Drawn to the tranquil waters of Iron Cove. That’s how many feel about Russell Lea. It is a charming suburb nestled in Sydney’s inner-west. Russell Lea offers a peaceful retreat.
Russell Lea is located 8 kilometres west of Sydney’s central business district. This puts it in the City of Canada Bay’s local government area. The suburb sits on the western shore of Iron Cove. This is on the Parramatta River.
Let’s journey back to discover Russell Lea’s origins. Its name comes from Russell Barton. He was an original settler. Barton was a pastoralist, mine owner and politician. He developed the “Russell Lea Estate”. This estate was on a 24-hectare grant.
Before Barton, surgeon John Harris owned this land. It was part of his Five Dock Farm estate. Harris received a large grant of land in 1806. It encompassed all land between Iron Cove and Hen and Chicken Bay. This totalled about 600 hectares. Harris later sold Five Dock Farm to Samuel Lyons. Lyons subdivided the land. This created substantial estates. These estates included Barton Russell’s grand residence. It was named Russell Lea.
Russell Barton was a man of many talents. He was born near London in 1830. He settled in South Australia. He could handle stock, farm and break horses. He was also a butcher, blacksmith and builder. Furthermore, he was a carpenter, contractor and stonemason. In 1874, he invested in the Cobar mine. He became its managing director. Barton served as a parliamentary member for Bourke from 1880 to 1886. During this time, he built the Italianate mansion Russell Lea. The estate gave the suburb its name.
Transportation improvements helped residential development. By 1874, a horse bus served local residents. The Gladesville Bridge was completed in 1881. This connected the region to inner Sydney. The Iron Cove Bridge followed in 1882. A tramway connected Five Dock and Leichhardt in 1890. Russell Barton’s Russell Lea estate remained intact until 1913. Then it was subdivided and auctioned.
Today Russell Lea is known for its quiet tree-lined streets. It features large waterfront homes and traditional federation houses.
Don’t miss Russell Lea Infants School. It is one of the oldest landmarks. Campbell Park is a large soccer field. It is home to the Abbotsford Juniors Football Club. Lyons Road and Hampden Road are the main roads here.
Russell Lea is a coveted suburb. It lies between Drummoyne and Five Dock. Young professionals and families seek convenience and a relaxed lifestyle here. Russell Lea is close to the city. It has many parks and waterways. It also has waterfront restaurants and pubs. The area is very friendly. It is great for children and pets.
Russell Lea continues to grow. It’s a suburb with a strong sense of community. It’s a fantastic place to live. It is close to everything.