Ermington, New South Wales

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Ermington
Sydney, New South Wales
Population: 10,318
Postcode: 2115
Area: 4.5 km²
LGA: City of Parramatta
State District: Parramatta
Federal Division: Parramatta
Suburbs around Ermington
Dundas Dundas Valley Eastwood
Rydalmere
Melrose Park		 Ermington West Ryde
Parramatta River

Ermington is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia[1]. It lies on the northern bank of the Parramatta River, opposite to the site of the Sydney 2000 Olympic games. Surrounding suburbs are Melrose Park, West Ryde, Eastwood, Dundas Valley, Dundas and Rydalmere. It is contained within the City of Parramatta.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Aboriginal Culture

Before its subdivision and sale, the area now known as Ermington was associated with the Wallumettagal/Wallumedegal people[2][3]. (Note: One reference lists the area as being controlled by the Wongal/Wangal people.)

[edit] European Settlement

Before gaining a separate identity, Ermington was within the Field of Mars region. The Field of Mars was named by Governor Arthur Phillip when he granted land on the northern bank of the Parramatta River to eight marines on 3 January 1792.

One of these Marines, Alexander McDonald, built his house within present day Ermington. The house is still standing near the Parramatta River. It is located at 15-17 Honor Street (33.819669° S 151.059657° E).

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.[4] Today the neighbouring suburb of Dundas still has a creek called Vineyard Creek[5].

Ermington took its name from "Ermington House", a mansion belonging to the Police Magistrate to Parramatta, Major Edmund Lockyer[6][7][8]. The house was completed in 1828 and stood near the current Ryde-Parramatta Golf Course. In time Locker increased his land holdings and by 1830 was grazing 1280 sheep and over 300 head of cattle on more than 1900 hectares. Lockyer died in 1860. Lockyer's second wife, Sarah Morris, was born in Ermington, Devon, England. His third child by this marriage, born in England, was named Sarah Ermington Lockyer.

The first known Catholic mass in the area was celebrated in 1855, in a converted barn near Ermington House.

[edit] Residential

[edit] Housing Commission

Ermington was one of the earliest suburbs to be used for low cost Housing Commission homes, first built in the 1950s[9]. Today there are still substantial Housing Commission holdings near the intersection of Spurway and Bartlett Streets[10].

[edit] Notable Residents

The following notable people were born or lived in Ermington.

  • Betty Cuthbert, an Australian Olympic Athlete, grew up in Ermington and attended Ermington Public School[11]. The main street of the Ermington shopping centre is called Betty Cuthbert Avenue in her honour[12].
  • Greg Matthews, a test cricketer, attended Ermington Public School[11]

[edit] Features: Past and Present

[edit] Army Barracks

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 is just inside the northern boundary of Ermington, on the corner of Kissing Point Road and Stewart Street[13]. It is currently home to the 8th Command Support Regiment[14]. Previously it was home to the Eastern Region Command Signals Regiment[14]. 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.

Before the barracks was built, and opened on 17 February 1968, the site played host to the 2CH radio station transmitter. Today 2CH's 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 1960's.

[edit] Navy Stores

The Australian Navy used to have a storage depot on the northern bank of the Parramatta River, between Silverwater Road and Spurway Street. This area was covered with arch hangars made of corrugated iron. Presumably it was associated with the Navy munitions storage depot on the opposite bank of the river. Today the old Ermington Navy depot has been demolished and as at 2006 is a building site for waterfront apartments.

[edit] The Tip

In the 1970s Ermington contained a large rubbish tip. It was accessed from Spurway Street and was on the banks of the Parramatta River. Today the old tip is underneath the George Kendall Riverside Park.

[edit] Industrial Area

The South Eastern corner of Ermington is a light industrial park. Residents include numerous chemical and pharmaceutical companies. A little known risk of living in southern Ermington is the possibility of being wiped out by a BLEVE. (Life's exciting in Ermington!)

[edit] The Lottie Stewart Hospital

Next to the Timor Barracks is the Lottie Stewart Hospital[15]. The hospital has a history of palative care and is operated by the Wesley Mission[16]. It was opened in 1948[16]. The Lottie Stewart Fete is an annual fixture in Ermington's calendar.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Organisations

The Ermington United Sports & Recreation Club was founded in Ermington[17].

1st Ermington Scouts was founded in 1953[18][19]

[edit] Politics

Ermington is the easternmost suburb in the federal electoral division of Parramatta[20][21].

At the state level Ermington is contained within the State Electoral District Of Parramatta.[22]

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.[23]

In the redistribution of seats for the 2007 federal election, Ermington is proposed to be transferred into the federal division of Bennelong, currently held by Australia's Prime Minister[24].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Place Name Search, Results for Ermington, Geoscience Australia (accessed 19th June 2006)
  2. ^ Living Harbour: Aboriginal Clan Names Map, Living Harbour website, Australian Musuem (accessed 20th June 2006)
  3. ^ Living Harbour: Aboriginal Clan Names Chart, Living Harbour website, Australian Musuem (accessed 20th June 2006)
  4. ^ Wine and Grape History in the Sydney Region, Nepean Hawkesbury Wine & Grape Growers Association Inc (accessed 20th 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.
  5. ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 279 E12
  6. ^
  7. ^ Royal Australian Historical Society Journal, Vol 3 Part 1) P.325 Vol 5 Part 5
  8. ^ NSW Legislative Council, Upper House Traditions: The Usher of the Black Rod, Parliament of New South Wales (accessed 19th June 2006)
  9. ^ About Us: The 1950’s, NSW Department of Housing website (accessed 19th June 2006)
  10. ^ Properties constructed as at February, 1969, NSW Department of Housing
  11. ^ a b Anna (class 4S), Ermington Public School History, Ermington Public School Website (accessed 19th June 2006)
  12. ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 310 B2
  13. ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 280 C12
  14. ^ a b History of the 155 Signals Squadron (8 CSR), Department of Defence website(accessed 19th June 2006)
  15. ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 280 D11
  16. ^ a b Lottie Stewart Hospital: History, Sydney West Area Health Service (accessed 19th June 2006)
  17. ^ About Us. Ermington United Sports & Recreation Club (accessed 19th June 2006)
  18. ^ Plaque on Scout Hall, corner of Bartlett Street and Kissing Point Road
  19. ^ 1st Ermington Scout Group website
  20. ^ Parramatta Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (accessed 19th June 2006)
  21. ^ Parramatta Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Electoral Commission (accessed 19th June 2006)
  22. ^ State Electoral District Of Parramatta, State Electoral Office (accessed 19th June 2006)
  23. ^ Council: Ward Information, Parramatta City Council (accessed 19th June 2006)
  24. ^ Tremors of change, Northern District Times, 5th July 2006 (accessed 17th July 2006)

[edit] External links

Coordinates: -33.81145° 151.06178°

Suburbs and localities within the City of Parramatta | Western Sydney | Hills District | Sydney

Camellia | Chester Hill | Clyde | Dundas | Dundas Valley | Eastwood | Epping | Ermington | Granville | Guildford East | Harris Park | Kingsdene | Model Farms | Northmead | Oatlands | Old Toongabbie | Parramatta | North Parramatta | Pendle Hill | Rosehill | Rydalmere | South Granville | Telopea | Toongabbie | Winston Hills | Wentworthville | Westmead |
List of Sydney suburbs
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