Ermington, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Ermington is a suburb
of Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia
. Ermington is located 19 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district
in the local government area of the City of Parramatta
. Ermington lies on the northern bank of the Parramatta River
.
/Wallumedegal people. References also note that the area had been controlled by the Wongal/Wangal people.
granted parcels of land on the northern bank of Parramatta River
in the Field of Mars to eight marines: Isaac Archer, John Carver, John Colthread, Thomas Cottrell, James Manning, Alexander McDonald, Thomas Swinnerton and Thomas Tining. Most of the parcels were about 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in size, except for McDonald’s which was 130 acres (apparently because he was married). The settlers used their land to grow wheat, maize and vegetables.
Alexander McDonald's grant extended northward from Parramatta River
to approximately present-day Stevens Street, and westward to present-day Spurway Street. His house is still standing near Parramatta River at 15-17 Honor Street. In 1809 he acquired an extra 40 acres (161,874.4 m²). He used his land to grow wheat, which he ground, dressed and sold to a baker in Sydney. After McDonald’s death, his widow sold part of the land to Seargent George MacDonald (no relation), who in turn sold it to Henry Bowerman and Charles Campbell. Bowerman developed an orchard and vineyard on the land, and he built the Broadoaks homestead on the hill immediately west of present-day Rydalmere East Public School, with sweeping views of Parramatta River. The remainder of McDonald's land was purchased by E. B. Miller, who built Rose Farm in Honor Street.
John Colthread's grant comprised 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) across present-day Wharf Road. The Police Magistrate to Parramatta
, Major Edmund Lockyer
, purchased the land in 1827 and built the stone mansion Ermington - named after the parish in Devon
, England
, where his second wife, Sarah Morris, was born. The house was completed in 1828 and stood near the current Ryde-Parramatta Golf Course. Locker increased his land holdings and by 1830 was grazing 1280 sheep and over 300 head of cattle on more than 1900 hectares. He subdivided some of his land in 1841 and advertised it for sale as the "Village of Ermington", but not many blocks were sold. In 1843, Lockyer sold off his remaining holdings. Lockyer died in 1860. His third child by his second marriage, born in England, was named Sarah Ermington Lockyer.
established a vineyard in what is now Ermington and produced award winning wines. During March 1822 Australia's first wine export was shipped to England from Blaxland's 'Brush Farm' vineyard in Ermington . Today the neighbouring suburb of Dundas still has a creek called Vineyard Creek .
From the 1830s, the Ermington region became an important source of fruit for early Sydney, and it was a busy place in the packing season. Produce such as oranges, lemons, apples and apricots was carted down to Pennant Hills Wharf, and small boats including the Amy and the Growers Friend would transport it on to the markets in Sydney. Blue metal from the quarry in present-day Dundas Valley was also transported to Sydney for road building.
Further south, parts of the lower area adjacent to the Parramatta River were filled in the early 1930s in anticipation of a residential subdivision, also to be known as the Broadoaks Estate. However, these plans were stifled by the Great Depression
. In 1943, the site was occupied by the Ermington Naval Storage Depot. Seven large nissen-style storage and repair warehouses were constructed to serve as a supplies store for the United States Army
during World War II
. The Royal Australian Navy
continued to use the site for several years after the war to store non-explosive materials, and Prix Car Services used it to hold cars in the 1990s.
In 1945, the Australian government acquired many of the orchards and nurseries in Ermington, commenced large-scale subdivision and built hundreds of Housing and War Commission dwellings to accommodate returned servicemen and their families . There are still substantial Housing Commission holdings near the intersection of Spurway and Bartlett Streets .
During the 1970s, to the chagrin of the local residents, much of the area occupied by George Kendall Riverside Park
(then called George Kendall Reserve) was used as a landfill site . Eventually the operation was decommissioned and the site revegetated.
Since the Sydney property boom in the early 2000s, Ermington has had a wave of young families settle here in search for affordable houses, while the continued development of Parramatta
attracts professional workers. In 2006/07, the site of the former Ermington Naval Storage Depot was cleared and Stockland commenced development of its Riverwalk estate, featuring high-market housing beside the Parramatta River
.
The barracks opened on 17 February 1968, on the former site of the 2CH radio station
transmitter. Today the 2CH transmitter is located across the Parramatta river from Ermington, at Homebush Bay. The area surrounding the transmitter was a market garden owned by Yates. A nearby street in Dundas, is called Yates Avenue. Today the old market garden is residential housing, built in the 1960s.
and is operated by the Wesley Mission. It was opened in 1948. The Lottie Stewart Fete is an annual fixture in Ermington's calendar.
mass
in the area was celebrated in 1855, in a converted barn near Ermington House.
1st Ermington Scouts was founded in 1953.
George Kendell Riverside park also contains a number of locations fit for community or family based activities. These include: Playgrounds, Sheltered seating and cooking areas and a bike track.
. Since 2007 most of Ermington is contained within the federal electoral division of Bennelong
, being on its western boundary. A small portion of the suburb, lying west of Silverwater Road, is in the division of Reid
.
At the state level Ermington is contained within the State Electoral District Of Parramatta
.
At the local government level Ermington is within the City of Parramatta Local Government Area. The portion of Ermington east of Spurway Street is in the Lachlan Macquarie Ward while the portion west of Spurway Street is in the Elizabeth Macarthur Ward.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Ermington is located 19 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
in the local government area of the City of Parramatta
City of Parramatta
The City of Parramatta is a Local Government Area in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.Initially in 1861 it was formed as Municipality of Parramatta...
. Ermington lies on the northern bank of the Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
.
Aboriginal culture
The area now known as Ermington was associated with the WallumettagalWallumettagal
The Wallumettagal or Wallumedegal tribe was an indigenous Aboriginal tribe that inhabited the area of Lower Northern Sydney today known as the Ryde-Hunters Hill area of the North Shore...
/Wallumedegal people. References also note that the area had been controlled by the Wongal/Wangal people.
European settlement
Ermington was originally part of the Field of Mars area. In February 1792, Governor Arthur PhillipArthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
granted parcels of land on the northern bank of Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
in the Field of Mars to eight marines: Isaac Archer, John Carver, John Colthread, Thomas Cottrell, James Manning, Alexander McDonald, Thomas Swinnerton and Thomas Tining. Most of the parcels were about 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in size, except for McDonald’s which was 130 acres (apparently because he was married). The settlers used their land to grow wheat, maize and vegetables.
Alexander McDonald's grant extended northward from Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
to approximately present-day Stevens Street, and westward to present-day Spurway Street. His house is still standing near Parramatta River at 15-17 Honor Street. In 1809 he acquired an extra 40 acres (161,874.4 m²). He used his land to grow wheat, which he ground, dressed and sold to a baker in Sydney. After McDonald’s death, his widow sold part of the land to Seargent George MacDonald (no relation), who in turn sold it to Henry Bowerman and Charles Campbell. Bowerman developed an orchard and vineyard on the land, and he built the Broadoaks homestead on the hill immediately west of present-day Rydalmere East Public School, with sweeping views of Parramatta River. The remainder of McDonald's land was purchased by E. B. Miller, who built Rose Farm in Honor Street.
John Colthread's grant comprised 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) across present-day Wharf Road. The Police Magistrate to Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, Major Edmund Lockyer
Edmund Lockyer
Edmund Lockyer, – 10 June 1860) was a British soldier and explorer of Australia.Born in Plymouth, Devon, Lockyer was son of Thomas Lockyer, a sailmaker, and his wife Ann, née Grose. Lockyer began his army career as an ensign in the 19th Regiment in June 1803, was promoted lieutenant in early 1805...
, purchased the land in 1827 and built the stone mansion Ermington - named after the parish in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where his second wife, Sarah Morris, was born. The house was completed in 1828 and stood near the current Ryde-Parramatta Golf Course. Locker increased his land holdings and by 1830 was grazing 1280 sheep and over 300 head of cattle on more than 1900 hectares. He subdivided some of his land in 1841 and advertised it for sale as the "Village of Ermington", but not many blocks were sold. In 1843, Lockyer sold off his remaining holdings. Lockyer died in 1860. His third child by his second marriage, born in England, was named Sarah Ermington Lockyer.
Agriculture
Ermington played an early role in Australia's wine industry. In 1806 Gregory BlaxlandGregory Blaxland
Gregory Blaxland was a pioneer farmer and explorer in Australia.- Early life :Gregory Blaxland was born 17 June 1778 at Fordwich, Kent, England, the fourth son of John Blaxland, mayor from 1767 to 1774, whose family had owned estates nearby for generations, and Mary, daughter of Captain Parker,...
established a vineyard in what is now Ermington and produced award winning wines. During March 1822 Australia's first wine export was shipped to England from Blaxland's 'Brush Farm' vineyard in Ermington . Today the neighbouring suburb of Dundas still has a creek called Vineyard Creek .
From the 1830s, the Ermington region became an important source of fruit for early Sydney, and it was a busy place in the packing season. Produce such as oranges, lemons, apples and apricots was carted down to Pennant Hills Wharf, and small boats including the Amy and the Growers Friend would transport it on to the markets in Sydney. Blue metal from the quarry in present-day Dundas Valley was also transported to Sydney for road building.
Industrial and residential development
In November 1886, the land bounded by present-day Silverwater Road, Jackson Street, Spurway Street and Lindsay Avenue was offered at auction as the Broad Oaks Estate. However, the auction was unsuccessful and the land reverted to grazing and dairying. Many years later the land was acquired by John Bridge Ltd, who engaged surveyors Lockie, Gannon, Worley and Campbell to prepare the current curvilinear design in 1930. The streets were named after Australian painters.Further south, parts of the lower area adjacent to the Parramatta River were filled in the early 1930s in anticipation of a residential subdivision, also to be known as the Broadoaks Estate. However, these plans were stifled by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In 1943, the site was occupied by the Ermington Naval Storage Depot. Seven large nissen-style storage and repair warehouses were constructed to serve as a supplies store for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
continued to use the site for several years after the war to store non-explosive materials, and Prix Car Services used it to hold cars in the 1990s.
In 1945, the Australian government acquired many of the orchards and nurseries in Ermington, commenced large-scale subdivision and built hundreds of Housing and War Commission dwellings to accommodate returned servicemen and their families . There are still substantial Housing Commission holdings near the intersection of Spurway and Bartlett Streets .
George Kendall Riverside Park
George Kendall Riverside Park is a 27.2 hectare recreational park in Ermington, New South Wales, on the northern bank of the Parramatta River.The park is named after George Frederick Kendall, an alderman of the Ermington/Rydalmere Municipality from 1944–1948....
(then called George Kendall Reserve) was used as a landfill site . Eventually the operation was decommissioned and the site revegetated.
Since the Sydney property boom in the early 2000s, Ermington has had a wave of young families settle here in search for affordable houses, while the continued development of Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
attracts professional workers. In 2006/07, the site of the former Ermington Naval Storage Depot was cleared and Stockland commenced development of its Riverwalk estate, featuring high-market housing beside the Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
.
Commercial area
The Ermington Shopping Centre, opened in 1958 , was an "essential amenity" for the hundreds of families in the new Housing and War Commission Homes . Today, this string of shops along Betty Cuthbert Avenue is a busy shopping hub .Army barracks
Timor Barracks is just inside the northern boundary of Ermington, on the corner of Kissing Point Road and Stewart Street. It is currently home to the 8th Command Support Regiment. Previously it was home to the Eastern Region Command Signals Regiment. The barracks used to be overlooked by a very tall antenna tower, providing communications for the army. The tower was pulled down some years ago. Today there is a mobile phone tower not too far from the site of the original army tower.The barracks opened on 17 February 1968, on the former site of the 2CH radio station
2CH
2CH is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia, at 1170 kHz AM. It broadcasts an oldies format, and is aimed to an older age demographic...
transmitter. Today the 2CH transmitter is located across the Parramatta river from Ermington, at Homebush Bay. The area surrounding the transmitter was a market garden owned by Yates. A nearby street in Dundas, is called Yates Avenue. Today the old market garden is residential housing, built in the 1960s.
The Lottie Stewart Hospital
Next to the Timor Barracks is the Lottie Stewart Hospital. The hospital has a history of palliative carePalliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...
and is operated by the Wesley Mission. It was opened in 1948. The Lottie Stewart Fete is an annual fixture in Ermington's calendar.
Subiaco Creek
Ermington is the watershed of the Subiaco Creek. The Creeks starts as runoff from the area containing Timor Barracks and Lottie Stewart Hospital. It enters a culvert and runs underneath Fremont Avenue at the bottom of the valley near house number 23. It then flows under an easement into Cowells Lane Reserve. "The Creek" (as it is called by locals) used to be mostly above ground, but as at 2006 has been mostly buried in a pipe. It surfaces again near the intersection of Stevens Street and Spurway Street.Transport
There are five Sydney bus routes that service Ermington. The 520 and m52 travel to and from Parramatta Station to City and Circular Quay. The 523 travels via Spurway and Bartlett Streets in Ermington and on to West Ryde. The 524 services Melrose park stopping along Boronia St then at Ermington Shops. This route then travels along the industrial section of Rydalmere along South Street and via the ferry wharf towards ParramattaSchools
- Ermington West Public School
- Rydalmere East Public School
- Melrose Park Public School
- Ermington Public School is located in West Ryde, just outside the boundaries of Ermington.
Churches
The first church in Ermington, St Mark's Anglican Church, was opened in 1883 . The first known CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
in the area was celebrated in 1855, in a converted barn near Ermington House.
Parks
Parks in the Ermington area include:- George Kendall Riverside ParkGeorge Kendall Riverside ParkGeorge Kendall Riverside Park is a 27.2 hectare recreational park in Ermington, New South Wales, on the northern bank of the Parramatta River.The park is named after George Frederick Kendall, an alderman of the Ermington/Rydalmere Municipality from 1944–1948....
- Eccles Park
- Cowells Lane Reserve
- Thomas Wemyss Park
- Millers Reserve
- Hilder Reserve
Sport and recreation
The Ermington United Sports & Recreation Club was founded in Ermington 1957 and is predominantly based at George Kendell Riverside Park. The club has since been involved in a variety of sports and recreational activities. These include: Cricket, AFL, archery and boomerang throwing. Currently the club is only involved in Soccer, Netball and Tennis.1st Ermington Scouts was founded in 1953.
George Kendell Riverside park also contains a number of locations fit for community or family based activities. These include: Playgrounds, Sheltered seating and cooking areas and a bike track.
Notable residents
- Betty CuthbertBetty CuthbertElizabeth Cuthbert AM, MBE is an Australian athlete, and a fourfold Olympic champion....
, an Australian Olympic Athlete, grew up in Ermington and attended Ermington Public School. The main street of the Ermington shopping centre is called Betty Cuthbert Avenue, in her honour. - Greg MatthewsGreg MatthewsGregory Richard John "Mo" Matthews is a former New South Wales and Australian cricketer who is now a television cricket commentator....
, a test cricketer, attended Ermington Public School
Politics
Prior to the 2007 federal election Ermington was the eastern most suburb in the federal electoral division of ParramattaDivision of Parramatta
The Division of Parramatta is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the locality of Parramatta. The name Parramatta has been sourced to an Aboriginal...
. Since 2007 most of Ermington is contained within the federal electoral division of Bennelong
Division of Bennelong
The Division of Bennelong is an Australian electorate in New South Wales. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Bennelong, an Aboriginal man befriended by the first Governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip...
, being on its western boundary. A small portion of the suburb, lying west of Silverwater Road, is in the division of Reid
Division of Reid
The Division of Reid is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the western suburbs of Sydney, and includes the suburbs of Abbotsford, Auburn , Berala , Breakfast Point, Burwood , Cabarita, Canada Bay, Chiswick, Concord, Concord West, Croydon , Drummoyne,...
.
At the state level Ermington is contained within the State Electoral District Of Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
.
At the local government level Ermington is within the City of Parramatta Local Government Area. The portion of Ermington east of Spurway Street is in the Lachlan Macquarie Ward while the portion west of Spurway Street is in the Elizabeth Macarthur Ward.
External links
- Hardie Family History 1890s
- History
- Reference to 'Ermington House' near the present Ryde-Eastwood Golf Course
- mention of Baker at Ermington 1966
- History from Olympic Coordination Authority (Original link, now dead)
- Lockyer's family tree
- Ermington Naval Stores' entry in the Australian Heritage Database
- Ermington Bay Wetlands' entry in the Australian Heritage Database
- McDonald's Farm House's entry in the Australian Heritage Database
- Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers Landscapes' entry in the Australian Heritage Database
- History of Ryde: Date of initial land grant
- History for Brush Farm with info about Ermington (One Tree Hill)