fa m ily on th is site. T he rem a ining 30 a cre s w as d ivid e d up, w ith 2 a cre s to each of the d a u g h te rs, A nn Jo n e s and C a th e rin e M cF adze n (la te r M ackey), and 13 a cre s each to th e sons, F ra n cis and Neil.

T h e se tw o boys to o k up o th e r o c c u p a tio n s , and both ev e n tu a lly m oved in to C a n te rb u ry, le avin g th e ir land as la rg e ly v a ca n t p a d d o cks b e lo n g in g to the ho use on N o rth u m b e rla n d Farm .

O n th e o p p o site sid e of C a n te rb u ry Road, part of Belle O m b re w as sold to A lb e rt S ha rpe , a g e n tle m a n , w h o b u ilt h im s e lf a fin e ho use b e sid e C o oks R iver (on th e eastern sid e of to d a y ’s W o n g a S treet), la te r d e scrib e d as a: D esirab le p re ttily -s itu a te d rive rside h o m e ste a d . . . brick-built, c o n ta in in g ba lco ny, lobby, 4 g o o d room s, kitchen a n d se rva n t’s room. The grounds are all enclosed ab o u t 4 acres, b y a close railing fence, 2 1/i acres o f w hich are u n d e r oats, a n d the residue is a b e a rin g orchard, flo w e r a n d vegetable garden surrounding the house. The re m a in in g acre is a horse a n d c o w p a d d o ck. A neverfa ilin g s u p p ly o f w a te r is o b ta in e d from a la rge u n d e rg ro u n d tank.

This is a com forta ble , w e ll-situ a te d reside nce w ith gro un ds, a b o u t tw e n ty m in u te s ’ w a lk from the A sh fie ld R ailw ay-station, a n d also w ith acce ss to S ydney b y bus, w h ich p a sse s the d o o r three o r fo u r tim es daily. The position com m a nd s extensive a n d very p re tty view s; an d the rive r fronta ge se cu re s b o atin g, fishing, a n d b a th in g in the w ide ro m a n tic cle a r stream a t the fo o t o f the garden.

For the m ost part C am psie was still an area w h ere m ixed fa rm in g and m a rke t g a rd e n in g p re d o m in a te d .

T h e rural n a tu re of th e d is tric t w as re fle cte d in th e fa ct tha t all efforts to form a m un icip ality were resisted for a long tim e . In 1868, a m e e tin g in th e R ising S un H otel resolved th a t a n y s u c h m o v e “ . . . is p r e m a tu re as th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d is not in a po sitio n to b e ar th e exp en se necessary in sup p o rtin g o n e . . . ” Farm steads w ere w idely s ca tte re d , and n o b o d y c o u ld see a n y b e n e fit in c o lle ctin g rates to pay fo r s ervices w h ich co u ld o n ly be e co n o m ica lly pro vid ed in th e clo s e r s e ttle d pa rts like th e V illa g e of C a n te rb u ry.

O th e r s u rro u n d in g are as w e re g ra d u a lly in co rp o ra te d , in c lu d in g M a rrickville , W est B ota ny (R ockdale), A sh fie ld and B urw oo d. D u ring th e 1870s, one o f A s h fie ld ’s m ost p ro m in e n t a ld e rm e n , F re d e rick C lisso ld , held several k a n g a ro o h u n ts acro ss th e C o oks R iver fla ts and into C a m p sie , and a cq u ire d a g re a t p e rson al p o p u la rity as the

15

CHAPTER 3: The Campaign For Public Transport (1880-1887) C ro yd o n A ven ue . T h e fe rtile C o oks R iver flo o d p la in w as an ideal place to g ro w veg e ta b le s, and a la rge p o p u la tio n of C hinese g a rde ners m oved there, un de te rred by the ever p re se n t d a n g e r of flo o d in g .

E ncouraged by the success of Croydon Park, in 1881 two entre pre ne urs, Edw ard H ogben and H enry G eorge Swyny, s u b d iv id e d an a d jo in in g piece o f land u n d e r th e na m e of “ R osedale” . T his was land on both sides of Brighton Brook, w h ich fed th e lagoon b e hind C o oks R iver, and a w ide rese rve and ca rria g e w a y on e ith e r s id e o f th e stream was m ade an integral part of th e e sta te ’s design. R osedale sold ra p id ly, e s p e c ia lly a fte r it w as ru m o u re d th a t p u b lic tra n s p o rt m ig h t be b ro u g h t w ith in e a sy reach o f the in h a b ita n ts.

A g re a t deal o f m on ey w as a va ila b le to th e G o ve rn m e n t to in vest in cap ital w o rks from 1873 on; th is m eant, am ong oth er things, an expansion of the system of public transport.

R a ilw ays from S yd n e y to th e llla w a rra C oast, to W ara ta h outside Newcastle, and from R edfern to C ircula r Q uay were be in g pla n n e d by 1881, and the e xp a n sio n of th e new tra m w a y system w as even m ore rapid. T h e firs t steam tram s had been im ported from A m e rica in S e p tem be r 1879 to take visito rs from th e R edfern railw ay te rm in u s up to the In te rn a tio n a l E xh ib itio n at th e G arde n P alace. T hese p ro ved so p o p u la r and lu cra tive th a t soon e ve ry d is tric t w a n te d a “ m o d e rn ” tra m lin e to re p la ce th e ir “ old fa s h io n e d ” horse buses. C a n te rb u ry w as no e xce p tio n .

In th e 1880s, ho rse bu ses pu lle d by th re e or fo u r horses ran fro m P u n c h b o w l (th e n c a lle d B e lm o re ) a lo n g C a n te rb u ry Road th ro u g h C a n te rb u ry to S ydney. T hree trip s a da y m et th e p a sse n g e r re q u ire m e n ts, and if the last

In 1878, E dw ard F lo o d ’s la rge esta te ne xt d o o r to C a n te rb u ry Farm w as surve yed as su b u rb a n a llo tm e n ts in an a tte m p t to cash in on th e new p o p u la rity of th e area a ro u n d th e W e ste rn R a ilw a y line. T h e land had been o c c u p ie d by te n a n ts, and w as m o rtg a g e d to W .J. H obbs and th e M utua l Life A sso cia tio n o f A u stra lia . It w as advertised under the nam e of “ Croydon P ark” , nam ed after th e new railw a y s ta tio n on th e W e ste rn line, o p en ed as “ Five D o c k ” in 1875, b u t soon re-n am e d “ C ro y d o n ” . The e sta te w as sold in tw o se p a ra te s u b d iv is io n s — the n o rth e rn end o f C ro yd o n A ve n u e (1878) and a la rg e r s u b d iv is io n ta k in g in all land w e st fro m C ro ydo n A ven ue to M e lro se S tre e t and from G e o rg e s R iver Road sou th to C o oks R iver (1880). T h e re w e re tw o a ve n u e s of one hundred feet wide, “ planted w ith shade tre e s ” , and a piece o f flo o d -p ro n e land on th e river, in c lu d in g th e large lagoon, w a s set a sid e as a “ re cre a tio n re s e rv e ” . In O c to b e r 1882, H obbs w ro te to C a n te rb u ry C ouncil, asking them to a ccept th e d e d ic a tio n o f th e reserve as “ C ro ydo n P a rk ” , on the u n d e rs ta n d in g th a t th e C o u n cil w o u ld keep th e land in ord er. T he ald e rm e n w ere o n ly p re pa red to agree to sha re th e cost, so it to o k until 1887 fo r a rra n g e m e n ts to be fin a lis e d and th e park, (the firs t in th e M u n icip a lity) to be d e d ica te d . C ro ydo n Park E state w as ad vertise d in A u g u st 1881 as “ b e a u tifu l slo p in g land, p e rfe c t d ra in a g e , and fifte e n m in u te s from th e c ity ” . Lots w e re sold fo r 10% d e p o sit, and th e rest in th irty m o n th ly p a ym e n ts w ith o u t in te re st. By 1883, th e esta te had been p a rtia lly s e ttle d by people in th e bu ild in g trade — builders, jo ine rs, slaters and brickm akers. S ands D irectory also listed a C hinese m arket g a rd e n e r, W a p H ap (or H ap W ar) livin g at th e end of

Edw ard Lew ry a n d fam ily a t “ Eddieville’! 60 Park Street, Campsie, b u ilt b y Edw ard Lew ry about 1887.

(Courtesy R. Bach).

16

s u b d ivid e d in to 299 allotm ents, 253 o f w h ich have been s o ld on the C o m p a n y’s usu al terms. Sixty-seven persons have p a id fo r th e ir la n d in fu ll a n d re c e iv e d th e ir deeds, so th a t the C o m p a n y n o w h o ld s s e c u rity ove r 232 a llo tm e n ts value d a t £9,300, b u t the a m o u n t due b y p u rch a se rs a t this da te is o n ly £3,938.

On this E state 4 6 h o use s have b e en e re c te d a t a c o s t o f £9,060, o f w h ich the C o m p a n y a d v a n c e d the u su a l n in e ty p e r cent., b u t a t this da te the a c tu a l a m o u n t due to the C o m p a n y on these h o use s is £3,500. So th a t on this E state the C o m p a n y h o ld s se c u rity in h o use s a n d la n d to the value o f £18,360, w hile the w hole am o u n t due to the C o m p a n y is o n ly £7,499. S ure ly this is se c u rity en ou gh to sa tis fy the m o s t exacting.

The re su lts s h o w n b y this E state are in no w a y exce ptio na l. E very E state the C o m pa ny has su b d iv id e d a n d a d v a n c e d u p on s h o w s e q u a lly s a tis fa c to ry results.

In a d d itio n to the a d va n ce s lib e ra lly m a d e to pe rso n s w h o w ish to build, the C o m p a n y sp e n d s la rge am o un ts in roa d-m a king , kerbing, g u tte ring , &c., w h ich have a lw a ys re tu rn e d h a n d so m e resu lts in im p ro v e d value g iven to the C o m p a n y ’s p ro p e rty a n d the in c re a s e d p ric e s o b ta in e d fo r the u n s o ld allotm ents.

bus w as m issed, one had to ta ke th e tra in to A sh fie ld and w a lk ho m e from th e re th ro u g h th e d a rkne ss. An a rtic le in th e E vening N e w s o f S e p te m b e r 24, 1904 says th a t years e a rlie r coa che s “ sta rtin g from w h a t is still called th e ‘T re e ’ s to re ” [in C a nterb ury Road opposite Park S treet] “ catered fo r th e tra v e llin g p u b lic from K in g sg ro ve , M oo refie ld, C a m p sie , B e lm o re and even H u rs tv ille .”

T he first sub urb an tra m lin e w as approved by P arliam ent in A p ril 1880 to ca rry th e c ro w d s to R a n d w ick R a ceco urse — it w as no c o in c id e n c e th a t the S e cre ta ry fo r P ub lic W o rks, Jo h n Lackey, w as a m e m b e r of th e A JC . T his a p p ro va l w as ta ke n to be a good om en by tw o of C a n te rb u ry’s racecourse D irectors, F rede rick C lissold and W illia m Lovel D avis, w h o b o u g h t 20 a cre s from th e Belle O m b re esta te on C a n te rb u ry R oad, and pla n n e d a new s u b d ivisio n . T h e y also in crea sed th e ir in ve stm e n t in th e ir C a n te rb u ry P ark R a ceco urse, and a tte n d e d eve ry local m e e tin g held to a g ita te fo r a tra m w a y to th e d is tric t. W hen th e N e w tow n to M a rric k v ille tram line w as op e n e d in D e ce m b e r 1881, it looked as th o u g h th e ir goal w as w ith in sig h t.

In M ay 1882, C lisso ld and D avis offe re d th e ir “ G old en P ark E s ta te ” fo r sale (D u ke S tree t, P ark S tree t, G ou ld S tre e t and R edm an S treet), p ro m isin g p u rch a se rs th a t th e re w o u ld be a “ tra m w a y s h o rtly to th e s p o t” . M any p e o p le be lie ved th e a d ve rtise m e n ts, b o u g h t a llo tm e n ts, and b u ilt th e firs t tru ly su b u rb a n ho use s in C a n te rb u ry M u n ic ip a lity sou th o f C o oks R iver. S om e o f th e se ho m es a re s till s ta n d in g to d a y, a lth o u g h v e ry fe w rem a in u n m u tila te d by la te r “ re n o va tio n ” o u t of keeping w ith th e ir la te V icto ria n cha rm .

O th e r s p e c u la to rs m oved in to sn a p up land o p p o site G o ld e n Park, a lso in th e hope o f a tra m w a y. M atthe w H ig h e t L a u ch la n , a S yd n e y m e rch a n t and esta te ag en t, bo ug ht land at eith er end of N o rth um b erla nd Farm in 1880.

H e re ta in e d th e w e s te rn p ie c e , s u b d iv id in g it as “ M au dville” (C harlotte S treet and Elizabeth Street) in 1882.

T h e a llo tm e n ts w e re v e ry slow to sell. T h e ea stern p o rtion o f land contained alm ost 53 acres, and w as m ade up of the farm s of John and C harles G abb and Neil Q uigg, stretching from N o rth co te S tre e t to to d a y ’s B exley Road. It had a “ s to re now le t fo r ten s h illin g s a w e e k ” on its C a n te rb u ry R oad fro n ta g e . T h e w h o le p ro p e rty w as sold to Joh n K inloch, th e H e a d m a ste r of H u rlsto n e C o lle ge at A shfie ld , w h o s p e cu la te d in real esta te as a s id e lin e . T h e ho p e d -fo r tra m w a y w as not b u ilt q u ic k ly e n o u g h fo r him , and by D e ce m b e r 1882 his cre d ito rs fo re clo se d , s e n d in g him b a n kru p t. His sch o o l w as sold to th e G o ve rn m e n t to becom e a T ra in in g C ollege for lady tea chers, w h ile his land w e nt to yet a n othe r speculator, E be ne zer V ickery, w ho had en o u g h m on ey b e hind him to be ab le to affo rd to w a it fo r G o ve rn m e n t-fin a n ce d p u b lic tra n s p o rt to arrive.

Joh n K in lo ch w as u n lu cky w ith his v e n tu re , p a rtly b e ca u se he trie d to m ake a fo rtu n e as an in d ivid u a l in vestor. M ore s u cce ssfu l g e n tle m e n fo rm e d real esta te s yn d ica te s, sh a rin g th e fin a n c ia l bu rd e n , and any pro fits, am ong th e ir pa rtn ers. In 1883, R osedale E state w as taken o ve r by one such syn d ica te : th e A u stra lia n M utual In ve stm e n t and B u ild in g Co. Ltd., one o f th e p o p u la r p ro p e rty d e v e lo p m e n t c o m p a n ie s w h ich flo u ris h e d in the land boom of th e 1880s in both S yd n e y and M elbo urne .

T h e fo rm e r ow ne rs of R osedale, H ogben and S w yny, w ere both d ire c to rs of th e syn d ica te , and th e y w e re jo in e d by w e ll-kn ow n city a nd co u n try b u sin essm en of the tim e. The C o m p a n y issued a b o o kle t to e n co u ra g e p ro sp e ctive pu rch a se rs, e s p e c ia lly “ w o rk in g m en, railw a y e m p lo yees and oth ers w ho desire to acq uire a sub urb an house not too fa r from S y d n e y ” . T hey gave a su m m a ry of th e ir role in the d e ve lo p m e n t: This E state w as p u rc h a s e d b y the C o m pa ny a n d

Houses to this plan still sta n d in Rosedale.

(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

T h is w as ty p ic a l o f m an y such s u b d iv is io n s by va rio u s b u ild in g c o m p a n ie s all o ve r S yd n e y at th e tim e , th ro u g h w h ich th e “ little m a n ” co u ld buy his ow n h o use and land on th e in s ta lm e n t s y s te m . R o s e d a le w a s th e firs t d e v e lo p m e n t of th is typ e in th e C a n te rb u ry M u n icip a lity: a llo tm e n ts w e re a d ve rtise d at £50 ea ch, w ith c re d it up to ten yea rs at 8 % in te re s t — p a ym e n ts o f five s h illin g s per fo rtn ig h t. T he b o o kle t co n ta in e d illu s tra tio n s o f seve ral ho use typ e s s u ita b le fo r d iffe re n t s tra ta o f so c ie ty w h ich th e C o m p a n y w o u ld g ive a s s is ta n c e to b u ild . T h re e v a ria tio n s o f th e “ se m i-d e ta ch e d w o rk m e n ’s c o tta g e s ” style, b u ilt fo r £555 th e pair, are still s ta n d in g in W in d so r Avenue. Like Croydon Park, R osedale attracted tradesm en as its firs t residents, and several b rickm a ke rs, bricklaye rs, ca rp e n te rs, p la ste re rs and p a in te rs s e ttle d do w n to use th e ir skills in d e ve lo p in g th e s u rro u n d in g p ro p e rtie s. In 1883, a d o u b le blo ck of land in C o o k S tree t w as b o u g h t by the Presbyterian C h urch , and a w ooden chu rch bu ild in g op e n e d on th e site in 1884. W e e kly s e rvice s w ere con du cte d the re by the Rev. A le xa n d e r O sborne, M .A ., the firs t m in ister.

It is p ro b a b ly ju s t as w e ll th a t m ost o f th e R osed ale re sid e n ts c o u ld be e m p lo ye d lo ca lly — th e ir p ro m ised tra m w a y did not m aterialise.

A fte r m e e tin g fo r w o rs h ip in th e priva te re sid e n ce o f M r Le slie C ra w fo rd , and S u n d a y S cho ol be in g co n d u c te d in a she d at th e re a r o f M r S tro n g m a n ’s re sid e n ce , a block of land in G re e n h ills S tre e t w as firs t cho sen as a site for

17

SP JHM35 ■49--ON/&9 m

jf U P W A R D S OF 9 5 f l l f l N 'T ’3 = FR O N TACETO

W ID S R O A D S

( %) B P S E D A L E )

’CONSISTINC OF 5 5 i ACMBS

Rosedale Estate subdivision plan, 1881. Note the proposed elaborate landscaping in Rosedale Reserve a nd Rosedale Park.

(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

18

railw ay pro po sals to appear. T he s u b d ivisio n s ne arb y sold ve ry slo w ly, but th is w as to be e xp e cte d , given th a t the llla w a rra line w as a lm ost co m p le te as fa r as H u rstville , and bu yers w e re flo c k in g the re . W illia m R edm an, son o f John, had died in 1882, and in June, Ju ly and A u g u st 1884, m uch o f his p ro p e rty w as put on th e m a rke t by th e e x e c u to r of his estate, G e o rg e W ig ra m A llen . F re d e rick C lisso ld and W illia m Lovel D avis b o u g h t th e 80 acre B e n tle y Farm to be an exte n sio n to th e ir re la tive ly s u c c e s s fu l G old en Park E s ta te , a n d a ls o in v e s te d a c o n s id e ra b le a m o u n t developing th e ir C anterbury Park R acecourse, ju s t over the river. A ll w as in readiness for the a n no un cem en t. W hen the ra ilw a y p o lic y a p p e a re d , th e re w a s o u tra g e a n d d is a p p o in tm e n t th ro u g h o u t th e M u n icip a lity: th e loop line proposal had been om itted from th e list. At pu blic m eetings held to vo ice the d is tric t’s pro te sts, local M e m b e rs of P a rlia m e n t w e re ro u n d ly c ritic is e d : “ w e co u ld not afford to have ‘p a trio tic ’ M e m b e rs here, fo r w h ils t th e y w ere lo okin g a fte r th e c o lo n y g e n e ra lly, o th e r M e m b e rs w ere ‘picking up the p lu m s ’ [for th e ir ow n e le cto ra te s]” . A no ther d e p u ta tio n w as se n t to W rig h t, but cam e aw ay w ith o u t g a in in g any sa tisfa ctio n .

C ro ydo n Park M e th o d ist C h u rch , but th is w as la te r sold to a ssist in p ro cu rin g the site at th e c o rn e r of G eo rg es R iver Road and B rig hton A ven ue . B efo re th e C h u rch bu ild in g w a s ere cte d, S un da y a fte rn o o n service s w e re held in va rio u s hom es. O n D e ce m b e r 7, 1884, th e firs t ch u rch bu ild in g w as opened fo r w orship, only tw o m onths a fter the fo u n d a tio n sto n e had been laid. A p ro ce ssio n , w ith bands and ba nn ers, a sse m b le d at A sh fie ld R a ilw ay S tatio n and m arch ed to th e C h urch .

In the m eantim e, C h arle s G oo dcha p, C o m m issio n e r for R a ilw ays, had be co m e co n ce rn e d ab ou t th e a m o u n t of tra ffic on th e w e ste rn and so u th e rn ra ilw a y line th ro u g h P a rra m a tta Ju n c tio n . In o rd e r to ease th e co n g e stio n , he su g g e ste d th a t a “ loop lin e ” be tw ee n St P e te r’s on the proposed lllaw arra Line and Liverpool on the S outhern Line be built. Joh n L a c k e y ’s last actio n as S e cre ta ry fo r P ub lic W orks was to ord er a trial survey to be m ade of G oo dcha p’s loop line proposal. B etw een Ja n u a ry and A u g u st 1883, Mr S u rve yo r Bell c o u ld be seen at w o rk in th e va lle y of C up and S a u ce r C reek, m e a su rin g levels and h a m m e rin g in pegs. T he pro po sed line ran b e sid e th e m arke t ga rd e n s and sla ug hterho use s o f S ha dy W aterholes, con tinu ed past th e s u b d ivid e d M a u d ville Estate, p a rallel to H arp Street, and rou n d e d th e head o f S alt Pan C re e k on its w ay to Liverp ool. It lo oke d as th o u g h La u ch la n , V ic k e ry and th e oth e r la nd ow n ers sou th of C a n te rb u ry Road w ere ab ou t to rea lise on th e ir in vestm en ts. “ B e ll’s L in e ” be ca m e th e hope of th e s p e c u la to rs and fa rm e rs alike, so w hen th e s u rve y w as c o m p le te , a d e p u ta tio n o f la n d o w n e rs pre se n te d a p e titio n to th e new M in is te r fo r P ub lic W orks, F.A. W rig h t, a ssu rin g him tha t th e y w e re w illin g to d o n a te th e land ne cessa ry fo r the co n s tru c tio n o f a railw ay, an actio n w h ich w o u ld avoid “ ste a lin g th e stre e ts from th e p e o p le ” — a co n sta n t p ro b le m w h en tra m w a ys w e re bu ilt. W rig h t re p lie d w ith a pro m ise tha t, if th e land w e re given free, th e n he w o uld re co m m e n d th a t th e ra ilw a y be bu ilt. O ne o f S y d n e y ’s e ve n in g n e w sp ape rs, The E cho , co n g ra tu la te d the la n d o w n e rs on th e ir good fo rtu n e : “ W ith tw o o r th re e e xc e p tio n s . . . th e d o n o rs . . . [are] pe rso n s w h o have been in possession, and w orking m uch of [the land] fo r very m a n y years, and w ho, th e re fo re , m ay be co n g ra tu la te d upon the p ro spe ct o f reaping th e b e ne fit o f d e v e lo p m e n t” .

T his prem ature rejoicing w as very unw ise — im m ediately th e re w as a rush o f le tte rs to th e E dito r fro m o th e r sp e cu la to rs, d is a p p o in te d th a t th e new su rve y line d id not to u ch th e ir land, c ritic is in g th e plan s, and a d vo ca tin g a lte rn a tive su rve ys of th e ir ow n. W h ile th e co n tro ve rsy raged, F.A. W righ t deferred m aking his decision on the loop line and co n ce n tra te d instead on som e sm all ad ju stm e nts o f his ow n to th e llla w a rra Line, the n u n d e r co n s tru c tio n , w h ich w o u ld su it th e in te re sts o f th e N a tion al P e rm a n e n t B u ild in g , Land and In ve stm e n t S o cie ty, o f w h ich he w as a D irector.

In the m eantim e, B ram sh ot Farm w as leased by W illiam F arrow , a m a rke t g a rd e n e r, w h o kept bo ats fo r hire on C ooks R iver as a sideline. M ore C hinese m arket ga rde ners s e ttle d alon g th e rive r flats, w h ile th e b u ild in g a c tiv ity in R o sed ale and C ro ydo n P ark e n co u ra g e d P a trick Fox to sta rt up a b ric k w o rk s on B ra m s h o t’s c la y soil, so m e w h e re in th e v ic in ity o f to d a y ’s Byron and S h e lle y S tree ts. T h is a c tiv ity w as la te r c a rrie d on by J o h n M cK e ve tt and A lb e rt S ho rtus, and fin a lly by D aniel M cG ra w and his fam ily.

F rancis Hill Beam ish in 1883 sold 64 acres of “ Percy V ille ” (so m e tim e s ca lle d W o o d b in e Farm ) b a ck to the e a rlie r ow ners, the M acp he rson fam ily, fin a lly paying o ff his th irty ye a r old m o rtg a g e o f £400. He re taine d th e re m a in in g 36 a cre s as his ow n u n e n cu m b e re d pro pe rty.

T h ro u g h th e e a rly p a rt o f 1884, a d vo ca te s o f B e ll’s Line w a ite d im p a tie n tly fo r th e G o v e rn m e n t’s p ro g ra m m e of

O n O c to b e r 4 ,1 8 8 4 , an a d ve rtis e m e n t ap p e a re d in the pa pe rs w h ich w as to p lay a s ig n ific a n t part in the d e v e lo p m e n t of p u b lic tra n s p o rt in th e d is tric t. “ An e xc e e d in g ly e lig ib le su b d iv is io n b lo c k ” o f 100 acre s w as draw n to th e a tten tion of “ B u ild in g S ocieties, S pe culators, Inve sto rs and o th e rs ” , w h ich w as n e ar G old en P ark and M au dville , and w as sold by th e o rd e r of F.C. G riffith s, tru s te e fo r th e ow ne rs, th e S co tt b ro th e rs, w h o had gone ho m e to B rita in . T h e la nd w as th e “ C a m p sie E s ta te ” , and its sa le w as a rra n g e d by H a rdie and G orm an , a firm w ith links to the A nglo-A ustralian Investm ent, Finance and Land C o m pany. H e nry G orm an w as C h airm a n o f th e C om pany, its V ice-chairm an w as the S ecre tary fo r P ub lic W orks, F.A. W rig h t. Its s o lic ito rs w e re p a rtn e rs , S.A. S te p h e n M .L.A . and A .H . M cC u llo ch M .L .A ., frie n d s and c o lle a g u e s of F re d e rick C lisso ld and W .L. D avis. S te p h e n , like C lisso ld and Davis, w as a “ w e ll-kn o w n ra cin g id e n tity ” .

N e go tiation s w e re set in m otion fo r th e A n g lo -A u stra lia n C o m p a n y to b u y th e C a m p sie E state fo r £10,000, and, on Jan ua ry 3 0 ,1 8 8 5 , F.A. W righ t com m issioned a new railway s u rve y line. A su rve yo r nam ed K e n n e d y ap p e a re d in the d istrict, and soon th e local loop lin e w a tch e rs saw pegs be in g placed in a to ta lly d iffe re n t d ire ctio n , rig h t th ro u g h G old en Park, B e n tle y ’s F arm , and C a m p sie . T hom a s M a cG re g o r, W rig h t’s and M c C u llo c h ’s p a rtn e r on the B oard o f th e N a tio n a l B u ild in g Land and In ve stm e n t C o m p a n y a lre a d y ow ned B ram sh ot, and w as no do ub t d e lig h te d w ith his good fo rtu n e to be “ in th e rig h t place at th e rig h t tim e ” .

W ith s u p re m e c o n fid e n c e , th e A n g lo -A u s tra lia n C o m p a n y hired m en to c le a r and m ark o u t stre e ts and a llo tm e n ts in th e ir new C a m p sie P ark E state, and G ibbs, S hallard and Co. d re w up for the m an ele g a n t bo oklet w ith illu stra te d view s, and a te x t w h ich cla im ed : The S t P eters to L ive rp o o l lo o p line o f ra ilw a y p a s s in g through o r n e a r the estate, a n d acro ss the river, w ill c o n n e c t the n e w s u b u rb w ith the c ity eve ry fifteen minutes, a n d the pulse o f city life a n d c ity g ro w th w ill be at here as it do es a ll ro u n d S y d n e y ’s w ide a n d vast re s id e n tia l dom ain.

C o n n e cte d b y ‘bus, ra il a n d tram, as the d is tric t w ill be in a very sho rt space o f time, this C am psie P ark Estate m u s t be co m e the firs t o f S y d n e y ’s sub urb s. Its position, its elevation, its su rro u n d in g s, its lib e ra l p la n o f sub divisio n, e n su rin g e le g a n t a n d co m fo rta b le houses in wide, w ell-drained thoroughfares, im p arting pe rp e tu a l che erfulness a n d g o o d health, w a rra n ts a b e lie f th a t a t

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C a n te rb u ry , th e y c re a te d s u c h a d is tu rb a n c e th a t C o nstab le Hird w as aw akened, and decided to investigate.

A t 2.00 a.m ., T h o m p so n and E llis arrive d b a ck at the cam p, w ith bloodstained clothing. T hey a d m itte d to having had a stru g g le w ith the policem an, and gave the axe to one of th e o th e r la b o u re rs. T h e ne xt day, th e y to o k to the road, b u t w e re arre ste d on L iverp ool Road a t B an kstow n by a sea rch p a rty soon afterw a rds.

T he tria l o ccu pied th e new sp ape rs of S ydn ey fo r several days, and it is e x tre m e ly d o u b tfu l w h e th e r th e E state b e n e fite d from its fre e p u b licity.

O th e r eve nts in la te 1885 also co n sp ire d to act a g a in st th e in te re sts o f th e p ro p rie to rs o f C a m p sie P ark Estate.

T h e ir sales d e p e n d e d , to a la rge exte nt, on th e pro m ised ra ilw a y being c o m p le te d , and th is, in turn, de pe n d e d on th e ir g re a t and p o w e rfu l frie n d , th e M in iste r fo r P ub lic W orks, re m a in in g in office . By S e p te m b e r I885, how ever, W rig h t’s b u s in e s s a c tiv itie s had a ttra c te d a d v e rs e a tte n tio n , and he w as a ccu se d in P a rlia m e n t of a seriou s c o n flic t o f in te re st betw een his c a rryin g c o m p a n y ’s con tra cts and those of the R ailw ay D epartm ent. It w as said th a t W rig h t, as S e cre ta ry fo r P ub lic W orks, had aw ard ed his ow n c o m p a n y such fa v o u ra b le fre ig h t rates th a t it w as c o n s is te n tly able to u n d e rc u t th e fre ig h t service o f the G o ve rn m e n t R ailw ays, a lth o u g h both se rvice s used the sam e tra in s. It w as also ru m o u re d th a t he had ord ere d “ good iro n b a rk fe n c e s ” to be rep la ced w ith barbed w ire from a n o th e r o f his c o m p a n ie s, and had c o n tra c te d to repaint all the property of the Public W orks D epartm ent with “ S ta n d a rd P a in t” , ow ned by the C o lo n ia l S ecre tary.

T h e G o ve rn m e n t w as fo rce d to fig h t an e le ctio n on the issue of the private business interests o f M inisters, and the C o lo n ia l S e cre ta ry th o u g h t it a d visa b le to m ove W rig h t to th e less c o n te n tio u s p o rtfo lio of P ostm aster-G eneral. A fte r a d isa stro u s ca m p a ig n , he w as d e fe a te d in his sea t of R e dfern , and te m p o ra rily retire d from p o litics. W hen the new G o ve rn m e n t to o k office , it w a s d isco ve re d th a t th e boom in p u blic tra n sp o rt exp an sion had run the C olony into d e b t to th e tu n e o f o ve r £1 m illio n, so no new M in iste r w as bra ve en o u g h to a p pro ve the b u ild in g of th e loop line for th e tim e be in g. F.A. W rig h t w as c h a rg e d w ith fra u d over his c a rryin g c o m p a n y a ctivitie s, and his tria l o ccu p ie d the n e w sp a p e rs fo r seve ral m onths. He w as e ve n tu a lly a c q u itte d fo r la ck o f evide nce.

C am psie P ark there w ill be e s ta b lis h e d a m a tch le ss ce n tre o f th rivin g su b u rb a n life.

T h e C o m p a n y ’s su b d ivisio n w as indeed an e le g a n t one, w ith w ide streets and generous-sized blocks of land. T here w e re tw o c e n tra l rese rves, C a rrin g to n and E lgin S qu are s, and H a nn ah L a y c o c k ’s old c a rt road w as renam ed B e a m ish Road as a c o m p lim e n t to th e fa rm e r living o p p o site th e new estate. It is th o u g h t th a t A m y and E valine S tre e ts w e re n a m e d a fte r F ra n c is H ill B e a m is h ’s g ra n d d a u g h te rs . T h e s u b d iv is io n stre e t plan did not sho w a railw ay line, alth ou gh buyers w ere assured in the te xt that it w o u ld be bu ilt, and th e m ap w as s u rro u n d e d by illustratio ns o f the late V ictorian Italianate style houses that th e C o m p a n y hope d w o u ld soon co ve r th e pro pe rty.

In th e m e a n tim e , on A p ril 10, 1885, M ark H a m m ond , M .L.A . fo r C a n te rb u ry, had in tro d u ce d a d e p u ta tio n to the M in iste r fo r P ub lic In stru ctio n , M rT ric k e tt (also a D ire cto r o f th e A n g lo -A u s tra lia n C o m pa ny), askin g th a t fu rth e r sch o o l a cc o m m o d a tio n be p ro vid e d fo r the d is tric t of C ro ydo n Park, R osedale and G reen hills. A p p lica tio n s had been m ade in th e pa st tw o years, and had not been g ra n te d , b u t th e re ce n t g ro w th o f th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d , the n u m b e r o f c h ild re n th e re , and th e fa c t th a t o th e r scho ols w ith in the sta tu to ry d ista nce w ere e ith er full, o r very d ifficu lt of access throu gh bad roads, proved tha t som e early action w as ne cessa ry. T h e re w e re ab ou t 150 c h ild re n said to be re sid in g w ith in h a lf a m ile of th e sch o o l site, and the se a tte n d e d sch o o ls at E nfie ld , A sh fie ld , C ro ydo n and B urw oo d. M r T ric k e tt p ro m ise d th a t he w o uld give his a tte n tio n to the p ro blem . He acte d q u ic k ly to a p pro ve the e s ta b lis h m e n t o f a sch o o l and have a site resum ed.

C ro yd o n Park P u b lic S cho ol op en ed in 1886. A plain brick building capable of acco m m od ating 150 pupils was erected in tim e for teaching to com m e nce in J an ua ry 1886. The first p e rm a n e n t P rin cip a l w as M r Joh n D art, and, by th e end o f th e year, 156 p u p ils w e re e n ro lle d . A re sid e n ce fo r the P rin cip a l w as e re cte d in 1889, and a new b u ild in g fo r in fa n ts th e fo llo w in g year.

Beam ish Street a nd Canterbury Road, 1885.

(From the booklet “ Illustrated Views of the Campsie Park Estate” ).

T h e p u b lic ’s a tte n tio n w as dra w n to th e C a m p sie Park E state by th e s en satio na l eve nts o f A u g u st 1 3 ,1 8 8 5 , when P olice C o n sta b le H ird o f C a n te rb u ry w as m urd e re d on P ro u t’s B rid g e by tw o of th e w o rke rs em p lo yed cle a rin g u n de rgrow th from the “ K em psey Park E state” . T he young m en, Jo se p h T h o m p so n and E llis B irch , had go ne into S yd n e y on th e da y of th e m u rd e r and p u rch a se d an axe.

B efo re th e y re tu rn e d hom e, th e y had g o ne d rin k in g in the H a ym a rke t H otel, and later had a m eal in an oyste r saloon — th e y w e re v e ry d ru n k by th e tim e th e y s te p p e d off the tra in at A s h fie ld at 11.15 p.m . T h e m en set out to w a lk to th e ir ca m p on th e estate, but, w h ile g o in g th ro u g h

Canterbury Road looking tow ards Canterbury, 1885.

(From the booklet “ Illustrated Views of the Campsie Park Estate” ).

In th e m e a n tim e , C a m p sie Park E state rem a ine d s u b d ivid e d and em p ty. D e p u ta tio n s fro m th e d is tric t co n tin u e d to tre k to th e o ffic e of su cce ssive M in iste rs for W o rks, but w e re alw ays tu rn e d aw ay to w a it fo r th e tim e th a t th e G o ve rn m e n t w as free from de bt, and ab le to vote for new railways. T he A nglo-A ustralian C o m pa ny ploughed m ore o f its m on ey in to th e d is tric t w hen it bo ug ht, in Jun e

20

G ardeners. A large cottage and ou tbuilding s are pleasantly situa ted. T he w h ole of th e large residu e is w ell ad ap te d for p ro fita b le s u b d ivisio n , be in g on ly a sh o rt d is ta n c e from C ro yd o n , on th e p ro po sed railw a y route, St P e te r’s to Liverpool. This picturesque estate has a very large frontage to C o oks R iver, e x te n d in g from a b o u t o p p o site the C a n te rb u ry R a ce co u rse to beyond th e c a p ita l b ridg e le a d in g from C ro ydo n [at B rig h to n A ven ue ]. It a d jo in s the w e ll-kn o w n p ro p e rty of M essrs. C lisso ld and Davis, and is o p p o site th e fa m o u s C a m p sie P ark S u b d ivisio n , all of w h ich w as re a d ily sold by th e A n g lo -A u s tra lia n C o., and is now held fo r good prices, in vie w o f th e e n h a n ce m e n t e xp e cte d by th e new line o f ra ilw a y ” . It w as not sold, and ne ithe r, d e s p ite th e cla im s o f th e a d ve rtise m e n t, had the C a m p sie P ark E state fo u n d any buyers.

1886, 43 acre s o f the fo rm e r B elle O m b re E state, im ­ m e d ia te ly to the east of G old en Park, and sen t su b d ivid e rs to lay o u t th e ir new land as “ S ilve r P a rk ” E state. M ost of th e streets w e re given A u s tra lia n native na m es (W onga, W airo a, etc.) b u t C o rn e liu s P ro u t’s old re sid e n ce w as c o m m e m o ra te d in a co n tra c tio n of its fo rm e r nam e: B e llo m b i S treet.

By 1887, som e of th e local la n d o w n e rs w e re in fin a n cia l tro u b le . S everal lots of G old en Park w e re sold by m o rtg a g e e s, in c lu d in g a sho p and d w e llin g on th e co rn e r of Park S treet and C a n te rb u ry Road. T hom as and C harles M a cg re g o r had m o rtg a g e d B ra m sh o t to th e B ank o f New Z e a la n d — it w as a d ve rtise d in J a n u a ry as an esta te w ith a “ sp le n d id p o sitio n on C o oks R iver . . . a sm all pa rt is o c c u p ie d by B rick F actorie s, a n o th e r part by M arket

Cooks River, looking tow ards Canterbury from Croydon Park Bridge, 1928.

21

CHAPTER 4: Campsie Becomes a Suburb (1888-1895) T h e C e n te n a ry o f th e C o lo n y in I888 b ro u g h t som e o p tim ism back in to life, and each M u n icip a lity prepa red to ce le b ra te in a fittin g m an ne r. O n N o ve m b e r 16, 1887, 11 1 1 i n

i i

i i ; i ,i i n

C a n te rb u ry C o u n cil b o u g h t lo ts 1 and 2 of A ld e rm a n Joh n C a m pb ell S h a rp ’s P ro u t’s B rid ge E state (corn er o f C anton S tre e t and C a n te rb u ry Road) and hired a P arra m atta

i l i i . i . n M l,i;lilU ;i|> i> ;i,iiiiiiii> :»i> V ii;tTiT>it!M '< iiii|i|i;iiii»i ^ i « i i i | i i ^ i i:) :i|i|iiu N iiM Mi|tH n!ii«;«?U n^lH > |i!i|»l< llt»T O W i> P l»l^ l ^ i t ! » i M N y W ^ ^ ;it:¥ n ^

lA S C O V tT 6 CASTLEREAGH STREET. SYD N EY I2 l.C o llin s Street M elbourne UfPiresopenfrom 9am lo8p.B every day

\ All Avenues & Roads GG&SOfVide

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h a r c o ih t

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. 45 46 47 4« ' '4 \ bAcree*cf>

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Harcourt subdivision plan, 1889.

(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

22

Ot/f*

w h o w e re p re pa red to fall in w ith th e ir g e n e ra l in te n tio n to cre a te a “ m o d e l” sub urb : Ten th o u sa n d p o u n d s will, a t the e n d o f five years, be d is trib u te d a m o n g s t those p u rc h a s e rs w h o s h a ll have im p ro v e d the ir a llo tm e n ts a c c o rd in g to certain ca re fu lly stu d ie d conditions. These regulations m ake it in cum b ent fo r the builder, h a vin g la id his fou nda tion s, w here p ra ctica b le , n o t less than 20 fe e t from the fro n t fence, a n d m id w a y betw een side fences, to have co m p le te d his house a n d in h a b ite d it fo r a t le a s t three m o n th s p rio r to the date o f the bo nu s be co m in g due. No m an w ho builds a terrace o f houses w ill have a chance o f a prize, no m an w h o d u m p s m ore than one ho use d o w n on a single allotment, a n d no m a n , w ho builds pro pe rty under certain values.

T h e best o f all in ce n tive s, hard cash , w o u ld e n su re tha t each in d ivid u a l b u ild e r m a in ta in e d th e p ro p e rty va lu e s of th e e state. N o th in g cou ld have been m ore in ke e p in g w ith the eco n o m ic system of th e tim e. T he “ H a n d -b o o k” o f the C o m p a n y s u m m e d up its p h ilo so p h y o f s u b u rb a n living: A s [m a n ’s ] m e n ta l d isp o sitio n is to be free, so his p h y s ic a l system requires exercise a n d p le n ty o f p u re air, a n d his m o ra l n a ture to a b so rb s o m e th in g o f the p o e try o f the green fields, a n d the running brook. It is nature that ap pe als m o s t to o u r b e tte r selves. We c a n n o t p a s s from the c o ld a n d he artle ss p a v e m e n t o f the c ity in to the co u n try road, a n d exch a n g e the h u rry a n d b u stle o f the one, w ith all its attendant vice an d wrong, for the peaceful rep ose o f the other, w ith o u t fee lin g th a t a n e w im p ulse has been given to a ll th a t is n o b le s t a n d b e s t in us . . .

S uch w as life to be in H a rcou rt!

arch ite ct, W .H . M on cto n, to d ra w up plans fo r a T ow n Hall, w o rth y of the im p o rta n ce of the M u n icip a l D istrict. It co n ta in e d a m ain hall, 60 x 40 feet, m u n icip a l o ffice s and la rge tile d lobby, and w as e m b e llish e d by a tow e r, 65 feet high, w ith space fo r a clock. T he building cost £52,000, and w as to ta ke m ore tha n a yea r to bu ild , but, w ith a bit of an ticip a tio n , the m ag ic y ea r “ 1 8 88” cou ld a p pe ar over the ce re m o n ia l doorw ay.

D espite th is m on um e nt to civic pride, to an ou tside r, the rest of th e d is tric t ap p e a re d to rem a in b e hind the tim es, w ith its w id e ly s ca tte re d houses and un m a d e roads and footpaths. T here w ere no plans to extend the Nepean w ater sup ply into the M unicipality, as the people argued tha t the ir w e lls and ta n ks w e re a d e q u a te fo r th e ir needs, and the y co u ld alw ays fall ba ck on C o oks R iver in a dro ug ht.

C a n te rb u ry C o un cil pu rcha sed a p u m p and troug h in 1884 and placed it on C ooks River near the bridge at C anterbury.

In Ja n u a ry 1888, th e re w e re on ly 450 h o use s in th e w h ole area — n o b o d y w as p re pa red to b u ild until th e longp ro m ise d p u b lic tra n s p o rt route be cam e a reality.

M ary R edm an, w ife o f Joh n R e d m a n ’s y o u n g e st son, R o be rt H a rris B land R e dm a n, lived w ith h e r c h ild re n on “ S ton ele ss B a y ” until I888. H er hu sb a n d , d e sp ite the protests of his sisters-in-law , had m ade a w ill w h ich left the farm to be d ivid e d e q u a lly am o ng his fo u r ch ild re n , w ith his w ife to have a life in te re st only. W hen he died on S e p te m b e r 2 6 ,1 8 6 4 , his c h ild re n w e re v e ry you ng , so the esta te w as not w o u n d up until th e y o u n g e st tu rn e d 21.

P rob ate w as not g ra n te d u n til 1882 — th e yea r th a t his bro th er W illiam , the solicitor w ho drew up the will, also died.

T h e w id o w s o f th e R edm an b ro th e rs both re taine d th e ir p ro p e rtie s th ro u g h m ost o f th e 1880s, w h ile th e y w a ite d to see w h e th e r th e tra in line w o u ld be bu ilt. C e cilia R edm an, w id o w of W illia m , rece ive d w e ll-ch o se n ta c tic a l ad vice — on e o f he r tru ste e s w as B e n ja m in Jam e s, D ire cto r of the A n g lo -A u stra lia n C o m pa ny, and no d o u b t she sha red any in s ig h ts in to th e plan s o f th e p o litic ia n s w ith her sister-inlaw, M ary. F.A. W rig h t had, by th is tim e , re-entered P arliam e nt as the M em b er for G len Innes, but still retained his A n g lo -A u stra lia n C o m p a n y in te rest.

In M ay 1888, M ary R edm an and he r c h ild re n received an offer of £10,215 fo r S ton ele ss Bay Farm , w h ich the y felt th e y co u ld not refuse. T he A u stra l B an kin g and Land Proprietary, m anaged by W illiam Edgar Harold Phillips and Ja m e s O tis P h illip s (w ith Joh n M a cin to sh M .L.C ., H.H. B row n M .L.A ., Ja m e s G o rm ly M .L.A . and S yd n e y S m ith M .L.A . on th e B oard o f D irectors) be cam e th e proud po ssesso rs of ju s t u n d e r 200 acre s o f p rim e d e v e lo p m e n t land. U sing th e p ro p e rty as se cu rity, th e y raised a loan of £40,000 from th e N ew O rie n ta l Bank, and set ab ou t d e ve lo p in g M rs R e d m a n ’s farm in to a su b d ivisio n ca rrie d out in the A m e rica n m anner, w ith nu m be red avenues. The e sta te w as nam ed “ H a rco u rt M odel S u b u rb ” . It had b e c o m e a p p a re n t fro m th e C a m p s ie P a rk E s ta te e xp e rie n c e th a t som e in ve stm e n t on th e pa rt o f the C o m p a n y w o u ld be ne cessa ry in o rd e r to a ttra c t buyers, so they determ ined to introduce a new schem e w hich would cre a te a good im p re ssio n , and w o u ld assu re b u yers tha t th e “ to n e ” of th e ir su rro u n d in g s w ould be m aintained. The sub divide rs form ed all the roads, creating footpaths of burnt clay, and e re cte d m iles o f w h ite fe n cin g . T w o w ider-tha nn o rm al ave nu es (F ifth and E ig hth G rand A ven ue s) were p la n te d w ith trees, and at all th e stre e t co rn e rs g a rd e n s w e re fo rm e d , w ith urn s and ha n g in g ba ske ts fo r fe rn s and flo w e rs. D e spite th e cla im s m ad e fo r it, H a rco u rt was esse ntia lly an un im a gin ative grid plan subdivision overlaid w ith surface de cora tion to attra ct the custom ers. However, in its te rm s of sale, th e A u stra l B an kin g and Land P ro p rie ta ry did p ro m ise som e rew ards to h o m e -b u ild e rs

Ideal hom e suggested for the H arcourt Estate.

(Centennial Magazine, May, 1889).

(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

A bo nu s system w as set in op e ra tio n to be d is trib u te d to pu rch a se rs w h o paid th e ir in sta lm e n ts on tim e , and all the d e s ira b le v irtu e s o f th rift and in d u s try w e re thu s e n co u ra g e d by th e ven do rs. A ll in all, H a rco u rt w as a “ m o d e l” exa m ple of the type of p ro du ct w hich sprang from late V icto ria n so cia l and e co n o m ic th o u g h t. It w as b o u g h t and d e velope d w ith b o rrow e d ca p ita l, d e ve lo p e d in a d is tric t w h e re p u b lic tra n s p o rt w as o n ly a d ista n t pro m ise, d e p e n d e n t on p o litica l in flu e n ce , it w as m a rke te d to the w o rk in g cla ss w ith e x h o rta tio n s on th e v irtu e s o f in d u stry and thrift, and it w as u n im a gin ative in style, alth ou gh m ade su p e rfic ia lly a ttra ctive by ela b o ra te d e cora tion. T h e w hole id e a w a s a cyn ica l e xe rcise , h id in g b e h in d th e “ m odel s u b u rb ” title.

In N o ve m b e r 1888, th e B ank of N ew Z e a la n d fin a lly d ispo sed o f B ra m sh o t Farm fo r £8,000. It w as b o u g h t by

23

T h o m a s S m ith R ichard son , a g e n tle m a n w h o had the re p u ta tio n of be in g “ good w ith m o n e y ” , d e s p ite th e fa ct th a t he had re co ve re d fro m b a n k ru p tc y o n ly th re e yea rs p re vio u sly. He m o rtg a g e d th e farm to E m ily M ary Barton fo r £5,000, A .H . M cC ulloch, solicitor to th e Anglo-A ustralian C o m p a n y, a ctin g on h e r be ha lf. R ic h a rd s o n ’s ch ie f o cc u p a tio n w as as th e p ro p rie to r and sole sh a re h o ld e r of the “ S ydn ey D eposit B a n k ” , an in stitu tio n w ith such an air o f re sp e cta b ility th a t sm a ll in vestors had placed a lto g e th e r £ 75,000 in to its care. T h is m on ey paid fo r th e p rin tin g of b a n kn o te s, d e p o s it s lip s and ba nk sta tio n e ry, and helped b u y seve ral in n e r-c ity te rra ce s, p ro p e rty at R osed ale and B u rw o o d , houses at M ed lo w in th e B lue M o u ntains (p re d e ce sso rs o f th e H yd ro M a je stic H otel) and, fina lly, B ram sh ot Farm. All this property w as held in his own nam e.

H is only in vestm en t w as £100, and, despite his claim in the b a n k ’s a d v e rtis e m e n ts to have a “ pa id -u p c a p ita l of £ 2 0 ,0 0 0 ” , th is w as b a la n ce d by an o v e rd ra ft o f £19,000.

R ichard son allow ed his te n a n ts to rem a in on B ra m sh o t for th e tim e be in g, w h ile he, too, w a ited to see w h a t w ould h a p p e n in th e m a tte r of the railw ay.

Banknote from Thomas Smith Richardson’s Sydney Deposit Bank.

The M ildura Estate was subdivided and so ld to settle debts when the b ank failed in 1892.

(Courtesy Archives Authority of NSW).

A t th e end o f 1888, th e new M in iste r fo r P ub lic W orks, Joh n S uth erla nd , w as taken by the M em b ers of P arliam ent fo r C a n te rb u ry on a to u r o f th e d is tric t, w ith a vie w to e x tra c tin g som e e xp e n sive p ro m ise s from him . T h e pa rty ha lte d at E nfie ld fo r d in n e r, and rece ive d a d e p u ta tio n for a tra m w a y from A sh fie ld to D ru itt T ow n (S outh S tra th fie ld ) past C ro ydo n Park and R osedale, and heard a re q u e st for a new b rid g e over C o oks R iver at B urw ood Road and Fifth A ven ue . T o re in fo rc e th e po in t, the M in is te r w as ta ke n to C a n te rb u ry via th a t route: A fte r a lo n g drive o ve r a ro u g h road, the b rid g e in qu estio n w as crossed. The lo u d crea kin g o f the timbers, a n d s w a y in g o f the structure, c a u s e d som e alarm . As veh icle a fte r veh icle c ro s s e d w ith its livin g fre ig h t the c re a k in g in crea sed, a n d the p a s s e n g e rs b e ca m e alarm ed. F u rth e r on a h a lt w a s called, a n d a su rve y o f the im m ense estate o f an enterprising firm o f speculators w a s m ade. The firm in qu estio n are la yin g the e sta te o u t in s p le n d id style; o rn a m e n ta l trees, e n c a s e d b y a fa n cy fence, are b e in g p la n te d alon g som e fo u r m iles o f roads.

The ro a d s have been form ed, a n d are to be m etalled, be fore the esta te is p u t in to the m arket. The w a te r is to be la id on, as w e ll as the gas. A little la te r M r S uth erla nd w as s h o w n the p ro p o s e d rou te o f the S t P eters to L iv e rp o o l loop-line, the c o u n try in the vicin ity b e in g very lig h tly tim bered.

T h is M in is te r fo r P ub lic W o rks, how ever, w a s a very to u g h p ro p o sitio n , and, th o u g h he en jo yed his day, he m ad e no p ro m ise s to b u ild e ith e r th e b rid g e o r th e p u b lic transp ort route. T he people of R osedale and Croydon Park,

24

w ho form ed a grow ing and increasingly m ilitant com m unity, co n tin u e d to tru d g e to e ith e r B urw ood o r C roydon R ailw ay sta tio n s in o rd e r to get to w o rk in th e city.

E n fie ld M u n ic ip a lity w as e s ta b lis h e d in 1889. Its boundaries w ere Liverpool Road (on the north side of which w e re B urw oo d and S tra th fie ld M u n icip a litie s), G re e n h ills S tree t (on th e east o f w h ich w as A sh fie ld M un icip ality), G eorges River Road (on the south of w hich was C anterbury M u n icip a lity), B urw oo d Road and C o oks River.

From th e 1850s, th e re w as a co n sta b le at C a n te rb u ry, and in 1889, an a d d itio n a l office r, C o n sta b le Em m ett, took up re sid e n ce at C ro ydo n Park.

T h e ch u rch halls in th is area w e re used as m eeting place s on m an y o cca sio n s — th e re w e re rep orts in 1889 o f a “ F ree-trade M e e tin g ” in th e P re sb yte ria n C h urch , R osedale, w hen th e tra d e u n io n ists of th e a re a w ere assu red th a t fre e tra d e , ra th e r tha n pro te ctio n ism , “ w as the be st p o licy fo r th e w o rk in g m a n ” . T he tra m w a y c o n tin u e d to be an issu e o f co n ce rn , and on A u g u s t 13, the sam e c h u rch w as p a cked fo r a “ cro w d e d and e n th u s ia s tic ” p u b lic m ee ting , su p p o rte d by the M ayors of both A sh fie ld and E nfie ld : “ T h e M ayo r o f E nfie ld referre d to th e n u m b e r o f a rtisa n s livin g in th e d istrict, w h o had to w a lk n e arly tw o m iles to the railw a y s tatio n eve ry m o rn in g be fore g e ttin g to th e city. It w a s a sham e, and th e G o ve rn m e n t sh o u ld p ro vid e som e m ea ns o f lo com o tion.

T h e re so lu tio n w as c a rrie d am id m uch c h e e rin g ” .

Soon after, a p pro val w as given to a tra m lin e from A sh fie ld to E nfie ld alon g G eo rg es R iver Road, la te r e xte n d e d th ro u g h B urw oo d to th e P a rra m a tta River.

C onstruction between A shfield and T angarra Street Enfield be ga n in 1891 and th e O ffic ia l O p e n in g too k place on S e p tem be r 2 3 ,1 8 9 1 . D espite early in dica tion s tha t the new line w as e xce e d in g e x p e c ta tio n s in ta k in g s , the firs t six years produced deficits each year, and these con tinu ed for m ost yea rs th e re a fte r. T h is sm all tra m w a y system w as alw ays iso late d from th e re m a in d e r o f th e m e trop olitan ne tw ork. O rig in a lly stea m op e ra te d , and la te r e le ctrifie d , th e tra m s o p e ra te d fro m a d e p o t a t E n fie ld o v e r a p p ro x im a te ly fifte e n tra c k m iles. T he E nfield system was ba sica lly a fe e d e r service to the w estern sub urb an railw ay at A sh fie ld and B urw ood.

O n Ju n e 15, 1889, the D a ily Telegraph ca rrie d a rep ort o f th e C a n te rb u ry C h in e se M ission held at the C ro ydo n P ark W e sle ya n C h u rch . T h e se m e e tin g s had been c o n d u cte d fo rtn ig h tly s in ce 1885 by A ld e rm a n J.C . Stone and M r R. D art a m o ng th e C h ine se lo cated on m arke t gardens near C ooks River. This fourth anniversary m eeting w as a big c e le b ra tio n , w ith ove r a hu n d re d C hinese, in c lu d in g a few w o m en and c h ild re n asse m bled. Q uong T art of A shfield spoke about the difficulties im posed against C h in e se im m ig ra tio n b y th e G o ve rn m e n t: “ T he refusa l to a llow th e C h in e se to land had cau sed a deal o f m isery.

M any of them had sold or m ortgaged the ir all to raise m oney to pa y th e ir pa ssag e to th is C o lon y, and on th e ir fo rce d return w e re d e s titu te . . . H a ving e u lo g ise d th e w o rk of M r S tone, he sp o ke s tro n g ly a g a in st th e use o f op iu m and a g a in st g a m b lin g , and the n a d d re sse d the g a th e rin g in C h in e s e ” . A b o u t 800 p e op le b e lo n g e d to th is M ission at th e tim e: service s w e re co n d u cte d in both E ng lish and C h ine se, and hym ns w e re sung by th e c o m m u n ity in th e ir ow n la n g u a g e . O ne of th e A u stra lia n m e m b e rs o f the c o n g r e g a tio n h a d ta k e n le s s o n s in C h in e s e to co m m u n ica te w ith the m arket ga rde ners and th e ir fam ilies.

In A p ril 1889, C a n te rb u ry had ce le b ra te d its com ing -o fage w ith the o ffic ia l o p e n in g o f the new Tow n Hall. The c e re m o n y c o m m e n c e d w ith a p ro c e s s io n o f lo c a l scho olchildren carrying “ ba n n e re tte s” , headed by the C ity B and, w h ich m arch ed alon g C a n te rb u ry Road to the building, un de r “ large and a rtistic arches . . . each bearing

to in tro d u ce th e id e a to th e e le cto ra te . C a n te rb u ry ’s o b je ctive , a p u b lic tra n s p o rt se rvice , w as not m e n tio n e d .

O n th e w e eke nd of M ay 2 5 -2 7 ,1 8 8 9 , se ve n te e n in che s o f rain fell in S ydney. A ll th e lo w -lying land w as floo de d, e s p e c ia lly th e rive r fla ts o f C ro ydo n P ark and B ram sh ot, and th e C h in e se m a rke t g a rd e n s on th e a llu via l te rra ce s o f C o oks R iver w e re d e va sta te d . O f all th e new estates, H a rco u rt fa re d w o rst. In its n a tural state, th e land w as cut

a g re e tin g to S ir H e n ry P a rk e s ” . 1500 p e o p le heard his op e n in g spe ech , in w h ich he e n co u ra g e d th e c h ild re n to a p p ly th e m s e lv e s n o b ly to th e ir w o rk, so th a t an a c c o m p lis h e d g e n e ra tio n o f “ m en and w om en w o u ld rise up w ho would be w ell fitted to shape and guide the destinies o f th e co m in g A u stra lia n n a tio n ” . T a lk of F ede ratio n was in the air in Parliam ent, and Parkes, to w hom it had becom e th e w h o le p u rpo se of his p o litica l life, lost no o p p o rtu n ity

R ailw ay survey lines through Campsie estates 1880s.

(Map by Lesley Muir).

25

by th re e d e ep g u llie s, and, sin c e th e u n c o m p ro m is in g a p p lic a tio n o f th e grid plan had ta ke n no a c c o u n t of th e p ro p e rty ’s to p o g ra p h y , d u rin g th e flo o d , th e w a te r rushed d o w n th e se g u llie s ta k in g th e b u rn t cla y fo o tp a th s, w h ite fe n ce s, and o rn a m e n ta l h a n g in g ba ske ts w ith it. T his d is a s te r c o u ld not have hit at a w o rse tim e fo r P h illip s and C o m pa ny. T h e y had no thin g but a large o ve rd ra ft from the N ew O riental B ank to s ho w fo r all th e ir w ork, and the y were fo rc e d to be gin d e v e lo p m e n t ag ain in o rd e r to fu lfil th e ir sid e o f th e b a rga in. D u rin g 1890, th e C a n te rb u ry C o u n cil rece ive d m an y re q u e sts from th e m fo r assista n ce to c o m p le te th e w o rk on th is estate.

H o w eve r, th e tu rn in g p o in t had co m e in the b a ttle for p u b lic tra n s p o rt. O n M arch 8, 1889, a new M in is te r fo r P u b lic W o rks, B ru ce S m ith, w as a p p o in te d by P arkes. He w a s a D ire c to r of th e S yd n e y B irk b e c k Land and B u ild in g Co. Ltd., a sy n d ic a te in c lu d in g E b e n e ze r V icke ry, w h ich ow ned all the property around N orthcote Street, and he was also a frie n d and legal a d viso r o f C e cilia R e dm a n. The S e c re ta ry fo r M in es in the sam e g o ve rn m e n t, S ydn ey S m ith , w as a m e m b e r of th e sy n d ic a te w h ich ow ned H a rcou rt. T he m atter o f the St P eters to Liverp ool loop line had been g ru d g in g ly re fe rre d by Jo h n S u th e rla n d to the R a ilw a y C o m m issio n e rs, w h o re co m m e n d e d to th e new M in is te r th a t, w h ih a line to L iverp ool w o u ld lose £17,000 per year, a b ra nch line from M a rric k v ille to B urw oo d Road m ig h t pay, and w o u ld e n co u ra g e s u b u rb a n d e ve lo p m e n t.

T h is p ro po sal w as ne xt c o n sid e re d by th e P a rlia m e n ta ry Standing C om m ittee on Public W orks (with W illiam T rickett M .L.A . and Dr A n d re w G arran M .L.C ., D ire cto rs of the A n g lo -A u s tra lia n C o m p a n y a m o ng its m em b ers), fo r final ap p ro va l. T h e C o m m itte e w as fa irly eve n ly s p lit betw een pro- and a n ti-ra ilw a y m e m b e rs, and it w as to u ch -a n d -g o w h e th e r th e lin e ’s a d vo ca te s w o u ld su cce e d .

In th e re p o rt o f th e S ta n d in g C o m m itte e , the d is tric t at the end of the line was described as “ good undulating open fo re st, w ith p a tch e s o f fa irly good o rch a rd la n d ” . T here w e re “ seve ral large s u b d ivisio n s, n o ta b ly B rid ge w ater, G o ld e n Park, S ilve r Park, C a m p sie P ark and H a rcou rt, m o st of w h ich a p p e a r to be lying d o rm a n t, p ro b a b ly aw aiting the approach of the railway, or at least the certainty o f its c o n s tru c tio n ” . Each C o m p a n y had a la rge board a d v e rtis in g its esta te up on C a n te rb u ry Road. Land in the d is tric t w as c o n sid e re d to be ch e a p at £100 an acre, e s p e c ia lly in co m p a riso n w ith th e su b u rb s alon g the W e ste rn and llla w a rra ra ilw a y lines. “ T h e re o n th rifty m e ch a n ics, and m en of m o d e ra te m ea ns w ill fin d an op po rtu nity for investm ent, w hich is practically denied them on th e e x is tin g lines by reason o f th e e x o rb ita n t price of la n d ” . T h e d e v e lo p m e n t w o uld , th e re fo re , “ e n a b le the po ore r classes to leave the crow ded parts of the city to seek h e a lth ie r and b e tte r s u rro u n d in g s in th e s u b u rb s .” T he d is tric t w as c o n sid e re d by som e to be h e a lth ie r th a n th a t along the lllaw arra line, as “ people suffering from bronchial affe ctio n s c an no t stand the sea a ir” . The ridge at Earlw ood w o u ld p re ve n t h a rm fu l ozo ne from g e ttin g th ro u g h .

W h e n H e n ry D eane, A c tin g E n g in e e r-in -C h ie f for Railw ays gave his evidence, it w as revealed tha t the staked lin e w e n t th ro u g h som e o f th e se ttle d a llo tm e n ts on the G o ld e n P ark E state, and so a s lig h t d e via tio n w as un d e r co n s id e ra tio n , w h ich w o u ld ta ke th e ra ilw a y fu rth e r north, th ro u g h the as yet unsettled S ilver Park and C am psie Park E states, and over C o rn e liu s P ro u t’s old farm ho use , “ Belle O m b re ” . If th e o rig in a l K e n n e d y ’s line had been bu ilt, it w ould have c u t across C a nterbury Road at Fore Street, and th e houses in G ould and Park S tree ts w hich w ere standing at th e tim e , w o u ld have had to be d e m o lish e d .

T h e S ta n d in g C o m m itte e in vite d e vid e n ce from all in te re s te d p e rso n s, and so it w a s p re d ic ta b le th a t su p p o rte rs o f B e ll’s line w o u ld co m e in and try to ch a n g e

th e rou te b a ck to th e ir line. T h e y p o in te d out th a t th e ch ie f ce n tre s o f p o p u la tio n at th a t tim e, 1889, w ere, in fact, M o o r fie ld s , K in g s g r o v e , and B e lm o re (n o w P un chb ow l/R ive rw oo d), w h ich w o uld not be served by the railw ay. It w as hinted th a t K e n n e d y ’s line w as a land s p e c u la to r’s line, in w h ich ce rta in p e rso n s w ho o ccu p ie d p o sitio n s in high p lace s w e re in te re ste d . N o b o d y w as p re p a re d to nam e th e p o litic ia n s th u s a ccu se d , how ever, so no a ctio n cou ld be ta ke n on th e m a tte r fo r la ck of evid e n ce .

E ve n tu a lly th e C o m m itte e vote d on th e pro je ct, and recom m ended the lin e ’s construction by seven votes to six.

It to o k a fu rth e r tw e lve m o n th s fo r co n s tru c tio n to be recom m ended by both Houses of P arliam ent, and then only after landow ners agreed to do nate the land required fo r the line. C o nve yance s w e re fina lise d du rin g m id-1891, but, by th is tim e, it w as a p p a re n t th a t all w as not w e ll in S y d n e y ’s fin a n cia l circles. In A u g u st 1891, tw o local investors, W .H .

B in ste d, su rve yo r, and J.T .B . G ibb s, p rin te r (w ho had p rin te d th e C a m p sie P ark E state b o o kle t as w e ll as m ost su b d ivisio n posters) w e re d e cla re d b a n kru p t. T h e y had in ve ste d he avily in sha res in b u ild in g c o m p a n ie s, using b o rrow e d m on ey to do so, and now co u ld not rep ay th e ir ba nk loans. It w as said o f J.T .B . G ib b s th a t “ fo r n e arly ten yea rs past his ba nk a cco u n t has been o ve rdra w n and seldo m if eve r less tha n £10,000 . . . ” T h e se tw o b a n k ru p tc ie s se t o ff a ch a in o f fin a n c ia l fa ilu re s, w h ic h , by Septem ber, affected the stability o f the building com panies.

It w as e vid e n t th a t m ost of th e sp e cu la to rs in the se syn d ica te s w e re also using b o rrow e d fu n d s to bu y and s u b d ivid e estates, and as eve ryb o d y w e nt b a n kru p t, the resa le va lu e o f b u ild in g c o m p a n y sha res d ro p p e d aw ay to no th in g . By th e end o f S e p te m b e r, th e A u stra lia n M utual Land and Inve stm e nt C o m p a n y (Rosedale) had failed , the A n g lo -A u stra lia n C o m a p n y w as in tro u b le , and q u e stio n s w ere being asked ab ou t the c on du ct of the S ydney Deposit Bank. T he new spapers were full of letters to the Editor from an xio u s sh a re h o ld e rs and from se lf-rig h te o u s D irectors all p ro te stin g at th e “ d iffic u lt tim e s ” . A d e p re ssio n had hit — th e “ long b o o m ” w as over.

In N ovem ber 1891, the Anglo-A ustralian C om pany called a m e e tin g o f d e p o sito rs to e xp la in w h y it had su sp e n d e d pa ym en t. M ost o f its assets w ere he ld in su b d ivid e d land w h ich, because of th e depre ssion , could not be sold. A few a llo tm e n ts o f C a m p sie P ark had been b o u g h t by g e n u in e ho m e -b u ild e rs in 1890 and 1891, but not n e arly e n ou gh to save the C o m pa ny from failure, and the rest of the property had been m o rtg a g e d to th e U nion Bank. T he ch ie f d ra in on A n g lo -A u stra lia n fu n d s w as its A u s tra lia H otel, w h ich had sen t it d e ep in to d e b t to bu ild , and th e in com e from g u e sts w as not ke e p in g pace w ith m o rtg a g e rep aym e nts.

In Ja n u a ry 1892, th e re w as a m assive w ith d ra w a l of fu n d s from th e S yd n e y D e po sit B ank, fo llo w in g th e fa ilu re o f th e b u ild in g co m p a n ie s. Q u e stio n s w e re asked ab ou t th e a d ve rtise d “ pa id -up c a p ita l o f £ 2 0,00 0” , and T.S. R ich a rd so n w as fo rce d to a d m it th a t it w as a ccu m u la te d “ o u t of th e p ro fits o f the b u s in e s s ” — he had not invested th e m on ey h im se lf. A t th e m e e tin g o f c re d ito rs, one cynic asked, “ H ave you a £5 note o f y o u r o w n ? ” R ichard son refused to reply. He had £74,185 of d e p o s ito rs ’ m on ey in his hands, had co n tin u e d his a d ve rtise m e n ts in the pa pe r from day to day, and up to the very day of clo sing the doors he co n tin u e d to rece ive de po sits, a lth o u g h on ce it w as d e p o site d , n o b o d y w as able to g e t his m on ey back.

It is iro n ic tha t, at th is point, w h en th e b a cke rs o f the railw a y su b d iv is io n s w e re all fa cin g ruin, M r Lyne, B ruce S m ith ’s re p la ce m e n t as M in iste r fo r P u b lic W orks, called fo r te n d e rs to b u ild th e M a rrickville to B urw oo d Road line.

P a rlia m e n t saw th a t a n y p u b lic w o rks u n d e rta ke n at this tim e w o u ld g ive u n e m p lo ym e n t re lie f to at least som e

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th e co n ve n tio n a l 40 ft x 140 ft size, but in se ctio n three , th e fu rth e st from th e s tation and clo se st to po tentia l C ooks R iver floo ds, (M oo re Street, C o w pe r S treet), all a llo tm e n ts w e re o f 20 ft fronta ge, d e sig ned to sell che ap ly. T hey w ere a d ve rtise d at th e co st o f £25 fo r tw o lots, 20 ft x 120 ft — £60 w ith a w eatherboard cottage. The subdividers m ounted a ve ry stro n g c a m p a ig n to have th e pro p o se d railw a y s ta tio n on B ea m ish S tre e t nam ed “ M ild u ra ” , as an e ffe ctive a d ve rtis e m e n t fo r th e estate, but w e re refused.

C a m p sie P ark E state still had its ow n e rs in P arliam e nt, d e s p ite th e d iffic u ltie s of th e A n g lo -A u s tra lia n C o m pa ny, and no c o m p e titio n to its in te re st co u ld be e n te rta in e d .

“ p e op le in th e city w h o are w ith o u t s h e lte r and fo o d ” . The te n d e r of M essrs. P roudfoot and C o m pa ny fo r £70,941 was a cce p te d , and w o rk co m m e n ce d .

T h e ce re m o n y o f tu rn in g th e firs t sod w as pla n n e d for A u g u s t 1, 18 92 , an d M a rric k v ille a n d C a n te rb u ry M u n icip a litie s fo u g h t a bitte r ba ttle over th e honour, w hich M a rric k v ille w on. It raine d th ro u g h o u t th e fe stivitie s.

T h e re w e re no c e le b ra tio n s fo r tw o o f th e s p e c u la to rs at th e end o f th e line. Im m e d ia te ly a fte r th e sto rm y m ee ting w ith th e cre d ito rs o f th e S yd n e y D e p o sit B ank, T hom a s S m ith R ich a rd so n w as a rre ste d on a ch a rg e o f m a kin g a fa ls e s ta te m e n t on his oath, w as trie d at D a rlin g h u rst, and w a s s e n te n ce d to a te rm o f im p ris o n m e n t in G o u lb u rn ja il.

G iv in g e v id e n c e in th e la te r b a n k ru p tc y ca se , his a c co u n ta n t, T .S. D rin kw a te r, a d m itte d , “ I sho uld say th a t th e ba nk w as in an in so lve n t state d u rin g th e w h o le tim e I w as th e re . He co u ld not have paid tw e n ty s h illin g s in the po u n d at any tim e . . . ” T h e O fficia l A ssig n e e o n ly m a n a g e d to re a lise £4 92 /1 /2 on th e estate, to se t a g a in st c la im s e x c e e d in g £4 7,00 0, and th e land, in c lu d in g B ra m sh o t F arm , w as e v e n tu a lly p lace d in th e ha nd s of th re e of the princip al creditors, C harles C ollins M .L.A., E.F. Ickerson and R.J. F airw eath er, to sell on b e ha lf o f th e rest.

T h e y c a lle d th e su b d iv is io n o f B ra m sh o t Farm “ M ild u ra ” , the streets w ere g iven th e na m es of w e ll-kn ow n poets, and th e p ro p e rty w as d ivid e d in to th re e se ctio n s, to be sold by th e A u c tio n e e r, E .C .V. B ro u g h to n . His a d ve rtisin g slogan fo r th e p ro p e rty w as, “ Land is a ba nk w h ich n e ve r fa ils ” .

M ildura sold very quickly, because the land w as specially a d vertise d on te rm s and at a price th a t w o uld ap pe al to the w o rking m an. In sections one and tw o, th e a llotm e nts w ere

T he o th e r su b d ivid e r for w hom the da y of cere m on y held little jo y w as W .E .H . P h illip s, o f th e A u stra l B an kin g and Land P ro p rie ta ry, w h o se esta te w as se q u e stra te d on Ju ly 14, 1892. H a rco u rt had been tra n s fe rre d to th e B urw ood Land B uilding and Investm ent C o m pa ny at the end of 1890, b ut both P h illip s and his b ro th e r re taine d a su b sta n tia l s h a re in th e b u s in e s s th ro u g h s h a re h o ld in g s and m o rtg a g e s, a lo n g w ith se ve ra l M e m b e rs o f P arliam e nt.

S om e o f th e a llo tm e n ts a p p e a r to have been sold, but, w h e n th e g e n e ra l alarm to o k ove r in th e C o lon y, no p u rc h a s e r co u ld be su re of th e sta tu s o f his re p a ym e n ts o r th e e xa ct o w n e rsh ip of th e land, so sales d w in d le d aw ay to nothing. T he O fficial A ssig ne e sum m a rised the business d e a lin g s thu s: They a p p e a r to ha ve been s u c c e s s fu l in th e ir la n d sp e cu la tio n s a t first, b u t the y w ere no b e tte r than g a m b lin g tra n sa ctio n s c a rrie d on b y the use o f o th e r p e o p le ’s m oney w ho w ere foolish enough to entrust them w ith the ir fu n d s as deposits, a n d a t the date o f

27

sequestration they ow ed depositors the very large am ount o f £ 19,093/19/- apart from which they ow ed unsecured creditors £5,906/2/6 and I have only succeeded in realising barely enough to p a y the costs incidental to the bankruptcy. Their speculations resulted in the total loss o f all the moneys deposited in their socalled bank. They appear to have purchased land on credit and sold the same in small blocks to persons who held mortgages over the lands. The creditors at their first meeting directed the prosecution o f the bankrupts. The bankrupt William Edgar Harold Phillips was convicted and received a sentence of four years ’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Harcourt purchasers were left in an insecure situation until 1896, when the Company was finally liquidated, and tw o of the Directors took over the adm inistration of the estate. It was then sold through Richardson and Wrench w ithout covenants and w ithout bonuses, and humble wooden houses were built on the allotments once destined for grand two-storey brick villas. The palm trees and gardens flourished on Fifth and Eighth Grand Avenues, and are there today, but H arcourt never attained the glory envisaged for it by Phillips in 1889.

In the meantime, the Croydon Park area grew and flourished. In 1891, the Principal of Croydon Park Public School asked for the afternoon hours to be changed from 2 p.m. — 4 p.m., to 1.30 p.m. — 3.30 p.m. The convenience of the teachers was probabh' the most important factor, but the other reasons given :nt a description of the district at the time: 1. . . . the dair■ r.y industry, w hich prevails in this locality, neces; js children leaving school earlier than 4 p.m.

2. The parents o f the school being either poor or hardw orking and the ‘b u sh ’ a t hand, children are required early ‘to get w o o d ’.

3. Croydon Park being w ithout shops, children are required to go to Burwood, Croydon, A shfield or Summerhill for groceries, meat, etc.

4. Several o f the pupils living at a distance in ‘the bush ’ m ust leave before 4 p.m.

5. The recently opened tram (Ashfield to Enfield) passes the school door a t 3.45, and w ould be of service to those teachers living in Sydney were the application now m ade granted.

The change to the school routine was approved.

The metropolitan water supply pipeline from Potts Hill to Botany followed the course of Cooks River and in parts traversed the M unicipality. A fter the w ater supply was extended to Ashfield, streets in Croydon Park and C anterbury were serviced with w ater mains in 1889 and 1890. In subsequent years, supply was further extended in line with housing and building developm ents.

The use of gas for street lighting began in Canterbury M unicipality in 1886, when twelve street lamps were

jV IIh D U R fl :o> Is opposite the CANTERBURY PARK RACECOURSEand adjoins

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CAMPSIE PARK ESTATES.

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MILDURA, The NEW SUMMER HILL, on the CANTERBURY RAILWAY.

Boating and Fishing on the

Historic Cook’s Rioer.

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(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

erected. Gas mains were extended in subsequent years, and no doubt Croydon Park and Campsie were connected early to the mains, so that residents could use gas for lighting and cooking.

A fter the cerem ony of turning the first sod, work on the railway began in earnest. Shanty towns of tents and corrugated iron sprang up along the line at Canterbury, Cam psie Park and Burwood Road, accom m odating navvies, blacksmiths, general labourers, and some of their fam ilies, people who had been made homeless by the depression, and who were all too eager to obtain any work at all. M ildura was occupied by builders, carpenters and shopkeepers, and slowly a com m uter settlem ent began to grow, attracted by the cheapness of the land and the promise of a train service very soon.

28

CHAPTER 5: The Railway Arrives (1895-1909) phase in the history of the district. It took some tim e to have a noticeable effect, but it m eant the inevitable change to the residential character we know today. And, of course, the name of the railway station became the name of the suburb w hich grew around the station.

Campsie w asn’t significant enough to figure in the cerem onies to mark the opening of the line on Friday, February 1,1895. The Sydney Morning Herald of February 2, 1895 said that “ there were festivities at the different stations along the lin e ” , and “ the railway platform s were gay with bunting and devices worked in evergreens” , but the description may have referred to the stations where there were speeches. The train carrying the M inister for Public W orks, Mr J.H. Young M.L.A., left Redfern station at 11.30 a.m., and was w elcom ed at M arrickville and C anterbury by the respective Mayors. According to the Daily Telegraph of February 2, 1895, the platform at C anterbury was “ densely crow ded with adults and children, who hailed the M inister’s arrival with hearty cheering” . The train was due to leave C anterbury at 12.18 p.m., Campsie at 12.21 p.m. and arrive at Belmore at 12.24 p.m., but was apparently a few m inutes late. At Belmore, there was another large crowd, the Daily Telegraph rem arking that “ as the land during the last two or three miles was still almost in a state of nature, even to the extent of retaining its bush, the w onder was where all the people had come fro m ” . The Minister declared the line open for public use and a luncheon followed for about 250 persons.

A bullock was roasted in a paddock opposite the St George Hotel at Belmore, the Herald saying that this was “ for the benefit of the poor of the district” .

The line was described as a double track, with each station having an island platform 330 feet in length. Unlike

One of the original houses built on the Campsie Park Estate still exists at 51 Amy Street. The house was built in 1894 on land purchased in 1892 by Francis Falconer, who was a large land owner in the Estate. He originally chose that particular site for the house because he thought it would be close to the railway station, but the station was relocated further to the east. It is named “ Inverurie” after a Scottish town on Mr Falconer’s father’s estate. Mr Falconer was employed in the Post O ffice and subsequently became Superintendent of Mails. The house was occupied by Francis Falconer’s daughter, Mrs Norwood, who was born in the cottage, until her death in 1984. Mrs Norwood was well known in Campsie for her church work and as a music teacher. The house is of a transitional architectural style having elements of Victorian and Federation features with fine black marble fireplaces. The building is generally in original condition and still has the original picket fence on the street boundary. Because of its im portance to C am psie’s heritage, C anterbury Council approached the Heritage Council of New South Wales and an Order under Section 130 of the Heritage Act 1977, has been placed on the cottage.

Canterbury Council gave perm ission on February 16, 1894 to Joseph Samuel Rudduck to erect a house, fencing and a shed on lot 17, Beamish Street, provided the work was carried out in accordance with the M unicipalities Act, 1867, and the Borough By-Laws. This was lot 17, Section 6 of the M ild u ra Estate and the cottage, named “ Kinnessw ood” , was situated opposite Ninth Avenue.

W hen Mr R udduck’s name first appears in the Sands Directory, 1896, the only other person living between him and C anterbury Road was F. H. Beamish.

The construction of the railway to Belmore began a new

illllililln iii ‘Inverurie”, 51 Amy Street, Campsie, 1894.

29

M arrickville, C anterbury and Belmore stations, w hich had brick buildings, at Campsie “ there will be erected a tim ber waiting shed 28 feet x 12 feet” . The Campsie platform was approached by steps from an overbridge.

Indicating the small population on the line, the original tim etable provided fo r twelve services in each direction each day, with an extra service on W ednesdays and two extra on Saturdays, and no service at all on Sundays.

Trains from C am psie to Sydney departed at 7.4 a.m., 8.4, 8.48, then every two hours to 4.48 p.m ., then every hour to 9.48. On W ednesdays and Saturdays there was an extra train at 11.48 p.m., and on Saturdays an extra train at 1.48 p.m. There was a similar pattern of service on journeys from Sydney to Belmore. A Sunday service of three trains in each direction commenced from July 1,1895. The fare from Campsie was eightpence single and one shilling return first class, and sixpence single and ninepence return for second class travel.

By the 1890s, concern was being expressed at the level of pollution in Cooks River. In his evidence to the Parliam entary Standing C om m ittee on Public Works concerning proposed improvements to Cooks River, John Quigg said he had been living in C anterbury for more than forty-eight years and he remembered when the tide flowed up to H illy’s C rossing (Burwood Road and Fifth Avenue, Campsie) and even above it. He had seen the tide rise ten inches at H illy’s Crossing, and on the banks of the river in several places were nice little sandy beaches. There was a place where he used to swim and where the water was so deep that it was over his head — but it was now (1896) so silted up that it had become a Chinam an’s garden. Less than thirty years before you could bathe in Cooks River, and he had caught sea m ullet at H illy’s Crossing. James Me Bean, who had been living at Canterbury for about fortyfour years, could remember swim m ing in the river as a boy when the bottom of the river was sand. The Public W orks Committee was told that rubbish and sewerage matter was washing into the river from local streets and there had been an outbreak of typhoid fever at Rosedale contracted by children bathing in the river. The Cooks River Improvement Act, 1897, provided for a relatively small expenditure on work at M arrickville and Tempe Dam to improve the water flow.

The population growth expected following the opening of the new railway to Belmore was slow to eventuate.

Because of the depression affecting the Colony, the speculators were unable to sell their land, and genuine buyers could not borrow money to build houses. The AngloAustralian Company, after its financial difficulties, failed in 1895, and the Burwood Land Investment Society, owners of Harcourt after P hillips’s bankruptcy, followed in 1897.

The first land sales in the Harcourt Estate were registered in 1896, with the purchase of three lots in Second Avenue, two in Eighth Avenue, and one in Fifth Avenue. This was eight years after subdivision. An auction sale was held in January 1897, with disappointing results, no doubt because of difficulties in obtaining finance and the ready availability of land sites throughout the Sydney area. In the next four years to the end of 1900, only twenty-five sales were effected and, as some of the buyers purchased two lots, possibly thirty lots were sold. From 1901, sales increased greatly.

In 1900, Sydney was hit by an epidem ic of bubonic plague, which was carried by the rats living around Darling Harbour. Two cases of plague were reported in Campsie during the epidem ic years of 1900 to 1906, one in the vicinity of Clissold Parade and one near Northcote Street.

In many cases, suburban outbreaks such as these could be traced back to workers or supplies from the wharves and warehouses of the city.

The population of the w hole of the C anterbury M unicipality increased from 2426 in 1891 to only 4226 in 1901. W hat population growth there was in Campsie, occurred mainly in the Mildura Estate. Indicative of this was the location and growth of the churches.

The Methodist cause began with visits to houses on the Mildura Estate at the commencement of 1897, and services were occasionally held in one or two of the homes on Sunday afternoons with attendances averaging from six to twelve. A Church and Sunday School comm enced on Sunday, May 9,1897 as part of the Ashfield Circuit and was styled the M ildura W esleyan Mission Church. Two rooms in a private home in Beamish Street (perhaps the present Brighton Avenue) were rented at ten shillings per month.

Mrs T ruscott’s home was used from May 1899. In 1899, land was purchased in Beamish Street (now Brighton Avenue) and a weatherboard building (30 ft x 25 ft) to seat about 150 persons, w ithout lining or ceiling, was erected.

Return railway ticket to Sydenham issued at Campsie on August 24, 1897, cost sixpence.

(Courtesy D. Rudduck).

W hen private contractors built a railway line, it often happened that they ran a passenger and freight service on the line pending final handover to the G overnm ent. This probably accounts for the stories that trains ran as far as Canterbury before the line went through to Belmore. Priority w ould be given to the con tra cto r’s material (sleepers, ballast, etc.) but whenever possible, other users could be catered for. Even after the line was opened, many Campsie residents are said to have walked to and from C anterbury rather than use Cam psie Station. The explanation for this may have been a cheaper fare from Canterbury.

30

Tant’s opened a bootshop in Beamish Street (on the former site of the Library) in 1902, under the name of the Campsie Boot and Shoe Emporium.

Early this century, there were still areas of bush on each side of Beamish Street with a great variety of bird life, and snakes were prevalent. Firewood could be collected for home use, and open creeks ran down to the river, with eels in the ponds. There were slaughterhouses on the southern side of C anterbury Road opposite Beamish Street, market gardeners on Cooks River, and there were many dairies and orchards. Beamish Street was only a bush track when cattle were herded along it to the slaughteryards on Thursday nights and sheep on Tuesday nights.

Clissold’s Estate was subdivided by Frederick Clissold’s daughters and auctioned in O ctober 1901. (Frederick Clissold had died in 1891.) The Estate com prised Evaline, Duke, Park and Gould Streets, which were extensions of streets in earlier adjoining subdivisions and Oswald, Harold, and Frederick Streets, Clissold Parade (named after Frederick Clissold) and North and South Parades.

Average prices varied from ten shillings per foot or £25 per block for a block on the corner of Redman and Duke Streets to £1/5/- per foot or £62/10/- per block in Beamish Street, with one notable exception being Lot 1 on the corner of Beamish Street and South Parade which was sold for £2/3/6 per foot or £108/5/- for the block. Many blocks including land in Beamish Street remained unsold.

The Mission Hall was opened on December 24,1899. The building was lined in 1901 and a porch added in 1905.

Presbyterian services were being held at Rosedale (Croydon Park) as early as 1883 under the supervision of the Ashfield Church. There is a report of the celebration in 1899 of the third anniversary of the M ildura Estate Presbyterian Church, and in the same year, the Reverend G eorge Hay, a fo rm e r P resbyterian M inister, was conducting services in a building in Shakespeare Street, Campsie. Possibly referring to the same building, the Centenary History o f the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales says that the Campsie mission started with the purchase in August 1903, through assistance from the Church and Manse Loan Fund, of a weatherboard church which was on the market. Although the building was unfurnished and presented only bare walls, w ithin a week the building was provided with all the requisites and the first service was conducted by the Reverend John Walker, with a crowded congregation. The Mission was put under the charge of the M arrickville Kirk Session. The weekend of O ctober 17, 18 and 19, 1903, marked the official cerem onies to inaugurate the Campsie Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian Messenger reported that the Right Reverend Doctor Bruce (M oderator of the General Assem bly in Australia) would preach at Campsie on Sunday, October 18, and on O ctober 19 he would preside at a special meeting of the Campsie congregation. The Messenger reported that the church was filled at each service. A concert was held on the 19th in aid of the building fund, an excellent program m e was provided and “ was in every way a grand success” . The Moderator and Mr Wood (Secretary of the New South Wales Church) congratulated the Com m ittee of Management, and said that the amount of work done in regard to the church property since the organisation of the congregation some three months earlier was outstanding.

According to an old resident, the first Church of England services at Campsie were held in an upstairs room above a tailor shop at the corner of Brighton Avenue and Browning Street. Because there was no Sunday school at that time, the residents attended the Presbyterian Church then located in Shakespeare Street. Later on, due to increased interest, church services conducted by lay readers and Sunday school classes were held in a large shed on the property of Mr Harding.

C am psie’s first Post Office was also in the M ildura Estate. In a petition of November 8, 1899, 114 residents of Croydon Park, Croydon, Campsie and Rosedale requested the establishm ent of a Post Office at either Croydon Park or Campsie. As a result, Campsie Post Office opened on April 1,1900, with Mrs J.E. Fitzpatrick in charge at a salary of £13 a year. She conducted the office in her husband’s stationery business at the eastern corner of Browning and Beamish Street (now Brighton Avenue), selling stam ps and postal notes and registering letters.

Letter deliveries were made from Canterbury Post Office by a mounted letter carrier, who collected mail posted in letter receivers at the Post Office and near Campsie Railway Station. Incidentally, the original letter box which stood outside the entrance to Cam psie Station eventually brought traffic problems because its low door meant that it was slow to clear. A ustralia Post removed it to Playfair Street, The Rocks, in 1974, and replaced it with a more modern letterbox.

“ Kinnesswood” Beamish Street (opposite Ninth Avenue), Campsie, built by J. S. Rudduck in 1894.

(Courtesy D. Rudduck).

There were so few houses south of the railway line that, over the Easter weekend in 1904, 2 600 officers and men of the new Commonwealth M ilitary Forces camped under canvas in the Canterbury-Cam psie area. The cam p was within the area bounded by Canterbury Road, Cooks River, the railway line and Beamish Street. The camp comprised two inrantry brigades, and num erically it was the largest of the annual camps of instruction for 17 000 officers and men held throughout the Com m onwealth at Easter time.

Holding an Easter camp at C anterbury must have been an experim ent which was not repeated. In 1903, La Perouse and Randwick were the sites for the infantry camps, and in 1905, these two locations were again used. It had been expected that there w ould be excellent results at C anterbury, because the cam p site was “ on the outskirts of some fine open country” . The First Infantry Brigade occupied tents “ in a paddock” opposite Canterbury Town Hall, then situated in C anterbury Road, between Howard and Canton Streets. Part of the Town Hall was used for the brigade office. The Second Infantry Brigade were variously said to be 700 yards away “ nearly opposite Campsie

Around this time, grocers in Campsie were Len and Gertie Cumming at the corner of Beamish Street and Ninth Avenue; C. Smith in Beamish Street, opposite Ninth Avenue; Mrs Templeton in Shakespeare Street and Mrs Norris, corner of Browning Street and Brighton Avenue.

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In 1902, Hardie & Gorman offered blocks on each side of Hill Street in the Campsie Hill Estate. Land in the first section of the Beamish Estate (Canterbury Road, Beamish Street, Unara Street, Stanley Street and Perry Street) sold in 1903 for £15 to £37/10/- per block. In 1904, blocks in the third subdivision in Beamish Street brought £70 per block, in Clarem ont Street £20 to £37/10/-, and in McKern Street £25 to £45, while the corner of Marlowe and McKern Streets cost £50. There was a covenant on the title that the cost of the building had to be not less than £100. Hardie & Gorman sold land in the H arcourt Estate in May 1904 at £1/2/6 per foot for a large block and others at £1 per foot in Ninth Avenue, 17/6 in Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Avenues and Beamish Street, 15/- in Seventh Avenue and the rem ainder at 15/- and 10/- per foot.

An old resident, describing Campsie about 1906, said that there were a number of w eatherboard cottages scattered around, but few shops. There were only four shops in Beamish Street between the railway line and C anterbury Road: Butler had a small estate agent’s office on the corner of South Parade; on the opposite side of Beamish Street between Anglo Road and Am y Street was a large w eatherboard dw elling and shop occupied by Mr Shearer who kept the general store (this shop was destroyed by fire in 1911); Mr Sandross, the baker, occupied the building next door on the Canterbury Road side; between Unara Street and Canterbury Road, Mr Thorn (or Thorne) kept a produce store.

Beamish Street at that tim e was an earthen road, furrowed by cart wheels and there was no kerb or guttering.

Canterbury Road was macadamised and the footpath was paved. The gutters were not lined and therefore became very deep. Vehicles were mostly horse-drawn during this period: tip-drays, spring-carts, the pantechnicon, sulkies, buggies, waggonettes, sociables, drays, hansoms or broughams.

There followed a decade when the com m unity life of the suburb of Campsie got under way. The Kia-Ora Hall opened in Dryden Street in 1905 to provide a location for meetings and entertainm ent. Social and sporting clubs began. The Campsie Cycling Club was formed in 1906, and its first race was from the station to Salt Pan and return. The Campsie Horticultural Society promoted flower and bird shows. The first lodges, both friendly society and masonic, were constituted in 1905 and 1906. There was a progress association in existence in 1906. A band was established in 1909 and in s u b s e q u e n t y e a rs w on m any cham pionships.

Campsie lost an old resident when Francis Hill Bemish (or Beamish), who had purchased Percy Farm in 1853, died on May 25,1907, at his residence “ W oodbine” , Beamish Street, Canterbury, aged 90 years. His funeral left his residence the following Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. for the Moorfields Cemetery. His son, Francis Hill Bemish (Junior), the school teacher of Young NSW, had predeceased him, having died on July 25, 1905, aged 63 years. He is also buried at Moorfields Cemetery.

A fire station, manned by partially paid volunteers, was opened in Beamish Street between South Parade and Evaline Street in 1907. The only equipm ent was a handreel w hich had to be dragged to the fire. In 1912, the brigade acquired a horse and engine. The volunteers were assisted by some perm anent staff in 1913 when a building on the existing site at the corner of Beamish and Claremont Streets was opened.

In the few years since it was opened, the Wesleyan Church had become overtaxed. A new site was acquired in Beamish Street and the Church was moved to the new site and erected facing Clissold Parade near to the lane in 1906, and further additions were made.

platform ” , and on “ the crest of a gently rising hill, about half a mile away in the direction of C am psie” .

Fatigue parties had erected tents on the previous Saturday afternoon and on the Thursday afternoon. On the evening of Thursday, March 31, 1904, one newspaper reported some of the troops marching from Newtown to C anterbury, while another paper said others travelled to Dulwich Hill by tram and marched from there. Country com panies disem barked from trains at Ashfield and m arched to the camp, and the rem ainder boarded special trains at Redfern between 7 and 9 p.m. to travel to Canterbury.

U nfortunately for the soldiers, drizzling rain fell during the evening, and they arrived, wet through, at a wet and cheerless camp. During the night, fairly heavy rain set in, and in the early hours of the morning, it poured at intervals.

During Friday, all activities were abandoned because of the continued downpour. The rain cleared on Saturday and a strong wind dried out the ground. Manoeuvres then com m enced in the neighbourhood of Belmore (which is a reference to a much larger district than the present suburb of Belmore). The Sydney Morning Herald lists a few notew orthy incidents. C rossing Cooks River, many of the men got a wetting through indiscretion and overzeal. One stalw art Irishman disappeared in the water but quickly recovered, while only the feather of a H ighlander’s glengarry bobbing for a brief interval on the surface of the stream denoted its ow ner’s whereabouts. The Company C ommander of the Scottish Rifles was unfortunate enough to make a m iscalculation or error of judgm ent when attem pting to show his men the way to cross a substantial barbed wire fence in the vicinity of Belmore. His kilt became entangled in the barbs and he was released with his uniform torn. The soldiers then had to walk a mile or more to go around the end of the fence. The State Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, Lady Rawson, and party, inspected the cam p on Saturday afternoon. They were welcomed on arrival at C anterbury railway station on the 2.20 p.m. train by the Mayor, Alderman Benjamin Taylor. The two brigades th e n w o rk e d in d e p e n d e n tly in e v e n in g o u tp o s t manoeuvres. Each covered some miles of close, rough and unknown country, thick with ti-tree in places, and it was fortunate that the troops had the advantage of a good moon.

Easter Sunday, April 3, was hot and muggy. In the morning, church parades were held. Afterwards, the GOC, M ajor-General Sir Edward Hutton, inspected the troops.

Massed bands played a program of sacred music during the afternoon, and the camp was thronged with thousands of visitors. A dditional trains were run by the Railways Departm ent on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday to convey visitors to and from the encam pm ent. Easter Monday was a big field day, and the day’s work took the form of tactical manoeuvres by both brigades against a supposed enemy attacked in close country. One of the chief difficulties was in m aintaining com m unications over as much as five miles, in country which was rough and thickly wooded. The troops encountered all sorts of obstacles, such as thick scrub, houses, and cultivated paddocks. In places, the scrub was so thick that it was practically im possible to see a man tw enty yards off. One com pany lost its way for a time.

In his report, the Federal C om m andant, Major General S ir Edward Hutton, said that the results of the M onday’s operations were highly satisfactory. He said that it would be hard to find a more difficult bit of country through which th e men had to fo rce th e ir way and to m aintain com m unications. However, he com m ented that he hoped a larger and better site for a cam p could be found in the vicinity of Sydney.

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George District B grade competition in 1909. This was very early in the history of Rugby League in Sydney.

Requests to extend the Enfield tram line to Druitt Town and B a n k s to w n w e re re s is te d by th e R a ilw a y Commissioners who operated the trams. However, against th e re c o m m e n d a tio n o f th e C o m m is s io n e rs , th e Governm ent of the day agreed to the continuation of the line to Burwood and Mortlake in 1901. Again against the recom m endation of the Railway Com m issioners, the Government decided to build a branch to Cabarita in 1907.

In Septem ber 1905, a petition for a more central site for a post office was presented by 64 residents of the Redman and H arcourt Estates and in Cam psie Street, where over 180 houses had been constructed. Despite a protest by 400 persons, half of whom were unknown to the letter carriers, the Post Office was moved to Joseph W right’s general store in Ninth Avenue and he became postm aster on July 9, 1906. The Post O ffice was also a Telegraph O ffice and telegrams were sent and received by means of a telephone installed for the purpose. The telephone was connected to Ashfield Telephone Exchange, and so public telephone facilities were made available for the first time.

At this tim e, the daily mail delivery service to the whole of the existing C anterbury M unicipality (that is, to Bonds Road at Punchbowl) was provided from C anterbury Post O ffice by two m ounted postmen, two postm en on bicycles and one on foot. We in the 1980s must envy the efficiency of the following: these postm en were obliged to be back at Canterbury Post Office not later than 10.55 a.m. so that letters collected by them from the 13 letter boxes throughout the delivery area m ight be despatched by the 11.7 a.m. train which arrived in Sydney in tim e to catch the 12.30 p.m. city delivery. The roads in Campsie were so bad that the letter carrier could not ride his bicycle for a few days after rain, and in 1909, a horse was substituted.

The local shopkeepers com plained in O ctober 1908 of the shanty that did duty as a post office. Postal business was carried on in a wooden room which was neither lined

The W. F. Butler real estate agency was comm enced in Dulwich Hill in 1892 by W illiam Fitzwalter Butler. His son, W alter George Butler, opened a branch at 180 Beamish Street (on the corner of North Parade) perhaps as early as 1901, although his name first appears in Sands Directories in 1909, indicating a 1908 opening. He became sole proprietor on the death of his father, while another son took over the Dulwich Hill office. The business did not trade under the name of W alter Butler until some years later. The first office was a w hite fibrous plaster building, replaced about 1914 by a w eatherboard building. Mr B utler used a horse and sulky to collect the rents, keeping the horse in the yard at the rear of the office. R.F. Butler was no relation of the W alter Butler fam ily, although he was also a real estate agent, having commenced at the corner of Beamish Street and South Parade about 1905; in an advertisem ent in W ilson’s Directory 1908-09, Robert F. Butler claimed to be the oldest established agent in the district.

The tim ber Presbyterian church building was moved from Shakespeare Street to Evaline Street, the site of the present St P hillip’s U niting Church, in 1908. There were many problems and difficulties during its removal, including being stuck on the bridge over the railway line in Beamish Street for a num ber of hours. During the time, a person wishing to leave or enter the Railway Station had to go into the church by one door and out through the other, according to an eye-witness.

The Campsie First-aid Class resolved at its meeting on A ugust 27,1 908 to institute an am bulance service for the district under the name of the C anterbury D istrict Am bulance Corps. The first Superintendent was Robert Wood, who continued to hold that position until 1938, when he retired due to ill-health. Transport work to hospitals was perform ed voluntarily, a hand litter (a stretcher on wheels with a hood) being used to take patients to W estern Suburbs Hospital. A m otor am bulance was obtained in 1914, at that tim e the second in the Commonwealth.

A Junior Rugby League team from Campsie won the St

Campsie Railway Station, 1909.

(Courtesy National Library of Australia).

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of the street. Savings bank facilities were provided at the post office in July 1910.

A lthough the original W estern Suburbs sewerage scheme was drawn up in 1888, Campsie was slow to obtain a sewerage service. Early settlers dug a cess pit at some distance from the house and periodically these were emptied and dum ped, or used on home gardens, market gardens, orchards and farms. This use of night soil was both unhygenic and offensive as population grew. Between 1907 and 1911, the Council introduced a pan system and nightsoil was dumped at the Sanitary Depot in Moorefields Road near Chapel Street. Sewerage was extended to the Croydon Park and Campsie areas between 1910 and 1920 though some streets in Campsie were not sewered until the 1930s and after W orld W ar II.

nor painted and it was used also as a paint store and ba rberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s saloon. Telegram s had to be telephoned in the hearing of persons in the shop. A separate galvanised building was then provided for postal business, although telegram s were telephoned from the old office; the postmaster, however, closed the shop while this was being done.

On February 1, 1909, the post office was moved once more to the prem ises of F.J. Clatworthy, who conducted the office in conjunction with his stationers and newsagents business in Beamish Street near the railway station. The post office was in a room at the rear of the shop. Money order facilities were provided on February 15, 1909. On Decem ber 13, 1909, Mr C latworthy moved his business and the post office into new prem ises on the opposite side

Interior of M r Rigneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dispensary, North Parade, Campsie, about 1910.

(Courtesy Mrs Page).

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CHAPTER 6: Population Explosion (1909-1921) horse and cart, thereby becoming a greengrocer. He was then residing at M arrickville but later moved to Campsie where he continued his business as a greengrocer until 1910. An increasing num ber of requests to use his horse and cart for furniture removals caused him to launch his own business as Cam psie’s furniture removalist. From one horse and cart, an open four-wheeled wagon drawn by two horses was acquired, and then his first pantechnicon drawn by four horses was added to the fleet.

The Com m ercial Banking C om pany of Sydney opened a branch in Campsie on April 28, 1910. This was at the corner of Beamish and Am y Streets (where its successor, the National Australia Bank, is still located) and the first m anager was R.W. Solomon, who remained until 1920.

This was the first bank in Beamish Street m entioned in Sands Sydney Directory. A new building was erected in 1914, w hich remained until 1986.

The population of the Municipality of Canterbury, which had been 4,226 in 1901 had risen to only approxim ately 6,000 in 1909. It then rose to 11,335 at the Census of 1911, and 24,000 by 1914. Most of this increase would have been in Campsie, C anterbury and Hurlstone Park.

An application for the establishm ent of a public school at C am psie had been declined in 1895, although the petition estimated the school population at 140 with the prospect of a further eighty-three pupils. The Department was not im pressed, saying that Canterbury and Croydon Park were easily accessible by good roads, and a free rail service was available for travel to Canterbury. Further requests in 1898 and 1900 were also declined. It was not until 1906 that the Department of Public Instruction decided to erect a school, and a site of 2 acres 2 roods was purchased for £236. The Kia-ora Hall in Dryden Street was rented for infants pupils until perm anent buildings were erected. The school opened on July 20, 1908 and attendance during the first quarter was sixty-three. The first teacher was Miss E. Paterson. The first buildings were opened by the M inister for Education, Mr James Hogue, in March 1909. Because of “ rem arkable” growth, further buildings were com pleted in 1911 and opened in 1912. A separate g irl’s departm ent was made in 1915. Additions were made to the school site in 1910, 1912 and 1915. An evening continuation school providing technical classes for boys was opened in Campsie in 1912. An Evening Public School had come into operation at Croydon Park in 1901.

The Anglican parish church was St Paul’s at Canterbury, and the first reference in the records at Canterbury to the holding of Divine Service at Campsie was on June 18,1908.

At the churchw ardens’ meeting on June 4, 1909, it was stated that the collections at Campsie had totalled eighteen shillings and six pence, quite a reasonable amount. Early in 1909, a com m ittee was formed to obtain a site for a church and in 1910 the site of the present church was selected. For over a year, while funds were raised, services were held in a tent that was erected on the land opposite the church in Am y Street, subsequently the site of the Masonic Temple, now part of the Campsie Centre site. On A pril 22, 1911, the then Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev. J.C. W right, laid the foundation stone, and on November 18,1911, the Archbishop dedicated the church.

The first service held in the new church was on November 19,1911. Other buildings were added in subsequent years, as was an additional church in South Canterbury.

The railway was extended from Belmore to Bankstown in 1909, with new stations at Lakemba and Punchbowl. In 1910, Campsie Railway Station had a staff of three, and there were 750,000 passenger journeys in the year, second only to M arrickville with 850,000.

C onstable “ R eggie” Rudd was C am psie’s resident constable. A big man with a bad stutter, he is remembered with respect and affection by old residents. He was appointed to Cam psie in 1909 and lived in Harold Street from 1910 and moved to a residence at 345 Beamish Street between Hill and Unara Streets about 1918 to operate his one-man police station. He retired in 1934, and moved to Belfields. Rudd Park is named after him. He was a local celebrity, and m any tales are told about him. On one occasion, a woman reported to him that when she returned home, she saw a light in the house. He returned with her and legend has it that he pushed her into the place first, rem arking “ the burglars w ouldn’t touch a w om an!”

Treleavens Removals was a name synonymous with Campsie for over fifty years. Richard Amos (Dick) Treleaven established the business about 1910. Left fatherless at the age of three and an orphan at thirteen, Dick at fourteen years of age in 1893 borrowed ten shillings from his sister to purchase a quantity of fruit and vegetables and hire a

k CBC Bank, comer Beamish and Amy Streets, Campsie, erected 1914, demolished 1986.

The C anterbury District United Friendly Societies Dispensary was formed by local Friendly Societies to provide medical requirem ents for their mem bers and fam ilies. It com m enced business on O ctober 1, 1910 in a cottage in North Parade, and later built the Dispensary Hall at the corner of North Parade and London Streets. There were 620 Friendly Society members and the first few years were very difficult.

The Alert newspaper was established in Campsie in 1911

by W.L. Ford, of Fifth Avenue, Campsie. The issue of April 27,1912, although num bered Vol 2 No 48, said that it was almost twelve months since the first issue, and that the size had increased from four pages, to six and then to eight pages. It had been issued free until that issue, but would be sold for one penny from the next issue. The business address was Beamish Street, and the Printing O ffice was at the corner of Fifth and Eighth Avenues. It circulated from M arrickville to Bankstown, and had a circulation of over 5,000 weekly. A later proprietor was James Augustus

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Audience at the Royal Pictures, Beamish Street, Campsie (almost opposite Ninth Avenue) about 1913.

W ilson, who between 1914 and 1917 was an Alderm an of Canterbury Council and served as Mayor during this period.

C am psie’s first picture theatre, the Campsie Palace Pictures, opened at the corner of Beamish Street and Evaline Street in 1910. It was an open-air theatre (with obvious problem s on rainy nights), with bare boards for seating. Cushions were available for rent. Raised seating at the back of the theatre was affectionately called by the boys “ the fowl roost” . It had a pressed metal front of imitation stone and bricks. Its walls were of old galvanised iron sheets with holes in it, and these were used by boys who could not pay the cost of adm ission to look through.

This was not always successful because C onstable Rudd would often appear to move them on with his boot, while those inside would look for an eye peering through a hole and would use a water-pistol to good effect. For protection from rival shows, the proprietors requested C anterbury Council to refuse perm ission for other theatres w ithin two miles of the railway station. For this favour, they guaranteed to devote five per cent of the first m onth’s gross takings to charity, as well as the proceeds from four benefit shows annually. It was given a roof and stage later and used for vaudeville as well as movies. The A lert newspaper of April 27,1912 had a notice for the Campsie Picture Palace: “ We are closed! Removing to our new Palace next door. Watch fo r our grand opening N ight!” , and in the news section: “ Mr. John Slater, of the Palace Pictures, is the sort of man we should do our best to encourage. The building, which is being erected for the Messrs. Slater, will be a credit to the district. A distinct view of the stage can be seen from any seat in the hall. It is proposed to also run first-class entertainm ents as well as the pictures” .

A nother early theatre was the Royal Pictures, also an open-air theatre, in Beamish Street opposite Ninth Avenue,

where the Campsie Library was located until recently. It opened about 1912. An advertisem ent in The Alert of April 27, 1912, says that the show that night would be: “ The sensational Drama: Cursed Gold, 2,500 feet in length. The Pictures are perfect and absolutely flickerless.” Above is the further comm ent: “ The m anagem ent of the Royal Pictures . . .are showing tonight an unusually fine star picture Cursed Gold at considerable expence and trouble, and the Royal Pictures are well worth a visit if for this picture alone. There will also be shown two very fine dramas entitled Pals o f the Ranch and A (indistinct) Tragedy. These and a splendid collection of com ic and scenic Items com bine to make an am using, educative and powerful program .” On the following Monday night, there was to be “ A Grand E ntertainm ent” for the proposed Canterbury Hospital at the Royal Pictures, featuring the Harcourt M instrels, an exhibition of “ Jui-Jitsu and B oxing” and a “ Select Program of Pictures, including Dramas, Scenics and Comics to fo llo w .”

An inspector’s report in April 1911 stated that Campsie was making rapid progress and it was decided to raise the status of the post office to an official post office. A telegram messenger was appointed, two mounted postmen were transferred from Canterbury, and an official postmaster was appointed on March 1,1912. The office operated from the front room of a house and postal business was conducted through a small window on the verandah. The post office was then located in Beamish Street, between Evaline Street and South Parade, near Evaline Street. The site in Anglo Road was acquired in 1913 and the government post office building was opened for business on April 15,1916.

Campsie Recreation Ground was situated between First, Second and Eighth Avenues, the land being set aside in 1912. It was fenced and had a small dressing shed, and

36

Most babies were delivered at home, and minor surgery was com m only done at home on the kitchen table, pushed up to the window for light, and the doctor scrubbed up in a basin. Some small private general hospitals and m idwifery hospitals served the area.

The foundation stone of a brick and w eatherboard C ongregational Church on land at the corner of Beamish and Fletcher Streets was laid on October 26,1912, and the church was opened for worship in April 1913. At the tim e it was thought by m any people to be too far away from the centre of Campsie.

The first services of the Cam psie Branch of the Dulwich Hill and Campsie C ircuit of the Baptist Church were held in the Kia-Ora Hall on Sunday, January 7,1912. On March 28, 1912, a meeting was held at Mr Ja ckson’s residence on the corner of Beamish and Evaline Streets to form a church, an initial meeting having been held in the same place three months previously. On O ctober 11, 1913, foundation stones were laid at the present site in Claremont Street by W illiam W hite, President of the Baptist Union, Revd. W. Cleugh Black, District Minister of the Dulwich HillC ampsie Church, Revd. A.J. W aldock, S uperintendent of Baptist Home Missions, and Revd C.J. Tinsley, ExPresident of the Baptist Union. The Church opened on January 31, 1914.

The first Salvation Arm y Corps in Campsie opened in June 1912. When the original meeting hall was resumed for extensions to Campsie Public School, the Arm y built a new hall in Anglo Road in June 1913. The Campsie Corps Band was formed in 1914.

Further land sales continued. In 1908, T roy’s Estate (Charlotte, W ade & Troy Streets) had covenants requiring buildings of at least £150 in C anterbury Road and £100 elsewhere. In 1913, the first subdivision of the Highfield Estate (Beamish Street South [i.e. Bexley Road] and Scahill Street) brought £6/6/- per foot for the block at the corner of C anterbury Road and Beamish S treet South, £31-1- per foot at the corner of Canterbury Road and Scahill Street, from £2/7/6 to £1/19/-in Beamish Street South, and £2/11/to £1/15/- in Scahill Street, and the covenants required buildings to be not less than £300.

The Enfield tram-line was electrified in 1912. The line was single track with crossing loops until duplication was undertaken between 1913 and 1917.

Increasing enrolm ents at Croydon Park Public School necessitated additional classrooms being provided in 1912 (two rooms), and 1915 (ten rooms). In 1916, some 700 pupils were enrolled, and in 1918 ju st under 1000.

In 1914, a petition from the Croydon Park Parents and Citizens Association asked that a post office be established at Croydon Park. There were five shops at Croydon Park, six others were nearing com pletion, all of which were let, and there were plans for four more. The Post Office was opened in 1915 at “ Mrs Parker’s shop” and Mrs Parker was appointed postm istress.

Land in Cam psie S treet and Ninth A venue was purchased by the M ethodist Church in 1913 and a parsonage was erected in Ninth Avenue in 1914. In 1916, the Church in Clissold Parade was removed to Campsie Street and a new Kindergarten Hall was erected there.

Prior to the opening of the railway to Belmore, a Catholic church-school had been built at Canterbury. On November 11, 1894, C ardinal Moran opened and blessed St A nthony’s Church at the junction of Howard, High and Canton Streets near the old C anterbury Town Hall. No doubt this seemed a very suitable location for the future developm ent of the district. However, with the residential growth of Campsie, Father Richard Condon purchased with his own money land in Duke Street in 1909. In 1911, it was decided to find a more central site for the church. In offering

was used by C anterbury Soccer Club. The Club relied for its revenue upon raffles and functions held at the Kia-Ora Hall such as dances and socials. Eventually the ground became too valuable for sport and it was subdivided for housing blocks. Part of the land was acquired for school purposes and became the site for Harcourt Public School.

R O W 'A /V S S U B D I V I S I O N

FOR AUCTION S A LE 07N TH E GROU/ND

CAMPSIE SATURDAY OCTOBER U , 1913.

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Rowan’s Subdivision, 1913, showing “ Harcourt House” which was probably the earlier Redman’s farmhouse.

(Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW).

The Western Suburbs Cottage Hospital opened in 1893 and M arrickville Hospital opened in 1895 and these would have served early Cam psie residents. Doctors from Burwood, Enfield, Ashfield and M arrickville would have visited patients in the Campsie area early this century. Dr W oods of Ashfield is one doctor said to have visited Campsie, doing his rounds in his pony and sulky. It was necessary to go to Ashfield for medicine from Mr McKimm, the chemist.

The first doctor in Campsie may have been Dr Spencer B. Riley whose address was Beamish Street, between Unara and Hill Streets, from 1908 to 1911. It is not certain that he was in practice at this address. He graduated from the University of Sydney and was registered as a Medical Practitioner in 1906. Other doctors came to live in the area just before W orld W ar I, when Doctor Billy Newton about 1911 and, later, Doctor Bob McCredie about 1913 set up practice in South Parade, Campsie. They were said to be “ the only doctors between Ashfield and Liverpool” . Doctors Harold McCredie, Marjorie Dalgarno, Gordon Bayliss, David Adcock, Gordon Pfeiffer and Jack Allison were early doctors in Campsie. Doctors then worked twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week and were paid ten shillings and six pence in the surgery and twelve shillings and six pence for a home visit, plus an extra five shillings for a visit at night.

Lodge patients were a large part of most practices and attracted a fee of £1/6/10 per year for the w hole family.

There were no antibiotics, and tuberculosis was usually a death sentence. People with peritonitis nearly always died, and if you had pneumonia, you were very lucky to survive.

37

an official who went from carriage to carriage during the journey from Campsie to Sydenham. The station, which until recently com prised a small island platform on which a small weatherboard structure did duty as a ticket office and waiting room, had been re-modelled and enlarged, and a fine overhead ticket office had been erected. There were 1,412 children enrolled at Campsie Public School; there were two picture shows with seating for 2,500 people and plans had been prepared for another to cost £5,000; Beamish Street which a few years earlier had been a mere bush track, contained a large number of up-to-date business premises, including banks and many retail businesses, and it was not easy to walk along the crowded main street on Friday nights. Campsie was expected to become the chief shopping centre for the Bankstown line and was already known as the “ Newtown of the Bankstown lin e ” . [Newtown was then a major shopping centre]. The article stated that the m ilitary encam pm ent in 1904 did a lot to popularise the suburb, and Campsie had “ gained notoriety from the fact that it is a ‘no-license’ district. It has also become fam ous throughout the State for the noble response the men of the district made to the call of Empire.

A large num ber of men have gone to the front — many of them, alas! have made the suprem e sa crifice !"

This com m ent indicates the effect W orld W ar I had on A ustralia generally, and on Campsie also. From the small population of the Canterbury M unicipality, 608 residents served in the armed forces and eighty-six of these died.

Eight men from the congregation of the Campsie Methodist Church alone were among those who died. During the war, Anzac Square in Anglo Road near the Post Office was dedicated and the band rotunda carries the inscription:

his land in Duke Street at cost price, Father Condon informed the Archbishop that the purchase of the remaining corner block should pose no problems, once the owner realised that he would have one hundred and twenty three noisy school children as neighbours. Needless to say the block was acquired. The foundation stones of the presbytery and the convent were blessed and set by Archbishop Michael Kelly on August 8, 1915. The tim ber church-school building was transferred by horse-drawn waggons from C anterbury to Cam psie in 1915. At C anterbury, the prim ary enrolm ent in 1907 had been 123.

The Sisters of St Joseph who had staffed the school at Canterbury continued when it was transferred to Campsie.

The original tim ber building served as a church until the present Church was built in 1927, and continued in use for school purposes until 1972, together with brick buildings added over the years.

The goods railway line from Lidcombe, Enfield Yards, Cam psie, Dulwich Hill to Rozelle opened in 1916.

An article apparently from a publication for Railway staff about 1917, says that Campsie, once looked upon as the “ Cinderella” of the Bankstown line, had been transformed within a few years into one of the most progressive suburbs w ithin a radius of fifteen miles of Sydney. Its progress had been phenom enal. Business sites had increased in value from £1/5/- per foot to over £40, and in one case an offer of £70 per foot had been refused. Residential lots had risen from eleven shillings to £5 per foot. The credit, according to the article, was to the m any railway workers who had settled in Campsie, when there was no doctor or chemist within two or three miles and when there was only one store and a small one at that; by then there were fully 1,000 railway w orkers, with more likely to come following the establishment of the Enfield marshalling yards and the new railway w orkshops. The article said that not many years earlier train tickets had to be purchased on the train from

Anzac Square D edicated to the mem ory o f Canterbury’s sons who at their co u n try’s call fought and fell in the defence of

Beamish Street, Campsie, about 1909.

38

Beamish Street, Campsie, about 1909.

of journey was ten minutes. The fare was threepence. A. W ickens applied for perm ission to run a waggonette from Campsie Station to Mooney Street (Burwood Road). In 1918, Council approved of services from Campsie Station to Dulwich Hill Tram Term inus by A.J. W ilkinson of Belmore, Croydon Street (Lakemba) and Canterbury Road to Burwood via Campsie by A. W ickens with a bus carrying e ig h te e n p a sse n g e rs, and fu rth e r se rv ic e s w hich apparently ran along C anterbury Road.

Joseph Lahood arrived in Cam psie in 1916 to open a drapery shop in Beamish Street alm ost opposite Amy Street. His son Vince served with the A.I.F, in W orld War I and on his return purchased the billiard room w hich was to become the Princes Theatre later, moving across the road in 1923 to its prsent location in Beamish Street near Am y Street. Members of the fam ily have operated a billiard saloon in Campsie continuously since 1918, probably the oldest business in Beamish Street still operated by the same family. Another branch of the fam ily arrived about 1928 and for fifty-seven years operated the Lahood Fruit Shop.

H. Oldfield and Son was established in 1916 to produce paintbrushes for tradesm en, and was located in Beamish Street near Ninth Avenue. The com pany expanded steadily, but it was not until after W orld W ar II that it was able to diversify its range to meet the needs of the growing handyman market. In 1973, the airless spraygun was introduced and in 1975 Oldfields entered the paint roller market. The firm is now located in Alfred Street, Campsie.

1918 saw the erection of a new M ethodist Church at Croydon Park, the foundation stone of which had been laid

by Captain Dart, the form er Principal of Croydon Park Public School. In the following year Croydon Park was separated from Ashfield C ircuit and the Croydon Park circuit was constituted.

A rm istice Day, November 11, 1918, marked the end of W orld W ar I. W hen the news came through, pupils of

‘freedom and liberty in the Great War. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.

J.A. Wilson Mayor (Mr W ilson was Mayor from 1914 to 1917). A fountain was erected in Anglo Road to “ honour the Fallen Heroes of the Canterbury D istrict” , and C anterbury Council erected an H onour Roll at the Town Hall in C anterbury Road listing the names of the 608 residents who served. The Campsie Branch of the Australian Red Cross Society was formed in August 1914 and worked actively throughout the war.

V ictoria Cross w inner George Julian (“ S nowy” ) Howell lived in Boyle Street, Croydon Park and attended Croydon Park and Burwood Public Schools. He enlisted in 1915 at the age of 21, served on Gallipoli, was wounded at the battle of Pozieres, France, in 1916, was awarded the M ilitary Medal in April, 1917, and won the Victoria Cross for action near Bullecourt in France on May 6,1917, where he was severely wounded. He died in 1964 in Western Australia. This one Croydon Park family sent the father and three sons to serve in France with the A.I.F. W hat may have been the first horse bus along Beamish Street was an application to Canterbury Council for endorsem ent of a bus from Homer Street to Burwood in 1911. Horse buses had been operating along C anterbury Road from the 1880s. In 1915, the first motor bus service in the M unicipality was varied to operate from Lakemba Post Office (which was situated in C anterbury Road until A ugust 1915, and then in H aldon S treet between C anterbury Road and Oneata Street), along C anterbury Road, Beamish Street, Brighton Avenue to Georges River Road. The operator was A. Hartrup. An application by L.C. Hughes to run a m otor bus between Campsie Station and Sharp Street Belmore was approved by the Council in April 1917. The vehicle carried eight passengers, and the tim e

39

infants school. Eight further classroom s were com pleted in 1922.

The shopkeepers of Campsie proudly issued a Souvenir of the 1919 Campsie Shopping Carnival, with photographs of the district and advertisem ents for the shops. It proclaim ed: Campsie has a population o f over 20,000, situated on the Bankstown line, 7 miles from Sydney, and has made great progress during the last few years, as many as four buildings p e r day have been built for the year. It is the main business centre on the line, having over 100 shops, am ongst which several o f the large city firms are represented. There is a very good train service, and m otor buses ply from Campsie Station to Lakemba and Burwood. On a Friday evening the local band plays in Beamish Street, which makes the town bright. From a health po in t o f view Campsie cannot be excelled.

Gas street lighting was replaced when electricity for street lighting came to Canterbury M unicipality on New Years Day 1914. By 1919, if not earlier, there were electric street lights in Campsie. However, gas continued to be used for cooking, heating, water heating and, for some years, domestic lighting, as well as for industrial processes.

The Campsie Gas Centre was opened in 1923 for payment of accounts and to offer advice on appliances and services.

Indicative of increasing population as well as the advent of motor buses, in 1919, Council approved motor bus services from Cam psie to Burwood by H.C. Frost, C anterbury Station to Strathfield Station via Campsie by H.C. Small, and Rockdale to Burwood Station by J. Iffland.

The bus used on the Rockdale-Burwood route had a canvas top and sides, solid rubber tyres and seats along each side facing inwards. In 1920, Council approved Campsie to Strathfield by L. Morgan; in 1922, Ashfield to Campsie by E.H. Smith, Punchbowl to Campsie by D. O ’Sullivan, and Hoskins Brothers existing service from

W. F. Butler’s real estate office, corner Beamish Street and North Parade, Campsie, about 1910.

Cam psie Public School who were being taught in the Presbyterian and Anglican church halls were each given the opportunity to ring the church bells to spread the joy and relief the com m unity felt. That night, there were great festivities in Beamish Street, with bands playing and dancing in the street, with a spotlight from the Palace Pictures shining on the crowd. Later, there were joyous “ W elcom e Hom e” activities for returning servicemen.

Croydon Park school was closed for several months in 1919 owing to the influenza epidemic which followed World W ar I. During that tim e, the school was used as a hospital, while the residence served as nurses’ quarters. Several of the teachers assisted at the hospital and one infants’ teacher caught influenza herself and died. The school was re-opened on August 26. By May 1921, the enrolm ent at C roydon Park had risen to 1,179 pupils, with 505 in the

Anglo Road, Campsie, with Post Office, memorial fountain, and the “ No Pain’’ dentist’s sign, about 1919.

40

In the ten years from 1911 to 1921, the population of Canterbury M unicipality increased from 11,335 to 37,639 and there was an increase from 2,329 buildings to 8,225 o ccu p ied d w e llin g s . C am psie w ould have fig u re d prom inently in this huge increase.

Sydney to Campsie was extended to C anterbury and Burwood Roads, Belmore. A bus service from Campsie to the Georges River on Sundays and Holidays for three shillings return was advertised by A. W ickens in The Alert of Decem ber 10, 1920.

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41

BRIDGE

OFFICE

CHAPTER 7: Consolidation (1921-1939) classrooms was erected and opened as a boys department.

T h e a tte n d a n c e c o n tin u e d to g ro w and fu rth e r accom m odation was requested in 1926, resulting in six more classrooms for another 300 pupils. Further additions were made in 1928 when four new classrooms were added for boys and four for infants.

Harcourt Infants School opened in 1922, with eighty pupils, to save the Infants pupils the long walk to existing schools.

Joe Palise came to Australia in 1900 at the age of 11 and in 1921 with his wife opened his own greengrocers shop in Beamish Street. Because of the many kindneses shown

by Mr and Mrs Palise to the less fortunate during the Depression years, they became extrem ely well-known in and around Campsie. In 1945, they handed over the running of their fruitshop to their two sons.

1922 saw the arrival in Campsie of the Cannon Family.

About 1924, Joseph Cannon comm enced a milk-bar and fruitshop at the corner of Beamish Street and Lillian Lane.

His brother George subsequently ran this business and shops at other addresses, finally operating a mixed business in Station House in South Parade until about 1970. Another brother Lewis commenced a service station at the corner of Beamish Street and Ninth Avenue in 1940 and is still actively engaged in business in Campsie.

The local School of Arts was an im portant form of adult education begun with the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts in 1833. The Campsie School of Arts appears to have been

W riting in 1950, Jam es Jervis said: By 1920, Campsie had about 30 shops. Even then, there was m uch open space in Beamish Street. A fruit stall run by one “ G obba” Smith stood on the site o f the present day Selfridges Store. The buildings of that period were m ainly weatherboard. Cook Bros, grocery store was on the site occupied now by the Sydney County C ouncil’s showroom. Drapers o f the 1920 period were Hopkins Bros; Hockings, W.E. Quelch and Mrs Snape.

A. Barden and Sons ow ned a b u tch e r’s business.

Grocers were Simpson and Cook Bros. Allen Leslie, mercer, was a long time in business in Campsie. One Harvison was dentist and chem ist and later sold the pharm acy to Parle while he carried on dental work.

A nother dentist o f the time was Renton. Walter Butler, estate agent was an old identity. ’Charlie’ Hawes, one time Alderman, was another early real estate man. Rise in land values in the main shopping centre was spectacular. Land sold for £1 per foot could later have been disposed o f for £150 p e r foot. M uch developm ent had taken place since 1925 and the business section o f Campsie is one o f the best in the metropolitan area.

The dentist, Harvison, m entioned above, had one of the earliest Neon signs: “ No P ain” . The first taxi (then called a hire car) was run by Len Cum m ings, and later by Tom Davies. Hutts Hire Cars used the slogan: “ Anywhere in Cam psie for N inepence” .

In 1920 at Cam psie Public School a new building of ten

Campsie lonas Rugby League Team, 1922.

(Courtesy R. Maree).

42

I

Ideal Milk B ar” in Beamish Street in 1922 to establish the C a n te rb u ry-B a n ksto w n J u n io r R ugby League. The Campsie lonas was one of the seven clubs in the com petition. Campsie Federals joined the com petition in 1925.

Property at the corner of Duke Street and South Parade was acquired in 1923 for an am bulance station and a residence for the Superintendent of what by then was known as the Canterbury-Bankstown District Am bulance Service. The station itself was erected by voluntary labour at a cost of £399. The staff was the S uperintendent, two am bulance officers and seven voluntary bearers. There were two motor vehicles and a hand litter.

The earlier proposal to extend the Ashfield and Enfield tram line to Bankstown was reviewed in 1923 and again rejected.

The foundation stone of a new and larger St. P hilip’s Presbyterian church was laid on Decem ber 1, 1923 by Doctor R.W. McCredie, the well known medical practitioner in Campsie. It was opened on April 5,1924, the doors being opened by Mrs J. Fielden and Mrs A. Stone. The dedication service was conducted by the M oderator, Reverend G.M. Scott.

Having sold its land in Beamish Street in 1921, a new brick Methodist church to accomm odate 400 persons was erected in Campsie Street in 1924-25. The cerem ony of laying m em orial stones was held on August 24,1924, and the dedicatory service was held on February 14, 1925.

There were 62 services each day serving Campsie Railway Station about 1923. There was a train from Sydney every four m inutes between 5.8 p.m. and 6 p.m., and in off-peak periods trains operated every th irty minutes. The first electric train between Sydney and Bankstown ran on

form ed in 1921 and a Reading Room was used behind W alter Butler’s real estate office in North Parade. The first Annual Meeting was held in Princes Theatre on April 12, 1922. Fund-raising activities were held and donations obtained to erect a building at 34 North Parade, and the foundation stone was laid by the Governor of NSW, Sir Dudley de Chair, on May 19, 1924.

The Croydon Park Theatre with seating for 960 patrons opened in 1922. This theatre was situated in Georges River Road on the corner of Beaufort Street. In an old hall which had become a billiard saloon, the Princes Theatre was opened by the Lahood fam ily about 1922 so that Campsie for a tim e had three theatres in operation. Named because of the earlier visit of the Prince of Wales, the theatre was com m only called the Princess Theatre. It was used for vaudeville, including w eekly shows by Harry Clay, as well as for film s and functions such as school performances.

It was dem olished and rebuilt and extended about 1925 and closed about 1931. The building then became the Sydney Sixpenny Store (nothing over sixpence), then G.J. Coles Store, and is now a Clancys (previously Flemings) Superm arket, at 265 Beamish Street. About 1923, the Cam psie Palace Pictures was re-built as the Excelsis Theatre by Cook, Parle (the Chemist) and Dobson. W hile being re-built, a temporary theatre was erected in Beamish Street, betwen North Parade and Clissold Parade, next to the Arcadia Hall. The Excelsis Theatre is recalled as a rather basic building with leather covered seats with only slight padding and with wooden arms.

Campsie Harcourt cricket team won a grade competition in the Canterbury and D istrict C ricket Association in 1919-20, and Campsie Juniors were prem iers in juvenile cricket in 1924. A meeting was held in a hall above “ The

Treleaven’s warehouse and removal van, South Parade, Campsie, 1921

43

proposed route had been acquired by the governm ent and were providing a reasonable service.

Because of pressure on accommodation at Campsie, the church hall at the corner of Mons and Cressy Streets C anterbury (now St James Church) was rented in May 1926, and a new school called Clemton Park Infants School opened there. By April 1927, there were fifty-six girls and sixty boys enrolled. This school became Canterbury South School, when a new six classroom building was opened in Northcote Street (now Bexley Road) in 1929 and named Clemton Park Public School. This school was built for 300 pupils (fifty pupils for each classroom). On February 13, 1929, the enrolment was 292, with pupils transferring from Campsie, Belmore South, Earlwood and Clemton Park Infants schools; in April 331; in June 380; and in October 386. By August 1930, the enrolment was 450 and from then on, classes were housed in the Assem bly Hall and the weathersheds. It was not until 1944 that work commenced on enlarging the brick building.

Land in Viking Street in Campsie Heights Estate sold at £2/2/6 to £4/-/- per foot in 1924, and an estate in Scahill Street near Cup and Saucer Creek was subdivided and sold in 1927.

Dan’s Corner, the building at the corner of Beamish Street and Canterbury Road, was built by Doctor Alexander Dan in 1926.

The Rosedale Presbyterian Church in Cook Street, Croydon Park, was purchased by the Catholic Church in A ugust 1926 for £625, and later a side chapel, a new entrance and other additions were completed.

The foundation stone of the Catholic Church in Duke Street, Campsie was blessed by Archbishop Kelly on March 13,1927. The old tim ber church-school building continued to be used for school purposes until the mid 1970s when it was demolished. Father (later Monsignor) Richard Lonergan gave the name St M el’s to the new church. He was from Longford County in Southern Ireland and the small township of Longford, the County centre, contains St M el’s Cathedral, the headquarters of the Diocese of Ardagh. During the fifth century, St Mel was appointed Bishop of Ardagh by his uncle St Patrick. Father Lonergan remained at Campsie until his death in 1955.

As an indication of the condition of the river, it is said that at one tim e there was a steam boat service on Cooks River between Croydon Park and the dam at Canterbury. Later, because of silt and gravel that found its way into the river, the river was subject to flooding in many places, and considerable distress was caused to people living along the banks, especially the market gardeners who supplied Sydney with vegetables. In the upper reaches, there were many snags in the river, making it unsafe. Following requests by councils and m eetings by private citizens, dredging was comm enced and in 1919 the dredge Tempe was at work in the lower river and in 1920 was working above U nw in’s Bridge. It seemed to have worked to little effect during the 1920s. The Cooks River Im provement League was formed in 1924 to demand that som ething be done to improve the river. In a publication originally published in 1925 and revised in 1929 called OurO ceanto-Ocean Opportunity , photographs only 20 years old showed tree-lined banks and swim m ing and boating to indicate recreational uses of the river. The League sought to link Cooks River by canal with the Parram atta River at Homebush Bay and as a first step build a canal between Tem pe and Burwood Road and dredge the river. The aim was to remove the swamps and mud-flats. The concreting of the banks, the removal of the swamps and mud-flats and the “ im provem ent” of the river seemed like a good idea at the time.

The Campsie Band would perform on late shopping

24 O ctober 1926, and the full electric service between St Jam es and Bankstown com m enced on Septem ber 26, 1927.

The 1920s saw motorised transport established as a means of com m ercial transport and Dick Treleaven purchased his first truck in 1920 and his first motor pantechnicon in 1923. Prior to 1923, road removals were usually confined to the Sydney area or its suburbs, and most country removals were done by rail. A removal of fifty miles by road from Sydney assumed the proportions of an adventure in those days. 1925 saw the firm launch into interstate removals, which were then done by transport sling vans on rail or boat. D ick’s four sons, Eric, Ned, John and Norm, and daughter Doris, all joined the firm. The first storage repository was erected in South Parade, and extended in subsequent years.

W .B. Carroll opened his estate agency in North Parade in 1922 and his son Neville joined him in 1938 at the age of 15. The real estate agency now continues under the name of Bryce and Carroll.

A 1923 booklet on Lakemba says that bus services from Cam psie were to Burwood, via Croydon Park, Western Suburbs Hospital and Ireland’s Hotel (H. Frost, Proprietor); to Rockdale and Brighton-le-sands via Canterbury Road and Sharpe Street (now Kingsgrove Road); a half-hourly service to C anterbury Road, Punchbowl (Hoskins Bros); and to Punchbowl Station (Jones Bros). In 1923, Council approved of a bus route from Dudley Street (Punchbowl) and Canterbury Road to C am psie by Crown & Dale, and in 1926 Council was inform ed that buses on route 580 w hich operated from Burwood to Earlwood via Campsie w ould be discontinued for seven days so that pneum atic tyres could be fitted to replace the solid types then in use.

(A system of route num bers had been introduced in 1924 and revised in 1925).

The Clemton Park area, covering the southern section of Cam psie and part of Earlwood, C anterbury and Kingsgrove, began to develop in the 1920s. Following the extension of the tram service from Undercliffe to Earlwood in February 1924, requests were made for a further extension along W illiam Street to Sharp Street (now Kingsgrove Road). These were rejected because of insufficient developm ent in the area to justify construction of the line. In 1925, the W illiam Street Progress and Tram w ay Extension League, w hich met at the rear of the grocers shop at the corner of W illiam and Hilltop Streets, decided that a separate name for the area was needed and held a com petition to find a new name. A m em ber of the League, Mr Len Loxley, suggested C lem ton Park.

F rederick Moore C lem ents had owned a property at the corner of W illiam Street and Bexley Road from 1895 to 1918, was a successful businessm an and had been associated with a patent m edicine, C lem ents Tonic. Mr Loxley suggested that the district had some claim to an association with Clements Tonic and Mr C lem ents’s name.

In 1926, the M inister for W orks visited the Clemton Park area and was inform ed by the local residents that the existing bus service was expensive and inadequate and that many land owners along the proposed route were w aiting for the construction of the line before comm encing building. The governm ent, however, was reluctant to proceed with the extension and soon after decided to construct the railway line from Tem pe to East Hills. The financial depression of the 1930s and the opening of the railway as far as Kingsgrove in Septem ber 1931 (the line was extended to East Hills in Decem ber 1931) ended any hopes that the tram -line would be extended. Local groups nevertheless continued to campaign for the extension until the mid-1930s, by w hich tim e bus services along the

44

classes were commenced at Croydon Park at the beginning of 1933. The school was then designated as a Commercial Super-primary School, although it still retained the primary and infants departm ents. Besides com m ercial subjects, science was also added to the curriculum .

Early in 1929 fire destroyed the Anglican church building in C am psie and the parishioners were faced with the task of rebuilding. After only ten months, the church was re­ dedicated on October 19, 1929.

The Court House in Campsie Street was built in 1926 and the nearby Police Station was erected in 1929.

In the 1930s and 1940s, two sons joined the W alter Butler real estate agency and continued to operate it after W.G. B utler died in 1951. During this period, they moved from the corner of Beamish Street and North Parade to 48-50 North Parade. Meanwhile, R.F. Butler built and owned Station House on the corner of Beamish Street and South Parade, another landm ark in Campsie.

Local agitation for a hospital began early this century and com m ittees were established to raise funds and to lobby for the erection of a building. In 1914, Canterbury Park was offered to the governm ent for the erection of a hospital but was declined because of lack of funds. Fund-raising activities by the local com m unity included a flying demonstration at Canterbury Racecourse in May 1920 and numerous street stalls. The greater efforts in Canterbury decided the debate on whether the new hospital should be there or in Bankstown. When the site on C anterbury Road had been selected, a foundation stone-laying cerem ony attended by 1,000 people was held in O ctober 1927.

Canterbury District Memorial Hospital (as it was known until 1972, when the term “ M em orial” was dropped) was opened on October 26, 1929. There is some doubt as to who was the first patient adm itted on Novem ber 11,1929,

nights, which were originally Saturday nights and later were Friday nights. It would begin at the end of the business centre near Clarem ont Street, working its way down Beamish Street until it reached about Clissold Parade.

There would be such big crowds in Beamish Street that the buses would divert along Duke Street. There were few private cars. For a few years in the 1920s or 1930s, Cam psie had a “ W hite W ay” , white electric lights on the shop awnings, but apparently these were too costly for the shopkeepers to operate.

C am psie RSL S u b -b ra n ch was the firs t in the M unicipality to receive its charter of mem bership in S eptem ber 1928. It originated from a street corner conversation of a few members who decided that more effective work for the League would result from local meetings than by travelling to city meetings. It first met in a barber’s shop, then in various locations including local halls.

The site known as Carrington Square in Anglo Road was leased by Canterbury Council to the newly-formed C ampsie Bowling Club in 1928. The Square at the time was described as a wasteland surrounded by unmade roads and gutters. Earlier, a fam ily named Smith had kept a herd of goats there, and g oat’s milk could be obtained.

A request in 1927 for a Com m ercial and Domestic Science School at Croydon Park was rejected on the grounds that the girls could attend Domestic Science Schools at Burwood, C anterbury or Bankstown, and the boys could attend Com m ercial Schools at Dulwich Hill, Stanmore, Petersham, Lidcombe or Bankstown. By 1925, enrolments were over 1,300, despite relief provided by new schools at Enfield and Ashbury. More classrooms had to be provided in 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1933. Secondary

Fund raising in World War I.

45

services out of business where they were classed as competition with trams and trains. Among services stopped late in 1931 were routes 41, 42 and 43 between Campsie and the Railway and Route 65 between Croydon Park and the R ailw ay. H ow ever, fe e d e r bus se rvice s w ere established and among these were services from Campsie to Portland Street (Enfield), Kingsgrove Station, Punchbowl Station, Punchbowl Road (Punchbowl) and Drummoyne via Five Dock.

The foundation stone of the distinctive m em orial clock tower in Anglo Road was laid on May 28,1932 by the Mayor of Canterbury, Alderm an S.E. Parry. The tow er was “ a tribute to the Men who enlisted from Campsie to the Great W ar 1914-1918 from the W omen of the Strong Post” .

The Croydon Park Ex-Servicem en’s Club in Seymour Street, Croydon Park, was formed in 1933, the fee for members being sixpence per week. The club began in rented premises in Georges River Road, and then acquired a house in Seymour Street. The house was rebuilt in 1957, and additions were made in 1978 and 1987.

In the 12 years from 1921 to 1933, the population of Canterbury M unicipality increased from 37,639 to 79,050, and occupied dwellings from 8,225 to 18,551. Some of the increase would have been in Campsie, but by this tim e Campsie was fairly well-developed and most of the increase would have been at Belmore, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Earlwood and Ashbury.

In the 1930s, houses in Poets C orner (M ildura Estate) could be bought for around £200. One house in Dryden Street which was purchased for £200 in 1934 was sold again by the same estate agency in 1974 for $44,000. Rents in 1938 ranged from ten shillings to thirty shillings per week.

Many streets had rough surfaces and were unsewered.

Before sewerage was provided, houses in the Avenues (Harcourt Estate) were hard to sell, as the area was considered to be low-lying and damp. After being sewered, there was a big increase in values. Houses in Nicholas Avenue and Viking Street, being on the heights, were considered to be “ classy” . There seemed to be little change in shopkeepers in Beamish Street from the 1920s to the 1950s, and most lived on the premises. Campsie was considered to be a working class suburb, and the shops very com petitive, w ith prices low er than those of neighbouring centres.

Bexley Road as a link between Bexley North and Bexley was constructed in the 1930s, providing a new route from Rockdale connecting with Beamish Street.

A new brick church, the foundation stone of which was laid on March 9,1935, was built for the Congregationalists.

An autom atic telephone exchange was opened in Campsie on Novem ber 1, 1935, with 190 subscribers.

W hen the Orion Theatre opened in Beamish Street, nearly opposite Ninth Avenue, on March 7,1 9 3 6 , a mural of the ship Orion was displayed in the foyer. The Orient Line Orion, of 23,696 tons, was launched in 1935 and reached Sydney on her maiden voyage that year. It is also said that the theatre was named after the constellation Orion — hence the them e “ the theatre of the sta rs” . Built in the art deco style, with seating for 999 persons, the Orion Theatre brought a new standard of theatre luxury to Campsie and remained the prestige theatre for many years.

Following governm ent approval to changes in the operation of Friendly Society Dispensaries, the Canterbury District United Friendly Societies Dispensary opened a new dispensary at 246 Beamish Street in 1934, and later closed the Dispensary Hall at the corner of North Parade and London Street. In 1940, it had 6,942 members. It moved to the corner of Beamish Street and South Parade in 1965 and in 1971 to its present address next door.

In 1933, Governm ent bus services began and by 1937

either a man from Lakemba or a Mrs E. Stuart of Campsie.

E v id e n c e fa v o u rs th e la tte r. O r ig in a lly b u ilt to accom m odate tw enty-eight patients in a population of 70,000, the hospital was soon converting ward verandahs to bolster its bed capacity. Additional beds have been provided over the years including Thorncraft House in 1954. This was named after H.R. Thorncraft, a prom inent Campsie businessman, alderman and mayor, and member and President of the Hospital Board for many years. During the first year, 587 patients were adm itted. By 1933, the num ber had risen to 1,083, at a cost of seven shillings and threepence per bed per day, with 12,001 outpatient attendances. C anterbury Hospital was established with a great deal of involvem ent and support by local doctors.

W hen the Hospital opened they were all on as honoraries and they established them selves as the CanterburyBankstown Medical Association. The Hospital when it opened had few services. The local doctors staffed casualty on a roster basis. As there were no X-ray or pathology services, doctors provided these services.

A successful cam paign was waged to keep hotels out of Cam psie until the late 1920s when the C am psie Hotel was built at the corner of Beamish and Hill Streets. An application for the establishm ent of a hotel in Campsie had been before the Licensing Court in Parram atta in 1926.

Soon after the Campsie Hotel was built, the Hotel Beamish (now the Castle Inn) at the corner of Beamish Street and Clissold Parade was opened. Prior to this, drinkers had to journey to the hotels in Canterbury, where the first inns had opened in the 1840s, or to the St George Hotel in C anterbury Road at the corner of Sharp Street (now Kingsgrove Road) which had operated since 1893. It is said that the present building at the corner of Brighton Avenue and Browning Street was built as a hotel, (this was probably before 1910), but that a licence could never be obtained; that the same building was used by “ The Cam psie C lu b ” , with m em bers being seen drinking on the balcony while people passed on their way to church, and that a storekeeper at the corner of Beamish Street and Ninth Avenue was licenced to sell spirits. One story is told of a hardened drinker who frequented the St George Hotel, who would be loaded into his sulky and be taken to his home in the M ildura Estate by his well-trained horse w ithout any guidance from its driver.

An article headed Real Estate in the Sydney Morning Herald of April 30, 1930, said that Belm ore and Campsie “ bid fair to soon rank am ongst S ydney’s most popular suburban residential areas” . The m unicipality had a population of 75000, and there were seventy miles of road and streets, of w hich about thirty miles were tarred macadam and nine miles concrete. Water, gas and electric light were available throughout the district, the greater part of which was sewered. Both the unimproved and improved capital value of land had alm ost doubled in the five years from 1925 to £6.27 m illion and £19 m illion respectively.

6,968 new dw ellings were built between 1925 and 1929.

The article ended by saying that “ the prospects of developm ent of this district are said to be exceptionally b r i g h t . . . ” Despite the optim ism of the article, the depression was already beginning to affect the district.

In the 1920s, private bus services offered serious com petition for governm ent tram services, often along the same routes. A comm on sight for city workers was to see the w hite C am psie-Canterbury to Sydney bus (route 41) engaging in a race with trams, trying to reach the tram stop first to pick up passengers, and they were mostly successful. A move by a non-Labor Governm ent in 1930 to regulate the services of private buses was largely unsuccessful, but a new Labor G overnm ent in 1931 introduced an Act which had the effect of taxing the private

46

Beamish Street and Canterbury Road, 1934.

(Courtesy NSW Government Printing Office).

building as the effects of the Depression eased. The first term inating building society in Sydney (it was beaten by a few days by a Newcastle society for the title of first in the state) was formed by Stanley Parry, Mayor of Canterbury, in Campsie in 1937. The Sydenham -Bankstown District C ooperative Building Society Ltd held the first meeting of Directors on April 1, 1937 and Mr Parry was elected Chairman. The funds for the Society were advanced by the Bank of New South Wales. Its office was at 124 Beamish Street (corner of Ninth Avenue) until March 1986 when it moved around the corner into Ninth Avenue. The Society acquired the Western Suburbs Permanent Building Society in 1944 and this perm anent society was acquired by St George Building Society about 1981. The EarlwoodC anterbury Term inating Building Society was form ed in 1938 and was originally located in Canterbury, moving to Campsie later. The perm anent building society run by Earlwood-Canterbury was acquired by Prem ier Building Society, which in turn was acquired by the State Building Society, but the term inating society moved to Lakemba a few years ago, before being am algam ated with a group at Blacktown.

A branch office and showroom of the Sydney County Council opened in Beamish Street in August 1938. Before the opening of the showroom, cooking demonstrations had been held in halls and theatres throughout the area. These could now occur on the C ounty C ouncilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own premises, which was also used to prom ote electricity by appliance sales, general advice to custom ers and to receive account payments.

many such routes were operating. These included, in 1933, Routes 65 A shbury to Railway and 90 Drummoyne to Campsie; in 1934, Route 92 Drummoyne to Campsie; in 1937, Route 187 Campsie to Punchbowl. Also in 1937, Route 90 was extended to Earlwood, and Route 92 was extended to Rockdale. Most of these were the takeover of private bus services. In 1934, Route 65 (later 465) was extended to Campsie and to Bondi Beach, this long­ distance service continuing until wartime conditions in 1942 caused it to be split into two short separate routes; the through service was not restored after the war. In 1938, a sum m er Sunday service between Campsie and Maroubra Beach (Route 216) operated for a short time, and for the next few years, Route 187 was extended via Earlwood to M aroubra Beach on sum m er weekends and holidays.

The depression of the 1930s was felt in Campsie as much as anywhere else in Australia. Wages were reduced, there was a lot of unem ploym ent, municipal services were reduced, unemployment relief works were undertaken and drives were undertaken to collect groceries, vegetables, clothing and cash for the needy. Among relief works were drainage, roadworks, park im provem ents and the Cooks River Im provem ent Scheme, which saw the construction of the Cooks River Canal in the upper reaches of the river, the straightening of the river and the forming of parks along the river bank by filling the old bed with garbage. This was com pleted to River Street, when it ceased in 1941 due to the war.

The establishm ent of term inating building societies was encouraged by the State Governm ent to stim ulate home

47

Unemployment relief works on Cooks River, from Lindsay Street looking upstream, 1938.

(Courtesy NSW Government Printing Office).

Class 6D, Campsie Public School, 1935.

48

CHAPTER 8: The War and After (1939-1980) only sounded in genuine w arning on a couple of occasions.

A free library had been formed by C anterbury Council in 1883, and functioned for many years in the Council Chambers, in June 1945, a report was presented to Council by the Town Clerk with a view to establishing the present library service. Miss Nancy Wood was appointed Chief Librarian on November 25,1946, and the Campsie Library opened in an old shop at 157 Beamish Street on December 16,1946, with 1,305 books on the shelves. Within a month, 321 borrowers had been registered. Library services expanded rapidly and by the end of 1947 registered readers numbered 5,405 and 80,000 volum es were borrowed. By 1956, the original bookstock of the Central Library in Campsie had grown from 1,300 volumes to 50,000 volumes. 21,000 borrowers were registered, including 5,300 children. Except for a slight facelift by a new shop front, the prem ises remained the same. W hen a site for a new Central Library at 139 Beamish Street became available, a modern and com m odious building was planned. This was officially opened by the Mayor, Alderman R.J. Schofield, on Septem ber 26, 1958.

The Cooks River Im provement Act of 1946 provided for alignm ent and dredging of parts of the river, construction of levee banks and protection works, reclamation and im provem ent of low-lying adjacent areas and removal of the tidal gates at Tempe. The aim was to clear stormwater, prevent flooding of low-lying areas, greatly improve recreational areas, and eradicate m enaces to health. The effect was to have concrete replace the natural beauty of the banks and the river became a canal with uniform width.

By the 1940s there were 102 services each day through Campsie Railway Station. In 1940, the station had a staff of twelve, and there were just over 3,500,000 passenger journeys from Campsie — the highest on the line. This compared with just over 3 million from Bankstown and just less than 3 million from Belmore. As an indication of the growth of Campsie, passenger journeys in 1910 were 771,343; in 1920, 2,629,736; in 1930, 3,532,484; and in 1940, 3,553,505.

World W ar II was a little closer to home than W orld War I, and the physical aspects of day-to-day life were felt more with rationing of food and clothing, air-raid pre­ cautions and the possibility of evacuation of school­ children to the country. Campsie residents rem em ber in particular the troop trains conveying servicemen to Darling Harbour to go overseas early in the war, and their return a few years later. Steam engine whistles blew their “ cocka-doodle-doos” and children flocked to the railway lines to wave to the soldiers. Other residents recall trains conveying prisoners-of-war to the country. A nother wellremembered incident occurred on Saturday April 18,1942, when sixteen U.S. fighter planes flew low over Campsie to buzz C anterbury Racecourse, apparently to let the Australians know that their allies had arrived to defend them. The plan backfired when a horse took fright and had to be destroyed and the race meeting was disrupted, much to the annoyance (war or no war) of the sports-loving Aussies. To give warnings of possible air-raids, sirens were placed around the district, one being on the small shop in W onga Street opposite W airoa Street. The sirens were tested at 1p.m. each Sunday, and fortunately were

Anzac Day Sen/ice, 1947, at Clock Tower Memorial, Campsie, with World War I gun and memorial fountain behind Clock Tower.

(Courtesy D. Jeans).

49

1

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TT r

Passengers alighting from a tram outside Croydon Park Public School on the last day of operation of the Enfield Lines,

August, 21, 1948.

(Courtesy I. K. Winney).

Significantly, the pollution of the river continued unabated.

When the isolated Manly tram system was replaced by buses in 1939, it was generally thought that the next group of lines to be converted would be the Enfield system, but the intervention of W orld W ar II caused these plans to be shelved. By late 1947, the condition of the tram tracks was poor and reconditioning would have been most costly.

Despite opposition from local residents and councils, the G overnm ent decided to proceed with the conversion. The Enfield Tram System ceased to operate and was replaced by buses in August 1948. In the same year, as part of a Governm ent program m e of am algam ation of councils, Enfield M unicipality was abolished and absorbed into

Burwood and Strathfield Municipalities A fter W orld W ar II, the Excelsis Theatre was acquired

by Acme Theatres, re-modelled into a modern theatre with seating for 1,455 patrons, and re-named the Odeon. The Orion Theatre was given a facelift in 1949. As a result of the commencement of television, the Orion Theatre began opening on a restricted pattern of Friday and Saturday night showings, but finally closed about 1959. The Croydon Park Theatre closed in August 1960. The Odeon Theatre continued in operation long after many theatres in Sydney had closed, and the final screening on Thursday January 20, 1972 was The Wizard o f Oz. The building was demolished in mid-1972. The Campsie Mall at 281-287

50

club prospered and the new club prem ises were opened in 1969. The Campsie South Bowling and Recreation Club in Jarrett Street was formed at a public meeting called by the Campsie South Progress Association on February 18, 1949, and work on the construction of the greens and Club House began the same year. The Croydon Park Bowling and Recreation Club in Brighton Avenue was form ed in 1954, the President put down the first bowl on August 11, 1956, and the first green was officially opened on October 20,1956. The new clubhouse was officially opened by the State President of the Royal NSW Bowling Association on June 4, 1964. The W estern Suburbs Australian Football Club transferred from Concord Oval to Picken Oval in the late 1950s, where it established clubroom s, and a licence was obtained in 1962. The Campsie W om en’s Bowling Club was formed in 1974, after Campsie Bowling Club had operated as a m en’s club for forty-seven years.

The old Hilly Farmhouse dating from about 1840, when it was built by William Hilly, and empty and derelict for about twenty years, was demolished about 1950. It stood on what is now Flockhart Park, the site of the Hilly orchard, nursery, dairy and market garden over the years, where Burwood Road meets Cooks River at the spot known as H illy’s Crossing. Flockhart Park was named in 1958 in memory of Alderman Flockhart, a form er Mayor of Enfield and Burwood who died in 1957.

The memorial clock tower in Anglo Road was remodelled by public subscription in 1951 to honour those who served in the Armed Forces during W orld Wars 1914-1918 and 1939-45. At the end of the 1970s, five new plaques to com m em orate Australian Servicemen who served in Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Malaysia, and Vietnam were added.

From 1908 to 1939, C am psie was classified as a public school. Super-prim ary classes specialising in technical subjects were comm enced in 1940. Central school status was granted in 1947, but when Belmore Central Tech became a full high school in 1959, Campsie reverted to a prim ary school.

The com m erce course at Croydon Park school was replaced by a junior technical course for secondary boys in 1944, and the school was known as Croydon Park Junior Technical School until the end of 1964 when it became Croydon Park Junior High School. Secondary numbers had declined from 400 in the late 1950s to less than 200 in 1965, so the secondary section closed at the end of 1968. The school regained the name it had had for most of its life, Croydon Park Public School, from the beginning of 1969.

By 1986, the centenary year of the school, the enrolm ent had dropped to 407, compared with 1,463 in 1930.

Farrar School for the Deaf was named in honour of Abraham Farrar (1861-1944). Though totally deaf from infancy, he com pleted a university degree in architecture, following which he devoted his life to enhancing the cause of the deaf through research, w riting, speaking and example. The school began as a private day school in 1946 at Croydon. In 1949, it moved to Liverpool Road, Ashfield and was subsequently purchased by the governm ent on the condition that the governm ent would preserve its character and standards. In 1962, the school was moved to Croydon Avenue, Croydon Park.

The Infants School at Harcourt became a Public School in 1973. New modern buildings were com pleted in 1975 and an Official O pening Cerem ony was held on Friday 28 November, 1975. Except for the timber classroom building, all buildings at Harcourt had been com pleted w ithin a period of two years.

W hen Bob Durack died in the early 1960s, his funeral was given a police escort and was one of largest ever seen in Campsie. He was well-known in Campsie because of his

Beamish Street is now on the site of the Campsie Palace Pictures, the Excelsis and the Odeon Theatres.

In 1938, The A lert newspaper, the paid circulation publication (cost threepence), was purchased by Mr C.C. M erritt, who also took over the Star at Campsie and the Lakemba Advance . The Alert had serviced all districts between Sydenham and Bankstown, and was the principal source of district inform ation for residents. After three months, Mr Merritt was forced to close The A le rt, claim ing that neither revenue nor circulation was as he had been led to believe. This led to legal action in the District Court.

W ithout The A le r t, the Canterbury-Cam psie district was w ithout a local news medium, and Mr Merritt established the Campsie News newspaper, w hich proved successful.

Later, Mr Merritt am algamated the two papers into The Campsie News and Lakemba Advance , and in 1960, he sold the paper to Byrnes Publishing Co Pty Ltd, Burwood.

The Lakemba Advance had begun in 1927 as a four-page paper with a circulation of 3,000 copies, but by 1958, The Campsie News and Lakemba Advance had become a regular tw enty pages with a circulation of 14,000 copies from C anterbury to W iley Park, East Bankstown and Beverly Hills. In 1963, the circulation was 25,000, having extended to Croydon Park, Belfield and Earlwood. In 1976, The Campsie News and Lakemba Advance was sold to Eastern Suburbs Newspapers, Randwick, and it ceased publication in 1979, (the last issue being Tuesday, November 6, 1979) when it was incorporated into the Western Suburbs C ourier. Other Campsie newspapers over the years have included The Campsie-Belmore Gazette and The Campsie-Lakemba C o u rie r.

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Recreation facilities expanded in the post-war years. The site of the Campsie RSL Club in Anglo Road was purchased in 1945, an army hut was purchased and in April 1950, the Memorial Hall and Clubroom was officially opened, W ith the granting of a liquor licence in 1957, the

51

Allen’s Ice Run, about 1940.

(Courtesy E. J. Allen).

charitable work and church activities with St M el’s Catholic Church, and he had lived in Campsie for over thirty years.

The new Civic Centre in Beamish Street Campsie, replacing the Town Hall in C anterbury Road, Canterbury, was officially opened on September 21,1963. The business of a d m in iste rin g C a n te rb u ry ’s m u n icip a l needs is undertaken here and the m eetings of the Council are held in this building. The former Campsie School of Arts building was reconstructed to become the Rotary Com m unity Centre and was officially opened on June 13, 1964.

Restrictions on parking in Beamish Street and nearby streets were introduced in 1961. The Post Office built in 1916 in A nglo Road was replaced by the present modern building, w hich was opened on Septem ber 23, 1974.

Having been incorporated as a company, R. Treleaven and Sons Pty Ltd, in 1939, the firm had by the 1960s become one of the largest private com panies operating in the furniture removals field in New South W ales. It had a fleet of thirty-four modern vehicles painted in the fam iliar green and gold. The com pany’s modern offices, interstate term inal and workshops were situated at 94-100 Beamish Street and extended through to Sixth Avenue, and there were five huge repositories at separate addresses, covering 72,000 square feet and containing almost 1000 homes of furniture. The staff exceeded sixty. There were branches at Cooma and Wagga, agencies in most parts of the world, and an associated com pany known as United Van Lines Pty Ltd operating throughout Australia. In 1966, the W ridgway Group acquired contral of the company, and W ridgways subsequently became Ansett W ridgways.

There were a num ber of changes concerning religious groups. The C am psie Citadel of the Salvation Army was built in 1967, replacing an earlier structure erected in 1929.

Because the church was structurally unsound, and considered too costly to repair, the Methodist church properties in Campsie Street and Ninth Avenue were disposed of in 1971, and the congregation dispersed to C anterbury, Croydon Park and Belm ore M ethodist C hurches and to St P h illip ’s Presbyterian Church, Campsie. The C ongregational Church at the corner of B e a m is h and F le tc h e r S tre e ts w as so ld to the C hristadelphians in 1971. As a result of the union of the th re e d e n o m in a tio n s, M ethodist, P resbyterian and Congregational, the Croydon Park Methodist Church became a Uniting Church in 1977; the fixing of a large honour roll in the church draws attention to the inclusion of Croydon Park Presbyterian Church.

A noticeable change in the physical environment occurred with the replacement of cottages with home units.

R e s id e n tia l fla t d e v e lo p m e n t w ith in C a n te rb u ry M unicipality generally comm enced in the early to mid 1960s and gained momentum towards the end of the 1960s and early 1970s. The reason for this apparent surge in interest in residential flat accomm odation flowed from econom ic circum stances with the need to accomm odate additional persons, and the passing of the Strata Titles Act which made it more acceptable to financial institutions to loan money on such accomm odation. There was also a general acceptance of residential flat developm ent, generally for accom m odation for older persons or as a transition home for younger people, m ainly young marrieds. The Council elected in 1971 was concerned with the deterioration of the residential environm ent due to the increase in the num ber of high density dwellings and took steps to revise the Building Code, required more open space and reduced the num ber of residential flat areas.

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Council for thirteen years, including Mayor for two years in 1951/52. He was a director of C anterbury Hospital from 1930 to 1964 and a patron and life mem ber of the board at the tim e of his death. Thorncraft House was named in his honour and the adjacent Charlotte Street was renamed Thorncraft Parade to perpetuate his com m unity service.

His association with the Earlwood-Canterbury Permanent Building Society began at its foundation in 1937 and he was chairman of the board of directors for many years. He served as President of the Canterbury Spastic School in Lakemba, was a life mem ber of the N.S.W. Society for Crippled Children, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Campsie, a patron and life m em ber of Campsie Bowling Club after having been an active com m ittee mem ber for tw enty years and a form er president for ten years. Mr Thorncraft set up his drapery business in Beamish Street, Campsie, in 1923, after three years in Belmore, and remained for forty years. He was awarded the M.B.E. in 1966. Mr Thorncraft died in October, 1975, aged 81 years.

A major works program of dredging, bank stability works, and foreshore im provem ents for Cooks River at a cost of $19.4 million was recommended in the Report of the Cooks River Advisory Committee in 1978. The Committee c o m p ris in g re p re s e n ta tiv e s of lo ca l c o u n c ils and governm ent bodies said that m ajor problem s of the River were impaired water quality, untidy and unattractive foreshores, litter and rubbish in the river and along the fo re sh o re s, a sh o rta g e of re c re a tio n a l areas and uncertainty relating to proposed m ajor roads adjacent to the river. Apart from its essential function as a storm w ater drainage system, the com m ittee believed the major future use of Cooks River was recreational. D evelopm ent of parklands and tree planting along the banks, prevention of littering and an expansion of cleaning activities, dredging to solve the siltation problem and reduce nuisance flooding, and bank protection works were all recommended.

R esidential fla ts are still being approved but the applications are closely examined.

Campsie may have lost an older house than was then realised when “ Harcourt House” was demolished about 1968-1970. The house was on the “ Stoneless Bay” property of the Redman family, and was probably the farm house m entioned earlier. W hen the land was subdivided as the Harcourt Estate in 1888, there was a brick house of eight rooms on it, probably the same house, and when the land was offered for auction in 1897, there was an “ attractive neat cottage, Brick terra-cotta colour, tuckpointed, slate roof, good accom m oddation. Land — tw o acres” . Plans show this area on the southern side of Ninth Avenue. John Rowan purchased the house and land in 1899, and the house became known as “ Harcourt House” . Some years later, the land was further subdivided into eight building blocks and Harcourt Avenue formed.

Finally, the old house was demolished and home-units erected.

The house at 85 Second Avenue is also on the Harcourt Estate. The block of one and a half acres was purchased

by Henry Pickard in July 1896, and by the Peek fam ily in 1911. Because of the slope to Cooks River, the house needed extensive foundations with the cellars nearly as large an area as the house and high enough to stand upright. The house was built right out to the footpath, the only one on the estate. A mem ber of the Peek fam ily has suggested that the house although not existing in 1896 may have been built on the foundations of an earlier house, perhaps one built by the Redman family. The present house has been considerably altered.

H.R. (Bert) Thorncraft, M.B.E., was one of C am psie’s most colourful personalities and a driving force in the com m unity. As well as being a prom inent businessman, he was an energetic w orker for com m unity organisations, a popular sportsman, and an alderman of Canterbury

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CHAPTER 9: Present and Future (From 1980) M igrants from non-English-speaking countries and their children are w ell-represented in C am psie’s population today, and this means a major change in the population mix from the position some forty years ago, with different languages, traditions, custom s, cultures and social relations from that recognised as traditionally Australian, that is, the A nglo/C eltic traditions and custom s. Although there were many C hinese market gardeners on Cooks River at the turn of the century, the first Lebanese shopkeeper arrived in Cam psie in 1916, and in the 1920s, the names Lahood, Barbuto, Palise and Taranto were listed in C am psie in Sands Sydney Directories, increasing numbers of Greek, Italian, Lebanese and many other nationalities have been settling in the district since W orld W ar II, and there has been a big increase in numbers of Lebanese since 1975 and Vietnam ese since the early 1980s. In 1976, with an enrolment of 956 at Campsie Public School, the percentage of homes of the children where English was not usually spoken was 70%. At Harcourt with an enrolm ent of 634, the percentage was 50% .

The 1986 Census shows that the M unicipality of C anterbury had a total population of 128,622 persons, of whom 74,675 (58.1%) were Australian born, including children born in Australia of parents born overseas, and 53,951 (41.9%) were overseas born. In the overseas-born category, Lebanon as a birth place accounted for 8,963 which was 7.0% of the total population of the municipality, Greece was next with 7,190 (5.6%), Vietnam 4,742 (3.7%), UK and Eire 4,428 (3.4%) and Italy 3,864 (3.0%).

C om paring the 1976,1981 and 1986 Census details for the whole M unicipality * the population was approxim ately the same * the proportion who were overseas born (including English-speaking countries) increased from 30.6% of the total population in 1976 to 35.1% and 41.9% * the num ber born in Vietnam increased considerably,

in Greece and in Lebanon increased slightly, in Italy decreased slightly and in the United Kingdom and Eire decreased considerably * for religion, the num ber professing to be Christians decreased from 104,124 to 100,252 to 95,540, and Muslims increased from 2,929 to 5,567 to 8,833, and the remainder, including those who did not answer the question, decreased steadily.

At the tim e of w riting, not all of the results of the 1986 Census were available. In 1981 * Fairfield had the largest num ber of persons born in n o n -E n g lis h -s p e a k in g c o u n trie s in any Local Government area in the Sydney statistical district. The figure was 42,846 of a total population of 129,557 or 33.1%. Canterbury was second with 35,143 or 27.7%, M arrickville third with 31,488 of 83,448 or 37.7% of the population, while Bankstown with 26,868 of 152,636 (17.6%) was fourth * the proportion of the population born in non-Englishspeaking countries in Local G overnm ent areas in the Sydney statistical district was greatest in M arrickville with 37.7, followed by Botany 34.5, Fairfield 33.1, Ashfield 31.3 and Burwood 30.7, C anterbury was seventh with 27.7, Rockdale was twelfth with 22.1, and Bankstown eighteenthth with 17.6 * For New South Wales as a whole, 11.6% of the po p u la tio n w ere born in n o n -E nglish-speaking countries. Italy was largest with 77,087, Yugoslavia was next with 58,547, Greece 47,965 and Lebanon 36,950.

The results of the Census taken on June 30,1986, give an interesting “ snapshot” of Campsie and Croydon Park at that date: CAMPSIE had a population of 19,184 (300 less than in 1981) in an area of three square kilometres * There were 6,498 occupied dwellings and 382

L IL IA N

Street scene, Beamish Street, Campsie, 1988.

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S

Croydon Park, then Anglicans (16%), then Orthodox (7%), while 16% reported no religion or did not answer the question * 23% had left school under fifteen years of age or had not attended school, while 7% had diplom as or degrees or higher qualifications * 22% had an income of less than $120,00, while 16% had an income over $40,000 * 4% of the labour force was unemployed and looking for full tim e work.

For many years, there has been a Reservation for a County Road along the banks of Cooks River. This was one of three principal options considered at an Enquiry conducted by Mr D.S. Kirby for the N.S.W. Government into the options available to establish a road link between Kyeemagh and Chullora, to serve the transport needs of this region. In more general terms, the road would link Port Botany, the Airport and surrounding industrial areas with the western suburbs. The three options studied were: 1. A new road from Kyeemagh along the reservation for the F5 Freeway in Wolli Creek to King Georges Road, then using King Georges R oad and Roberts R oad to Chullora.

2. A new road from Kyeemagh along the banks of Cooks River using the Cooks River County Road Reservation, then using Coronation Parade and the Hume Highway.

3. Bay Street from Brighton-le-Sands, a by-pass of Rockdale Shopping Centre, along Bexley R oad to Campsie, a by-pass of the Campsie Shopping Centre via Viking Street, Orissa Street, Loch Street and Second Avenue, then along the Cooks River County R oad Reservation to Coronation Parade and the Hume Highway.

Options 2 and 3 would both affect Campsie. If it were to proceed, the construction of a new road along the banks of Cooks River would have a major effect on the physical environm ent together with the loss of parks, recreation areas and houses, although reducing traffic on other roads.

The Campsie by-pass w ould change the traffic flows. At the Kirby Enquiry, C anterbury Council opposed any of the three options in favour of improved rail links and better public transport.

In his Report published in 1981, Mr Kirby recommended

unoccupied dwellings. 41% were separate houses and 59% medium density housing. 48% were either owned or being bought * At 1,618 dwellings there were no motor vehicles, while at 251 there were three or more * Only 45% of C am psie’s population lived in the same residence as in 1981, indicating a high population m ovem ent * 49% of C am psie’s population was born in Australia, 10% in Lebanon, 5% in Vietnam and 4% in Greece * Of those born in non-English-speaking countries, 31 % spoke English not well or not at all. * Languages other than English spoken at home included Arabic/Lebanese 31%, Greek 15%, Chinese 10%, Italian 7% , Vietnamese 6% and Spanish 4% * Catholics (34%) formed the largest religious group in Campsie, then Orthodox (14%), then Anglicans (11%), while 17% reported no religion or did not answer the question * 21 % had left school under fifteen years of age or had not attended school, while 4% had diplom as or degrees or higher qualifications * 23% had an incom e of less than $12,000, while 11 % had an income over $40,000 * 8% of the labour force was unemployed and looking for full tim e work.

CROYDON PARK had a population of 10,622 in an area of three square kilometres * There were 3,752 occupied dwellings and 221 unoccupied dwellings. 63% were separate houses and 37% medium density housing. 66% were either owned or being bought * At 705 dwellings there were no motor vehicles, while at 249 there were three or more * 55% of Croydon P ark’s population lived in the same residence as in 1981 * 61% of Croydon P ark’s population was born in Australia, 7% in Italy and 4% in Lebanon * Of those born in non-English-speaking countries, 24% spoke English not well or not at all. * Languages other than English spoken at home included Italian 29% , Arabic/Lebanese 20% , Greek 13%, Chinese 5% , and Spanish 4% * Catholics (42% ) formed the largest religious group in

Cooks River Parklands, 1988.

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people, function rooms, art gallery, kitchen and a new baby health centre. The project would have involved the dem olition of the Orion Markets building and the erection of the new buildings between Beamish Street, the Council Adm inistrative building and Shakespeare Street. A review of the proposal emphasised the deficiencies in the district of large function areas suitable for balls, weddings, conferences and sim ilar activities. It was found that restoration of the Orion building and some additional work could be undertaken from C ouncilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial resources and do much to meet these needs.

After its closure as a theatre following the advent of television, the Orion Theatre building served as a community market, public meeting place, theatre rehearsal and migrant neighbourhood centre. It had been purchased by the Council in 1964, with a view to possible conversion to a public hall at a later date. At a cost of $2 m illion, the building was restored in 1984 by Canterbury Council as a m ulti-purpose com m unity function centre, known as the Orion Centre. The restoration work in the main hall brought the building back to its form er art deco grandeur, and the additional building work provided a stage of 12 metres by 18 metres, and on a lower level, dressing rooms and storage facilities. The main hall provides seating for 650 persons. The mezzanine and foyer areas are available for sm aller functions. The Orion Centre can be used for small or large functions, from receptions, balls, speech nights, plays, m usicals, seminars or conventions.

The pilot scheme for Neighbourhood W atch in New South W ales began in Campsie in December 1984. The area designated for the pilot scheme was bounded by Second Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Ninth Avenue and Cooks River, and the scheme began with a public meeting organised by the N.S.W. Police Departm ent at the Orion Centre. The incidence of household burglaries in the

against all three options, in favour of spot improvements to existing roads to reduce traffic congestion, co-ordinated traffic signals, a network of truck routes, and the transport of 47% of containers between Botany and Chullora by rail.

The Report was strongly in favour of environm ental and c o n s e rv a tio n is s u e s . M r K irb y p re s e n te d his recom m endations to the State Government, but many of the recom m endations have not been acted upon.

Subsequently, the Governm ent has decided to proceed with the F5 Freeway, and C anterbury Council has given qualified support to the extension towards the city.

Following the 1978 Report of the Cooks River Advisory C om m ittee, C anterbury Council and other C ouncils bordering Cooks River decided to form the Cooks River CoO rdination Committee. The object of the Committee is to co-ordinate action for the future control and m anagement of Cooks River and its environs, and to press the G overnm ent to im p le m e n t im p ro ve m e n t m easures recom m ended by the Cooks River Advisory Committee.

An active State Emergency Services group has been in existence in Campsie since 1981. Operating from a cottage at the corner of Beamish Street and Brighton Avenue, the volunteers undertake m any training program m es in preparation for any emergency which may arise. Their skills and dedication was demonstrated during the storms which occurred in August, 1986.

A proposal in 1983 to amend the boundaries of Canterbury M unicipality by transferring the Ashbury area to Ashfield M unicipality was greeted with considerable opposition and finally rejected.

As part of the celebrations of the centenary of the C anterbury M unicipality in 1979, it was announced that a new com m unity centre would be built in Campsie at a cost of $3.5 m illion. The centre was to include a multi-purpose hall with seating for up to 1,300 people, a theatre for 350

Orion Centre, Campsie, 1988.

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posts for study and recreational purposes; a theatrette for presentation of film and video program m es; facilities for fam ily history research; and an exhibition area. The new Library replaces the building at 139 Beamish Street which had completely outgrown the demands made upon it. Forty years almost to the day after the establishm ent of the Library Service, the new building w ill ensure and encourage maximum use and benefit to the community and enable the Library Service to develop its role as a vital resource in the comm unity.

Sadly, a building of some character, the Com m ercial Banking Company of Sydney building, erected in 1914 and extended in 1955, was dem olished by the National Australia Bank in 1986. It was replaced by a single storey building.

On October 1,1986, Canterbury, Bankstown and Auburn Hospitals became part of the Lang Area Health Service.

The introduction of Area Health Services to the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong regions is a State Government initiative, with all health services w ithin a particular g e o g ra p h ic a re a c o m b in e d u n d e r one B oard of Management. The reason for their introduction was that the previous structure was seen to be fragm ented, with duplication of services and in some instances inefficient use of resources.

A shortage of funds has prevented the dredging of Cooks R iv e r, b u t th e re ha ve been so m e e n c o u ra g in g developm ents. The P ublic W orks D epartm ent has com pleted a hydrographic survey of the river, and consultant planners have been engaged to develop, in conjunction with councils bordering the river, a report which will provide options for developing the waterway. The State Pollution Control Commission has been concentrating on the control of pollution in the river and significant gains in water quality have been achieved by controlling licensed discharges since the introduction of the Clean W aters Act. Industrial discharges have been largely elim inated or controlled, and all toxic discharges have now ceased. The

Campsie area had been very high before the scheme began. Housebreaking amounted to one-third of reported crim e in NSW. The Neighbourhood W atch program is designed to encourage people to report crim es and become more aware of w hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening in their street.

The three main objectives are to increase reporting of crime, prevent crime and improve household security. The introduction of the scheme followed successful campaigns in Victoria and overseas. From Campsie, Neighbourhood W atch spread throughout NSW and was an outstanding success. Within a year, it was established in 318 areas taking in 255,000 homes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; more than double the 100,000 homes planned for the first year. By early 1987, over 1,000 areas with 900,000 homes had been established. In some areas, Neighbourhood Watch was credited with a reduction in burglaries of 80 per cent, and an average 45 per cent drop throughout the State. So successful was the scheme that household insurers lowered prem ium rates in N eighbourhood W atch areas.

The Campsie shopping centre saw a major change with the opening on A ugust 19, 1986 of the Campsie Centre located between Amy and Evaline Streets. W ith over fifty shops, a D epartm ent store, D iscount store and a Supermarket, and undercover parking for 600 vehicles, the centre also houses the Canterbury Central Library. The Campsie Centre, developed by Southern International D e ve lo p m e n ts Pty Ltd fo r th e P u b lic A u th o ritie s Superannuation Board at a cost of $29 m illion, covers 5 hectares and serves residents of a large surrounding area.

The project boosts the role of Campsie shopping centre, provides a wider range of shopping facilities, and increased car parking for Campsie, together with larger and more centrally located library and com m unity facilities.

The new Central Library was officially opened by the noted Australian historian, Professor Manning Clark, on December 10,1986. The Central Library has a Reference Library with seating for sixty people and improved inform ation resources; an audio-visual area with listening

r-OTA

Campsie Centre, Amy Street, Campsie, 1988.

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num ber of other discharges have been reduced from well over 100 to nine, all of which meet stringent quality requirements. W ater quality is much improved, and further im provem ents are likely to be marginal. W ater quality deteriorates during and after wet weather because of urban run-off and sewer overflows in very heavy rain. Stormwater runoff and sewer overflows are now being addressed by the State Pollution Control Commission and local and state government bodies, although opportunities to reduce these are limited as the catchm ent area is fully developed.

However, a significant aesthetic im provem ent with some benefits to water quality could be brought about by raising public awareness of the impact of littering and household activities on the river, an increased clean-up and litter reduction activity in the catchment area, and the installation of trash racks in the storm drainage system where possible.

As a result, the Cooks River Litter Reduction Campaign began in Novem ber 1986 with the aims of educating the public on the effects of rubbish and other pollutants on the river, encouraging proper methods of disposing of rubbish, and trialling of interception systems. The Campaign will also prom ote the image of Cooks River and its foreshores as a major active and passive recreational area, and develop a river-based clean up cam paign including the regular collection of litter and special clean ups.

Local councils are moving towards the creation of an unbroken walking and bicycle path from Homebush Bay to Botany Bay, along the river, and signs depicting the river have been erected at intervals along the river banks.

Another development was the opening of Little Tasker Park in 1986.

Today, much of Cooks River is surrounded by parks and reserves, and large parts of the river banks are attractive.

As earlier plantings grow and mature, and steps continue to improve it, our river gives promise of returning to som ething of its beauty of earlier days.

A number of bodies continue to show an interest in Cooks River. The Cooks River Valley Association, founded about

1952, has sim ilar objects to those of the Cooks River Im provement League which operated from 1925 to about 1950. It is co n ce rn e d w ith the d e ve lo p m e n t and beautification of the river and valley, and the improvement of the human environm ent, including clean water, clean air and quietness. Formed in the mid-1970s, the Cooks River Festival Committee, works to awaken interest and concern for the river through an annual festival at different parks along the river bank.

Some of the issues associated with C anterbury Road were highlighted in a recent study by Canterbury Council.

C anterbury Road is a Proclaimed County Road and is a Classified Main Road. It serves as an east-west link through the M unicipality for cars and heavy vehicles. Traffic congestion needs to be reduced and provision of parking increased. There is a need to maximise traffic flow while enhancing safety. There is increasing concern at the heavy volum e of traffic in term s of visual, air and noise pollution.

Development along the road consists of many obsolete buildings, mixed land use, lack of landscaping and discordant power poles and street structures. Good traffic management practice and a number of individual initiatives to be taken along the length of the road should lead to improvements. The South-Western Freeway (F5), which is under construction from Moorebank to King Georges Road at present and may extend to Tempe in the future, will probably result in a general reduction in traffic flow along Canterbury Road.

Bexley Road and Beamish Street carry considerable north-south traffic, and so the C anterbury Road — Bexley Road — Beamish Street intersection is an extrem ely busy one. It has also featured in “ Accident Black Spot” lists. The intersection is continually under notice to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents. Should it eventuate, the Kyeemagh-Chullora Road along the Cooks River Valley might be expected to change traffic flow patterns on C anterbury Road, Bexley Road and other arterial roads.

Campsie, which is the largest of the strip-type shopping

Canterbury District Hospital, 1988.

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Street scene, Beamish Street, Campsie, 1988.

a gradual and staged approach may lead to a full closure of Beamish Street and provision of a plaza.

and comm ercial centres in the Municipality, has about half of the gross floor space of Roselands, and more than twice that of Lakemba. Campsie provides a greater range of functions than Roselands. Roselands is designated as the Regional Shopping Centre, and Campsie as the D istrict R etail/Com m ercial Centre. Of the adjoining centres, Belmore and Earlwood are Area Neighbourhood Centres, and Canterbury, Clemton Park and Croydon Park are Local Neighbourhood Centres. Further studies to improve the functioning and appearance of individual centres are to be undertaken. The investigations will include landscaping, possible by-pass traffic routes, creation of plazas, traffic improvements, adequate car parking fa cilitie s and bus-rail interchanges. Some expansion and im provem ent of Campsie in accordance with its role as the District Retail/Comm ercial Centre is possible. Major office developm ents would be ideally located at Campsie.

Campsie, the adm inistrative centre of the C anterbury M unicipality, has been an established com m ercial and residential centre for over seventy years. The shopping centre has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the best and least expensive in Sydney, and the choice of shops has increased with the opening of the Campsie Centre. Modest two-storey shops on small sites which could not be sold at the beginning of this century are now worth over $400,000, and other buildings are worth much more. Expansion of facilities, including the new Library, is under way. Let us hope that any change to a house or com m ercial building is made in sym pathy with the existing building and its surroundings, to make Campsie a more pleasant place in w hich to live, and that our heritage is not forgotten.

Campsie enjoys a good public transport system, served by both trains and buses, and there is adequate parking adjacent to the shopping centre and railway station.

A ttractive parks are popular recreation places. Long a w orking-class suburb, Campsie in recent years has seen an influx of people from around the world, bringing with them new ideas in all facets of life. There will be further changes to the suburb and surrounding district as the years pass â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not quick changes as occurred early in this century, but slow developm ents which hopefully will continue to improve the environment in which people live, and increase the happiness of the residents of Cam psie and its neighbourhood.

The Campsie Study has been completed and the Council has accepted the recom m endations which suggested the need to improve the pedestrian amenity in Campsie by upgrading the appearance of the centre and reducing traffic congestion, to encourage by signposting the use of existing routes to the east and west of Beamish Street, (the western route having had four roundabouts provided in Loch Street and Ninth Avenue in 1986), to encourage other steps leading to the implementation of proposed by-pass routes, to prepare a Development Plan for various areas within the centre, and to investigate the provision of additional parking. Although there are many problems to be solved,

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REFERENCES To assist with style, detailed footnotes have been elim inated. Details are available from the authors.

Proposed Im provement o f Cooks River, 1896 O ur O ce a n -to -O c e a n O p p o rtu n ity , C o o ks R ive r Im provem ent League, 1924 & 1929 Sharp, B Pictorial History of Sydney Suburban Cinemas The Author, Sydney, 1987 Spearitt, P Sydney Since the Twenties Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, 1978 St John the Evangelist Church, Campsie, 1911-1986 (75th Anniversary leaflet) St M el’s Campsie Diam ond Jubilee 1915-1975 leaflet Thorp, J Correspondence from Sydney, Maria Thomkins, William W oolcott and others to Joshua Thorp Letters in the private collection of Miss Jessie Thorp. Auckland, N.Z. Travers, G From City to S u burb. . . a fifty year journey (The story o f NSW Government Buses) The Sydney Tramway Museum and The Historic Commercial Vehicle Association Co-op Ltd, Sydney, 1982 Willey, K When the Sky Fell Down, the Destruction of the Tribes of the Sydney Region, 1788-1850s Collins, Sydney, 1979 W illson, RK Clark, HR Keenan, DR The Enfield Lines, Australian Electric Traction Association, Sydney, 1971

A nglo-Australian Investment, Finance and Land Co. Ltd., Illustrated Views of the Campsie Park Estate, 1885 Austral Banking and Land Proprietary, Hand-book, [1889] Australian Mutual Investment and Building Co. Ltd., Views o f estates, plans, etc., [1883] Campsie M ethodist Church 1897-1947 Golden Jubilee booklet Campsie Shopping Carnival, 1919 Souvenir booklet Clemton Park Public School, 1929 — 1979 Golden Jubilee booklet Cooks River Environment Survey and Landscape Design R eport o f the Cooks River Project, Total Environment Centre, Sydney, 1976 Croydon Park Public School, 1886 — 1986 Centenary Booklet Edwards, K Beginning The Bankstown Line A History o f the M arrickville to B urw ood Road Railway, Canterbury and D istrict Historical Society, 1982 Forsyth, J Historical Notes on the Bankstown Line N.S.W. Public Transport C om m ission, Sydney, 1978 Gluskie, Dr C Synopsis o f M edical Practice in CanterburyBankstown, prepared for the Golden Jubilee of CanterburyBankstown Medical Association, 1980.

Greenwood, E St P aul’s, Canterbury The Story o f a Parish Parish of St Paul, Canterbury, 1960 Henning, R, The Letters o f Rachel Henning, ed. D Adams, Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, 1977 Information Booklet and Business Directory, Lakemba C ham ber of Commerce, 1923 Jervis, J A History o f the M unicipality o f Canterbury, C anterbury Municipal C ouncil, 1951 Kelly, M A Certain Sydney 1900, Doak Press, Sydney, 1978 Kirby, DS NSW Commission o f Enquiry into the KyeemaghChullora R oad Report, Govt Printer, Sydney, 1982 Larcom be, FA Change and Challenge, C a n te rb u ry M unicipal Council, 1979 Macquarie, L Journals o f His Tours in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land 1810-1822 Public Library of New South Wales, Sydney, 1956 NSW Legislative A ssem bly, Parliam entary S tanding Committee on Public Works Report. . . Relating to the

Archives Office of NSW. Files of the Colonial Secretary’s Department; Department of Education; Lands Department; Supreme Court; Surveyor G eneral’s Department C anterbury and District Historical Society — Journals, Newsletters, publications, files, other records, and oral history transcripts C anterbury Municipal Council reports and papers Historical material from A ustralia Post, Departm ent of Education, State Rail Authority, Telecom Personal rem iniscences of local residents Records of the N.S.W. Registrar-General Land Titles Office Sydney newspapers and such copies of local newspapers as have survived Unfortunately, files of local newspapers The Alert, The Campsie News, The Lakemba Advance, The Campsie News and Lakemba Advance, The Punchbowl Punch and other small local papers do not appearto have survived, and this valuable source of local history is denied to us.

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INDEX Aborigines 1,2 Adcock, Doctor David 37 Adelaide Park 9 The Alert newspaper 35,36,41,51 Alfred Street 39 Allison, Doctor Jack 37 Ambulance service 43 Amy Street 20,29,32,35,57 Anglo-Australian Investment, Finance and Land Company 19-21,23,26,27,30 Anglo Road 32,37,38,45,46,51,52 Animals 1 Anzac Square 38 Arcadia Hall 43 Auld, Rev. John 10 Austral Banking and Land Proprietary 23.26,27 Australian Mutual Investment and Building Company 17,26 Australian Red Cross Society 39 Australian Sugar Refining Company 9,11 Band 32,44 Bank of New South Wales 47 Banks 35,57 Baptist Church, Campsie 37 Barden, A. & Sons 42 Bayliss, Doctor Gordon 37 Beamish, Francis Hill 11,19,20,29,32 Beamish, Francis, junior 13,32 Beamish Estate 32 Beamish Street 2-3,6,20,29-40,42-43,45-47,52,56, 58,59 Beaufort Street 43 Bell, Francis 13 Belle Ombre 6,9,11-13,15,17,21,26 Bellombi Street 21 Bell’s Line of Railway 19 Belmore 32 Bentley, John 6 Bentley’s Farm 6,19 Bexley Road 10,17,37,44,46,58 Billiard Saloon 39,43 Birch, Ellis 20 Bird life 1,31 Black, Jane 9 Black, John Richard 13 Blacket, Edmund 13 Boyle Street 39 Bramshot Farm 3-5,6,8,9,13,19,21,23,24,27 Brice, John 2-6 Bridges 3,9-11,24 Bridgewater Estate 9,10,26 Brighton Avenue 19,30,31,39,46,56 Brighton Estate 6-10,15 Browning Street 31,46 Bryce and Carroll 44 Bubonic plague 30 Burke, John 6 Burke’s Farm 6 Burwood Land and Investment Society 30 Burwood Road 6,10,24,30,51 Bus Service 39,40,44,46 Bushrangers 6 Butler, R.F. 32,33,45 Butler, W alter George 33,42,43,45 Butler, W illiam Fitzwalter 33 Campbell, Robert 2,6,9 Campbell, Sophia Ives 13 Campsie Boot and Shoe Emporium 31 Campsie Bowling Club 45,51,53 Campsie Centre 57 Campsie Club 46 Campsie Cycling Club 32 Campsie Farm 9,10,15,19 Campsie Federals Football Team 43 Campsie First-Aid Class 33 Campsie Gas Centre 40 Campsie Harcourt Cricket Team 43 Campsie Heights Estate 44 Campsie Hill Estate 32 Campsie Horticultural Society 32 Campsie Hotel 46 Campsie lonas Football Team 42,43 Campsie Juniors Cricket Team 43 Campsie Mall 50 Campsie News newspaper 51 Campsie News and Lakemba Advance newspaper 51 Campsie Palace Pictures 36,40,51 Campsie Park Estate 19-21,26-29 Campsie Public School 35,37,38,40,42,51,54 Campsie Recreation Ground 36 Campsie R.S.L. Club 51 Campsie R.S.L. Sub-branch 45 Campsie School of Arts 42,52 Campsie Shopping Carnival, 1919 40 Campsie South Bowling and Recreation Club 51 Campsie South Progress Association 51 Campsie Street 33,37,43,52 Campsie Telephone Exchange 46 Campsie W om en’s Bowling Club 51 Cannon Family 42 Canterbury Arms Inn 9,11 Canterbury Bankstown District Ambulance Service 43 Canterbury Bankstown Junior Rugby League 43 Canterbury Bankstown Medical Association 46

Canterbury Chinese Mission 24 Canterbury District Ambulance Corps 33 Canterbury District Hospital 36,45,53,57 Canterbury District United Friendly Societies Dispensary 35,46 Canterbury Estate 2,6,9,14 Canterbury Farm 2 Canterbury House 11,13 Canterbury Municipal Council 22,23,26,55,56 Canterbury Municipality 15,56 Canterbury Park 45 Canterbury Park Racecourse 17,19,45,49 Canterbury Road 6,9-11,15-17,32,37,39,45,58 Canterbury Soccer Club 37 Canterbury South School 44 Canterbury Spastic School 53 Canterbury Town Hall 23,24,32,39,52,56 Canterbury Village 9,11 Canton Street 37 Capon, Thomas 6 Carrington Square 20,45 Carroll, W.B. 44 Castle Inn 46 Catholic Church 37,44 Chard, John 11 Charlotte Street 17,37,53 Child, William Knox 9 Chinese 16,19,24,25,30 Chisholm, Caroline 10 Church of England, Campsie 31,35,40,45 Church of England, Canterbury 13,35 Church of England, Enfield 9 Church of England, South Canterbury 35 Churches 9,13,17,19,30,31 Civic Centre 52,56 Claremont Street 32,37,45 Clark, James 6 Clarke, John Stephenson 9 Clatworthy, F.J. 34 Clay, Harry 43 Clements, Frederick Moore 44 Clements Tonic 44 Clemton Park 44 Clemton Park Infants School 44 Clissold, Frederick 15,17,19,31 Clissold Parade 30-32,37,45,46 Clissold’s Estate 31 Clock tower 46,51 Cluer, W illiam 3 Cluer’s Farm 3-5 Coles, G.J. (store) 43 Commercial Banking Company of Sydney 35,57 Commonwealth Military Forces 32 Condon, Father Richard 37 Congregational Church, Campsie 37,46,52 Convicts 9 Cook, Mr 43 Cook Bros. 42 Cook Street 44 Cooks River 1-3,5-7,9-11,13-16,19,23,24,27,30-32,44, 51,53,55-58 Cooks River Advisory Committee 53,56 Cooks River Co-ordination Committee 56 Cooks River Improvement Act, 1946 49 Cooks River Improvement League 44 Cooks River Improvement Scheme 47 Coronation Parade 6 County Road 55 Court House, Campsie 45 Cowper Street 27 Crawford, Leslie 17 Cressy Street 44 Crime 57 Crook, W illiam Pascoe 3-6 Crown and Dale 44 Croydon Avenue 16,51 Croydon Park 24,25,28,31,34,37 Croydon Park Bowling and Recreation Club 51 Croydon Park Estate 16 Croydon Park Ex-Servicemen’s Club 46 Croydon Park (Park) 16 Croydon Park Public School 20,28,35,37,39,45,51 Croydon Park Theatre 43,50 Cumming, Len 31,42 Cup and Saucer Creek 13,19,44 Dairy farms 14,31 Dalgarno, Doctor Marjorie 37 Dan, Doctor Alexander 44 Dan’s Corner 44 Dart, John 24,39 Davies, Tom 42 Davis, James 9 Davis, W illiam Lovel 17,19 Deamon, John 8,9 Dent, George 9 Depression, 1929 47 Dispensary Hall 35,46 Dobson, Mr 43 Drumgold, Patrick 9 Dryden Street 32,35,46 Duke Street 17,31,37,43-45 Durack, Bob 51 Earlwood-Canterbury Building Society 47,53 Earlwood tram 44

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Easter encampment 32 1828 Census 6 1841 census 9 Eighth Avenue 23,28,30,32,35 Electric train service 43 Electricity 40,45 Elgin Square 20 Elizabeth Street 17 Enfield Municipality 24,50 Enfield tram 24,33,37,43,50 Enfield Village 10 Evaline Street 20,31,33,36,37,57 Excelsis Theatre 43,50 F5 Freeway 55,56,58 Falconer, Francis 29 Fanning, Frederick 13 Farrar, Abraham, 51 Farrar School for the Deaf 51 Farrow, W illiam 19 Fielden, Mrs J. 43 Fifth Avenue 23,24,28,30,32,35,56 Fire Station 32 Firman, W illiam 15 First Fleet 1 Fitzpatrick, Mrs J.E. 31 Flats 52 Fleming’s Supermarket 43 Fletcher Street 37,52 Flockhart Park 51 Flood, Edward 16 Flood’s Paddock 15 Ford, W.L. 35 Foster, Mark 15 Fourth Avenue 32 Fox, Patrick 19 Frederick Street 31 Frost, H.C. 40,44 Fullin, Tim 15 Gabb, Charles 15,17 Gabb, John 11,17 G abb’s Grove 11 Gas Service 28,40 Georges River Road 2,6-8,16,19,39,43,46 Glenore 13 Gold rush 11,13 Golden Park Estate 17,19,21,26 Goodlet, John Hay 13 Gould, Joseph 15 Gould Street 17,26,31 Greeks 54 Hap War 16 Harcourt 23-28,30,32,33,46,53 Harcourt Avenue 8,53 Harcourt House 53 Harcourt Infants School 42,51,54 Harcourt Minstrels 36 Harding, Mr 31 Harold Street 31,35 Hartrup, A. 39 Hartshorn, Barnabas 9 Harvison, Mr 42 Hawes, Charlie 42 Hay, Rev George 31 Hendrick, Frederick 3-5 Henning, Biddulph 13 Henning, Rachel 13 Hermitage 10,11,13 High Street 37 Highfield Estate 37 Hill Street 32,46 Hilly, W illiam 14,51 Hilly’s Crossing 30,51 Hilly’s Farm 14 Hird, Constable 20 Hobbs, W.J. 16 Hockings 42 Hogben, Edward 16,17 Hopkins Bros. 42 Horse buses 16,39 Hoskins Brothers 40,44 Hospitals 33,37,45,57 Hotel Beamish 46 Hotels 46 Howard Street 37 Howell, George Julian (“ Snowy” ) 39 Hughes, L.C. 39 Hutton, Sir Edward 32 Hutts Hire Cars 42 Hyndes, Thomas 9 Ideal Milk Bar 43 Iffland, J. 40 Influenza Epidemic 40 Inns 8-10 Inverurie 29 Italians 54 James, Benjamin 23 Jarrett Street 51 Jenkins, Jemima 6 Jenkins, Robert 9,10 John Farm 2,3,6,8,9 Johnson, Rev Richard 2 Jones, Ann 15 Jones Brothers 44 Junior Rugby League Team 33

Kangaroo hunt 15 Kemble, Francis 9 Kennedy, Donald 15 Kennedy’s Line of Railway 19,26 Kia-Ora Hall 35,37 K ing’s Grove Farm 3,5,10 Kingsgrove 10 Kinloch, John 17 Kinnesswood 29 Kirby, D.S. 55,56 Lahood, Joseph 39,43 Lahood’s Fruit Shop 39 Lakemba Advance newspaper 51 Land grants 2-3,6 Lang, Dr John Dunmore 10 Lang Area Health Service 57 Lauchlan, Matthew Highet 17 Laycock, Hannah 2,3 Laycock, Samuel 2,3,6 Laycock, W illiam 2,3,6 Laycock’s Road 2,3,6 Lebanese 54 Lee, Frederick 10,11 Lees, W illiam 8,15 Lees Avenue 8 Lenyen, Edward 6 Leslie, Allen 42 Levey, Solomon 6 Library 49,57 Little Tasker Park 58 Liverpool Road 6,8 Loch Street 55,59 London Street 35 Lonergan, Monsignor Richard 44 Lord, Simeon 6,10 Loxley, Len 44 McBean, James 30 McCabe, Michael 6 McCabe’s Farm 6 McCredie, Doctor Bob (R.W.) 37,43 McFadzen, Catherine 15 McFadzen, Robert 13 McGraw, Daniel 19 MacGregor, Thomas 19,21 McKevett, John 19 Macnamara, James Sheedy 9 Macpherson, Catherine 9 Macpherson, Joseph 9 Macquarie, Governor Lachlan 2,3 Mail delivery 33 Man of Kent Inn 10 Market gardens 14,15,30,31,34,44,54 M arrickville Hospital 37 Martens, Conrad 13 Masonic Temple, Campsie 35 Maudville 17 The Meads 10 Medical services 33,37 Melrose Street 16 Merkel, W illiam 15 Merritt, C.C. 51 Methodist Church, Campsie 30,37,38,52 Methodist Church, Canterbury 9 Methodist Church, Croydon Park 19,39,52 Methodist Church, Moorfields 10,13 Migrants 54 Mildura Estate 27,28,30,31,46 Mildura Estate Presbyterian Church 31 Mildura Wesleyan Mission Church 30 Miller, Samuel 11,13 M iller’s Bridge 11,13 Mission Hall 31 Mons Street 44 Moore, Thomas 2,6 Moore, W.H. 6 Moore Street 27 Moorefields Road 34 Moorfields 10,11,13 Morgan, L. 40 Murder 3-5,20 Murphy, James 9 National Australia Bank 35,57 Natural landforms 1 Neighbourhood Watch 56 New Canterbury Road 10 Newton, Doctor Billy 37 Nicholas Avenue 46 Nightingale, John 15 1911 Census 35 Ninth Avenue 32,33,37,42,46,47,52,53,56,59 Norris, Mrs 31 North Parade 31,35,43,45,46 Northcote Street 10,15,17,30,44 Northumberland Farm 2,6,9-11,15,17 Norwood, Mrs 29 Odeon Theatre 50 Oldfield, H. & Son 39 Orchards 11,13,14,31,34 Orion Centre 56 Orion Markets 56 Orion Theatre 46,50,56 Orissa Street 55 Osborne, Rev Alexander 17 O ’Sullivan D. 40

Oswald Street 31 Palise, Joe 42 Park Street 17,26,31 Parker, Mrs 37 Parle, Mr 42,43 Parry, Stanley Evan 46,47 Paterson, Miss E 35 Peek Family 53 Pemulwy 2 Percy Farm 2,4-6,9,19 Perry Street 32 Pfeiffer, Doctor Gordon 37 Phillips, James Otis 23,26 Phillips, William Edgar Harold 23,26-28 Pickard, Henry 53 Picken Oval 51 Pithers, W illiam 6 Polack, Abraham 6-8 Police 20,24,35,56 Police Station, Campsie 45 Population 1,6,9,30,35,41,46,54,55 Post Office 31,33,36,37,52 Premier Building Society 47 Presbyterian Church 10 Presbyterian Church, Campsie 31,33,40,43,52 Presbyterian Church, Rosedale 17,24,31,44,52 Princes Theatre 39,43 Prosser, Thomas 3-5 Proudfoot and Co 27 Prout, Cornelius 6,9-11 Prout’s Bridge 9-11,13,20 Prout’s Bridge Estate 22 Prout’s Punt 6,9 Punch Bowl 6,7 Quelch, W.E. 42 Quigg, Francis 15 Quigg, James 10,11-13,15 Quigg, James jr 15 Quigg, John 10,13,15,30 Quigg, Neil 15,17 Quigg, Neil W 15 Quong Tart 24 Railway 11,14,15,19,25-30,32,33,35,38,43,44,49 Rawson, Sir Harry 32 Redman, Cecelia 23,26 Redman, John 2,6,8 Redman, Mary 2,8 Redman, Mary jr 23 Redman, Robert H.B. 8,23 Redman, W illiam 8,19 Redman Estate 33 Redman Street 17 Regan, Andrew 9 Religious services 9,10 Renton, Mr 42 Residential flats 52 Richardson, Thomas Smith 24,26,27 Riley, Doctor Spencer B 37 Ring, Dan 4 Rising Sun Inn 9,15 River Street 47 Roberts, Thomas 3-5 Rosedale 16-18,24,26,30,31 Rotary Club of Campsie 52,53 Rotary Community Centre 52 Rowan, John 53 Royal Pictures 36 Rudd, Constable Reggie 35,36 Rudd Park 35 Rudduck, Joseph Samuel 29 Rugby League 33 Ryan, John 6 St Anthony’s Church, Canterbury 37 St Clair Farm 8 St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church 13 St George Building Society 47 St George Hotel 46 St James Church 44 St M el’s Catholic Church 44,52 St Paul’s Church of England 13,35 St Peters to Liverpool Loop Line 19,21,26 St Phillip’s Uniting Church 33,43,52 St Thomas’s Church of England 9 Salvation Army Corps, Campsie 37,52 Sandross, Mr 32 Sanitary depot 34 Scahill Street 37,44 Schofield, R.J. 49 Schools 9,13,20,35 Scott, Hugh 9,19 Scott, Robert 9,19 Second Avenue 30,53,55,56 Selfridges Store 42 Seventh Avenue 32 Sewerage service 34 Seymour Street 46 Shady Waterholes 13,15,19 Shakespeare Street 31,33,56 Sharp, John Campbell 22 Sharp Street 44 Sharpe, Albert 15 Shearer, Mr 32 Sheedy, James 9 Sheppeard, Robert 15

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Shortus, Albert 19 Silver Park Estate 21,26 Simpson (Grocer) 42 Sisters of St Joseph 38 Sixth Avenue 52 Slater, John 36 Slaughterhouses 13,15,31 Sly-grog shops 6,8 Small, H.C. 40 Smith, E.H. 40 Smith, "G obba” 42 Smith, Mrs R.W. 31 Smith family 45 Snape, Mrs. 42 Solomon, R.W. 35 South Parade 31-33,42,44-46 Sproule, John 15 Stanley Street 32 Star newspaper 51 State Building Society 47 State Emergency Services 56 Station House 42,45 Stephen, Francis 6 Stewart, W illiam Duncan 13 Stone, Mrs A 43 Stone, J.C. 24 Stoneless Bay 6,8,14,23,53 Street lighting 28,40 Strongman, Mr 17 Stuart, E 46 Styles, John 3-5 Sudbury 3,8 Sugar Loaf Inn 9 Sugarworks 9,11 Sugar Works Inn 9 Swanton, John 15 Swyny, Henry George 16,17 Sydenham-Bankstown District Cooperative Building Society 47 Sydney County Council 42,47 Sydney Deposit Bank 24,26,27 Sydney Sixpenny Store 43 Tant’s boot shop 31 Tedbury 2 Telegraph Office 33 Telephone 34 Telephone Exchange 46 Tempe (dredge) 44 Tempe to East Hills Railway 44 Templeton, Mrs 31 Terminating Building Societies 47 Thompson, Joseph 20 Thorn, Mr 32 Thorncraft, H.R. 46,53 Thorncraft House 46,53 Thorncraft Parade 53 Thorp, Joshua 13 Tramway 24,33,43,44,46,50 Transport 16,32 Tree Store 17 Trees 1 Treleaven, Richard Amos (Dick) 35,44,52 Treleaven’s Removals 35,44,52 Troy, Thomas 10 Troy Street 37 Troy’s Estate 37 Truscott, Mrs 30 Tucker and Co 13 Unara Street 32 Ursuline Convent, Ashbury 13 Vegetation 1 Vietnamese 54 Viking Street 44,46,55 Wade Street 37 Walker, Rev John 31 Walsh, James 9 Wap Hap 16 Ward, Robert 15 Water supply 23,28 Wesleyan Church, Campsie 30,32 Wesleyan Church, Canterbury 9 Wesleyan Church, Moorfields 10,13 Western Suburbs Australian Football Club 51 Western Suburbs Cottage Hospital 37 Western Suburbs Permanent Building Society 47 Wickens, A. 39,41 W ildflowers 1 W ildlife 1 W ilkinson, A.J. 39 W illiam Street 44 W illiam Street Progress and Tramway Extension League 44 Williams, Allan 13 Wilson, James Augustus 35,39 W indsor Avenue 17 W onga Street 49 Wood, Nancy 49 Woods, Doctor 37 Woolcott, W illiam 11,13 World War I 38,39 World War II 49 W right, Joseph 33

Cam psie and Croydon Park have undergone many changes since the tim e of the Aborigines to become the multicultural suburbs of today. For most of the nineteenth century, the district consisted of small farms. Suburban developm ent began in Croydon Park late in the century, and accelerated with the construction of the Enfield tram line in 1891. Although the Sydenham to Belmore railway line was opened in 1895, econom ic depression delayed major developm ent in Campsie for another 10 years. By the 1920s, the housing, shops, cultural and sporting facilities, and services, had been firm ly established and the suburbs we know today are recognisable.

Growth has continued since then, and the suburbs have evolved to become the homes of a large ethnic population. This book describes the area before the com ing of the white man, and details the changes since that time.

The authors are the two Vice-Presidents of the Canterbury and District Historical Society, each has undertaken considerable research into the local history of the district and each has published many articles on aspects of the area’s history. Lesley Muir is a librarian at the Sydney College of Advanced Education, is an historical geographer, and contributed the chapter “ Public Spending and Private Property: The lllawarra Line C abal” in the recently published “ Sydney: City of S uburbs” . She has also written “ The History of Cooks R iver” and “ T h ey’re Racing at C anterbury” ; she has lived in the same house in the M unicipality of C anterbury all her life. Brian Madden was form erly a tertiary education adm inistrator, and is the author of “ Tempe — East Hills Railway” , “ The History of the Suburb of H urstville” , and “ The Background to the Townson Grants in the St. George A rea” ; he has lived in the M unicipality of C anterbury for over fifty years at four different addresses.

Both authors have academ ic qualifications.

To mark the Bicentenary of w hite settlem ent in Australia, C anterbury Municipal Council comm issioned the w riting of histories of the suburbs of the Municipality.

The series com plem ents “ Change and C hallenge” , a History of the M unicipality of Canterbury, NSW, by F.A. Larcombe, which was published in 1979 at the time of the Centenary of the Municipality.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Treleaven’s Removals, Campsie, during W orld W ar I (Courtesy A.G. Treleaven) National Library of Australia Card No.and ISBN 0 9595654 1 8