Original Historical Markers Preview

James Oatley's Grave

James Oatley, a skilled clockmaker rewarded by Governor Macquarie for his craftsmanship, was granted 175 acres along Wolli Creek at Kingsgrove. He later purchased an adjoining 80 acres fronting King George’s Road, which included the Snugsborough estate. Oatley also received 300 acres on the Georges River—land that would eventually lend its name to the suburb of Oatley.In the 1830s, a simple slab house stood on the property, remaining until the early 1900s. After Oatley’s time, the estate passed to Thomas Walker and W.G. Judd, who renamed it “The Meadows.” The land saw many uses: a rough racecourse was marked out, and the surrounding bush hosted cockfighting, bulldog fights, and two-up schools. Farming ventures followed, with tomatoes and sheep among the early experiments.When James Oatley died on 8 October 1839, he was buried on his Snugsborough farm, about fifty yards from the homestead, his grave enclosed by a paling fence. Decades later, in 1925, his headstone was discovered lying on the Moorefield Estate and now resides in the Hurstville Historical Society Museum—a tangible link to the area’s rich past.

Lugarno Ferry

A punt service operated intermittently at Lugarno from 1843, but only began a more reliable service in 1887. From 1907, it was the responsibility of Hurstville Council, but maintenance and upkeep of the service took more money than the punt ever made in tolls.From 1919 onwards, there were several incidents when the punt cable snapped or its winding gear broke down. Sutherland Council began to share the cost of upkeep in 1922. There were long queues of buggies and other horse-drawn vehicles, and an increasing number of motor vehicles, waiting sometimes up to five hours to cross. The punt as seen above could handle a maximum of four vehicles per crossing. A replacement which operated from 1928 onwards could accommodate six vehicles, but was no more reliable than the previous punt.Mr W Matthei recalled a typical trip on the punt in the 1930s:“If you happened to be the only car, you stopped alongside the bell mounted on a post, which was to summon the ferry from the opposite bank.We’d watch the ferry approach, hear the motor idle down and the ferry glide into the bank, the ramp scraping as it docked with water scooped up draining off each side.You waited while the passengers walked off and the ferry master uncoupled the gates of the ferry and signalled the drivers to disembark.We eagerly awaited to be directed on, left or right, this determined if you were first off at the other side, a heavy lorry might be held back till last to balance the ferry best, those on board feeling the ferry lurch as each successive vehicle drove on.While the gates clanged shut behind us, we’d read the notices and warning signs on the ferry, and with the sound of the huge brake lever being released, the motor slewed the ferry to free it from the approach. As it gathered speed, the ferry drivers’ skill adjusted for the wind and tidal flow to achieve a steady passage across the river. The submerged steel ferry cables would gradually rise until they were suspended, dripping, clear above the water, often lifting jellyfish and seaweed out of the water, the former mostly overbalancing to topple back into the river, and the ribbon-weed collecting against the guide pulleys of the ferry.Sometimes the ferry-master had time to leave his controls to talk to us, returning at the critical moment to attend to the controls for a perfect docking manoeuvre.In those days every driver set about getting his car started before the ferry docked, as sometimes it was a lengthy procedure. Then the procession started, with the first vehicle off dictating the climb up the hill. This gravel road and Old Illawarra Road, extremely narrow, potholed and rilled from heavy rain became a dust bath of horrendous corrugations once you reached the top of the hill and traversed the Menai plateau.”The punt was replaced in 1961 by a sixteen-vehicle vessel, which carried out around 400 trips a week. With the opening of the Alford’s Point (Padstow Heights) bridge in 1973, there was little need for the service to continue. On 12 December 1974 the Lugarno ferry made its final crossing. Over the course of its existence the Lugarno punt service probably made over a million trips.

Peakhurst First Methodist Church

In 1856, a modest brick and weatherboard church was built on land generously donated by John Peake, the man whose name lives on in Peakhurst. Just a few years later, in 1862, the church became home to a Wesleyan school, serving the growing local community.When the Council of Education assumed responsibility for schooling, residents petitioned for a public school. Their request was granted in 1871, with Mr. Innes Scott appointed as the first teacher. For several years, classes continued in the Wesleyan Church until a new school building was completed near Bonds Road in 1877—a milestone in Peakhurst’s educational history.

Man of Kent Inn

The Man of Kent Inn was once described as a single-storey wooden building, fronted by a long verandah paved with flagstones and boasting a spacious cellar beneath. Thought to have stood at the corner of Morris Avenue and Kingsgrove Road, its location was later commemorated by a plaque installed by Hurstville Council in the 1970s. While one source claims the inn was demolished in the 1940s, this may confuse it with Smithson’s wine bar.The inn’s story begins with Evan Evans of Cooks River, who held the licence from 1 July 1848 to 1854 [1], and again from December 1855 onwards[2], under what was said to be a new licence. However, Evans had transferred the licence to Charles Claggett in September 1854 [3]. Claggett’s tenure was short-lived—his renewal application was refused after he allowed gambling on the premises and sold liquor on Sundays [4]. For these offences, he was fined the hefty sum of £10.The inn even became the setting for an inquest on 24 January 1856, investigating the accidental death of Mr Martin [5], who died while intoxicated. The last known mention of the Man of Kent in Trove dates to 1860, leaving unanswered questions: did the inn change its name, or did Evans turn to tobacco manufacturing?Local historian Will Carter, writing in The Propeller (13 February 1931, p.7), claimed the inn stood on Croydon Road near Ferguson’s nursery, though his account appears to confuse Evans with Smithson, mentioning a tobacco manufactory and wine bar. The connection is not entirely misplaced, Evans’ daughter married Thomas G. Smithson. Evans himself died on 7 March 1896 at his Croydon Road residence. Among the funeral notices was one from Smithson, acknowledging his late father-in-law. Evans was buried at the Wesleyan Cemetery, Moorefields, aged 72.In an earlier Propeller article (27 September 1929), Carter noted seeing Evans’ grave and remarked:“He kept a pub in Sharpe Street [ie Croydon Road, present-day Kingsgrove Road], Kingsgrove, whose dilapidated remnants may still be seen.”For those seeking a visual connection to this history, Ron Hill and Brian Madden’s Kingsgrove: The First Two Hundred Years (p.39) reproduces a photograph of Evan Evans. Sydney Morning Herald, 11 April 1848, p.3 Sydney Morning Herald, 5 December 1855, p.2 Sydney Morning Herald, 6 September 1854, p.3 Sydney Morning Herald, 4 May 1855, p.4 Sydney Morning Herald, 25 January 1856, p.5

Oatley Park Castle

During the Depression years, men were employed on the improvements of Oatley Park and the construction of roadways. The scenic road was constructed around the river foreshores. Later in the 1930s more work was provided when the pipeline was laid from Woronora Dam. These jobs were labour-intensive and did not require previous skills.It was reported in August 1935 that the Public Works Department had recently commenced the construction of a shelter shed at Oatley Park but that the work had been left unfinished. Alderman Mallard commented that the shed resembled a ruined English castle, and noted that the work should be completed before the commencement of the summer season. Council decided to ask the Department to do this work.[1] So it is likely that the ‘Castle’ was completed late in 1935.In November 1937 the lessee of the Oatley Park Baths Kiosk, as it was referred to, objected to a proposal of Hurstville Council to provide tables and seats in the shelter shed.[2] “The rowdy element who visited the park found the kiosk an excellent place for indulging in all sorts of rowdyism to the general inconvenience of the public.”[1] Propeller 1 August 1935, p3.[2] Hurstville Council Minutes of meeting held on 25 November 1937; Propeller 2 December 1937.

The Blue Post Inn

From the mid-1850s onwards, the Blue Post Hotel was the nucleus of the settlement at Gannons Forest which later became Hurstville. Initially it was a weatherboard structure built c1855 for carpenter Richard Fulljames who became its publican. It stood in Forest Road, opposite where the public school was built later. Outside the hotel was a hitching-post, painted blue, which gave the hotel its name. The blue hitching-post was still to be seen in the 1920s. Richard Fulljames died only three months after becoming licensee in 1857, and after his death, his widow Harriet married Samuel Lovelee, a veteran of Waterloo, who held the license to 1867. At the rear of the hotel was William Chappelow’s paddock, which was used as the local racecourse, although it was only incompletely cleared of tree-stumps.The Hotel is mentioned occasionally over the next half-century as the venue for coronial inquests on sudden deaths in the Georges River area, and as the place where electoral meetings were held, such as one in January 1858 where Michael Gannon introduced Thomas Holt as one of the candidates for the South Riding seat. Occasionally auctions were held at the hotel. The Forest Road Trust met there, and meetings took place relating to the incorporation of the municipality of Hurstville, and for the establishment of the public school, and the coming of the railway.Sadly, the hotel was where an inquest was held in 1874 into the death of Samuel Lovelee himself, who drowned in a waterhole near the hotel.In 1880, the hotel, “an old-established house”, was put up for sale by R Fulljames, presumably Richard Fulljames jr, (1848-1923), the son of Richard and Harriet.The first election of aldermen to Hurstville Council on 18 June 1887 was held at the Blue Post Hotel.One local recalled the hotel as it was in the 1900s: “Every Friday night there was nothing but carts there, as it was market day, and there were three horse-troughs there. Mr Joe Parsons told me his father used to tie his horse up at the hitching-post and give him a glass of beer.” Quoits were played at the back of the hotel, and pigeon-shooting matches sometimes took place. A nine-pins bowling alley was also located at the back.At some point Tooth and Co became owners of the hotel; in October 1918 the brewery applied to bring under the Real Property Act the land on which the Blue Post Hotel stood, ‘being part Lot 12 of the Gannons Forest Estate’.Extensive improvements were made to the hotel in early 1921, to designs by the architects Copeman and Lamont. Our photo of the hotel taken in circa 1925 shows the date “1921” in a shield on the building’s pediment. George Daniels Hart, the licensee at this time, took over in August 1921, but had his share of difficulties. On Christmas Eve 1923, he found that three fifteen-gallon kegs of beer had been stolen from the parlour - two men were subsequently arrested and fined £1 apiece. On 20 November 1925, George was assaulted when he answered the door of the hotel to an angry patron who had been barred earlier in the day. His assailant was heavily fined.In April 1925 George’s wife Marie died at the hotel, leaving him with two young boys. One of her sisters was married to Samuel Wallington, licensee of the Carlton Royal Hotel, and Samuel took over the license of the Blue Post Hotel from George Hart in March 1926[1].The following year, Samuel Wallington transferred the license to his new hotel, the White Horse, adjacent to the Propeller office, opposite the railway bridge. On the Blue Post’s closing, the entire contents of the hotel were offered at auction in July 1927. It was then possibly run as a boarding house for a time, and survived in one capacity or another until 1962, when it was demolished.An archaeological excavation of the site was carried out in 1990, and a number of artefacts were unearthed from the cellars.[1] Propeller 19 March 1926, p3.

Granny MacMahon's Tree

Grannie MacMahon’s Tree. Binder Reserve, Regan Street, Hurstville. This is a Port Jackson fig tree planted about 1890 in memory of a younger member of the MacMahon family. Mrs MacMahon used to conduct Sunday School under its shade. At one time it was totally enclosed by a metal railing with a plaque on the tree, but these have disappeared. [Historical marker no 7]In the 1970s, a nearby home-owner, Ivy Tudor stated: “An early resident of Patrick Street, Mrs Pearse, told me that when she and a son of the MacMahon family were about seven years old they each held a branch of the Moreton Bay fig tree while adults filled in the soil and planted it. Mrs Pearse believed that the land was donated in memory of that son, who died aged 21.”[1]The Mrs Pearse referred to was likely Mrs Margaret Pearse of Patrick Street, who died in 1950 aged 85. She would have been born circa 1865, which would suggest that the tree may have been planted as early as circa 1872 – fifteen years before the foundation of Hurstville as a municipality. One of Patrick MacMahon’s nine children, John Stephan MacMahon, born in 1863, was of a similar age, and may be the boy referred to who held the tree with her when it was planted. He died in 1887, and it may that it was in his memory that the land for the reserve was donated.[1] Information provided to Hurstville Council circa 1970s by Ivy Tudor (nee Vaughan), whose house at 3 Thomond Street looks onto the reserve.

MacMahons Moyarta Estate

Standing proudly on MacMahon Street, the Hurstville Civic Centre has been at the heart of local government since its grand opening in 1962 by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Eric Woodward. Today, it houses Council offices and three public halls, continuing its role as a hub for civic life.But this site has a much deeper story. Long before the Civic Centre, it was home to Moyarta, the residence of Patrick MacMahon, a prominent landowner whose holdings stretched between Dora and Patrick Streets. His estate, later subdivided as the Dalcassia Estate, was sold off between 1884 and 1936. Even now, the surrounding cross-streets carry the MacMahon family name, a lasting tribute to its early roots.The municipality of Hurstville itself was proclaimed on 28 March 1887, when the population was just 1,050. In those early days, Council meetings were modest affairs, held first in a private home on Forest Road, then in a rented shop, and later in other temporary premises. By 1890, Council had purchased a building on the corner of Forest Road and MacMahon Street, originally intended to be a hotel, though its licence was never approved.Growth continued, and in 1913 Council acquired the old Fire Station site at MacMahon and Dora Streets, constructing new chambers that served until 1930. These were replaced by another building on the same site, which remained in use until the Civic Centre opened in 1962. That earlier building was eventually demolished in 1974 to make way for Hurstville House, a commercial development.

St. Joseph's Convent

Rostrov was built as a large house for John Sproule in circa 1886. Sproule, of Irish descent, settled in the Belmore area in 1877, later becoming the first mayor of Canterbury, and was also Mayor of Hurstville on several occasions. Rostrov was later the home of a Doctor Quinn and became St. Joseph's Convent when he agreed to sell the property to the Catholic Church in 1935 as a home for the nuns of St. Declan's Parish. The building remains in good order and retains its Victorian detailing, verandahs, chimneys and joinery.See 'Heritage Register', Hurstville Historical Society, Hurstville, NSW, 1986, item 49.The convent narrowly escaped being burned down on 23 October 1920, when burning curtains were extinguished.[1][1] Propeller 29 October 1920, p5.

Bayside Drive, Lugarno

On the eastern side of Lugarno, three families – Heinrich, Chislett and Matthei - settled in the late 1890s and early 1900s. The Heinrich home, built in the 1890s, is located at the corner of Woodcliffe Parade. Surrounding it, they had fifty acres on which they had an orchard, gardens, rockeries, tennis court and summer house. When they needed contact with the outside world they would travel by launch across the river to the railway station at Como. The Chislett family grew flowers which were taken to Como for transport to city florists. The Matthei family home was built in 1910. They became fishermen and oyster farmers and took fishing parties up the river. These families had their own private beaches, now in the reserve off Bayside Drive, where there are the remains of the wells, stone steps and paths to the water. Aboriginal middens on the shores were a source of shells which in the early days of the colony were burnt in lime kilns to produce lime for the buildings of Sydney. A walkway in the reserve connects with Gannon’s Park.

Beatty Street Reserve

Beatty Street Reserve was formerly the site of a quarry. It was used as a swimming hole in the 1930s and 40s, until it was filled in by Hurstville Council following two drowning tragedies.Mortdale Quarry was operated by John Joseph Hannon of Forest Road, Peakhurst from WWI onwards. The quarry supplied ballast, concrete stone, chippings, filling and soil. References to the quarry are found in the Propeller from 1917-28. In 1927 Hannon offered to supply a quantity of chippings from his quarry to Hurstville Council at nominal cost. This may have been when the quarry’s use was coming to an end. The quarry appears to have been worked out by circa 1928.By the mid-1930s, the quarry was disused, and had become an unofficial swimming hole for local children. Eight year old Bertie Gale of Jersey Avenue drowned in the quarry on 28 August 1935. It took police three hours, using a makeshift raft, to locate the body in the deepest part of the swimming hole. The City Coroner instructed Hurstville Council to have the quarry enclosed, as it was a danger to children in its unfenced state.[1]Inevitably, however, whatever fencing was erected proved ineffective. In 1944 a 12-year old boy, Edward Forwood of Pitt Street, Mortdale, drowned in Hannon’s quarry.[2] Mrs Bennett, who lived nearby dived in fully clothed to try to save the boy but could not locate him; Sergeant Brown of Hurstville police arrived and finally recovered the body. Hurstville Council forwarded Mrs Bennett’s name to the Royal Humane Society for consideration for a bravery award. The Council instructed its inspector to have the quarry pumped out, as it was useless to fence off the swimming hole.[3]The historical marker [no 12] has an incorrect spelling of Beatty Street.[1] Propeller 12 September 1935, p7. 29 August 1935, p8.[2] Sydney Morning Herald 25 January 1944, p7.[3] Propeller 10 February 1944, p4.

Pickering Park

In July 1956, Hurstville Council agreed to the request of Alderman Mallard ‘that the Reserve between Peace Avenue and Isaac Street be named "Pickering Playground", to perpetuate the name of old and respected pioneer residents of that vicinity'. In November of the same year, Alderman Mallard sought the installation of a guard for the fig tree at the reserve, 'explaining that this particular tree was 109 years old' and providing information on the history of the Pickering family.[1]Notification dated November 1956 proclaiming the transfer of ownership of a portion of land at the intersection of Isaac Street and Peace Avenue Peakhurst from the Housing Commission of NSW to Hurstville Municipal Council was published in September 1957. The land was dedicated as a reserve for public recreation to be vested in Hurstville Council[2].Hurstville Council subsequently resolved to name the playground Pickering Park and prominently display a sign at the site to that effect[3].The fig tree is listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 and was previously listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 2012. On the death in 1975 of Sidney Leslie Coleborne, born Oatley 1895, who served at Gallipoli. it was stated that his wife’s great-grandmother Mary Ann Pickering, the wife of Gowan Pickering, planted the fig tree in Pickering Park in 1823 when the Pickerings arrived in the area. It was a gift from Lady Macquarie; Mrs Pickering had worked at Government House at Parramatta. The tree is stated to be still in situ – if still there, it will be 200 next year.[4][1] Minutes, Volume 1956, 'Naming of Pickering Playground', Hurstville Council Meeting, 5 July 1956 & 'Pickering Reserve – Preservation of Fig Tree', Hurstville Council Meeting, 1 November 1956, Local Studies Collection, Georges River Libraries.[2] Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW: 1901-2001), 6 September 1957 [Issue No. 102], p.2847 & Department of the Valuer General, NSW, 'Valuation Lists, Peakhurst', 1954, Local Studies Collection, Georges River Libraries.[3] Minutes, Volume 1964, minute 451, Hurstville Council Meeting, 2 April 1964, Local Studies Collection, Georges River Libraries.[4] St George Leader 23 April 1975.

Miss Pearce's Post Office Store

Residents of Peakhurst first petitioned for a Post Office in March 1883, but were unsuccessful. They asked again in 1885, pointing out that a railway to Hurstville had recently been opened. A deputation waited on the Postmaster-General, headed by Mr Henry Woodward. Fifteen residents offered to lodge a guarantee against any loss incurred in the first twelve months. They were: Henry Woodward, Henry Lye, Robert Newell, Robert Clisdell, William A Crawford, Dawson Bloe, William Staff, E P Simpson, Alexander Nicholson, Jacob Peake, James Peake, Isaac Peake, W Corbett senior, William Corbett junior and Sydney Want.A receiving office in charge of Mrs Hannah Nicholson was approved. Her office opened as a post office on 9 November 1885. Her salary was £10 per annum. William Staff carried the mails from Peakhurst and the Hurstville Post Office for £30 per annum. The office moved to the store of Richard Pearce who became postmaster from 19 October 1892, on an increased salary of £12 per annum. Robert Pearce, his brother, took over the office on 3 February 1902.[1] A telephone was installed on 20 March 1909, making it possible to send and receive telegrams. In 1911 Robert Pearce’s daughter took over as postmistress.[2]Letter delivery from Peakhurst Post Office commenced in 1928.[3]The marker is located on the pavement between no 834 Forest Road and the Metro filling station on the corner with Pearce Avenue.[1] He died in 1918; Propellor 9 August 1918 has obituary.[2] Photo of her in Sun 28 December 1941, with volunteer postwomen.[3] St George Call 27 January 1928, p2.

Mortdale Open-Air Cinema

This photo from our collection (GRLS 19-0197) shows a carnival parade in Morts Road, Mortdale a hundred years ago. The parade was part of a weekend of carnival and sports held on 24-26 January 1920, to raise funds for the building of Mortdale Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. The event was described in the Propeller newspaper on 6 February. There were seven Queens of the Carnival in the ‘monster procession’ held on 26 January, and two of the carnival wagons can be seen in the photo, the nearer one featuring bearded ‘women’, but there’s no sign of a Queen. Children in fancy dress march along to the beat of the brass band.Note the horse-trough, patronised by a couple of horses, and a cow in the shade of the open-air picture theatre. How soothing to watch a silent movie to the sound of a cow chewing the cud. Reminders of the recent electoral campaign held in December have been graffitied onto the wall of the theatre by a Labour enthusiast – ‘Donavon’ was Patrick C Donovan, who contested the State Election, and ‘Sheile’s was Bertie Sheiles, unsuccessful candidate for the Federal seat of Illawarra.The sports took place on Judd’s Paddock (Mr Judd being the owner of the Brickworks, and Mortdale’s biggest employer), and featured races ‘from tiny tots to old buffers’. Prizes were awarded for the best turn-out, and Miss Saltwell of the Avenue Hotel won a prize for her tableau of ‘Digger’s First Aid’.The open-air cinema was located in the vicinity of present-day 60 Morts Road, opposite the Oxford Street exit. The horses are turning right into Martin Place. The front fence of the old St Peter’s Church of England can be seen on the right of the photo.The Carnival was a success and proceeds allowed the Mortdale Memorial Hall Committee to look at purchasing a site in The Avenue, although the hall, when it did open six years later, was to be at its present site in Macquarie Place.

Robin Hood and Little John Inn

The Robin Hood and Little John Inn was in the Beverly Hills area, on Stoney Creek Road near Gloucester Road. From 1855 it was licensed to Stephen Bown.[1] Bown had applied for a licence in March 1854 for a house to be called the Farmer’s Retreat, at Kingsgrove, Cook’s River. “The house was admitted to be unquestionable” but the licence was refused because it was located in the bush, a mile from the nearest road.[2] However it is possible that these were the same premises which were then licensed the following year as the Robin Hood and Little John Inn. Bown continued to hold the license in 1859.[3] This inn was built to meet the needs of the timber getters and charcoal burners of the forests of St George.[1] Sydney Morning Herald 30 April 1855, p5.[2] Sydney Morning Herald 8 March 1854, p5.[3] Sydney Morning Herald 19 April 1859, p3.

Mrs Evan's Post Office Store

Catherine Evans was born Catherine Hopkins in Wales on 10 August 1852.[1] She died on her 93rd birthday in 1945.She and her husband William David Evans came to Belmore Road, Dumbleton (now Beverly Hills) in 1899, and brought their house with them from Jilliby, NSW to Dumbleton.William died in 1908 and Catherine opened a general store at Dumbleton; there is a photo of it in National Archives collection. She became Dumbleton’s first receiving officer in 1909 and post-mistress in 1917. She eventually sold the building. She resided the rest of her life in the St George area. She had 45 great-grandchildren.[1] Propeller 2 August 1945, p1.

Forest Road

The road had officially been the Illawarra Road which was to link that region with Sydney, but was widely known as Gannon's Forest Road up until the 1880s when it became Forest Road. [1]Michael Gannon purchased 1800 acres of land in 1850, and this land, much of it comprising contemporary Hurstville, was known as Gannon's Forest. [2]

Olds Park

Olds Park was named in honour of Alderman Oliver Arnold Olds by Hurstville Councillors at a Council meeting in September 1953. [1]Alderman Olds served on Hurstville Council for a number of terms throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He served as Hurstville Mayor from 6 December 1945 to 4 December 1948. [2]Hurstville Council was notified in August 1947 by the Public Works Department of its success in the resumption of land opposite Morts Road which was to become Olds Park. [3]A Hurstville Council Engineer's report in 1951 advocated the establishment of the works depot at the Olds Park site. [4] Negotiations between Hurstville Council and St.George Australian Rules Club in 1965 involved a lease of the No. 1 ground for a period of 21 years. Council imposed a number of conditions on the lease agreement including public access to the ground and the club’s contribution to maintenance costs. [5]Hurstville Council resolved to give in principle agreement to a proposal to re-develop the park in 1977. The proposal of the Lions Club of Hurstville involved the fencing of the No. 1 oval and the construction of a cycle track which would be the subject of an application to the Minister of Local Government for dollar for dollar funding for the project. [6]A skateboard ramp was to be completed in the park in December 1986 and a smaller ramp installed in February 1987.[7] The skate site was redeveloped in 2023.

Victorian villa “Ithiel” and setting

Victorian villa “Ithiel” and setting55 Inverness AvenueLot X, DP 393801Ithiel is a large two-storey Victoria Mansion designed by the architect James S Hannan, possibly built by local builder John Sproule. James S Hannan, also designed the main pavilion and other buildings at the old showground in Moore Park, c1887.It was built for Daniel James, on lot 5 of section 4 of the Penshurst Park Estate which he had purchased on 23 June 1887. James was a tailor in Oxford Street; he retired in 1890, aged 52.Ithiel is a Biblical reference meaning ‘He who understands the signs’ or ‘God is with me’[1].James died in 1906 and the house was sold to A G Crump in 1910. In 1913 it was purchased by Sydney Blanton, a clothing merchant. He employed two live-in gardeners, a live-in maid, a laundress and a music teacher.In 1928 the land around Ithiel was subdivided, leaving one acre 12¾ perches surrounding the house. An auction notice in November 1934 gave a description of the house.[2] It was a deceased estate. The house was double-brick, with hall, six bedrooms, lounge, dining room, billiard room, kitchen, laundry and offices.Further subdivision took place in 1954 and 1955. The house was converted to four flats in 1954/55. The two ground floor flats were converted into one in 1978.[3] Much of its Victorian detailing had been lost by 1983, for example the first floor balcony and garden, but some restoration subsequently took place.See A Photographic Guide to Architecturally and Historically Significant Buildings in the Municipality of Hurstville, 1983, item no 78.See Stacy, Miriam, Ithiel, Penshurst Park Estate, NSW, a conservation and restoration report. BArch thesis, University of Sydney, 1985. Some of the illustrations she gathered in compiling this publication are in Hurstville compactus file-boxes, uncatalogued [noted 2021].It is listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 and was previously listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 2012.[1] Proverbs, 30:1.[2] St George Call 2 November 1934, p2[3] Stacey, Miriam, Ithiel, Penshurst Park Estate, BArch thesis University of Sydney 1985.

Peakhurst Public School

Peakhurst Public School was established in 1871. The first teacher, Mr Innes Scott, was appointed on 1 September 1871, and the local patrons were J Peake and W Corbett. [1] It became a full public school on 13 October 1873. The enrolment was 47.At first the school met in the Wesleyan chapel, but in February 1877 a new school was built on a site given to the Council of Education by Innes Scott on the corner of Bonds Road. It was a sandstone building, erected by Messrs Rose, Paterson & Wicks. William Crawford succeeded Scott in 1884. There is a photo of him with the class of 1891 in the centenary booklet, p13. See also photo GRLS22-108.A classroom was added to the building in 1887.Joseph Miller became Headmaster in March 1897 and stayed until 1904.In 1923 it was decided to build a new school, on the present site on Bonds Road, initially covering three acres. The foundation stone of the new school was laid on 14 September 1928. One of the stone steps from the old school was used as the foundation stone, bearing the inscription ‘AD1876’. The new school building was opened on 6 April 1929 by Inspector of Schools Mr McDowell.[2] It cost some £10,000 to erect. Tanner and Middleton donated the flagpole. The headmaster was Joseph Woods; two of his predecessors, Mr Gettens and Major Gallagher attended the opening. Mr Olds was the president of the Peakhurst Parents’ and Citizens’ Association.Selwyn Hinder was principal from 1935 to 1949; he died in 1951 aged 65.[3] He was active in the community and was chairman of St George Hospital 1942-43.In 1953 the school motto, ‘Honour and Labour’ was chosen.The Infants’ School was officially opened on 15 August 1955 by R J Heffron, MLA.A commemorative booklet, Centenary 1871-1971 Peakhurst Public School was published by the Peakhurst P&C Association. It lists the headmasters up to the appointment of Jack Deasey in 1969. The school marked its centenary with a reunion of former pupils on 25 September 1971.[4]The school celebrated its 125th anniversary on 14 September 1996.[5][1] Centenary 1871-1971 Peakhurst Public School, p9.[2] Propeller 12 April 1929, p1.[3] Propeller 10 May 1951, p1.[4] St George Leader 22 September 1971.[5] St George Leader 10 September 1996.

Oatley Park and Baths

Oatley Park and Baths1 Dame Mary Gilmour RoadLot 13, DP 752056; Lot 542, DP 727277In August 1928, Hurstville Council Engineer J D Webster furnished a report to Council detailing proposals for an ‘Oatley Park Improvement Scheme’. Having inspected the park in the company of Hurstville Oval curator, L Dunbar, Mr Webster advanced a number of measures seeking to improve ‘this natural asset’ in the belief that the park would be likely to attract new residents to the area.[1]Among the recommendations included in Mr Webster’s report were proposals for the construction of a one-way drive through the park, picnic grounds and car parking facilities, installation of ornamental gates at the park’s entrance, development of walking tracks to facilitate access to a number of natural look-outs, improving pedestrian access between the pier and dressing sheds at the water line and the construction of a ‘reinforced concrete Beach House’ including a caretaker’s residence, dressing sheds, refreshment shop and ‘make use of roof for seating accommodation etc.’ Mr Webster believe the beach house ‘would form a great attraction and would be an asset for all time’.[2]Council resolved to adopt the Engineer’s report embracing the improvement scheme, specifying that certain elements of the proposal be undertaken ‘as early as possible’. Council determined that the construction of Oatley Park Road from Gungah Bay Road and a series of accompanying improvements, the clearing of areas for parking and picnic grounds, the establishment of secondary paths providing access to the river and the construction of a stone wall at the existing pier so as to improve pedestrian access to the shoreline at high tide were to be included in the initial works at the park.[3]Reports emerged in the spring of 1930 detailing the progress of the works being undertaken on behalf of Hurstville Council at Oatley Park. Approximately £3000 was said to be being spent in a ‘beautification scheme and roadways’ designed to follow the natural curvature of the Georges River shoreline and offering a circuitous thoroughfare through the park. Two look-outs were being constructed and the development in the vicinity of the ‘bathing’ area included an access road, car parking areas, picnic grounds and associated facilities and garden beds.[4]The ‘newly completed’ Park Road and a Casualty Room of the St George-Sutherland Shire Ambulance at Oatley Park were each officially opened at a ceremony in January 1931. Hurstville Council was reported to have had the road constructed ‘out of the £100 000 loan fund’. A report on the proceedings noted the joint efforts of Mortdale Parents and Citizens’ Association and Hurstville Council in the establishment of the baths at Sandy Beach and anticipated the ‘rugged rock frontage’ in the vicinity of the baths would be ‘replaced with a fine promenade’. [5]According to Mr L K Stevens in an article published in a newsletter of the Hurstville Historical Society in June 1975, the road within the park was constructed with the approval of the Department of Public Works, under the supervision of the department’s engineers and gangers.[6] Mr Stevens claims these works were undertaken during the Depression era period of 1929-1932, using the labour of the unemployed at the time.[7] Mr Stevens also states that Mr Jim Lawrence, a ganger and stonemason employed on the road construction project, undertook the construction of the ‘kiosk and castellated lookout’ at this time.[8]Correspondence to Hurstville Council from the Oatley West Progress Association tabled at Council meeting in January 1931 suggested the construction of a ‘shelter shed’ at Oatley Park on land ‘at the rear of the ladies’ dressing sheds’. The association recommended the structure should incorporate a shelter shed and shop.[9] The correspondence of Mr W L Packenham tabled at the same meeting, requested consideration for the inclusion of a ‘small room’ in the shed for Mr Packenham to use as a ‘refreshment room’. Council resolved to refer the matter to ‘the Engineer and Inspector for report’. [10]The subsequent report prepared by Council Engineer J D Webster and Health Inspector H Doig, expressed a difficulty in determining the requisite size of the proposed shelter shed, however, a structure of 40 feet by 25 feet, anticipated to seat approximately 100 people was recommended.[11] The report considered three types of structure, namely one of brick piers with wooden roof trusses and iron roof, a similar building with steel roof trusses and iron roof, and a stone structure ‘built from the sandstone available on the ground’ with a ‘sloping galvanised iron roof on steel rails’ at an estimated overall cost of £350. [12] The report concluded the latter structure would provide the best shelter from ‘rain and storms’ and would offer the best resistance to fire. Messrs Webster and Doig anticipated the stone structure would feature a parapet which would partially conceal the roof and the three sides of the building facing the river would provide water views through ‘a series of open arches’.[13] The report contended that the stone structure would ‘have a more unique appearance’ among shelter sheds.[14] Council subsequently resolved to proceed with the construction of the stone shed and voted to make the necessary funds available to do so.[15]Hurstville Council resolved to apply to the Public Works Department to undertake the construction of a stone pavilion at Sandy Beach Park at a Council meeting in January 1935.[16] Council was to provide the ‘material’ for the structure which was to be used by cricketers and the public, with provision to be made for the storage of sports equipment.[17]In July 1935, Council resolved to write to the Public Works Department ‘enquiring when it proposes completing the erection of the shelter shed at Oatley Park’.[18] A published report of a Hurstville Council meeting claimed the Public Works Department ‘recently’ commenced the construction of the shelter shed at Oatley Park, which at that point was incomplete.[19] Hurstville Council Alderman Mallard was cited in the report as claiming the unfinished structure ‘resembled an old English ruined castle’.[20]Hurstville Council was subsequently informed by way of correspondence from the Public Works Department that ‘sums cannot be made available by the Department for the completion of the Shelter Shed at Oatley Park’.[21]Council responded by resolving to obtain an estimate from the Engineer as to the cost of completion.[22] A report of proceedings at this meeting claimed Alderman Mallard stated that the original agreement specified Council would complete the construction of the shed.[23] The report also claimed Engineer Webster stated the walls of the structure had been constructed so as to allow the installation of a flat, reinforced concrete roof which could be used as a look-out.[24] The cost of this type of roof was said to be approximately £300.[25]Council’s subsequent response to the Engineer’s report on the proposed roof for the shelter shed was a resolution to proceed with the flat, reinforced concrete roof at an estimated cost of £350.[26] The Engineer’s report had considered the durability of the iron roof which was expected to exceed the cost of a tile alternative and would require ongoing painting maintenance.[27] The tile roof, considered by Engineer Webster to ‘have a better appearance’ than that of iron, was believed to be susceptible to the attacks of vandals.[28] The report concluded that the reinforced concrete roof would be ‘permanent, indestructible’, ‘require no maintenance’ and complement the ‘artistic scheme’ of the park.[29]A media report detailing Council’s decision claimed the ‘architectural appearance’ of the structure would be ‘spoilt’ if an iron or tile roof were constructed, and the flat roof offered the prospect of providing a ‘look-out over Oatley Park’.[30]Hurstville Council purchased a quantity of cement in December 1935, of which 193 bags costing £37/9/3- were allocated to ‘erect shed Oatley Park’.[31] Sheets of BRC reinforcements were also purchased at a cost of £57/4/-.[1] Minutes, Volume 1928, Engineer’s Report, Hurstville Council Meeting, 15 August 1928.[2] Ibid.[3] Minutes, Volume 1928, ‘Oatley Park Improvement Scheme’, Hurstville Council Meeting, 15 August 1928.[4] Propeller, 17 October 1930, p.4.[5] Propeller, 3 January 1931, p.6.[6] L K Stevens, Oatley Park, Hurstville Historical Newsletter, Vol.1, No.82, June 1975.[7] Ibid.[8] Ibid.[9] Minutes, Volume 1931, minute 160-1, correspondence, Hurstville Council Meeting, 29 January 1931.[10] Ibid.[11] Minutes, Volume 1931, minute 408, Engineer’s Report, Hurstville Council Meeting, 26 March 1931.[12] Ibid.[13] Ibid.[14] Ibid.[15] Minutes, Volume 1931, minute 447, Hurstville Council Meeting 26 March 1931.[16] Propeller, 17 January 1935, p.3.[17] Ibid.[18] Minutes, Volume 1935, ‘Completion of Shelter Shed-Oatley Park’, Hurstville Council Meeting, 25 July 1935.[19] Propeller, 1August 1935, p. 3.[20] Ibid.[21] Minutes, Volume 1935, ‘Erection of Shelter Shed-Oatley Park’, Hurstville Council Meeting, 5 September 1935.[22] Ibid.[23] Propeller, 12 September 1935, p.3.[24] Ibid.[25] Ibid.[26] Minutes, Volume 1935, ‘Reports, Oatley Park Shelter Shed’, Hurstville Council Meeting, 3 October 1935.[27] Ibid.[28] Ibid.[29] Ibid.[30] Propeller, 10 October 1935, p.8.[31] Hurstville Council, Voucher Book 1936, voucher nos 1936-21, 1936-30.

Peakhurst School of Arts

The Peakhurst Progress Association, formed in July 1908, saw as one of its aims the erection of a public meeting place. The Association applied for funding to the State Government, which agreed to supply a pound for every pound raised to erect a school of arts. Trustees were elected: Arthur B Cockburn, William C Bonner, Isaac Peake, Thomas G Bauman, Pierre Bonnet, John J Hannon and Nathaniel C Burcher.Tenders were called on 21 January 1909 to erect a school of arts on a block purchased from Mary Ann Caulfield, opposite the Wesleyan Chapel.[1] Plans were drawn up by Varney Parkes, MLA, who was an architect by profession. The front part of the building contained a library, kitchen and meeting room, and the rear contained a public hall in timber. The builder was H C Wynter.The foundation stone was laid on 20 March 1909 by Mrs Martha Peake, wife of Isaac Peake, and over 500 people attended.[2] No time was wasted in erecting the hall: the building was officially opened on 24 May 1909 (Empire Day) by Varney Parkes, MLA. Mr W E Johnson, MP also spoke.[3] It was the first School of Arts within the Hurstville Municipality.The first social held in the hall was on 16 June 1909.[4] The first General Meeting was held on 1 July 1909 to elect office-bearers. President was G D Frazer, and hon secretary N C Burcher.[5]A stone commemorating the opening was unveiled on 24 May 1998 by Joan Bloomfield and Jordan Minty; Mrs Bloomfield was a descendant of Isaac Peake, and Jordan was a descendant of W C Bonner, two of the original Trustees of the School of Arts.[6]Seven Trustees of Peakhurst School of Arts were appointed in 1997, by which time it was the last remaining School of Arts in Sydney’s southern suburbs to be administered independently.[7]A centenary celebration was held on 1 September 2009. Ellen Anderson, who had lived in Ogilvy Street since the 1920s was a guest of honour.The Mary Ann Caulfield Hall was originally built by Peakhurst and District Pigeon Club; it was refurbished by volunteers and reopened by Cr Beverley Giegerl on 21 March 1998.[1] St George Call 6 March 1909, 13 March 1909.[2] St George Call 27 March 1909.[3] St George Call 24 April 1909, 22 May 1909, 29 May 1909.[4] St George Call 19 June 1909.[5] St George Call 10 July 1909.[6] St George Leader 21 August 1998, p13.[7] Shaw, Brian, Peakhurst School of Arts, a firm foundation 1909, p21. The 1997 Trustees were Emma Yvonne Hardy, Bryson Wild, Brian Neil Shaw, Colin William Drane, Neil McDonald, Ronald Vincent Rider and Cyril Harcourt Watson.

St Michael's Roman Catholic Church

St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church is situated on Croydon Road on land originally transferred to the Catholic church from Michael Gannon in 1855. Its foundation stone was laid on 2 May 1885 by Cardinal Moran.[1] The church cost an estimated £660 to erect. The architects were Sheerin and Hennessy, who were also responsible for St Patrick’s Seminary at Manly. The first officiating priest was Rev Fr Peter Byrne. The building also did service as a school-house. On the same occasion Cardinal Moran blessed the foundation stone of the convent, to be known as St Mary Star of the Sea.10,000 bricks used in the construction were donated by Anthony Vincent of the Blue Post Inn, who had his own brick-yard.The foundation stone for a new church was laid on 3 May 1908 and was blessed by Cardinal Moran.[2] The new church was blessed on 16 May 1909 by Cardinal Moran. It could seat 425 people. Including furnishings the building cost £1,526 to construct.[3] Daily Telegraph 4 May 1885, p1. St George Call 9 May 1908, p4. St George Call 22 May 1909, p7. St George Call 25 July 1914, p7.

Penshurst Park

Penshurst Park, now a vibrant 5.4-hectare green space, almost became a housing estate in the 1880s. Surveyed for 43 allotments, the land’s low-lying, swampy nature made it unsuitable for homes. After a torrential rainstorm in 1907 turned the area into a quagmire, locals rallied for change. Their vision? A public park for Penshurst[1].D.J. Hatton recalls[2]:“The area between Belmore Road (later Dumbleton, now King Georges Road), Forest Road, Cambridge Street and Percival Street was once an open paddock dotted with dead gum trees and waterholes. Children crossed it daily, sometimes wading through flooded wooden bridges, and in dry spells, they played among skylarks’ nests.”By early 1907, a public meeting demanded government action. Newspapers championed the cause:“Parks are the lungs of a district… This site, near Penshurst Station, is ideal for cricket, football, tennis, and even an ornamental lake. With working bees and botanical experts, the community pledges to make it happen.”The campaign succeeded. On 15 April 1908, Penshurst Park was officially proclaimed—13 acres of future recreation space. Residents transformed the mosquito-ridden swamp into playing fields, a croquet club, and a children’s playground[2].Memories and Milestones 1920 Arbor Day: 180 trees planted in memory of soldiers[3]. 1920s: Edward Parker recalls stormwater drains and the local “tip,” notorious for jam tins, bottles, and smouldering fires[4]. 1930s: Baseball diamonds appeared; Dumbleton Baseball Club paid £5 annually for use[5][6]. 1937: Girl Guides planted trees for NSW’s 150th Anniversary[7]. 1940: Blackshaw Pavilion erected—later demolished in 2015[8]. WWII: Volunteer Defence Corps trained here, complete with anti-aircraft gun and searchlight[8].Hilda North fondly remembered catching tadpoles, climbing trees, and watching bakery horses roam free on weekends[9].Modern TransformationPenshurst Park’s evolution continued: 1977: Officially named by the Geographical Names Board. 2014: New canteen and amenities block opened[10]. 2019: Stage 1 of the Sporting Hub—Norm O’Neill Cricket Training Facility—launched[11]. 2020: Inclusive Adventure Playground opened, offering play for all ages and abilities[12]. Stage 2: Youth centre, 275-seat grandstand, synthetic sports field, and upgraded amenities followed, supported by a $1 million Commonwealth grant[12].Today, Penshurst Park boasts soccer pitches, cricket nets, netball courts, and community spaces— a true regional sporting hub for Georges River. From The Hurstville Story p179. Hatton, D J, Penshurst in Early Days, 1981, p19-20. Propeller 13 August 1920, p1. Parker, Edward, Some Recollections of the Municipality of Hurstville. Propeller 24 March 1933, p4. Propeller 26 March 1936, p1. The Stories I Could Tell, p175-176. Propeller 18 November 1937, p3. Parker, op cit. Hurstville City News December 2014 p5 St George Leader 27 September 2017 p6. Georges River Council press release 22 July 2020.

Hurstville Picture Palace

Hurstville Picture Palace was established in 1910 by the Garthon family (John Garthon 1859-1930 and sons Arthur 1884-1966 and John jr 1887-1966). It was the first true cinema in St George and was located on the corner of Cross Street and Crofts Avenue. [1] At the beginning, it showed silent movies, and at intermission Arthur Garthon would cycle to a cinema in Railway Parade, Kogarah and exchange reels. The Picture Palace initially had no roof, and entrance money was refunded if it rained.Hilda North (nee Cayford, born 1914) recalled: “My first movie was Pearls and Savages, produced by Captain Frank Hurley… If it rained we would have to scramble to the back of the theatre, which was under cover and stand for the remainder of the show. There was music at times played from a platform elevated at the side of the theatre.” [2]Inez Cunningham (nee McNicol) played piano accompaniment to silent movies at the open-air theatre. She recalled that if it rained people moved back to a small area under cover and she had the protection of being under part of the screen structure, so the piano played on. [3]Although originally developed as an open-air cinema, a permanent cover was installed during 1911 and 1912. [4] The Propeller noted in April 1913 that some smart boys had dug a tunnel under the enclosure of the Hurstville Picture Palace, covering the trapdoor with divots of turf, allowing them free entry “to see the latest freaks in cow-boy pictures.” [5]The photo above of Hurstville Picture Palace advertises the films 'Sudden Jim' and 'The Taint' which were among those screened at the Hurstville Picture Palace on Saturday 10 November and Monday 12 November 1917 respectively. [6] Possibly the gentlemen in the photo include John and Arthur Garthon. Davis, Pedr, The Hurstville Story p38. The Stories I Could Tell, p177. Pearls and Savages screened in April 1922 (Propeller 21 April 1922, p5). St George Leader 9 April 1980, ‘The melody lingers on’. Propeller 5 January 1912, p4 advert, ‘Now permanently covered in’. Propeller 11 April 1913, p3. Propeller 9 November 1917 p3.

Former Hurstville Police Station

In 1909, Hurstville Police Station was built at 33 MacMahon Street. It had a lockup-keeper’s residence, three cells, an exercise yard, a charge room and an officer’s room. By 1910 the Hurstville force consisted of six uniformed police and one plain clothes officer. In 1930 the residence was converted into a sergeants’ room, records room, exhibit room and meals room. In 1972, an interview and fingerprint room was built on the exercise yard. By the 1980s, the building was outgrown, and premises across the road were leased. In 1993, the police moved into the emergency services building in Ormonde Parade. At that point there were 64 general duties police, 30 highway patrol officers and five civilian staff. The old police station was sold in 1993, and demolished. A cast-iron air vent topped by a royal crown was salvaged and is in the Hurstville Museum collection.The Historical marker read:"HURSTVILLE POLICE STATIONThis building, erected in 1909, has been in continuous use as a police station since that date.The first policeman was appointed to the Hurstville district in 1882."The marker was located at the police station, which was demolished in 1998.

Hurstville Fire Station

Fire Station27 MacMahon StreetSP 58395The story of fire protection in Hurstville begins in 1897[1], when the town’s first fire station was built on the corner of MacMahon and Dora Streets. It was a bold civic undertaking, with a volunteer brigade of fourteen men, one manual engine, a single horse, and 700 feet of hose. The first Captain was Thomas Wallace and the engine-keeper was J Griffin. Members of the Brigade in August 1897 were: Alderman F G Thompson, J Burnett, J Garthon, W G Drew, J Angus, J M Smith, W Paul, C King, H Blasbalk, T Wallace, J H Donahoe, Fred Brown, T Kirk, J Griffin and R Farr (secretary).[3] The memorial stone was laid by J.H. Carruthers on 20 November 1897 [2], and the station officially opened on 27 January 1898 before a crowd of over 600 people. The day was marked by a spirited tug-of-war between brigades from Rockdale, Kogarah, and Hurstville, which Hurstville won [4], and a comical greasy pig chase that went awry when the pig ate all the grease while locked inside the station.[5]The original station, a two-storey brick building with a 30-foot lookout tower, was designed by W.J. Thompson and built by John Curry and George Lee for £293. Captain Thomas Wallace led the brigade, with J. Griffin as engine-keeper. The Brigade’s ‘baptism of fire’ occurred on 21 September 1898 when it was called out to a fire at a weatherboard cottage in Ethel Street, Carlton It arrived simultaneously with the Kogarah Brigade and ten minutes before the Rockdale Brigade, but despite the efforts of the combined hoses, the cottage was completely destroyed.[6] Despite their enthusiasm, the brigade often arrived too late to save weatherboard homes, but played a vital role in protecting neighbouring properties.

HADUFS Pharmacy

Hurstville and District United Friendly Society Dispensary 17 MacMahon Street, Hurstville Opened in 1915, the Hurstville and District United Friendly Society Dispensary was a vital institution in the early 20th-century healthcare landscape of southern Sydney. Designed by local architect Charles Halstead, the building is a fine example of Federation-Edwardian architecture, featuring face brickwork in stretcher bond, white-painted roughcast walling, a hipped tiled roof, and exposed rafters, all hallmarks of the Arts and Crafts movement that influenced Australian architecture during this period (NSW State Heritage Inventory). The dispensary was more than just a pharmacy. It housed a drug-dispensary for affordable prescriptions, a lodge room for meetings of affiliated Friendly Society lodges, a residence for the dispenser, who lived above the shop. The Friendly Society operated as a non-profit mutual aid organisation, where members paid a small annual subscription to access free or low-cost prescriptions. This model was especially crucial during times of crisis. During the 1919–1920 influenza epidemic, and again throughout the Great Depression, the dispensary played a central role in maintaining public health in the district (Hurstville & Rockdale Friendly Society Ltd Overview). By 1936, the Hurstville dispensary had grown to become the second-largest in New South Wales, with: 7,000 members Eight qualified chemists Branches in Mortdale, Bexley, and Earlwood The Mortdale and Bexley branches opened simultaneously on 30 June 1928, and Earlwood followed with new premises in 1939 (Jubilee History of the Municipality of Hurstville, p.110). However, the landscape of healthcare began to shift in the mid-20th century. In 1964, the Federal Government froze membership of Friendly Societies in preparation for national health reforms (Friendly Societies Dispensaries Enabling Act 1945). The introduction of Medicare in the early 1980s made the Friendly Society model unsustainable in its original form. The Hurstville Society continued to serve existing members but sold the business side of the dispensary, retaining ownership of the historic two-storey building. The building was listed on the Register of the National Estate (Database No. 100978) for its architectural and social significance, preserving its legacy as a symbol of community care and resilience (NSW State Heritage Inventory).

“Yarra-mundi” 75 Queens Road, Hurstville

Victorian house “Yarra-mundi” and remnant garden setting75 Queens RoadLot 3, DP 270404No 75 Queens Road stands on land purchased by Ann Elizabeth Sproule in 1895. Her husband John Sproule built the house in 1897 and it became the Sproule residence until 1904.[1] He was a Hurstville Alderman and served as Mayor in 1890, 1891 and 1897.Between 1904 and 1938 the property was tenanted by a succession of professional practitioners and clerics until it was sold to George Martin, becoming the Martin family home until 1981.[2]In 1981 efforts were made to save the house from demolition.[3] In the wake of controversy following a plan to demolish the house for home units, the property was acquired by Danebank Anglican School for Girls in 1981 to be used as a boarding house for students. In 1992 the school proposed to convert the house into a senior student study centre.[4]It is currently (2018) the House With No Steps, Hurstville, a provider of disability services.See A Photographic Guide to Architecturally and Historically Significant Buildings in the Municipality of Hurstville, 1983, item no 54.It includes many features of the Victorian era: slate roof, flat iron roof parapets, timber finials, bullnosed iron verandah roof, iron posts and brackets, rendered brickwork, quoins, sills, panels above verandah, eaves brackets and gables.See Hurstville Historical Heritage Register 1986 item 35.LTO DP 1595 Lots 167, 168, part 169. Torrens Title Vol 760 Fol 161, Vol 854 Fols 96 and 97, Vol 1162 Fol 10, Vol 3791 Fol 37.It is on Lot 3, DP 270404.It was advertised for sale in January 2004 as a five-bedroom home with marble fireplaces and 14 ft ceilings, for $995,000.[5]It is listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 and was previously listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 2012.The Historical Marker read:"75 QUEENS ROADBuilt in 1897 as a gentleman's home. The builder is thought to be John Sproule, Mayor of Hurstville Council 1890, 1891 and 1897."The marker was located on the wall near the entrance to the house.[1] Hurstville Historical Register, 1986, item 35.[2] Ibid.[3] Hurstville Historical Society Newsletter April 1981.[4] St George Leader 24 September 1992, p19.[5] St George Leader 13 January 2004, p40.

Four pairs of semi-detached Victorian cottages and settings

Four pairs of semi-detached Victorian cottages and settings33–47 Dora StreetLots 5–8, DP 237059; Lot 34, DP 836363; Lot 1, DP 794227Lining Dora Street with their distinctive charm, the eight single-storey, semi-detached cottages at numbers 33–47 form one of Hurstville’s most unique and evocative historic streetscapes. Built in 1895 for Henry Hicks Junior [1], these cottages were originally intended as workmen’s homes, a testament to the area’s rapid suburban growth and the demand for affordable, well-built housing in late Victorian Sydney.Architectural Features and Streetscape Value These cottages are classic examples of the Victorian terrace-type semi, a style that flourished in Sydney’s suburbs during the late 19th century. Key features include: Slate roofs that lend a sense of solidity and period character Narrow street frontages, typical of urban worker housing Bullnose verandah roofs Iron street balustrades and decorative lacework, adding a touch of elegance to the otherwise modest façades The design of each pair is perfectly symmetrical: the arrangement of door, window, and chimney on one side of the shared wall is mirrored on the other, creating a rhythmic and harmonious streetscape. This symmetry, combined with the repetition of architectural details, gives the group a strong visual identity and a sense of cohesion.History and Restoration When first documented in 1983, the cottages were described as “much-neglected,” but they have since been restored, preserving their essential Victorian character [2]. The group was classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) in 1987, recognising its heritage value and contribution to the local streetscape.The original 1895 Hurstville Council rates book records the first occupants: S Terret W Smithson F Austen James Burgess L Hartley with several cottages initially vacant. Heritage Recognition These cottages are listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021, and were previously listed under the Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 2012. Their preservation offers a rare glimpse into the everyday lives of Hurstville’s working-class residents at the turn of the 20th century.References: In 1893 the wife of Henry Hicks senior died at Hurstville. Henry Hicks junior (1849–1929) became an Alderman on Shellharbour Council. A Photographic Guide to Architecturally and Historically Significant Buildings in the Municipality of Hurstville, 1983, item no 40. See also: Land Titles Office DP 237059 Lots 5–8, Torrens Title, Vol 10934, Fol 156–163; Lot 34 DP 836363; Lot 1 DP 794227.

Hurstville Public School

Hurstville Public School80 Forest RoadLot 32, DP 842051In 1875 the local Church of England Denominational School closed. Michael Gannon provided a site to the Council of Education, and Hurstville Public School replaced the Church of England Denominational School when Michael Lappin was appointed in October 1876, with an enrolment of thirty-eight pupils. The school was designed by architect Benjamin Backhouse at a cost of £500, and there was a teacher’s residence of four rooms and kitchen.He was succeeded by Locrin Tiddy in 1879, who had previously taught at Manly; after his retirement, Tiddy continued to serve on the Hurstville school board as secretary. Tiddy complained about the state of the teacher’s residence and asked for two unfinished attic rooms to be completed. This work was done in 1880.At the end of 1881, enrolment was 99, with an average attendance of 62.Felix Knowsley Thistlethwayte, previously at Grafton, became master in mid-1886[1], and attendance had grown to a hundred and forty children, no doubt due to the establishment of the railway. A new wooden structure was added to the school. Mr Thistlethwayte arranged a concert in the schoolroom on 15 October 1886 to provide funds for playground equipment.[2] By the end of 1888 enrolment was 282, with an average attendance of more than 200.In 1890 education authorities erected a brick building, divided into three main rooms and two classrooms on a three-rood block of land acquired for £609.[3] Of particular note is the Victorian bell tower. This building was opened by J H Carruthers in June 1892. The architect was W E Kemp, architect of the Department of Public Instruction, and the builder was Robert Mercer. It cost £1,500 to construct.[4]Mr Thistlethwayte urged that the school should be divided into Boys and Girls departments. And his recommendation was backed by the Mayor, Aldermen and local MP. The separate Girls department was established in 1889. Staff in 1889 were: Mr Jones (a former student) and three pupil-teachers, Alice Bardsley, Ernest Andrews and Thomas McCurley, as well as the headmaster. Miss Millicent Aspinall was appointed as the first Girls Mistress in May 1889.[5]A bathroom and laundry for the teacher’s residence were provided in April 1889 for £53. Asphalting the footpath outside the school took place in 1890.Henry Larkin was master from 1890, with Miss Jeffery mistress; and John Richard Meyrick from 1895-1906.[6] Mr Meyrick encouraged his pupils to learn to swim, and instituted an annual swimming carnival at Brighton Baths, Lady Robinson’s Beach.[7]An area of ¾ acre was resumed in April 1891 adjacent to the school from owner Thomas Fox, at a cost of £555. Plans for a new building were prepared and in July 1891 a tender by Robert Mercer was accepted. The work was completed in early 1892 at a cost of £1400, and the new building was occupied by the Girls department. This building, with its distinctive bell-tower, still stands.In 1896 the school was raised to the same grade as Kogarah and Rockdale Public Schools (both second grade schools at that time).[8]In 1897 an entirely new wing of the school was erected, and the teacher’s residence in the centre of the school grounds was removed. The original school building was converted into the teacher’s residence. These works cost £2,048.Further works were opened in March 1899 by Mr Hogue, Minister for Education. There were 650 pupils. Hugh Patrick was chairman of the school board.[9]In 1899 an attempt was made at Hurstville to introduce teaching of boys and girls together, but a public meeting was held at which objections were aired and a deputation to the Minister was organised to reverse the policy.[10]John Meyrick was succeeded in 1906 by William Swanton. He reorganised the school into boys’ and girls’ departments, with the girls’ department supervised by Miss K Phillips. The enrolment was over 600. Mr Swanton transferred in 1914 to Glenmore Road Public School in Paddington. The Principal from 1914 to 1921 was Mr William J Cunningham, who succeeded Mr Swanton.[11]A tree planted in front of the school in circa 1887 was 25 years old in 1912.An infants’ school was erected in 1916. Also in 1916 a ten acre site was added to the school grounds, resumed at a cost of £2,562.[12]A former teacher at Hurstville Superior Public School, Sgt W F Brook, was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in France in 1918.[13]A new boys’ building with twelve classrooms and a large balcony assembly hall was nearing completion in September 1918, by which time the school was in the highest grade of first class. There were more than 2,000 pupils and the school was the third largest in the State. The boys’ department, with an enrolment of 866 boys, was the largest boys’ school.[14] There were 48 teachers on the permanent staff and five visiting teachers for the domestic science course. 280 pupils sat the qualifying exams that year.By 1919 there were 2,782 pupils.[15] The school was the holder of the Education Drill Shield and was the winner of the soccer competition and senior and junior tug-of-war competitions. There were 90 girls in the domestic science classes.On 19 July 1924, new additions to the school were opened by Mr Thomas Ley, MLA. He was later suspected of the murder in 1925 of Mr Fred McDonald, the former acting headmaster of the school. The new additions included a two-storey girls’ building with six classrooms, two assembly halls and a staffroom.John A Faulks took over as headmaster in 1924, succeeding Mr E Henry. From 1927 Hurstville Superior Public School had the largest enrolment of any school in the State, with 2,388 pupils.[16] Headmistress was Miss Edith Eckford, and Miss R E Garner was in charge of the infants’ department. There were 74 teachers.In the mid-1920s, teachers recalled by Hilda North were: “Infants teachers were Miss Webster and Mrs Stewart (Miss Garner was Headmistress); Primary teachers were Miss May, Miss Ross, I think Ms Fordyce was Headmistress; she was followed by Miss Eckford, a stately lady, and Miss Wilson, who lived on the corner of Pearl Street and Carrington Avenue was Deputy Headmistress. Secondary teachers were Miss Tyrer, Mrs Lovatt, Mrs McGillivray, Mrs Barwell and Miss McCoughtry. I remember when a teacher at the Boys’ Primary, Mr Watson (known as Professor Bugwhiskers) married one of our teachers, Mrs Bishop.”[17]Mr Faulks transferred to Bondi School in December 1928, and was succeeded by George Lewis.A new Junior Technical School building was erected and opened in May 1929 by Mr Drummond, Minister for Education. The building cost £33,000 to erect. It comprised three main blocks: the junior technical school, the trades school, and the forge building.[18] The junior technical building had twelve classrooms, a library, and rooms for the principal and staff. The trades school contained rooms for carpentry, joinery, metalwork, plumbing, technical drawing, and a laboratory. The buildings had electric light throughout, enabling their use for night classes.In 1936 enrolment was 1,490.[19]Brian Warton recalled: “In 1940 I went to Hurstville Primary School… We were not allowed to draw on the blackboards anything related to war… At one stage we had trenches dug in the playground and had regular air-raid drills in which we went into the trenches, We had to sit down and around our necks we had a cloth bag in which we had two rubber ear plugs and a block of rubber, all joined together with string and also some malted milk tablets. The plugs were inserted and the block was placed in the mouth between the teeth. The rubber, because of restrictions, was a foul-tasting imitation, very bitter and sour tasting. We sat in the trench until the all-clear was sounded by the headmaster, then it was back to normal. The windows of our classroom and of our home had a criss-cross of wide tape on them so that if the window broke, glass would be held by the tape and would not shatter into the rooms as much.”[20]“World War Two ended when I was in sixth class primary. We cheered and yelled as did every other class in the school, each one trying to drown out the other and were given a half-day holiday. Our mother took us into the city to Martin Place where the street was full of people yelling and cheering… People were hugging each other and dancing around in circles.”The school marked its centenary on 16 October 1976 with a mammoth carnival and fete, attended by many former pupils.[21] Although it rained heavily on the day, the Minister for Education Mr Bedford unveiled a centenary plaque. Principal in 1976 was Tom Donnelly and deputy principal was Alistair Gudgeon; infants’ headmistress was Mrs N Magrath.In November 2018 plans were announced for an $8 million upgrade of the school, including the construction of a new block with four classrooms, new covered outdoor learning area, canteen and toilet block, and extended library and school hall.[22][1] Clarence and Richmond Examiner 3 April 1886, p4.[2] Daily Telegraph 20 October 1886, p6.[3] Propeller 25 July 1924, p3.[4] Sydney Morning Herald 25 June 1892, p7.[5] NSW Government Gazette 14 May 1889, p3524.[6] St George Call 14 April 1906, p6.[7] Sydney Morning Herald 29 March 1897, p6.[8] Sydney Morning Herald 21 January 1896, p4.[9] Evening News 25 March 1899, p11.[10] Daily Telegraph 28 June 1889, p4.[11] Mr Cunningham died in 1932, see obituary and photo in Sydney Morning Herald 10 June 1932, p20.[12] Propeller 25 July 1924, p3.[13] Propeller 1 February 1918, p3.[14] Propeller 20 September 1918, p2.[15] Propeller 26 December 1919, p1.[16] Propeller 5 August 1927, p2.[17] The Stories I Could Tell, p178.[18] Propeller 2 March 1928, p2.[19] Jubilee History of the Municipality of Hurstville 1887-1937, p66.[20] The Stories I Could Tell, p259-260.[21] St George Leader 16 October 1976.[22] St George Leader 28 November 2018, p7; 20 March 2019, p10.

Hurstville Oval and Velodrome

Hurstville Oval and Velodrome30 Dora StreetLot 1, DP 919317; Lot 53, DP 9355Hurstville Oval is at Dora and Patrick Streets. Originally the lowest lying part of the MacMahon Estate, it was proclaimed a public park in 1899. At that time there was no sports ground in the St George district with a turf wicket, and an enthusiastic band of sportsmen built one in Hurstville Park. It was officially opened on 23 September 1911, with a match between the St George District Cricket Club and a Sydney team with international players including Bardsley, Macartney, Kelloway and Gregory. There have been a number of players who represented Australia from St George, the most notable being Don Bradman and Bill O’Reilly.Installation of electric light took place in 1923.A pavilion was erected by Messrs Young and Gorringe of Bankstown in 1924, at a cost of £1,456/18/5. It was opened by the Mayor, Alderman Collier on Anniversary Day, 1925.[1] It was decided that a marble slab should be installed commemorating the occasion. A cricket match was played on the day between St George District Club and St George District Juniors. The pavilion replaced an older structure.A fence around the Oval was erected in 1925 by W G Varley.Water pipes and bubbler taps were installed in 1926.Conveniences were installed in 1931/2.Wire fencing around the park was installed in 1932.The bitumenised cycle track was constructed in 1934.The Oval was re-turfed in 1935, at a cost of £796.A new brick wall and turnstile building were erected in 1938/39.Council planned to spend $4000 on constructing a common room in 1967.[2]The Booth/Saunders Pavilion was named in 1999 after Brian Booth and Warren Saunders.[3]Georges River Council restored the Hurstville Oval Velodrome in 2018, returning the historic venue to a first-class facility for cyclists. This was made possible through grant funding provided to St George Cycling Club and Cycling NSW. In undertaking this project, Council rehabilitated the course by correcting the surface of the track with an asphalt overlay.[4]Part of Hurstville Park was selected as an off-leash dog park in 2023.[5][1] Propeller 16 January 1925, p4; 30 January 1925.[2] St George Leader 12 July 1967 p30.[3] St George Leader 19 August 1999, p12.[4] Georges River Council Annual Report 2017/2018. P41.[5] St George Leader 22 February 2023, p9.

Gannon's Grove House (Wollondilly)

In the 1937 Jubilee History of Hurstville, a striking photo shows a grand two-storey home with the caption: “Gannon Grove House, built 1880, demolished 1937.”.[1] This stately residence was also known as Wollondilly, later owned by Herbert Spencer. Its story begins much earlier. First appearing in Sands’ Directories as Gannon’s Park, the home of Alfred Gannon, son of Michael Gannon, who in 1850 purchased John Townson’s vast 1,950-acre grant. Alfred wasn’t just a landowner; he served as an Alderman on Hurstville Council alongside Hugh Patrick, who lived in another Croydon Road landmark, Kimberley.Both homes stood proudly between Kimberley Road and Moore Street. Croydon Road even briefly changed its name to Kingsgrove Road, and by 1888, Gannon Grove was listed there. Life at the house wasn’t without tragedy, Percy Gannon, Alfred’s son, died there in 1899 at just 27.[2]By 1903, the property was advertised for sale by Raine & Horne. The listing painted a picture of elegance: Brick on stone foundations, slate roof Dining room, drawing room, breakfast room Three bedrooms, kitchen, laundry, domestic offices Two-stall stable and coachhouse A massive frontage of 266 feet to Croydon Road, stretching nearly 800 feet back to Wellington Road [3]Over the years, the house changed hands many times: Alfred Owen Black in 1905 (and a burglary that December), Oliver A. Black in 1906, Alfred Malcolm in 1908, John B. Doyle in 1911, and C.H. Gurner in 1913 (who famously raised prize-winning fowls on the property.[4]) By 1918, Herbert Spencer took ownership, renaming the house Wollondilly. [5] The Spencer family, well-known in local Roman Catholic circles, lived there until Eleanor Spencer’s death in 1931. Herbert remained until 1937, when the house was finally demolished.[1] See also Davis, Pedr, The Hurstville Story, p60.[2] Evening News 18 July 1899, p2.[3] Sydney Morning Herald 12 September 1903, p13.[4] Sydney Morning Herald 1 November 1913, p25.[5] See Hurstville Historical Society Newsletter August 1985 p4.

Charles Claggett's Post Office Store

Following a petition from Joseph King and 81 other residents, stating that their nearest post office was at St Peters, eight miles distant, a post office operated at Gannon’s Forest from 1 October 1864 at the grocery store of Charles Claggett, opposite the Blue Posts Inn.[1] Claggett was paid a postmaster’s salary of £12 per annum, with a small commission on the sale of postage stamps.Charles Claggett was born at Southwark, London in 1821, and married Caroline Lewis at the historic St George’s Church in Bloomsbury in June 1850. They listed in the 1851 Census living in Bermondsey, London, where Charles was a grocer. By 1854, they were in Sydney, since in September of that year Charles took over the licence of the Man of Kent Inn in Kingsgrove. He ran into bother for selling sly grog on Sundays and for allowing gambling on the premises, and lost the licence a year later. He then became a grocer, servicing the needs of the Gannons Forest community, which was not yet known as Hurstville. One source states that he may have been a charcoal-burner, but it is likely that he was a grocer from first to last.Charles and Caroline had seven children born in New South Wales. Caroline and one of their daughters died in November 1868 at Bathurst Street, Sydney, and Charles did not remarry. His daughter Amelia (also known as Emily) became a seamstress, and in 1870 was riding from Sydney to visit her father, whom she had been informed was dying. Crossing the Cooks River dam, she was accosted by three drunk men, one of whom pulled her from her horse, breaking her nose. The man was apprehended and jailed for two weeks.Charles Claggett died soon after the incident, and left his goods and chattels to Emily. His daughter Amelia Claggett, lived for many years with the Carss family at Carss Cottage from about the 1870s onwards, and married James Carss a week before his death in 1917. She died in 1945.The name of the post office was officially recorded as Hurstville from 1 March 1881.Earnshaw states that an early Hurstville postmistress was Miss Caroline Claggett.[2][1] PMG’s Department.[2] Earnshaw, Beverley, The Land Between Two Rivers, p130. Source not given.

Chappelow's Paddock

This was the first recreation ground of Hurstville, and was the scene for race meetings and cricket matches. In 1907, the Federal Brick Co Ltd established a brickyard which made pottery products as well as bricks, however, these activities ceased in 1957. After the completion of the original historic markers program, a request was received to provide a historic marker referring to the Squires family. This marker is not listed on the historic markers leaflet. It was given the number 37.This marker was also located at Chappelow’s Paddock:Memorial to William Henry Squires and William James Squires:- consecutive managers of the Hurstville Brickworks. William Henry Squires was the first manager of the Federal Brick Company’s Carlton Yard (Hurstville Brickworks), from its establishment in 1907 until his death in 1953. William James Squires, son of William Henry, then became manager of the Carlton Yard, staying on till its demolition in 1957.Part of the paddock is now the site of Kempt Field.

St George Anglican Church

St George Anglican Church144 Forest RoadLot 2, DP 207467The story of St George’s Church begins humbly in 1856, when Bishop Barker led a service before a crowd of 200–300 people on 8 December, marking the start of a small weatherboard church. [1] More than three decades later, the growing congregation needed a new home. On 6 April 1889, Bishop Alfred Barry laid the foundation stone for the present church.The new building, designed by architect Charles H. Halstead, was constructed from local brick made at Carlton Brickworks, with internal bricks from Cook’s Brickworks in Marrickville. Its slate roof and elegant stained-glass window depicting the Ascension, a gift from Mr. H. Kinsela, which added beauty and symbolism. At a cost of £952, the church opened on 12 October 1889, with the Dean of Sydney, Dean Cowper, officiating alongside Rev. James Clarke.[2]Over the years, St George’s continued to grow and evolve. Rev. Arthur Killworth became rector in 1896, following Rev. Clarke. [3] A church hall, designed by Charles Hill, [4] was added in 1901–02, and by 1905, Hurstville was officially constituted as a full parish. Music became central to worship with the dedication of a pipe organ in 1912, crafted by John Holroyd of Norman and Beard Ltd. In 1939, a remarkable touch was added: a 600-year-old piece of oak from Westminster Abbey, embedded in the organ in memory of choirmaster Joseph Haywood.Architectural enhancements continued: in 1916, Archbishop J.C. Wright laid the foundation stone for the chancel and choir, again designed by Halstead. [5] Rev. Dixon Hudson served as rector from 1909 to 1932, a period marked by significant growth. On 9 July 1932, Governor Sir Philip Game laid the foundation stone for the Soldiers’ Memorial transept, honoring those who served. The western transept was later named for Edward Elliott, the church’s long-serving organist and choirmaster.The church’s rich history has been captured in works such as Brian Shaw’s From ‘The Church in the Bush’ to ‘The Church in the City’ (2006) and P.W. Gledhill’s Souvenir History, Centenary of Worship 1856–1956, excerpts of which appear in the St George Historical Society Bulletin.[1] Sydney Morning Herald 31 December 1856.[2] Daily Telegraph 14 October 1889, p4.[3] Sydney Morning Herald 8 February 1896.[4] Foundation stone laid 7 December 1901. Hill practised locally for a time, but migrated to South Africa in 1902. He also designed the parsonage for St Paul’s Kogarah c1900.[5] Jubilee History of the Municipality of Hurstville p72.

Hurstville Railway Post Office

For 25 years, Hurstville’s postal bureau operated from the northern end of Forest Road. But by 1889, the town was shifting. Development was clustering around the railway station, and the old location had become inconvenient. On 17 September 1889, a new office opened at the station under W.C. Mason, proudly named Hurstville Railway Station Post Office. By 1903, the office had added a telephone bureau, marking a leap into modern communication.That same year, the government purchased a site on Forest Road, once home to the lively ‘Free and Easy Hotel’ (later Currency Lass Hotel), from the Railway Commissioners for £550[1]. On this site rose a new post office in Edwardian style, built by Hocking Bros and supervised by George Oakeshott of the Department for Home Affairs. Completed in 1904,[2] it was the first building erected by the Commonwealth Public Works Department. [3] Constructed with 70,000 bricks from Hurstville Steam Brick Works, the red-brick structure with stone dressings cost £1,468.[4] Inside, it included a three-bedroom residence for the postmaster, Mr J. Metcalf, and operated long hours—9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The official opening took place on 19 September 1904.The post office became a community hub. In 1931, beloved postman William Charles “Billy” Fripp retired after 40 years of service, having started under W.G. Mason back in 1889.[5] The building saw changes over time, including a major remodel in 1962. But by August 1992, the Forest Road Post Office closed its doors.[6] Postal operations moved to 12 Butlers Road, while retail services shifted to an Australia Post outlet in Westfield Hurstville. A commercial post office with private boxes opened on 24 August 1992 in Hurstville House, at the corner of MacMahon Street and The Mall.Today, the original site is a grassy area in front of Hurstville Railway Station, a quiet reminder of the bustling postal history that once shaped the heart of the suburb.[1] Commonwealth Gazette 9 May 1903, p266.[2] Designed by George Oakeshott of the Government Architect’s Department., see below.[3] Sydney Morning Herald 11 October 1904, p7.[4] Commonwealth Gazette 17 February 1906, p137.[5] Propeller 21 November 1930, p2.[6] Leader 25 August 1992

Hurstville Hotel

A 'first-class family hotel' was reportedly under construction at Hurstville in July 1883. The hotel was expected to benefit from the opening of the Illawarra Railway to Hurstville in October and was described as “a first-class, well-appointed house, situated on a high site in Hurstville commanding a wide view of the surrounding country and Botany Bay.”[1] Standing at the corner of MacMahon Street and Forest Road, the Hurstville Hotel has been a mainstay of the local township, an enduring presence sharing the continuing development of suburban Hurstville. While perhaps not offering a glimpse of the Blue Mountains today, the old pub remains.In February 1896, MacMahon advertised tenders for leasing the hotel for five, seven or ten years, at a rent of £4 per week.[2] By 1899, the licence had passed to John James Payne, formerly an Inspector in the Tramways Department.[3] That same year, Payne was robbed by an employee. He died in 1901, and his widow Martha Payne held the licence until her marriage to Thomas Wearne, Kogarah Council Clerk, in 1902.In October 1921, Messrs Brayshay and Holman took over the venue from Mr Arthur Browne.[4] The licensee in 1922 was George Kentish,[5] who transferred the licence to Jacob Woolf Shaw in December 1922, and then to John Kirkwood in July 1925.

St. Giles Presbyterian War Memorial Church

St Giles Church, on the corner of MacMahon Street and Park Road, was built in 1955 as a war memorial. The foundation stone was laid by Sir John Northcott on 5 March 1955 and is inscribed “To the Glory of God, this stone was set by His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales Lieut-General Sir John Northcott KCMG, KCVO, CB, 5th March 1955, Minister Rev R G Cruickshank.” The church was officially opened and dedicated on 26 November 1955.[1]This is the third church of Hurstville Presbyterians and was built in 1955. There are beautiful stained glass windows and memorial gates. Presbyterian services commenced in Hurstville in 1888. The first church was a wooden building built in 1904 in Forest Road between Carrington Avenue and Gloucester Road. The second church was built in 1923 on corner of MacMahon Street and Park Road. With the old Manse this has now been converted to the Youth Centre.[1] St George Call 24 November 1955, p1.

Hurstville Railway Station

Hurstville Railway SubstationBetween 309 and 309A Forest RoadLot 101, DP 1240658When Hurstville Railway Station opened on 15 October 1884, it transformed the district overnight. The arrival of the Illawarra line sparked a wave of land sales and speculation, and by the end of 1885, the line stretched all the way to Sutherland. In that first year alone, 56,449 passengers passed through Hurstville; by 1933, that number had soared to 3.6 million.[1]The station’s early years were full of progress. Thomas Nicholson, the first stationmaster (1884–1888), oversaw a modest setup, later expanded under Thomas Hall (1888–1910).[2] A timber-deck traffic bridge at King Georges Road was in place by 1883, and by 1890, Hurstville boasted an overhead pedestrian bridge, a signal box, and carriage sheds. Gas lamps lit the platforms, and by 1911, a PMG telephone connected the station to the wider world.The station wasn’t just about trains— it became a community hub. A Roll of Honor, unveiled in 1917, listed 600 locals who enlisted in WWI.[3] Stationmaster Richard Stevens later turned the platforms into prize-winning gardens, earning Hurstville the title of “State Champion” three years running in the 1940s.[4]Growth brought big changes. The quadruplication of the Illawarra line in 1925 introduced electric signals and a state-of-the-art signal box—the largest on the line.5] Soon after, Hurstville welcomed its first electric train on 1 March 1926, making it the first electrified line in NSW.[6] Passenger numbers exploded: from 270,614 in 1926 to over 1 million by 1929.[7][8]The station also adapted to modern life. In 1924, the Railway Institute opened across Forest Road, offering a library and billiard room for railway families.[9] By the 1960s, Hurstville was ready for a bold new era: an eight-story retail and office complex was built above the station, officially opening in September 1965.[10]Today, Hurstville Railway Station stands as a testament to more than a century of progress— connecting people, shaping a suburb, and evolving with the times. Propeller 11 October 1934, p6. Propeller 11 October 1934, p8. After his retirement from the Railways Department, Hall was an Alderman on Hurstville Council for one term. Sydney Morning Herald 14 May 1917, p8. Propeller 12 December 1940, p7. Propeller 7 August 1925, p3. Labor Daily, 16 January 1926, p6. Propeller 16 September 1927, p3. Propeller 24 January 1930, p1. Propeller 27 February 1925, p1. St. George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 15 September 1965, p.1.

Penshurst Railway Station

Location: Illawarra rail line — corner of Laycock Road (South) and Bridge StreetLot: 1, DP 1154260The story of Penshurst Station begins in 1886, when two modest side platforms were constructed on the single railway line between Hurstville and Sutherland. This line had been completed just a year earlier by contractors C & E Miller.On 17 May 1890, Penshurst officially opened as a simple ‘platform’ positioned on the north-western side of Laycock Road, at the site of a level crossing[1]. This crossing would later disappear in 1905, following major regrading works.Early improvements soon followed: 25 June 1890 – Toilets were installed. May 1891 – Name boards were added. 11 December 1896 – A ticket office was built.A significant transformation came in 1905, when the Illawarra Line was upgraded to a double track. Penshurst Station was shifted south from its original site, and a new weatherboard station building and brick island platform were constructed. The platform was later extended in July 1912. As part of these works, the old level crossing was replaced with an overbridge, marking a new era for the station [2].

St. Declan's Roman Catholic Church and School

St Declan’s became its own parish in March 1916, when Penshurst was officially separated from Hurstville Parish. At that time, the parish boundaries stretched far and wide, encompassing Mortdale, Oatley, Sutherland, and Cronulla. The first parish priest was Rev Michael O’Kelly, who would play a pivotal role in shaping its future.The foundations of the present St Declan’s Church were blessed on 4 March 1928 by the Archbishop of Sydney, Michael Kelly, and just months later, on 12 August 1928, the church was officially opened by the Archbishop. Standing proudly on the corner of Forest Road and Penshurst Street, the site quickly became a landmark for the growing Catholic community. [1]The 1928 church was constructed of liver brick, featuring a timber weatherboard sanctuary and a terracotta roof. Its foundation stone bears a solemn inscription:“AMDG. This stone was solemnly blessed and laid by His Grace the Most Rev Michael Kelly DD, Archbishop of Sydney on March 4th 1928. M O Kelly PP.”The presbytery was housed in Fernland, a grand mansion built in 1885 and purchased by Father O’Kelly in 1916 for £1,400. [2] Today, the original stone entrance posts and fence remain as reminders of its heritage. In 1935, the house ‘Rostrov’ on Penshurst Street was acquired and became the convent for the Sisters of St Joseph of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.A new chapter began in 1983, when the current St Declan’s Church was constructed. Completed by 1 October 1983 and dedicated on 11 December 1983 by Archbishop Edward Clancy, [3] the modern building was designed by architect James Searle and now fronts 90 Penshurst Street.To celebrate its rich history, a centenary book titled Living the Spirit of Love was published in 2016, capturing the enduring legacy of St Declan’s Parish. [4]

St Andrew’s Presbyterian War Memorial Church, Penshurst

On 2 December 1961, the St Andrew’s Presbyterian War Memorial Church on Penshurst Street was officially opened by the Governor-General, Lord De L’Isle, in his first official visit to the St George district. During the ceremony, parish minister Rev Eric S. Robson presented Lord De L’Isle with an album of views of Penshurst, marking the occasion with a gesture of local pride [1].The new church, built at a cost of £15,700, replaced the original church located at the rear of the site. The opening was a community event: a procession of ex-servicemen and schoolchildren marched from Penshurst Public School to the church, where the official party was greeted by Hurstville Mayor Alderman H. C. Marsden [2].Inside the church, history is preserved through its WWI Honour Roll, listing 56 names of men who served in the Great War. This roll was lovingly restored and rededicated during a special service on 13 November 2005, ensuring their sacrifice continues to be remembered.The parish’s roots run deep. The Penshurst Presbyterian Church Manse was officially opened on 17 May 1924, built by Mr L. Branch of Hurstville. And in 2010, the Presbyterian Women’s Association Penshurst branch celebrated 100 years of continuous service to the church and community— a testament to enduring faith and fellowship [3]

St. Peter's Church of England, Mortdale

St. Peter's Church of England, Mortdale, originally stood on the corner of Mort's Road and Victoria Avenue. The foundation stone was laid by the Hon J H Carruthers, Minister for Lands on 20 February 1897, with the church being officially licenced on 10 April 1913.In 1929, a site for a new church was purchased firther down Mort's road, for £675, but due to the Second World War, building did not take place until the 1950s. It was opened and dedicated on 26 April 1958 by Right Reverend R. C. Kerle, Bishop Coadjutor, 60 years after the original church was opened in 1898. [1] The building's design took the form of a cross, which allowed for the hall to be divided by sliding doors into three separate halls.In 2001, the 1958 building was replaced. Standing on the same site, the new Christ Church, Mortdale, opened in 2002 at a cost of $1.6 million.

Mortdale Fire Station

38 Morts Road | Lot 101, DP 545765The story of Mortdale Fire Station is one of resilience and service. The current station, standing proudly on Morts Road, was built in 1914, but its roots go back even further. Records show an earlier station existed as early as 1907[1]. Officially designated Number 48 Station, Mortdale opened on 29 February 1908 with a single manual engine and two horses, staffed by a Captain/Enginekeeper and seven volunteer firemen.By December 1913, architects Spain, Cosh and Dodds called for tenders for a new building[2]. Their plans included an engine room, two stables, a watch-room, accommodation for single men, a fodder room, store, conveniences, and even a drill tank. Modernisation came in February 1924, when the horse-drawn engine was replaced with a motor fire engine[3]. Inside, the original cobblestone floor, still intact today, provided traction for the horses that once thundered out to emergencies. The adjacent paddock, once home to reserve horses, was sold to the Commonwealth Bank in 1952.The station briefly closed in 1945, but thanks to lobbying by Council and local Progress Associations, it reopened in 1952, continuing its proud tradition of volunteer service.In 2007, Mortdale Fire Station celebrated its centenary with a commemorative booklet written by firefighter Pat Kannan[4]. Today, it holds the distinction of being Sydney’s oldest operational volunteer fire brigade, and its heritage significance is recognised in Schedule 5 of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 (and previously in the Kogarah LEP 2012).Local memories add colour to its history. Brian Ogle recalled:“At the back of the fire station near St Peter’s Church were quartered the fire steeds on active service. At the top of the hill towards Forest Road was the ‘Fireman’s Paddock’, home to the horses in reserve. I have never forgotten the thrill of the fire brigade, horse-drawn, bell clanging, manned by men in shiny brass helmets charging down Pitt Street, Oatley bound.”[5]The tradition of service continues today. In 2022, Captain Wayne Challinor was honoured with a NSW Government Community Service Award for his dedication to the brigade[6].

Mortdale Railway Station

Mortdale Railway Station Group settingIllawarra rail linePart of Lot 101, DP 1181296; Part of Lot 100, DP 1141151The original Mortdale Station on the Illawarra Line opened on 20 March 1897, following the construction of its first platform in January 1897. [1] At that time, the station featured two timber platforms and waiting sheds, serving a line that passed through what would later become the site of the electric car sheds. [2]A major transformation came in 1922, when the station was relocated further north. The new Mortdale Railway Station was officially opened on 14 September 1922 by the Minister for Justice, Mr Ley. This modern station boasted a brick island platform measuring 429 feet, complete with offices at its center. The upgrade also introduced an overhead passenger bridge and a vehicle subway at Ellen Street, replacing the old Morts Road level crossing. That same year, Mortdale recorded an impressive 708,563 passengers.

Mortdale Public School, being buildings A and B

Mortdale Public School, being buildings A and B1–21 and 27 Colebourne Avenue and 35 Judd StreetLot 1, DP 910638; Lot 1, DP 723943; Lot 1, DP 182917; Lots 5 and 6, DP 622396In January 1888, George Kemp submitted a proposal to the Education Department for a school in Mortdale, noting 25 families with 50 school-aged children in the area. His vision was approved, and two acres of Lot 14 from Mort’s Farm subdivision were resumed for the site at a cost of £776.By 1889, the first school building was completed: a single classroom for 100 pupils and a teacher’s residence, costing £984 [1] Mortdale Public School officially opened in January 1889 with Joseph Coleman as its first headmaster, an Irish educator who had previously taught in Tasmania and NSW.Early Milestones 1901: A new flagpole was erected, and the flag was unfurled by J. H. Carruthers, former Member for the district [2] Circa 1900: Former student Darcy Fletcher recalled the school’s growth, the introduction of gardens, improved discipline, and the start of organized sports, including Australian Rules football competitions [3]

Judd's Brickworks

The business locally known as Judd’s Brickworks began in 1886 as The Hurstville Steam Brick and Investment Co. The works were formally started on 21 August 1886 by businessman William George Judd, MLA (1847-1929). They were located at ‘Mort’s Hill’, Hurstville, and it was expected that the works would employ a hundred men. At the opening ceremony the first barrow of bricks was wheeled to the kiln to cheers and applause. The managers of the works were Messrs Edwards and [John] Gardner, and the secretary was Thomas Meldrum. The company advertised that bricks could be supplied to Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale and Arncliffe as of 16 September 1886 onwards.The Hurstville Steam Brickworks announced they were going to close in November 1888, owing to heavy freight charges imposed by the railways. It was feared that over 120 men would lose employment. The threat had some effect and freight charges for the company were reduced. There was a siding from the Illawarra Railway to the brickworks, which enabled bricks to be taken to Sydney for use in the foundation of buildings such as the Queen Victoria Building, the Equitable Building, and the New York Life Building.The development of the brickworks led to the growth of Mortdale, and in September 1889, following a deputation from the Company, the Postmaster-General agreed to provide a post-office at Mortdale.The company opened a new Centennial Patent Brick Kiln in September 1891. Politician Joseph Carruthers formally lighted the furnaces. In his speech Carruthers noted that the quadruplication of the suburban railway lines had called for 25 million bricks. Erecting new houses in Sydney each year required 110 million bricks. The Hurstville company’s output over the previous six months was 4,500,000 bricks.The company supplied 70,000 bricks in 1904 for the building of the Hurstville Post Office.

Mortdale Baptist Church

Mortdale Baptist Church began in 1900, when services were held in the St Georges Hall in Pitt Street. Four blocks of land were bought in 1903 on the corner of The Strand and Pitt Street and a church was erected on the site in one day using pre-cut pieces of timber.In 1914, land was purchased on the corner of Woronora Parade and Boundary Road and the timber church building was relocated by removalists to that site in 1926[1]. Moving the building to the main street proved challenging due to the narrow width of the Strand and obstacles like telegraph poles, electric light poles, and neighboring fences. However, once these issues were resolved, the team of thirteen horses managed to transport the church to its new location with relative ease.In 1928 a new brick church was erected on the site at a cost of £3285 and opened on 10 March; the weatherboard building continued in use as a Sunday school. A Sunday School hall was added in 1954 and the weatherboard building was demolished in 1972.[2]In 1958 a new enlarged church was opened.A booklet was produced to mark the church’s diamond jubilee in 1965 by Ronald E Walker.

Oatley Railway Station

Oatley Railway StationIllawarra rail lineLots 5 and 11 DP 803349; Lot 14, DP 839742Nestled on the Illawarra line south of Hurstville, Oatley Railway Station has been a cornerstone of local development and cultural heritage since its opening in 1885. [1] Oatley was then a sparsely populated area. However, the opening of Judd’s Hurstville Brick Works in 1884, just a year before the station, created a demand for transport infrastructure to support industry and workers. This strategic decision laid the foundation for Oatley’s growth. Originally known as Oatley’s Grant platform, the station was renamed simply Oatley in 1890, marking the beginning of its pivotal role in shaping the suburb. [2]The first station building, a modest weatherboard structure costing £265, was constructed in September 1890. Over time, the station evolved alongside the community: a stationmaster’s residence (known as St. Emlo) was added in 1891, and in 1905, the line was relocated, prompting the reassembly of the station on a new island platform. This move spurred Oatley’s transformation from bushland to a thriving suburb.Darcy Fletcher was brought up at a house right at the level-crossing gates in the 1890s. He recollected:[3]“All the trains were steam driven and passed about twenty yards from our house. The passenger trains of four carriages of the old corridor type were drawn by engines with only six wheels. Baldwin-type engines drew the goods trains and later larger ones were used. Sometimes, especially in the cold weather, goods and coal trains which were drawn up at the local signal, started with a series of jerks when they got the all-clear and, on the steep grade, I have seen the couplings snap. Half of the train would go forward while the other half would start to run back, only to be stopped by the guard in the van at the rear.When the deviation of the railway line was being completed, I saw the last train to go through on the old line. This was the funeral-train, which went through at 3.30pm and at Sutherland it ran on a short branch line right into the cemetery. The necessary joins in the line were made while it was away and when it returned at 4.30pm it was the first to run on the new line.”Technological progress soon followed. Automatic signalling arrived in 1918 and 1926, and the Illawarra line between Central and Oatley became the first section in NSW to be electrified in the State and was the site for the initial electrified train testing..The station is a rare example of a once common standard building design known as the ‘Initial Island Platform Design’. Consisting of a single storey building of timber construction in the Federation Queen Anne style-influenced weatherboard platform building. However, upgrading works in 1991-93 remodelled the original floor plan and removed much of the original internal fabric. The 1905 levers and early 20th century signal room and other equipment remain intact.[4]William James Elliott was appointed station master at Oatley Railway Station in 1927. His son recalled “Dad never used his issue whistle to allow trains to depart. I don’t know how he learned to whistle but his piercing whistle was known to all the guards on the Illawarra line. The station master’s hours were from about 6 am to 2 pm, and for many years he rode down to the station from 66 Letitia Street on his 1916 ASJS motorbike and sidecar… he was due to retire at the end of WWII but due to shortage of staff was not allowed to retire until the early 1950s.”[5]Beryl Godfrey recalled: “I have memories of the gas lamplighter on Oatley Station. A fire was lit in the grate on cold nights in the waiting room as trains were infrequent.”[6]

“Lorne” 18 The Avenue, Hurstville

Victorian house “Lorne” and setting18 The AvenueLot 192, DP 1595Lorne, 18 The Avenue is a striking freestanding Victorian cottage dating from circa 1895. Its story begins with Edward John Higgs, who purchased the land on 29 June 1893 and built the home two years later. By 1896, the house was alive with family life— B.J. Higgs and his wife welcomed a daughter here on 27 April that year. Higgs owned the house until 1908 when it was sold to Charles Barter, owner of the Barter Drapery store in Hurstville. The property changed ownership to the Keane family in 1912, and their connection endured for generations.[1] Patrick Joseph Keane died there on 7 June 1926,[2] after which, the house passed to Miss Irene Keane in 1947. Remarkably, when Lorne was advertised for sale in March 1993, it had remained in the Keane family for over 80 years.Architecturally, Lorne is a showcase of Victorian elegance. Its slate roof with diamond patterning and terracotta ridging, paired with an ornate iron verandah, columns, and brackets, speaks of craftsmanship from a bygone era. The blond brick façade, detailed with double stop bullnose reveal bricks and rendered quoins and sills, adds to its stately charm. Even the carport complements the original character of the home.Recognized for its heritage significance, Lorne is listed in Schedule 5 of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021, continuing its legacy as a treasured piece of local history. It was previously featured in A Photographic Guide to Architecturally and Historically Significant Buildings in the Municipality of Hurstville (1983, Item No. 44), cementing its place among the area’s architectural icons.[1] Hurstville Heritage Register (1986), item 2.[2] Sydney Morning Herald (8 June 1926), p8.

Beverly Hills Public School

Opened in 1892 as Dumbleton Public School, by the time of its 50th anniversary, the school had been renamed to match the suburb and was known as Beverly Hills Public School. When marking its golden jubilee in 1942, Alderman P. A. Y. Low, who was present on the original opening of the school, spoke at the jubilee function.[1] Speakers pointed out that every pupil past and present referred to the school as Dumbo. Headmaster in 1942 was Mr T. D. Bryant.Alan John ‘Jock’ Marshall, (1911-1967), conservationist and zoologist, was an ‘Old Dumbletonian’.[2]Beverly Hills Public School is now a K-6 primary school with around 530 pupils. It is on the corner of Stoney Creek Road and King Georges Road.The school’s foundation stone was refurbished and relocated in 2000.[3]References: Propeller. (1942, May 28). p. 7. National Library of Australia. (1996, September). Gateways (Issue 23); Hurstville Historical Society Newsletter. (1981, October). St George Leader. (2000, September 14).

Front portion of Victorian terrace “Waikouaiti”

Front portion of Victorian terrace “Waikouaiti”95 The AvenueLot 93, DP 1595Tucked away on The Avenue, Waikouaiti is a rare survivor of Hurstville’s earliest residential development. Built around 1885–1886, it holds the distinction of being the first house constructed on The Avenue and is likely the oldest house still standing in Hurstville. Its enduring presence offers a tangible link to the suburb’s formative years.Originally owned by the Sydney and Provincial Land Building Company Ltd, which had acquired 40 acres of surrounding land in 1882, the house was occupied by Charles R. Creed, an accountant who was possibly acting as the company’s local agent.A Timeline of Ownership and OccupancyThe property’s history reflects the changing social fabric of Hurstville:In 1897, Catherine Hall, wife of railway station master Thomas Hall, purchased lots 91–93 from the company in liquidation.The house was leased to Mrs A.L. Cooper, followed by William W. Prescott, who lived there until 1907. His wife, Isabella Prescott, purchased the property in 1908.It was briefly renamed Ardo during its lease to Mrs Emily Cox (1908–1909), and later occupied by George Madden (1911–1912).In 1913, Alfred Leslie Blackshaw, a well-known local clerk, cricketer, and Hurstville alderman, acquired the property. He subdivided and sold lots 91 and 92 in 1917, retaining the house on lot 93.The house was leased to J.S. Walker, and later sold to his wife Marian Walker in 1927.Following the death of their daughter Ethel, the property was sold to the Council for the Promotion of Sydney Church of England Diocesan Schools in 1978, and has since been used as offices for Danebank School.Architectural Character Waikouaiti is a two-storey Victorian terrace-style residence, narrow in frontage and built of brick. Originally roofed in slate (replaced with iron by 1983), the house features: A cast iron-decorated balcony, typical of Victorian domestic architecture Featureless side walls, suggesting a design adapted from inner-city terrace housing A compact, vertical form suited to urban subdivision, yet rare in suburban Hurstville Its architectural style aligns with the Victorian Filigree tradition, which flourished in Australia from the 1870s to 1890s. A uniquely Australian architectural style, Victorian Filigree is characterised by ornate iron lacework on verandahs and balconies, asymmetrical façades, decorative brackets and parapets, and tall, narrow windows.(NSW Heritage Manual – Assessing Heritage Significance) Filigree was uniquely adapted to Australia’s climate, offering shade and ventilation, and is often seen in terrace houses and suburban villas.Heritage Recognition Waikouaiti is listed as a Heritage Item in Schedule 5 of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021, and was previously listed under the Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 2012. Its preservation ensures that Hurstville’s earliest residential architecture remains visible and appreciated.

Hurstville Community Hospital

Hurstville Community Hospital is in Gloucester Road. It was originally built as ‘Meryla’, a residence for boot manufacturer Alexander Louden in 1894, then from 1921 became Goshen Private Hospital, which operated at the site for thirty years.Goshen Private Hospital opened circa 1921 in Millett Street, Hurstville, and was initially run by Nurse Mann and Nurse Yeaman.[1] From 1947 the hospital was leased to two sisters, Matron Thelma Proctor-Brown and Theatre Sister Evelyn Proctor-Brown. There were three day duty sisters, one solo night duty sister, five nurses, two housemaids and a cook who did the accounts.[2] The Theatre worked 5½ days a week, and a roster of doctors participated. Nurse Sweeney, a staff member from the years of WWII, remembered that she and Matron Martin ran the hospital between them, doing day cases only, because of the impossibility of getting staff.When the Proctor-Browns’ lease ran out in 1950, Thelma married and returned to Victoria, and Evelyn went to work in Bourke, NSW. Goshen Private Hospital closed in January 1951.[3] Since this left Hurstville without any hospital for carrying out medical and surgical work, it meant additional strain on the St George Hospital at Kogarah.In March 1951 a public meeting was called by the Mayor of Hurstville, Hedley Mallard, which aimed to retain Goshen Hospital for the district. It was decided to form a company to be known as ‘Goshen Co-operative Community Hospital Limited.’[4] Dr Clive Evatt, MLA, said the community hospital scheme was one that should appeal to all. The company hoped to sell 15,000 £1 shares to the public.The Governor of NSW, Sir John Northcott, opened the Goshen Co-operative Community Hospital on 23 June 1951; the name was later changed to Hurstville Community Co-operative Hospital. He also opened extensions to the hospital on 22 February 1964.

St John the Baptist Church, Penshurst

Standing proudly on the intersection of King Georges Road and Forest Road , St John the Baptist Church has been a spiritual and architectural landmark for more than a century. Its story begins in 1910, when the first church, then a modest weatherboard structure, was built on Forest Road. This early building, pictured on page 17 of Saint John the Baptist Church, Penshurst by Noelene L. Weatherby (1982), was dedicated by the Archbishop of Sydney on 6 May 1914. [1] The foundation stone bore the inscription:“To the Glory of God. This stone was laid by the Lord Bishop of Bendigo, Right Rev J D Langley, DD.”Licensed as St John’s on 9 August 1917, the church celebrated its silver jubilee in 1935. Later repurposed as a hall, the original building was demolished in 1986 when King Georges Road was widened.[2]

Mortdale Uniting Church and grounds

Mortdale Uniting Church and grounds18 Morts RoadLots 11 and 12, DP 4817Standing at the heart of Mortdale, the Mortdale Uniting Church has been a cornerstone of local history for more than a century. Originally known as the Mortdale Methodist Church, its story began when memorial stones were laid on 10 October 1910 by E. Knight and T. Cater. Just a few months later, on 8 January 1911, the first service was held within its walls, accompanied by music from an organ generously donated by Mrs. E. Knight.Before the church was built, worshippers gathered in Hales’ Hall, under the guidance of Circuit Superintendent Rev. J. A. Waddell. Growth soon followed: a vestry was added in 1916, and the Mortdale Methodist School Hall opened on 6 March 1918, marking a new chapter in community life. [1] That same year, Mr. Adrian Steel became the first circuit minister appointed to Mortdale, while Alfred Holt served faithfully as Church Secretary for many years.The congregation continued to expand, purchasing a parsonage at 8 Woronora Parade, Oatley in 1922. In 1975, the church embraced a new identity as Mortdale Uniting Church, joining Penshurst and South Peakhurst to form the Trinity Parish. [2]Today, this historic site remains a cherished landmark, its heritage recognised in local planning schemes. From its humble beginnings to its centenary celebration on 13 November 2011, Mortdale Uniting Church stands as a testament to faith, resilience, and community spirit..[1] Propeller 8 March 1918, p2.[2] Hurstville Historical Society Newsletter October 1991.

Riverwood Railway Station

Consideration was given by Hurstville Council representatives to amendments submitted by W T Anderson to a plan of the Herne Bay Estate at a Council meeting in March 1919. Ninety farmlets from 1 to 2 acres (.4 -.8ha) of the Herne Bay Estate, Great Salt Pan, were to be auctioned in April 1919. Said to feature fertile soil suitable for 'fruit culture' and general farming, the estate offered a 'mile of water frontages' providing access to the Georges River. [1]Railway Department correspondence tabled at a Hurstville Council meeting in December 1929 indicated that the adoption of 'Peakhurst' as the name of the new railway station near 'Salt Pan Creek' on the Tempe-East Hills railway line would conflict with existing locality names. As the name 'Herne Bay' was considered preferable to 'Salt Pan', the new station was to be known as Herne Bay Railway Station. [2]The final section of the Tempe to East Hills Railway from Kingsgrove to East Hills, incorporating Herne Bay Railway Station, was officially opened by the Minister for Local Government, Mr J McGirr on 19 December 1931. [3]Following the opening of the railway, the service between Kingsgrove and East Hills was conducted by rail motors. Services in peak times were later provided by steam trains prior to the electrification of the line beyond Kingsgrove in December 1939. [4]In 1954, the Herne Bay Businessmen's Association sought the support of Hurstville Council in the action of local residents and businesses to change the name of Herne Bay. The name 'Avonlea' was the preferred option, followed by 'Forrest Hills', 'Warinna' or 'Ferndale'. Following consultation with Hurstville Council Ward Aldermen, the correspondence of the businessmen's association later indicated the name of Peakhurst should be adopted for the Herne Bay area. [5]As a result of the correspondence of both the Department of Railways and the Herne Bay Businessmen's Association tabled at a Hurstville Council meeting in October 1954, Council resolved that no further action would be taken to change the name of the railway station to Peakhurst. The Council resolution was preceded by a report indicating local residents were seeking to change the name of the area because of the Herne Bay Housing Settlement which was considered not to 'add lustre to the district'. The Secretary for Railways reportedly stated no benefit was likely to be gained from a name change, claiming that the location, regardless of its name, was associated with the housing settlement which itself could possibly have adopted the new name as well. [6]Despite Department of Lands' correspondence in 1956 referencing the Railways' opposition to the name change which also indicated that no further action would be taken in the matter until unanimity between the relative authorities could be achieved, the Herne Bay 'Change of Name' Committee successfully solicited Council support for the adoption of Riverwood as the name for the area in July 1957. [7]In November 1957, the Secretary for Railways advised Hurstville Council of departmental approval for the alteration of the name of Herne Bay Railway Station to Riverwood, based on the willingness of other authorities to adopt the name. Subsequent correspondence of postal authorities received at a Council meeting in January 1958 stated the name of the official post office at Herne Bay was to be changed to Riverwood as from 1 February 1958. [8]

Kevin Slessor

Kenneth Slessor was born Kenneth Adolphe Schloesser, in East Orange on 27 March 1901, the son of English-born German Robert Schloessor and Australian "belle of Orange" Margaret Ella Marian McInnes. [1]When Slessor was very young his family moved to England, but they returned to Australia and lived in Sydney in 1903. By May 1909 Slessor was writing letters from a house named “Islay” in Belgrave Street, Kogarah. The house no longer exists, but we know it was on the south side of the street. The name "Islay" came from his mother, who always gave a Scottish name to her house. In 1911 Slessor began a new notebook and headed it, Ken Schlesser, Upper Third, Kogarah Public School. Later, the family moved and he attended Chatswood Preparatory School and Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore). [2] Slessor was a voracious reader, who began writing poetry as a child and edited a school magazine while at Sydney Church of England Grammar. [3]At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Robert changed the family name from the German Schloesser to its anglicised form. When Kenneth Slessor finished school in 1918, he learned shorthand and typing and began his career as a journalist, working for the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, and Melbourne Punch.In 1927, he joined the distinctive Smith’s Weekly, where he later served as editor from 1935 to 1940. Most of his poetry was written during this period.In 1940, during World War II, Slessor was appointed official war correspondent by the Commonwealth Government. His experiences in the Middle East inspired his famous poem Beach Burial.Accounts of Slessor often highlight his stylish appearance and impeccable dress sense, in particular his trademark bow tie. His North Sydney flat overlooked the Harbour, which is believed to have inspired Five Bells.In recognition of his contribution to literature, he was awarded the OBE in 1959. [4]

Kogarah School of Arts

Kogarah School of Arts10A Bowns RoadLots 36 and 37, Section A, DP 976627; Lot 1, DP 1104088When the Bayview Estate subdivision plan was released on 18 October 1884, it included a proposed site for a School of Arts on Webbers Road (later renamed English Street in 1915). Although this land was offered free to the committee, they chose instead a site donated by Charles Bown—lots 36 and 37 on the Bowen Park Estate, at the corner of Bowns Road and Queens Road.Joseph Carruthers played a pivotal role in its creation, calling a meeting in 1886 to discuss forming the School of Arts. On 22 May that year, the foundation stone was laid by Dr Arthur Renwick, Minister for Public Instruction.[1] The building, designed by architect C. Blacket, cost £1,600 and was built in the elegant Victorian Italianate style. Trustees included prominent local figures such as J.H. Carruthers, Edward Hogben, Myles McRae, and others. [3]The School of Arts officially opened on 4 March 1887, with Hon. James Inglis presiding[2]. For decades, it was the beating heart of Kogarah’s civic life. The first Kogarah Council meeting was held there on 15 February 1887, and the hall served as Council Chambers until 1912. Before a courthouse was built, it even doubled as a courtroom.Beyond civic duties, the hall became a hub for community life—hosting sporting clubs, religious services for congregations without permanent churches, and countless social gatherings. In later years, its role evolved: 1940s: Remembered fondly by locals like G.B. Holt, who witnessed the laying of the foundation stone. 1950s–60s: Home to the National Service organisation, a State Employment Office branch, and even a mail-sorting office. 1970s: Leased to the Marist Brothers as a school annexe.[4]By 1979, membership had dwindled to just sixteen.[5] The four billiard tables were sold, and library books donated to Kogarah Library and other causes. The Trustees wound up operations in 1978, and the building passed to Kogarah Council in 1981. The Trustees wound up operations in 1978, and the building passed to Kogarah Council in 1981.A major restoration took place between 1983 and 1985, led by Building Apprentices Training Ltd, which provided hands-on experience for unemployed apprentices. The hall reopened during Kogarah Council’s centenary celebrations in December 1985, and in February 1987, a commemorative Council meeting marked 100 years since the first gathering.The building continues to stand as a symbol of the community. In 2018, it received a new Welsh slate roof—another chapter in its long and storied history.[6]

St George Hospital, Kogarah

St George Hospital arose at the instigation of Joseph Carruthers, who urged leading local residents to form a committee to begin a hospital for the area. The foundation stone of what became St George Cottage Hospital was laid in 1894, and the building was opened for patients in November that year. Initially there were only two wards, men’s and women’s, but additions were made when funds permitted. By 1900, the hospital was registered as a nurses’ training school. Much of the fund-raising for the hospital was carried out by local volunteers through events such as fetes, balls and sporting events Several nurses from the hospital served on the battlefields of World War One, and its staff were vitally engaged in the post-war struggle against the influenza pandemic. In 1920, its increasing role as a regional hospital was recognised when the name changed to St George District Hospital.

Kogarah - Sans Souci Steam Tramway

The Sans Souci Tramway League was a pressure group in the 1880s which campaigned for the construction of a tramway from Kogarah Railway Station to Sans Souci. The matter was debated in State Parliament, and construction began in 1886. It was arranged that the platforms for the Kogarah train and the steam tram were adjacent, which would have been convenient for commuters. The steam trams burned coal to produce the necessary steam power, and they are remembered for their noisy progress. Their drivers were known as motormen.The introduction of the tramway had a stimulating effect on the development of the business centre of Kogarah and on housing subdivision along its route.However, at one time the tramway had an unlucky reputation. This began when 69-year-old Walter Targett slipped and fell under a tram at Kogarah, on 7 September 1918. His left leg was severed, and he died the following day in St George Hospital. By coincidence, Mr Targett was the former MLA for Hartley, and would have been one of those who debated the construction of the tramway back in the 1880s.His death was followed in May 1921 by the death of a seven-year old boy, who slipped and fell under a tram in Railway Parade. Two conductors were badly injured in August 1922 by a tram heading in the opposite direction along Rocky Point Road. Then in March 1925, a William Dodds was fatally crushed at Sandringham terminus, and in May that year another man was killed when he tried to nip across the line in front of an oncoming tram. In April 1926, the motorman of the Sans Souci tram, a Mr Slater or Slatyer was killed, and two conductors were seriously injured when their engine left the rails and overturned, crashing into a power pole.

Taren Point Punt

Taren Point Punt (1916 – 1965)The Taren Point Punt was one of three punts which ran across the Georges River, at Rocky Point, Tom Ugly’s Point, and Lugarno. The Taren Point Punt ran from 1916 to 1965, until the completion of the Captain Cook Bridge. It is here shown pulling up at the Taren Point side with the construction of the Taren Point bridge in the background. The last service was on 29 May 1965. The ferry was responsible for moving around 26 vehicles each time, up to 1000 cars per day. The Taren Point Ferry was opened to ease congestion at the Tom Ugly’s Point ferry, but ended up equally congested, demonstrating a clear need for the large infrastructure project which became the Captain Cook Bridge. It left from the stone boat ramp which still remains at the site of what is now Bass and Flinders Cruises.

Christina Stead

Christina Stead (1902–1983) was an internationally acclaimed Australian novelist best known for works like The Man Who Loved Children and For Love Alone.Christina Stead's father was the marine biologist and pioneer conservationist David George Stead. In 1907 David Stead married Ada Gibbins and the new family moved to Lydham Hall, Bexley, an old sandstone cottage owned by Ada’s father. [1] Stead was born in Rockdale, and spent her early years living near the Cooks River and Botany Bay. This environment, marked by waterways, bushland, and working-class communities; father’s fascination with the natural world from the long tales that he told her at bedtime; combined with her shaped her imagination and later appeared in her writing. 'I was brought up by a naturalist' she maintained, 'and I am a naturalist'. [2]Stead studied at Bexley Public School and Kogarah Girls’ Intermediate High (renamed St George Girls’ High in 1916) before moving to Sydney Girls’ High School in 1917. She worked as an editor of the school magazine, and in 1919 she took up a scholarship at Sydney Teachers’ College. [3]Her best-known novel, The Man Who Loved Children (1940), drew heavily on her Sydney childhood. Although Stead spent most of her adult life abroad in Europe and the United States, she maintained a strong connection to Australia—reviewing Australian literature for the New York Times Book Review and staying informed about events at home through regular correspondence with family. [4]She published 16 novels and numerous short story collections during her life. Stead is remembered in the State Library of NSW's Christina Stead Prize for Fiction.

Biddy Giles

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are warned that this collection may contain the names and images of deceased persons.

Tow Weiry

Tow Weiry (c. 1820 – 1850)Tow Weiry, known also as Tom Weiry, Towwaa and later Tom Ugly, moved to the Georges River area from NSW’s south coast. He lived and was buried on the point that bears one of his cognomens. He died in the late 1840s or early 1850s, and a portrait of him is part of the British Museum collection. Dr Karl Scherzer attempted to exhume his remains in 1858 for his ‘collection’ but they were degraded sufficiently to prevent this. Many stories have been circulated and persist as to the identity of ‘Tom Ugly’, however this is the most recent and robust historical explanation.

Bald Face Point

The modern history of Bald Face Point goes back to the early 1880s, when the area was resumed by the NSW Government to exploit deposits of stone found there.The name Bald Face Point Reserve was assigned in 1972 and refers to the recreation reserve on the northern shores of Georges River at Bald Face Point. [1]An archaeological assessment of Bald Face Point, Stuart Street, Blakehurst, NSW by Vanessa Hardy was published in 2002. It aimed to evaluate the probable extent, nature and integrity of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural resources at the reserve.There is at least one early reference to ‘Bald Face Stag Point’.

Derwent and Drake Oyster Farm

Derwent and Drake Oyster Farm44 Wyong Street and Neverfail BayLot 1, DP 803348In 2016, Kogarah City Council began to install ten plaques which mark the first round of places of significance in the Kogarah local government area (LGA). In the first year, the requirements of the project were that the selected sites showcase a range of types of significance (infrastructure, medicine, culture, the arts, industry and so on), and that they be installed in places easily accessible to the public. As the project continued, Council put in place a nominations process for sites of significance to be considered for commemorative plaques in future years, shaped by considerations of significance, diversity, and historical integrity.The 2016 plaques were launched on Tuesday 15 March with the unveiling of the first plaque. These plaques, numbered 1-10, commemorate sites in the Kogarah Town Centre and along the Georges River.10. Drake’s Oyster Barges (1955 – 1996)The oyster industry was a significant part of the local riparian produce, since well before white settlement. Large middens of oyster shells left by Indigenous groups were later quarried and burnt for lime (also a significant industry along the rivers of Sydney). The commercial cultivation of oysters in the region began in 1872; unfortunately, in the 1990s QX disease wiped out the Georges River oyster industry, ending centuries of the cultivation and harvesting of these delicacies. Drakes Oysters was one such long-standing lease. Here you can see Bob Drake in 1960 punting along the leasehold.