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Ermington, New South Wales

Ermington
Sydney, New South Wales
Ermington shops on Betty Cuthbert Avenue
Map
Population12,686 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density2,819/km2 (7,300/sq mi)
Postcode(s)2115[2]
Elevation36 m (118 ft)
Area4.5 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Location19 km (12 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)City of Parramatta
State electorate(s)Parramatta
Federal division(s)
Suburbs around Ermington:
Dundas Dundas Valley Eastwood
Rydalmere Ermington West Ryde Melrose Park
Silverwater Newington Sydney Olympic Park

Ermington is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ermington is located 19 kilometres 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.[3][4]

History

Aboriginal culture

The area now known as Ermington was associated with the Wallumettagal/Wallumedegal people.[5][6] 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 Phillip 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 (320,000 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.[7][8]

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 (160,000 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 of about 45 acres to Seargent George MacDonald (no relation), who in turn sold it to Henry Bowerman and Charles Campbell.

Bowerman named his estate Marion developing an orchard and vineyard on the land, and he built the Marion homestead on the hill where present-day Rydalmere East Public School with sweeping views of Parramatta River now stands. Mrs Bowerman put the estate up for sale in 1857, though it was 1862 before she actually disposed of it at auction.[9] Jamed Hartwell Williams, a well known colonist and long time American Consul resided at 'Marion' for several years in the early 1870s.[10] The estate passed into the hands of developers in the 1880s who renamed it the 'Broadoaks Estate' and 'Broadoaks House'.

The remainder of McDonald's land was purchased by E. B. Miller, who built Rose Farm in Honor Street.[7]

John Colthread's grant comprised 80 acres (320,000 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.[7][8]

Agriculture

Ermington played an early role in Australia's wine industry. In 1806 Gregory Blaxland 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.[11]

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.[7][8]

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.[12]

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.[13][14]

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.[15] There are still substantial Housing Commission holdings near the intersection of Spurway and Bartlett Streets.[16]

Riverwalk estate

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.[17] Eventually the operation was decommissioned and the site revegetated.

Since the Sydney property boom in the early 2000s, a wave of young families have settled in Ermington 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.

Commercial area

The Ermington Shopping Centre, opened in 1958,[18] was an "essential amenity" for the hundreds of families in the new Housing and War Commission Homes.[8] Today, this string of shops along Betty Cuthbert Avenue is a busy shopping hub.

Landmarks

Army barracks

Timor Barracks is just inside the northern boundary of Ermington, on the corner of Kissing Point Road and Stewart Street.[19][20] It is currently home to the 8th Command Support Regiment.[21] Previously it was home to the Eastern Region Command Signals Regiment.[21] 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 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 old 2CH Radio Station Transmitter, where Timor Barracks now stands
    The old 2CH Radio Station Transmitter, where Timor Barracks now stands
  • The old 2CH Radio Station Transmitter
    The old 2CH Radio Station Transmitter
  • Timor Barracks in the 1960s, with the antenna tower visible.
    Timor Barracks in the 1960s, with the antenna tower visible.

The Lottie Stewart Hospital

Next to the Timor Barracks is the Lottie Stewart Hospital.[22] The hospital has a history of palliative care and is operated by the Wesley Mission.[23] It was opened in 1948.[23] 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

Victoria Road (A40) is a major route connecting Parramatta with Anzac Bridge and passes through Ermington. Stewart Street and Silverwater Road are parts of the A6 arterial route between Cumberland Highway at Carlingford and the Princes Highway at Heathcote. It intersects with Victoria Road at a flyover interchange on the western edge of Ermington and crosses the Parramatta River over Silverwater Bridge.

Busways operate six bus routes that service Ermington. The 501 travel to and from Parramatta station to Railway Square. 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 Parramatta. The 525 to Westfield Burwood from Parramatta services Ermington along Silverwater Road. The 544 route to Auburn station from Macquarie Centre also travels along Silverwater Road via Victoria Road in a south-westerly direction.

Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail is an under construction light rail link between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park via Parramatta. The project would pass through Ermington.[24]

At the 2011 census, only 16% of employed people travelled to work on public transport and 66% by car (either as driver or as passenger).[1]

Schools

  • 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.
St Marks Anglican Church. Part of the original sandstone wall can be seen at its base.
George Kendell Riverside Park

Churches

The first church in Ermington, St Mark's Anglican Church, was opened in 1883.[7] The first known Catholic mass in the area was celebrated in 1855, in a converted barn near Ermington House.

Parks

Parks in the Ermington area include:

  • George Kendall Riverside Park
  • Eccles Park
  • Cowells Lane Reserve
  • Thomas Wemyss Park
  • Millers Reserve
  • Hilder Reserve
  • Tristram Reserve
  • Lockyer Reserve

Sport and recreation

The Ermington United Sports & Recreation Club was founded in Ermington 1957 and is predominantly based at George Kendall 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.[25]

1st Ermington Scouts was founded in 1953.[26]

Tigers Baseball & Softball Club (formerly Epping Eastwood) play their home baseball games at George Kendall Riverside Park. There are 5 diamonds close to the river which are used for T-Ball, under age and senior baseball. The main diamond is named after the club's first life member, Gary Chong who was instrumental in its construction and is still an active member of the club.

George Kendall 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.

Population

Demographics

At the 2021 census, there were 12,686 residents in Ermington. Of these:[1]

Ethnic diversity
52.8% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were China 8.5%, South Korea 5.6%, Lebanon 2.1%, India 2.0% and Philippines 1.8%. The most common ancestries were Australian 18.8%, Chinese 18.2%, English 17.4%, Korean 7.6% and Lebanese 6.1%. 47.4% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 9.2%, Korean 7.3%, Cantonese 5.6%, Arabic 5.4% and Armenian 2.3%.
Religion
The most common responses for religion were No Religion 30.3%, Catholic 25.8% and Anglican 7.0%.
Age distribution
Ermington residents' median age was 37 years, compared to the national median of 38. Children aged under 15 years made up 19.4% of the population (national average is 18.2%) and people aged 65 years and over made up 14.0% of the population (national average is 17.2%).
Income
The median weekly household income was $1,993, more than the national median of $1,746.
Housing
Stand-alone houses accounted for 60.3% of occupied dwellings, while 21.2% were semi-detached (mostly townhouses) and 17.9% were flats, units or apartments. 42.8% of houses were rented – the rest were mostly owned with a mortgage (33.1%) or owned outright (21.9%). The average household size was 2.8 people.

Notable residents

  • Betty Cuthbert, an Australian Olympic Athlete, grew up in Ermington and attended Ermington Public School.[27] The main street of the Ermington shopping centre is called Betty Cuthbert Avenue, in her honour.[28] Her family ran the Riverview Nursery (L Cuthbert & Sons) at 736 Victoria Road.[29]
  • Greg Matthews, a test cricketer, attended Ermington Public School[27]
  • Alexander McDonald (1792), a Royal Marines officer on the First Fleet, in Honor Street.[30]

Politics

Prior to the 2007 federal election Ermington was the easternmost suburb in the federal electoral division of Parramatta.[31][32] 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 Parramatta.[33][34]

At the state level Ermington is contained within the State Electoral District Of Parramatta.[35]

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.[36]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Ermington (State Suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 August 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ Postcode search Archived 3 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Results for Ermington, Australia Post (accessed 19 June 2006)
  3. ^ Place Name Search, Results for Ermington Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Geoscience Australia (accessed 19 June 2006)
  4. ^ "Ermington". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 19 June 2006. Edit this at Wikidata
  5. ^ Living Harbour: Aboriginal Clan Names Map Archived 15 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Living Harbour website, Australian Museum (accessed 20 June 2006)
  6. ^ Living Harbour: Aboriginal Clan Names Chart Archived 27 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Living Harbour website, Australian Museum (accessed 20 June 2006)
  7. ^ a b c d e Jervis, J. (1999). The Cradle City of Australia: A History of Parramatta, 1788-1961. G. Mackaness (Ed), Pan: Sydney.
  8. ^ a b c d McClymont, J. (2001). Pictorial History: Parramatta & District, Kingsclear Books: Sydney.
  9. ^ Empire Newspaper 20.11.1857 p8
  10. ^ NSW Government Gazette 31'3'1874 p995
  11. ^ Wine and Grape History in the Sydney Region Archived 24 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Nepean Hawkesbury Wine & Grape Growers Association Inc Archived 3 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 20 June 2006). This source draws its information from: Norrie, Dr Philip., 1990, Vineyards of Sydney - Cradle of the Australian Wine Industry from First Settlement to Today, Horwitz Grahame Pty Ltd, Sydney, p222.
  12. ^ Parramatta Development Control Plan 2001. Appendix 6: Special Character Area.
  13. ^ Parramatta Development Control Plan 2001. Appendix 6: Special Character Areas
  14. ^ Naval Stores (former), Naval Stores (former), Aussie Heritage (accessed 4 January 2008)
  15. ^ About Us: The 1950s, NSW Department of Housing website (accessed 19 June 2006)
  16. ^ Properties constructed as at February, 1969, NSW Department of Housing
  17. ^ Planning Workshop Pty Ltd, Environmental Impact Statement: Proposed Sanitary Landfill, Spurway Street, Ermington, Parramatta City Council.
  18. ^ Landa, A. (1958). Opening of Ermington Shopping Centre[permanent dead link‍], PICMAN Database, State Library of New South Wales (accessed 10 January 2008)
  19. ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 280 C12
  20. ^ Parramatta City Council, Advertising of Proposal to Re-determine Address Locality Boundaries Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Attachment 3 - Dundas - Ermington Archived 30 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed 2007-09-20
  21. ^ a b History of the 155 Signals Squadron (8 CSR), Department of Defence website(accessed 19 June 2006)
  22. ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 280 D11
  23. ^ a b Lottie Stewart Hospital: History Archived 24 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Sydney West Area Health Service Archived 26 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 19 June 2006)
  24. ^ "Parramatta Light Rail to Sydney Olympic Park". Transport for NSW. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  25. ^ About Us Archived 13 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Ermington United Sports & Recreation Club (accessed 19 June 2006)
  26. ^ Plaque on Scout Hall, corner of Bartlett Street and Kissing Point Road
  27. ^ a b Anna (class 4S), Ermington Public School History Archived 24 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Ermington Public School Website (accessed 19 June 2006)
  28. ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 310 B2
  29. ^ NSW Heritage Register, Database Number 2240584
  30. ^ "McDonalds Farm House, 15-17 Honor St, Ermington, NSW, Australia". Australian Heritage Database, Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  31. ^ Parramatta Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (accessed 19 June 2006)
  32. ^ Parramatta Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Electoral Commission (accessed 19 June 2006)
  33. ^ Bennelong Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Electoral Commission (accessed 24 April 2007)
  34. ^ Tremors of change, Northern District Times, 5 July 2006 (accessed 17 July 2006)
  35. ^ State Electoral District Of Parramatta Archived 3 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine, State Electoral Office Archived 10 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 19 June 2006)
  36. ^ Council: Ward Information, Parramatta City Council (accessed 19 June 2006)
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