Before the arrival of the British Ashfield was home to the Wangal people. Their land stretched from Concord east to Long Cove Creek now Hawthorne Canal. Imagine tall eucalyptus trees covering the higher ground. Swampy trees lined Iron Cove Creek. Welcome to Ashfield a suburb in Sydney’s Inner West.
Ashfield’s history is rich and complex. It began as a small village. Robert Campbell named Ashfield Park after his father’s estate in Scotland. The Sydney-Parramatta railway line opened in 1855. Ashfield was one of the original six stations. This caused a population boom.
By 1872 Ashfield had enough residents to form a municipal council. By 1890 the population reached 11000. Ashfield was a desirable place to live. It was considered less crowded and more pleasant than the city. Many grand Victorian houses were built. By World War I Ashfield’s popularity waned. Wealthier residents moved to the North Shore. Many grand homes were replaced with art deco flats or semi-detached houses. A few Victorian homes remain.
Ashfield’s industrial past is interesting. The Australian Six motor car factory opened in 1920 on Parramatta Road near Frederick Street. It became an AWA factory producing radio valves. The Peek Freans biscuit factory was also in Ashfield. Its tower was a familiar landmark. Today the factory site is a Bunnings warehouse.
The main commercial area is along Liverpool Road. It has office blocks shops and Ashfield Mall. Parramatta Road has another commercial area. It’s mostly automotive-related retail and light industry. Ashfield has excellent transport links. Parramatta Road and Liverpool Road are major roads. Ashfield railway station is on the Main Suburban railway line. It’s been renovated. Several bus routes also serve Ashfield. There are no dedicated bike paths but preferred cycling routes exist.
Ashfield has three primary schools and two high schools. Ashfield Public School is the oldest established in 1876. St Vincent’s is a Catholic K-12 school. Ashfield Boys High School and St Vincent’s College are high schools. Ashfield boasts a rich educational past including private schools that no longer exist. Notable alumna include Pamela Travers author of Mary Poppins and tennis champion Daphne Akhurst.
There are no public hospitals but two private ones exist. The Sydney Private Hospital focuses on elective surgery. The Wesley Private Hospital is a mental health facility. Ashfield’s landmarks include the Peek Frean’s factory tower Wests Leagues Club and the Ashfield water reservoir. The water tower was built in 1912.
Many heritage buildings dot Ashfield. The council produced heritage walk guides. Important buildings include Plynlimmon Glenore Buninyong Mountjoy Glentworth Ashfield Castle Thirning Villa Gallop House and Milton. These are listed on the Register of the National Estate. Several churches also add to Ashfield’s heritage. St John’s Anglican Church is the oldest surviving building. Ashfield Uniting Church and Ashfield Presbyterian Church also stand as testaments to the area’s religious history. St Vincent’s Catholic Church was completed in 1907. The Baptist Church has a landmark tower.
Ashfield Park is one of the largest urban parklands in Sydney’s Inner West. It has phoenix palms a war memorial a Mary Poppins statue a monument to International Mother Language Day a Jose Rizal statue a sporting field and a bowling club. Pratten Park is the area’s major sporting ground. Hammond Park is another notable park. It hosted Australia’s first attempted parachute descent from a hot air balloon. Yeo Park and Explorers Park are other notable parks. Ashfield’s Olympic Swimming Centre has been redeveloped.
Ashfield’s multiculturalism is vibrant. The Carnival of Cultures celebrates this aspect. The Sydney Writers Festival holds events here. Ashfield is a place of rich history culture and diverse communities. It’s a place to explore and discover.