It comes as a shock to discover that there was once a time when otherwise knowledgeable citizens of Sydney had only a hazy notion where Rockdale, Kogarah and Hurstville were. Moreover, Banksia was not then in existence.
The following press report, discovered by Mr. Phillip Geeves, describes our home suburbs in the St George District as they were in 1894, when the now- defunct Australian Joint Stock Bank was Rockdale’s only bank and Chinese market gardens supplied the green symmetry between Rockdale and Lady Robinson’s Beach.
Down at the Beach Saywell’s Hotel had been transformed into the first home of one of our Great Public Schools – the Scots’ College (the Hotel had been delicensed for an infraction of the liquor laws) and the hotel parlour, which had once catered to the gargantuan thirsts of its patrons, was now transformed into a Presbyterian chapel.
In those far-off days,. when a home at Sans Souci was regarded as “a country residence” and Rockdale railway station was noted for its floral display, a journalist wrote this description of St. George’s suburbs, as they then were:-
Illawarra Line
There are many thousands of Sydney people who know little or nothing of this one of the most beautiful and attractive of our suburbs, simply because it does not lead to one of the holiday resorts, for pleasure-seekers. Yet for beauty of scenery we are not aware of any suburb which excels it; and for attractive residential sites, easily accessible, at moderate rates, with frequent trains running punctually from Sydney at 5.10 a.m. to 11.38 p.m., and from Hurstville 5 a.m. to 11.05 p.m., persons travelling on business or pleasure have every accommodation which Sydney residents enjoy. St. George’s electorate commences at Arncliffe, on Cook’s River, five miles from Sydney, and terminates at Hurstville, on the George’s River on the south, bounded on the east by the shores of Botany Bay, and on the west by a continuation of Saltpan Creek, comprising an area of about forty square miles. The towns on the railway line are Arncliffe, Rockdale (with a tramline to Lady Robinson’s Beach), Kogarah (with a tramline to Sans Souci), Carlton and Hurstville.
Arncliffe
At this point we get clear of Sydney proper, with its continuous lines of streets, with their closely-packed houses, with back premises 12 by 12 feet, the hotbeds of disease, and get into the country proper, with its fresh air and breezes from Botany Bay, charged with life-giving ozone.
In this neighbourhood are many attractive residences within the reach of every class of society. There is a considerable elevation above the station, on the highest point of which is the handsome residence of Mr. Barden surrounded by a verandah on the upper floor, with some enchanting views, including Botany Bay and Cook’s River, with its new improvements and reclaimed land, which will become very valuable for manufacturing and other purposes. In addition to the residences there are several large landowners who have sites for sale. Campbell’s Hill, for instance, has a high and commanding position; Dr. Clay Hill, etc. Arncliffe is one of the wards of the Municipality of Rockdale, to which it extends on the west side of Rocky Point Road as far as Harrow Road, where the Kogarah Municipality commences.
Rockdale
Rockdale is the principal business centre of St. George’s, and is divided into three Wards – Arncliffe, Rockdale and Scarborough, constituting the Municipality of Rockdale. It has an area of about eight square miles, and an estimated population of five thousand; has a Town Hall and School of Arts, with a good library. There are several first-class stores and business houses, and in the neighbourhood some very nice residences, with more or less ground up to six acres, well planted with fruit trees. There is a large number of market gardens, producing first-class vegetables, some of these being kept by the irrepressible and indefatigable Chinaman. The immediate neighbourhood is well adapted for fruit and vegetable growing, to which might be added fruit canning; it only requires capital and the right people. There are churches of different denominations, also public schools. A branch of the A.J.S. Bank; two hotels; a College for Boys. A tramway runs, on the arrival of each train, to Lady Robinson’s Beach about a mile, where there are baths for both sexes. This could be made a very attractive pleasure resort on the same plan as Coogee and Bondi, and ought to pay if taken up with spirit.
It is much to be regretted that many of the residents will waste their time and spend their money in going to Sydney to get bargains (!), when they can buy the same goods on the spot at the lowest Sydney rates, and keep the money at home; also, they will subscribe to the Sydney School of Arts, pay a pound per annum subscription and take all the trouble of going to Sydney to exchange their books, while – they can get the selection from a good library on the spot for three shillings a year! Perhaps they want a free library as well as a free paper.
This is a good live town to live in, as there are frequent dramatic and other entertainments, which could be supplemented by lectures, if encouraged. There is a latent spirit of enterprise in the people, but they are shy about supporting a paper run in their interests. There is an excellent hotel, the Royal, for the accommodation of visitors.
Kogarah and Sans Souci
This Municipality is divided into three wards – East, Middle and South. It has an area of about five square miles, and an estimated population of four thousand; has a School of Arts and Public Library. It extends from Harrow Road to Oatley, and has seven churches of different denominations.
On leaving the station at Rockdale, the railway line is on the up grade and although the ground is rather rocky, and not suitable for cultivation, it presents most charming sites for residences, with views at various points of Botany Bay, with a well wooded country intervening, and the charming little suburb of Sans Souci, to which a tramline runs on the arrival of the trains from Sydney.
We recommend our town readers to pay a visit to this locality, particularly if seeking a country residence. The Moorfield Racecourse is an attraction, and there are many horses in training in the neighbourhood. This is one of our holiday attractions.
The Moorfield Hotel has extensive stabling and the landlord as a sporting man will command a good share of support.
Carlton
This is little more than a railway station, but between it and Botany Bay there is one of the greatest attractions in the florists and nurserymen’s grounds, where the flowers which made the great display at the late exhibition of chrysanthemums were principally grown. A visit to this beautiful locality will be a treat for those who take an interest in the subject, and will give them an opportunity of securing some beautiful specimens for their grounds. The Royal Hotel at this place, kept by Mr. Mitchell, is a first-class house which we recommend to visitors.
Hurstville
This Municipality is divided into three wards – Bexley, Hurstville, and Peakhurst. It has an area of about twelve miles square, and an estimated population of three thousand five hundred, being an increase of about seven hundred and fifty over 1890. It has nine churches and four schools, a library and the scenery is very attractive. There are indications of gold in the neighbourhood, resulting so far in little more than the colour. There is some desirable land near worth the attention of investors.
To sum up. It is the general impression that the first step towards getting the several municipalities out of their financial difficulties, will be a Bill for Local Government, to enable the municipalities to collect overdue rates and force the land, now held by the speculators, into the market. In the meantime the necessity for retrenchment is felt very severely by those dependent on local work, and the refusal of government support in the shape of customary subsidies, leaves the municipalities helpless for the present.
We have to thank Mr. George W. Leeder, Council Clerk of Hurstville, and Mr. Sayers, of Kogarah, for their kindness in furnishing information, also the Mayor of Rockdale, Mr. W. Taylor, for his valuable suggestions; and trust the publicity given in this article will be as we wish it of value to the electorate, and a proof of the value of a local paper. The floral display at this station is quite an attraction. Mr. Hall, the station master, deserves a notice for his good taste.
This article was first published in the October 1965 edition of our magazine.
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(Images courtesy of Bayside Library Service Local History Collection)