Mortdale, New South Wales

Mortdale
Sydney, New South Wales

Morts Road, Mortdale
Mortdale

Location in New South Wales

Coordinates 33°58′10″S 151°04′11″E / 33.96944°S 151.06972°E / -33.96944; 151.06972Coordinates: 33°58′10″S 151°04′11″E / 33.96944°S 151.06972°E / -33.96944; 151.06972
Population 9,702 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1885
Postcode(s) 2223
Location 17 km (11 mi) south of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)
State electorate(s) Oatley
Federal Division(s) Banks
Suburbs around Mortdale:
Peakhurst Beverly Hills Penshurst
Mortdale
Peakhurst Heights Oatley Hurstville Grove
Mortdale Memorial Park
Lime Kiln Bay

Mortdale is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mortdale is located 20 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area. Mortdale lies across the local government areas of the City of Hurstville and Municipality of Kogarah. Mortdale extends south to Lime Kiln Bay, on the Georges River. Mortdale Heights is a locality in the western corner of the suburb.

History

Mortdale has been known in the past as Mort's Road, Mort's Hill, Mort's Crossing, Mort's Township and Mort Dale. The suburb was named after Sydney industrialist Thomas Sutcliffe Mort (1816–1878) who was famous for pioneering the refrigeration of shipping meat and the construction of Mort's Dock, Balmain. Thomas Mort purchased the land from Robert Townson (1763–1827), who had been granted land in the Hurstville area with his brother John Townson.

A small farming community started when the land around Mort's Road was subdivided into 17 farms. The Hurstville Steam Brick Company (better known as Judds Brickworks) was established in 1884 by William George Judd. The large brick-making chimneys were easily seen from around the district. The first residences were built opposite the Brickworks in 1885. The railway was extended through the district around the same time. The railway divided two of the main farms, Kemp's orange orchard and Parkes's farm near Victoria Avenue, and these were subdivided for housing by 1894. The official title for the suburb was set as Mortdale when the railway station opened with that name on 20 March 1897.

The school opened in January 1889, and the post office and grocery store opened in November. Mortdale became a popular residential suburb in 1920s for soldiers returning from World War I.[2]

In 1921, there was a movement for Mortdale to split from Hurstville and form a separate municipality. An official 1923 inquiry into the proposed Municipality of Mortdale decided against the change, despite the separation movement having the law behind them.

At the same time there was also a push to have the name of Mortdale changed due to its similarity with the suburb of Mortlake and the association with its literal translation from Latin ('Valley of the Dead'). Suggestions by various groups over several years included: Leyton, Montrose, Morella, Kingrose and Boronia. A final list approved by the Department of Lands were: Carruthers, Princemead, Wyargine, and Storrieville, but the matter was never resolved.[3]

Commercial area

Mortdale consists mainly of residential dwellings with some commercial and industrial developments in the north-west corner. The main shopping centre is located on Morts Road and Pitt Street, near Mortdale railway station. Commercial and industrial developments are located along Boundary Road.

A number of streets near the commercial area are named after notable streets in the Sydney CBD; These include: George Street, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Macquarie Place and Oxford Street. This is the only group of Sydney-wide streets named as such.

Transport

Mortdale railway station is on the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line of the Sydney Trains network. Mortdale is a 30min (approx) train journey from the city. Punchbowl Bus Company services 944, 945 and 955 run throughout the week, with limited services on weekends.

Churches

Schools

Parks and Waterways

Mortdale Memorial Park

Landmarks

Sport

Pop culture

Mortdale has been colloquially referred to as the "Valley of the Dead" or "Death Valley", due to the Latin mort ("death")[6] and English dale ("valley"). In 1992, Su Cruickshank, published a book entitled 'Bring A Plate to The Mortdale Scout Hall - The Autobiography of a Fat Tart Complete with Recipes'.

Population

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, there were 9,702 people usually resident in Mortdale. 36.5% stated they were born overseas with the top countries of birth being China 7.25%, United Kingdom 3.0% and Macedonia 2.65%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 60.6% of residents and the most common other languages spoken were Cantonese 5.5%, Mandarin 6.4% and Macedonian 4.4%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic 26.7%, Anglican 16.0% and Orthodox 4.1%.[1]

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Mortdale (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon (Angus and Robertson) 1990, page 178 ISBN 9780207144950
  3. ↑ Mortdale in Early Days
  4. ↑ Hurstville Christadelphians
  5. ↑ Mortdale Public School
  6. ↑ Latin Dictionary University of Notre Dame. Retrieved on 15/12/07
  7. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography
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