The Heritage and History of Inner City Suburbs of Sydney, Australia
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Every year tons of tourists visit Sydney to enjoy its nature and sun-kissed sea beaches. But there are more things than meet the eyes. With its long history of the Aboriginal community, lifestyle, and activities, the inner Sydney suburbs have developed paramount attraction from its visitors. Yet, below the cover of modernity, these inner suburbs have deeply submerged historical backgrounds. So, here we have touched on some of the main areas and tried to bring out the different facts related to the history of inner Sydney suburbs.
Artarmon
Year of establishment– 1794
Postcode– 2064
How did Artarmon get its name?
William Gore received a grant of around 150 acres of land and named it Artarmon after his family estate in Ireland.
Its history
Artarmon was one of the most important farmlands that William Gore owned. As discussed above, it was among the most important grants that were given to William Gore. In fact, Gore hill is named after him.
Balgowlah
Year of establishment– 1832
Postcode– 2093
How did Balgowlah get its name?
The name Balgowlah was given in 1832 after an Aboriginal word meaning north harbour about its position from Port Jackson. In the early days of European Settlement, it had been known as Little Manly.
Its history
Talking about the history of this inner Sydney suburb, it was known as Little Manly during the days of European settlement. In brief, it has a diverse history that led to such an amazing suburb.
Bondi
Year of establishment- 1851
Post code- 2026
How did Bondi get its name?
Bondi work is derived from ”Boondi,” which is an Aboriginal word. It means “surf” in English. According to the Australian Museum records, Bondi means a place where a fight using boondi sticks took place. That’s how the place was named Bondi.
Its history
In brief, Boondi has a long history of how a piece of land given as a grant to William Roberts turned into a beach for vacation. An amazing fact about this suburb is that it is the most photographed pool in the whole world.
Botany
Year of establishment– 1971
Postcode- 2019
Its history
Archaeologists have proof from the shores of Botany Bay that it has yielded evidence of an Aboriginal settlement dating back 5,000 years.
Bronte
Year of establishment– 1834
Postcode– 2024
How did Bronte get its name?
Usually, people believe that the land was named after the Brontë sisters or after the Bronte House. But in reality, Bronte Beach was named after an influencing military person, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, the Duke of Bronté.
Its history
Lord Nelson was the title of Duke of Bronte. It has a long history of how a small land was converted into a beach and became a centre of attraction. Later, Bronte house was built in the late 1830s.
Chatswood
Year of establishment– 1876
Postcode- 2067
How did Chatwood get its name?
Chatswood was named after Charlotte Harnett, the wife of then-Mayor of Willoughby and a pioneer of the district, Richard Harnett.
Its history
The history of this inner Sydney suburb is something like this. The Cammeraygal people occupied around 35,000 to 50,000 years before European arrival. Then, later on, the area became a centre for attraction.
Coogee
Year of establishment– 1838
Post code– 2034
How did Coogee get its name?
The name is derived from the Aboriginal word ‘koojah’, which means ‘bad smell’.
Its history
Talking about the history of this inner Sydney suburb, Coogee was a village back in the early 1838s. Later in 1887, Coogee Palace Aquarium and swimming baths were constructed.
Historical Fact
It is one of the most populated areas in Australia, with building in every style possible.
Dee Why
Year of establishment– 1840
Post code– 2099
How did Dee Why get its name?
At first, it was named after Meehan surveyed the location. Later on, the suburb was named after Leibniz’s notation for the derivative, which is denoted as dy/dx.
Its history
Earlier, indigenous people used to fish in the land. Later, after some constructional development, it became a centre for attraction. An amazing fact about this suburb is that the oldest sports teams on the northern beaches started from here only.
Haymarket
Year of establishment- 1997
Post code- 2000
Its history
In the early years, many produce markets were there in Haymarket in the early 20th century. Later on, they moved to Flemington. The suburb is also surrounded by other suburbs, such as Surry hills which is adjacent to it.
Lane cove
Year of establishment– 1895
Postcode– 2066
How did Lane cove get its name?
Although there is no clear evidence for its name, according to some, it was named after Lieutenant Michael Lane, a famous cartographer.
Its history
Before the arrival of the First Fleet, Cam-mer-ray-gal, which is also a group of famous Australian tribes, Ku-ring-gai had the suburb.
Manly
Year of establishment– 1877
Post code- 2095
How did Manly get its name?
Captain Arthur Phillip was responsible for the name “Manly” for this suburb. According to him, people’s confidence and manly behaviours gave him the idea of the word “Manly”.
Its history
Earlier, Manly was famous for a seaside resort owned by Henry Gilbert Smith in the 1850s. Later on, Smith gained power over two large parcels of land. He developed the area into a great inner Sydney suburb.
Mascot
Year of establishment– 1911
Post code- 2020
How did Mascot get its name?
A racecourse was there in this land. The residents of the area wanted to have an individual identity. They had two options, Ascot and Booralee. Then the name Ascot specifically led to the name Mascot.
Its history
In the early 1920s, Mascot was the site of a public airfield. One of the famous destinations was the shopping strip, Botany Road.
Specialty
You will find many kinds of cuisines in the area with a great shopping district on botany road.
Mosman
Year of establishment- 1893
Post code- 2088
How did Mosman get its name?
Earlier, the suburb got its name after Archibald Mosman and his twin brother George. They both moved onto a 4-acre land grant in the year 1831.
Its history
In brief, both the twin brothers found a whaling station on the bay. The station is now Mosman’s bay. Unfortunately, there is nothing much to know about the history of this inner Sydney suburb.
Randwick
Year of establishment– 1859
Post code- 2031
How did Randwick get its name?
The name of suburb Randwick comes from the village of Randwick, England, which was the birthplace of Simeon Henry Pearce. He was the mayor of Randwick six times.
Its history
To summarize the history of this inner Sydney suburb, two major people were behind the development of Randwick. Simeon and his brother James were solely behind the founding and early development of the suburb.
St Leonards
Year of establishment- 1853
Post code- 2065
How did St Leonards get its name?
St Leonards comes from English statesman Thomas Townshend, 1st viscount Sydney. The whole area of the present suburb to north Sydney to gore hill was St Leonards. But now, separating the other areas, only current St Leonards is there.
Its history
Let’s look into the history of this inner Sydney suburb. Considering its development, it started as a source of firewood in early 1855. Also, the first-ever hotel in the area was established in 1858. Right now, the gore hill is the main attraction for people in St Leonards.
Specialty
St Leonards was one of the first famous filming locations for the Australian television series.
Surry Hills
Year of establishment- 1790
Post code- 2010
How did Surry Hills get its name?
It appears that the name of the area originated from Joseph Foveaux’s property named Surry Hills Farm, after the Surrey Hills in Surrey, England.
Its history
Historically, most of the area of Surrey Hills was under the property of Joseph Foveaux, a Colonel in the NSW Corps. Also, it is an assumption that the low-lying hills of the area resemble the hills in Surrey, England. Thus, it gave the name- Surrey Hills. Additionally, let’s look into some significant historical facts of Surry Hills:
Albion’s Brewery- First Building there
Elizabeth Street- First road to pass through Surrey Hills
The rocks
Year of establishment- 1788
Post code- 2000
How did The Rocks get its name?
As the name suggests, it comes from the original buildings made from real sandstone. In the early years, it was squalid. But, after some years, it turned into an attraction for tourists.
Its history
The Rocks was set up soon after forming colonies in the early 1788s. In the early years, it was Tallawoladah. Earlier, the original building of The Rocks was the first traditional wattle and daub having thatched roofs. Hence, the area was famous for its slums due to many thatched roofs.
Specialty
The Rocks is famous for handmade fashion and street food. There is also a museum of contemporary art that is the attraction of local and international exhibits. Therefore, The Rocks is among the famous tourist Suburbs in Sydney.
Woolloomooloo
Year of establishment- 1872
Post code- 2011
How did Woolloomooloo get its name?
The current name Woolloomooloo came from the region’s first homestead Woolloomooloo House. John Palmer first built this homestead, but it is not clear how he came up with this name for his homestead. Later on, due to many constructions, it is now a famous suburb.
Its history
The history of this inner Sydney suburb is quite interesting. Woolloomooloo was a working-class district. It became one of the prominent Suburbs in the first half of the 19th century when this place was flourishing as a bay town. Woolloomooloo was the home to civic leaders, rich merchants, and judges until the end of the 19th century when industrialization pushed people to work outside this place.
Historical landmark
There is also a famous historical landmark, Finger Wharf.
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