How about we explore a suburb named after a house? That’s Forest Lodge. It’s a small inner-west suburb of Sydney. Forest Lodge is only 4 kilometers southwest of Sydney’s central business district. It’s part of the City of Sydney.
In 1836, Ambrose Foss built a house here. He named it Forest Lodge. Foss was a successful pharmacist. His house stood at 208-210 Bridge Road. Sadly, it was demolished in 1912.
The Gadigal and Wangal people first lived here. They are the traditional custodians of this land. They lived here long before European settlement. Shell middens have been found near Orphan School and Johnstons Creeks. These middens contain shells of oysters and cockles.
Early industries included timber and farming. These were along Orphan School Creek. There were also sandstone quarries near Ross Street. Prosperous merchants built villas here. They were attracted to this area outside of the city.
By 1845, five villas dotted the landscape. Forest Lodge, Rose Cottage, and Oak Lodge were among them. The economic recession of the 1840s slowed construction. But prosperity returned in the 1850s. A new wave of families built retreats here.
A second phase of development began in 1865. The Forest Lodge Estate was subdivided. This led to more building and population growth.
Terrace housing became popular from the 1870s. This left a mark on the suburb’s architecture. You can see terraces along Pyrmont Bridge Road and St Johns Road. Andrew McGovisk built twenty-two dwellings between 1877 and 1883.
Residents felt neglected by Glebe Council by 1870. They petitioned for a separate territory. Forest Lodge ward was created in February 1871. In 1891, Forest Lodge had 2,554 people living in 539 dwellings.
For its first sixty-five years, Glebe Council was dominated by self-made men. Labor gained control in 1925. They were committed to social welfare.
Albert James ‘Bert’ Ward was an alderman. He established a soup kitchen during the Depression.
The Communist Party printed its newspaper here. It was called the Tribune. It was printed at 21 Ross Street from 1943 to 1976. The printing works was raided by security police.
James Barnet lived here. He was the Colonial Architect from 1865 to 1890. Tennis player Lew Hoad lived at 43 Wigram Road. He grew up playing tennis here. A reserve was named in his honor in 1965.
The Old Forest Lodge Hotel opened around 1865. It was on the corner of St Johns Road and Lodge Street. It was later known as the Town Hall Hotel.
In 1883, a new public school was built. Enrolments increased rapidly. Today, Forest Lodge Public School continues to serve the community.
Steam trams were extended here in 1884. But horse buses continued to compete. The tram network shut down in 1958. The 470 bus follows the old tram route.
Harold Park was a pony track. Later, it became a greyhound track. It hosted its final race in 2010.
Before 1869, there wasn’t much industry. Eventually, businesses began to appear. GE Crane moved into Ross Street in 1927.
After World War II, many migrants came here. Sandra Kafataris ran a fruit and vegetable shop. Her family introduced new foods to the community.
Today, Forest Lodge is diverse. Students and professionals live here. Many restaurants have opened. Some pubs have renovated to attract a new clientele.
At the 2016 census, 4,563 people lived in Forest Lodge. The suburb has changed a lot over time. Familiar landmarks have disappeared. Yet, its spirit endures. Forest Lodge is a unique part of Sydney’s history.