Can you imagine a suburb named “Valley of the Dead”? Mortdale in Sydney has carried that colloquialism, thanks to its name’s loose translation from Latin. Mortdale, however, is far from lifeless. It’s a vibrant suburb nestled in southern Sydney, about 20 kilometers from the city’s central business district. Mortdale is part of the St George area, sitting within the Georges River Council local government area. Mortdale stretches down to the picturesque Lime Kiln Bay on the Georges River.
Mortdale owes its name to the prominent Sydney industrialist Thomas Sutcliffe Mort. He lived from 1816 to 1878 and was known for his pioneering work in refrigerated shipping and the construction of Mort’s Dock in Balmain. Mort acquired the land that would become Mortdale from Robert Townson, an early land grantee in the Hurstville area. The area transformed from a small farming community when the land around what was then known as Mort’s Road was subdivided. Seventeen farms sprung up, marking the beginning of Mortdale’s growth. In 1884, the Hurstville Steam Brick Company, better known as Judds Brickworks, established itself in the area. Its prominent chimneys became a local landmark. The first homes were built across from the brickworks just a year later in 1885. The arrival of the railway around the same time further spurred development. By 1894, two major farms, Kemp’s orange orchard and Parkes’s farm near Victoria Avenue, were subdivided for housing. The suburb officially became Mortdale when the railway station opened with that name in 1897.
Mortdale saw a surge in popularity in the 1920s. Soldiers returning from World War I found it an attractive place to settle. A school, a post office, and a grocery store had already been established by the turn of the century. The suburb’s growth led to a movement in 1921 to separate Mortdale from Hurstville and create a new municipality. However, a 1923 inquiry decided against the change. There were even attempts to rename Mortdale. Its similarity to Mortlake and the unfortunate “Valley of the Dead” association prompted suggestions like Leyton, Montrose, and Boronia. Nothing came of it and Mortdale retained its unique name. Today, Mortdale boasts a bustling commercial area centered around Morts Road and Pitt Street, near the railway station. Interestingly, a cluster of streets near the commercial center echoes famous Sydney CBD streets: George Street, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Macquarie Place, and Oxford Street. You won’t find another such grouping in Sydney. Mortdale still retains some of its historical landmarks. These include the Mortdale Fire Station, the Mortdale Hotel, and the Mortdale RSL Club.