Ermington, New South Wales

Ermington
Sydney, New South Wales

Ermington shops on Betty Cuthbert Avenue
Population 9,470 (2011 census)[1]
 • Density 2,104/km2 (5,450/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 2115[2]
Area 4.5 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Location 19 km (12 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s) City of Parramatta
State electorate(s) Parramatta
Federal Division(s) Bennelong, Parramatta
Suburbs around Ermington:
Dundas Dundas Valley Eastwood
Rydalmere Ermington West Ryde Melrose Park
Silverwater Newington Homebush Bay

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.[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 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.[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.[9] Today the neighbouring suburb of Dundas still has a creek called Vineyard Creek.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12][13]

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

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.[16] 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,[17] 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.[18][19] It is currently home to the 8th Command Support Regiment.[20] Previously it was home to the Eastern Region Command Signals Regiment.[20] 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 Lottie Stewart Hospital

Next to the Timor Barracks is the Lottie Stewart Hospital.[21] The hospital has a history of palliative care and is operated by the Wesley Mission.[22] It was opened in 1948.[22] 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 seven 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 Parramatta. The 525 to Burwood from Parramatta services Ermington along Silverwater Road. The 544 route to Auburn from Macquarie Centre also travels along Silverwater Road via Victoria Road in a south-westerly direction.

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

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:

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.[23]

1st Ermington Scouts was founded in 1953.[24]

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 2011 census, there were 9,470 residents in Ermington. Of these:[1]

Ethnic diversity 
41.5% of people were born outside of Australia, with their top countries of birth being China 5.0%, Republic of South Korea 3.0%, Lebanon 3.0%, England 2.0% and New Zealand 1.9%. However, only 20.3% classified themselves as having Australian ancestry; the next most common ancestries were English 17.3%, Chinese 9.0%, Irish 6.0% and Lebanese 5.7%. The majority of residents (58.2%) only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Arabic 6.8%, Cantonese 4.4%, Mandarin 4.3%, Korean 3.8% and Armenian 2.1%.
Age distribution 
The distribution of ages in Ermington was very similar to the country as a whole. Ermington residents' median age was 38 years, compared to the national median of 37. Children aged under 15 years made up 19.1% of the population (national average is 19.3%) and people aged 65 years and over made up 14.3% of the population (national average is 14.0%).
Income 
The median weekly household income was $1,294, marginally above the national median of $1,234.
Housing 
Stand-alone houses accounted for about three-quarters (73%) of dwellings, while 18% were semi-detached (mostly townhouses) and just 8% were flats, units or apartments. Just over one-third (35%) were rented – the rest were mostly owned with a mortgage (35%) or owned outright (27%). The average household size was 2.8 people.

Notable residents

Politics

Prior to the 2007 federal election Ermington was the eastern most suburb in the federal electoral division of Parramatta.[27][28] 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.[29][30]

At the state level Ermington is contained within the State Electoral District Of Parramatta.[31]

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.[32]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Ermington (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Postcode search, Results for Ermington, Australia Post (accessed 19 June 2006)
  3. ↑ Place Name Search, Results for Ermington, 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.
  5. ↑ Living Harbour: Aboriginal Clan Names Map, Living Harbour website, Australian Museum (accessed 20 June 2006)
  6. ↑ Living Harbour: Aboriginal Clan Names Chart, Living Harbour website, Australian Museum (accessed 20 June 2006)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Jervis, J. (1999). The Cradle City of Australia: A History of Parramatta, 1788-1961. G. Mackaness (Ed), Pan: Sydney.
  8. 1 2 3 4 McClymont, J. (2001). Pictorial History: Parramatta & District, Kingsclear Books: Sydney.
  9. ↑ Wine and Grape History in the Sydney Region, Nepean Hawkesbury Wine & Grape Growers Association Inc (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.
  10. ↑ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 279 E12
  11. ↑ Parramatta Development Control Plan 2001. Appendix 6: Special Character Area.
  12. ↑ Parramatta Development Control Plan 2001. Appendix 6: Special Character Areas
  13. ↑ Naval Stores (former), Naval Stores (former), Aussie Heritage (accessed 4 January 2008)
  14. ↑ About Us: The 1950’s, NSW Department of Housing website (accessed 19 June 2006)
  15. ↑ Properties constructed as at February, 1969, NSW Department of Housing
  16. ↑ Planning Workshop Pty Ltd, Environmental Impact Statement: Proposed Sanitary Landfill, Spurway Street, Ermington, Parramatta City Council.
  17. ↑ Landa, A. (1958). Opening of Ermington Shopping Centre, PICMAN Database, State Library of New South Wales (accessed 10 January 2008)
  18. ↑ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 280 C12
  19. ↑ Parramatta City Council, Advertising of Proposal to Re-determine Address Locality Boundaries, Attachment 3 - Dundas - Ermington, Accessed 2007-09-20
  20. 1 2 History of the 155 Signals Squadron (8 CSR), Department of Defence website(accessed 19 June 2006)
  21. ↑ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 280 D11
  22. 1 2 Lottie Stewart Hospital: History, Sydney West Area Health Service (accessed 19 June 2006)
  23. ↑ About Us. Ermington United Sports & Recreation Club (accessed 19 June 2006)
  24. ↑ Plaque on Scout Hall, corner of Bartlett Street and Kissing Point Road
  25. 1 2 Anna (class 4S), Ermington Public School History, Ermington Public School Website (accessed 19 June 2006)
  26. ↑ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 310 B2
  27. ↑ Parramatta Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (accessed 19 June 2006)
  28. ↑ Parramatta Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Electoral Commission (accessed 19 June 2006)
  29. ↑ Bennelong Federal Electoral Profile, Australian Electoral Commission (accessed 24 April 2007)
  30. ↑ Tremors of change, Northern District Times, 5 July 2006 (accessed 17 July 2006)
  31. ↑ State Electoral District Of Parramatta, State Electoral Office (accessed 19 June 2006)
  32. ↑ Council: Ward Information, Parramatta City Council (accessed 19 June 2006)
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Coordinates: 33°48′41″S 151°03′42″E / 33.81145°S 151.06178°E / -33.81145; 151.06178

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