Perhaps you have heard of the Granville railway disaster. Granville is a suburb in Western Sydney. It has a story that stretches back to the early days of New South Wales. Let’s delve into the history of Granville.
Granville began as Parramatta Junction in 1855. It was named after the final stop of the first railway line in New South Wales. The Sydney-Parramatta Line ended here. This attracted speculators and local industries.
Timber was essential in early European settlement. It fuelled steam engines in Sydney and Parramatta. By the 1860s timber supplies dwindled. Scavengers collected firewood. Wattle bark was used by tanners. Stringybark was used for roofing huts.
In 1862 a major estate called Drainville was sold. It was subdivided for homes and small farms. A Tweed Mill was built later. It used water from the Duck River. In 1878 the area got its own post office. It was located in the stationmaster’s house.
The name Parramatta Junction was changed in 1880. Two public meetings led to the change. Many names were suggested. Drainwell, Vauxhall, Nobbsville, and Swagsville were all considered. Granville was finally chosen. It honoured the British Foreign Secretary, Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville. One dissenter called the name “too French.”
At that time Granville had 372 residents. There were 176 males and 196 females. German settlers Joseph Klein and P W Merkell tried to grow vineyards. They found the land unsuitable. Other farmers also discovered the soil was poor. Fruit growers complained about flying foxes. Dairy cattle became the only practical use for the grasslands.
The Granville Municipality was formed in 1885. It governed the area until 1948. Then it became part of the enlarged City of Parramatta.
Anzac Day 1974 brought disaster. Granville was flooded by Duck Creek. Torrential rain caused the damage. 135 millimetres fell in one hour at Guildford. The nearby RSL was damaged. Many old photographs and honour boards were destroyed.
Granville is also known for the Granville railway disaster. On January 18 1977 a commuter train derailed. It hit the Bold Street overpass. The bridge collapsed. Eighty-three people died. It was the worst rail disaster in Australian history.
Granville has several heritage-listed sites. These include Granville Town Hall and the Crest Theatre.
Granville Town Hall was built in 1888. The Crest Theatre on Blaxcell Street was built in 1948. It was a movie theatre until 1963. It is now a function hall. The Crest Theatre is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register. It is one of the few cinemas built in Australia in the 1940s. The signage now reads “B-L-O-U-Z-A”. Originally it read “H-O-Y-T-S”.
From its start as a railway junction to its role today, Granville has seen much change. It stands as a testament to resilience. It is a community that remembers its past.