Ermington, New South Wales Totally Explained

Everything about Ermington New South Wales totally explained

Ermington is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of 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.

History

Aboriginal culture

The area now known as Ermington was associated with the Wallumettagal/Wallumedegal people. 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 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.
   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. 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. . Today the neighbouring suburb of Dundas still has a creek called Vineyard Creek .
   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 was also transported to Sydney for road building.
   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.
   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 . There are still substantial Housing Commission holdings near the intersection of Spurway and Bartlett Streets . 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 . Eventually the operation was decommissioned and the site revegetated.
   Since the Sydney property boom in the early 2000s, Ermington has had a wave of young families settle here 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, was an "essential amenity" for the hundreds of families in the new Housing and War Commission Homes .

Landmarks

Army barracks

Timor Barracks is just inside the northern boundary of Ermington, on the corner of Kissing Point Road and Stewart Street. It is currently home to the 8th Command Support Regiment. Previously it was home to the Eastern Region Command Signals Regiment. The hospital has a history of palliative care and is operated by the Wesley Mission. It was opened in 1948.
1st Ermington Scouts was founded in 1953
George Kendell 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

Notable residents

The following notable people were born or lived in Ermington:

Betty Cuthbert, an Australian Olympic Athlete, grew up in Ermington and attended Ermington Public School. The main street of the Ermington shopping centre is called Betty Cuthbert Avenue, in her honour.

Greg Matthews, a test cricketer, attended Ermington Public School. 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.
   At the state level Ermington is contained within the State Electoral District Of Parramatta.
   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.

Further Information

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