Petersham, New South Wales
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Petersham is a
suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area. They are oftentimes where most of a metropolitan areas jobs are located with some being predominantly residential. They can either be denser or less densely populated ...
in the Inner West of
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, in
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the
Sydney central business district The Sydney central business district (CBD) is the historical and main Central business district, commercial centre of Sydney. The CBD is Sydney's city centre, or Sydney City, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Colloquially, the CBD or ...
, in the
local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...
of Inner West Council. Petersham is known for its extensive Portuguese businesses, with many Portuguese shops and restaurants, despite only 156 (1.9%) of the population being born in Portugal. Petersham is bordered by the suburbs of Leichhardt to the north,
Stanmore Stanmore is part of the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London. It is centred northwest of Charing Cross, lies on the outskirts of the London urban area and includes Stanmore Hill, one of the List of highest points in London, highest point ...
to the east, Marrickville to the south and
Lewisham Lewisham ( ) is an area of southeast London, England, south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and was within the Historic counties of England, historic county of Kent until 1889. It is identified in ...
to the west. Taverner's Hill, named after Fred Taverner, is a locality in the western part of the suburb.


History


Early

Before European settlement, the area now constituting Petersham was within the territory of the Indigenous Gadigal people. The area now occupying Petersham was first worked by Europeans in 1793. During a period of food shortage for the new colony, the
Lieutenant-Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a " second-in-com ...
Major
Francis Grose Francis Grose (before 11June 173112May 1791) was an England, English antiquary, drawing, draughtsman, and lexicographer. He produced ''A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue'' (1785) and ''A Provincial Glossary, with a Collection of Local ...
dispatched
convicts A convict is "a person found Guilt (law), guilty of a crime and Sentence (law), sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison". Convicts are often also known as "prisoners" or "inmates" or by the slang term "con", while a commo ...
to the suburb's south-west to clear the bush for a timber yard and to grow corn and wheat. He named the region Petersham for his native village in
Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...
, England, with the name covering a broader region than today. For some time thereafter, Petersham was used for agriculture, and was considered to the source of some of the best crops in the colony. It was also a popular site for kangaroo hunting. During the 1820s, inhabitants were terrorized by bushranger
Jack Donahue John Donahue (c. 1806 – 1 September 1830), also spelled Donohoe, and known as Jack Donahue and Bold Jack Donahue, was an Irish-born bushranger in Australia between 1825 and 1830. He became part of the notorious "Wild Colonial Boys". Early l ...
and his gang. Statesman
William Wentworth William Charles Wentworth (August 179020 March 1872) was an Australian statesman, pastoralist, explorer, newspaper editor, lawyer, politician and author, who became one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in colonial New South Wales. He ...
and his family lived in Petersham for a time. In 1831, barrister
Robert Wardell Robert Wardell, marble tablet, St James Church, Sydney Robert Wardell (1793 – 7 September 1834) was an English-born Australian barrister and newspaper editor. Early life Wardell was born in England and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, ...
acquired land from Wentworth and several others in the area, until he had all the land in Petersham and beyond, creating a estate that reached the Cooks River. This large estate was subdivided in 1834 upon Wardell's murder by escaped convicts. Over the following years, the area was developed. Stanmore Road was created in 1835, and within seven years had been developed from a bush track. The Cherry Tree, Petersham's first inn was opened by Thomas Weedon on land bought from Wardell's estate. During the 1840s a racetrack was opened and then closed after receiving poor attendance. At this time, travelling to Sydney with bullock (castrated
cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...
) took a day, and the suburb became a resting stop for travels out to Paramatta and Liverpool. The 1850s saw developments in transport. By 1857, the first trains were stopping in Petersham on the Sydney to Paramatta line (albeit to no platform), and in 1859 the New Canterbury road was laid. A temporary platform was provided at the station after complaints, and an official structure followed in 1863. During the 1860s the area was considered quiet, hosting a small population across a broad area. Increasingly the population included workers who commuted to the city. Until the end of the century, the community continued to develop: the first post-office was built in 1855, followed by the second in 1870. Petersham municipality was incorporated in 1871, and the first public school was opened later that decade, in 1878. Oxford Tavern was opened in Petersham in 1882. It operated as a local tavern until its closure on 2 April 2023. In 1916, the Boys' section of
Fort Street High School Fort Street High School (FSHS) is a Education in Australia#Government schools, New South Wales government run, Mixed-sex school, co-educational, Selective school (New South Wales), academically selective, secondary school, secondary day school, ...
moved to Petersham from Observatory Hill, followed by the Girls' section in 1975.


World War II onwards

Mosquito Mosquitoes, the Culicidae, are a Family (biology), family of small Diptera, flies consisting of 3,600 species. The word ''mosquito'' (formed by ''Musca (fly), mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish and Portuguese for ''little fly''. Mos ...
HR576 RAF (UK) disintegrated over the inner western Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Petersham on 2 May 1945 during an air test flight. The crew of two were killed but no one on the ground was seriously injured by the falling debris of the Mosquito. The ''Daily Telegraph'' of 3 May 1945 stated that two civilians were injured and a total of 18 properties were damaged. Five houses were set on fire by the falling debris. It was suspected that a violent pull out from a power dive, with its associated high 'g' forces may have led to the structural failure of the aircraft. The two crew members tried to escape from the aircraft but they were not high enough for their parachutes to open. Flight Lieutenant David Rochford of
Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
, England, and Leading Aircraftman (LAC) Charles Boydell from Mosman were both killed. Flight Lieutenant Rochford's body was found in the playground of Petersham Public School while LAC Boydell's body was found on the roof of a railway building about 100 metres away. The local council merged with Marrickville and St Peters in 1948 to form the Municipality of Marrickville. Petersham underwent significant development from the end of WWII. Many immigrants, particularly from
Southern Europe Southern Europe is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, C ...
, settled in the area, drawn by its proximity to Sydney's city center and affordable housing. A significant number of Italian, Greek and Portuguese immigrants made their homes in Petersham, creating a vibrant multicultural community that influenced the local Mediterranean culture, food and social life. In the same period, the suburb's Anglo-Australian population began to change and Petersham became known for its strong sense of community and a mix of old and new traditions. In the 1970s and 1980s, Petersham began to gentrify, as many other areas inner-city Sydney. Older homes and terraced houses became more desirable to young professionals and artists, attracted by the proximity to the city, vibrant local culture, and relatively affordable property prices compared to other suburbs. In that period, there was a growing recognition of the area's rich cultural diversity and historic character. The late 20th century saw continued urban renewal and some commercial development in the area. The once industrial areas near the railway line began to transform into residential and mixed-use developments. Petersham's proximity to Sydney's CBD made it an increasingly attractive location for higher-income residents, leading to property prices and more upscale cafés, bars and cultural venues.


Heritage listings

Petersham has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: * New Canterbury Road: Petersham Reservoir * 23-35 New Canterbury Road: Egyptian Room, Royal Arch Masonic Temple * Terminus Street: Petersham railway station Image:Petersham4.JPG, Commercial Row, New Canterbury Road Image:Petersham5.JPG, The Majestic Theatre, Petersham Image:Petersham2.JPG, Assembly of God, Trafalgar Street Image:Petersham Masonic Temple.JPG, Masonic Temple


Commercial area

A small row of shops lines New Canterbury Road and extends down Audley Street towards the railway station. There are some Portuguese businesses here including several Portuguese restaurants, some of which are renowned for selling traditional styled flame-grilled chicken and cod dishes – Petersham is considered the heart of Sydney's Portuguese community. Local landmarks include the Petersham Town Hall, the Petersham Reservoir and Petersham Park. Petersham is bordered by
Parramatta Road Parramatta Road is the major historical east-west artery of metropolitan Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, connecting the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD with Parramatta. It is the easternmost part of the Great Western Highway. S ...
to the north.


Transport

Petersham railway station is on the
Leppington & Inner West Line The Leppington & Inner West Line (numbered T2, coloured light blue) is a commuter rail service operated by Sydney Trains, serving the inner west and south-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The service commences from the City Circle, he ...
and Liverpool & Inner West Line of the
Sydney Trains Sydney Trains is the brand name and operator of Railways in Sydney, suburban and intercity train services in and around Greater Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The metropolitan part of the network is a hybrid urban rail, urban-suburban r ...
network. Travelling west, all stations services run from the City Circle to
Homebush Homebush is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 12 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield. The name o ...
and
Parramatta Parramatta (; ) is a suburb (Australia), suburb and major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney. Parramatta is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD, on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is co ...
. The station includes an ornate iron pedestrian bridge over the train line. The old station building was built in 1886 in the Victorian Free Classical style. It has been described as "the largest and grandest of the surviving 19th century railway stations in the Sydney area", and is listed on the Register of the National Estate. The 428, 444, 445 and 412 buses run through Petersham at different points. The 428 runs from
Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
to
Circular Quay Circular Quay is a harbour, former working port and now international passenger shipping terminal, public piazza and tourism precinct, heritage area, and transport node located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the northern edge of the ...
, the 444 and 445 run from Campsie to Balmain, and the 412 runs from Campsie to
King Street Wharf King Street Wharf is a mixed-use tourism, commercial, residential, retail and maritime development on the eastern shore of Darling Harbour, an inlet of Sydney Harbour, Australia. Located on the western side of the city's central business distri ...
in the city.


Schools

Fort Street High School Fort Street High School (FSHS) is a Education in Australia#Government schools, New South Wales government run, Mixed-sex school, co-educational, Selective school (New South Wales), academically selective, secondary school, secondary day school, ...
, located on Parramatta Road, is the oldest selective school in
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
and has 934 students as of 2013. Petersham Public School sits on the Petersham and Lewisham borders, and has 240 students as at 2014. The old public school building located in Gordon Street goes back to 1878. Along with the church in the grounds, it is listed on the Register of the National Estate. Taverners Hill Public School situated on Elswick Street, is an infants only school with 60 students and recently published its own cook book.


Churches

* All Saints Anglican Church, Petersham. *Petersham Assembly of God, on Audley Street. *Metropolitan Community Church, Sydney (a church with an outreach to the LGBTQI+ community but open to all). *Thai Church: "House of Faith" at Petersham Assembly of God. *Nova Alianca (Portuguese-speaking) at Petersham Assembly of God.


Architecture

Petersham's houses are predominantly
terrace house A terrace, terraced house ( UK), or townhouse ( US) is a type of medium-density housing which first started in 16th century Europe with a row of joined houses sharing side walls. In the United States and Canada these are sometimes known as row ...
s, similar to those of Summer Hill and
Stanmore Stanmore is part of the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London. It is centred northwest of Charing Cross, lies on the outskirts of the London urban area and includes Stanmore Hill, one of the List of highest points in London, highest point ...
on the north side of the railway station near
Parramatta Road Parramatta Road is the major historical east-west artery of metropolitan Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, connecting the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD with Parramatta. It is the easternmost part of the Great Western Highway. S ...
. Image:Petersham House 1.JPG, Middleton Street Image:Petersham house 2.JPG, Canterbury Road Image: Petersham6.JPG, West Street Image:Petersham3.JPG, Petersham reservoir


Demographics

According to the of Population, there were 8,200 people in Petersham. * 67.2% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were England 4.5%, New Zealand 2.0%, Portugal 1.8%, China 1.3% and Italy 1.2%. * 75.1% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Portuguese 2.6%, Greek 2.0%, Italian 1.8%, Spanish 1.7% and Mandarin 1.6%. * The most common responses for religion were No Religion 54.4%, Catholic 19.0%, Not stated 6.5%, Anglican 5.3% and Eastern Orthodox 3.6%.


Notable residents

*
William Wentworth William Charles Wentworth (August 179020 March 1872) was an Australian statesman, pastoralist, explorer, newspaper editor, lawyer, politician and author, who became one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in colonial New South Wales. He ...
, statesman, lived in Petersham in the 1820s *
Robert Wardell Robert Wardell, marble tablet, St James Church, Sydney Robert Wardell (1793 – 7 September 1834) was an English-born Australian barrister and newspaper editor. Early life Wardell was born in England and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, ...
, barrister and co-founder and inaugural editor of colonial-era newspaper ''
The Australian ''The Australian'', with its Saturday edition ''The Weekend Australian'', is a broadsheet daily newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964. As the only Australian daily newspaper distributed nationally, its readership of b ...
'' alongside Wentworth * Keith Chisholm MC DFM (1918–1991) was born in Petersham * Percy Hordern (1864–1926) Alderman and Mayor of Petersham Council and a member of the
New South Wales Legislative Council The New South Wales Legislative Council, often referred to as the upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales. Along with the New South Wales Legislative As ...
*
Alick Kay Alick Dudley Kay (3 October 1884 – 4 February 1961) was an Australian politician and Domain orator. He is described by the Australian Dictionary of Biography as a "harmless ratbag". Early life and education Kay was born in the Sydney sub ...
, member of the
New South Wales Legislative Assembly The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the lower of the two houses of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The upper house is the New South Wales Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House ...


Culture

Local events include the annual Audley Street festival (Bairro Português), which is a celebration of the suburb's Portuguese ties. Petersham is also home to the Petersham Bowling Club and Petersham RSL Club.


References


External links


Crash of a Mosquito over suburbs of Sydney on 2 May 1945
Includes eyewitness accounts by children at the school. {{Coord, -33.8961, 151.1543, format=dms, type:city_region:AU-NSW, display=title Suburbs of Sydney Inner West Portuguese-Australian culture