Who would have thought that Zetland, now a modern residential hub, was once a lagoon? Imagine this area filled with wetlands. It’s hard to picture now, isn’t it?
Zetland is an inner southern suburb of Sydney. It sits just 4 kilometers south of the central business district. The City of Sydney governs this local area.
The suburb’s name comes from Thomas Dundas. He was the 2nd Earl of Zetland and a friend of Governor Sir Hercules Robinson. Fun fact: Zetland is actually an old-fashioned way to spell Shetland.
Back in the early 1900s, the lagoon and wetlands were drained. This made way for the Victoria Park racecourse. This racecourse was bordered by O’Dea Avenue, South Dowling Street, Epsom Road, and Joynton Avenue.
The privately owned racecourse closed after World War II. Lord Nuffield, a British businessman, bought the land in 1947. From 1950, Nuffield Australia used the site for assembling motor vehicles. Vehicle production continued under BMC Australia and Leyland Australia. The factory finally closed in 1975.
The Commonwealth of Australia then acquired the site. It became a Naval Stores depot. This depot operated until the mid-1990s. Later, the land was redeveloped into the high-density housing you see today.
Zetland Post Office has its own story. It opened on January 4, 1937, but closed on September 29, 1983.
Trams once ran through Zetland. From 1902, a tram service operated via Chalmers and Redfern Streets. It went south along Elizabeth Street to Zetland. In 1924, the line extended to Epsom Road in Rosebery. A new line was constructed in 1948 down Elizabeth Street. This was to facilitate construction of the Eastern Suburbs Railway. The line closed in 1957.
The Waterloo Wetlands once dominated this area. Woolwash Park Pond is the only remnant of that landscape. It connected to a vast aquifer. Industries like wool washing and tanning were drawn to this area in the 1800s. They needed the clean water from the aquifer.
Today, Woolwash Park Pond is part of Victoria Park’s water management system. It is used for irrigation.
Zetland is part of the Green Square Town Centre district. This is a growing area. It’s close to the Commonwealth Bank headquarters. Many high-income employers in finance, software, and technology are also nearby. Green Square Plaza is surrounded by Ebsworth Street. This is Sydney’s newest high street. The Gunyama Park Aquatic Centre, parklands, and luxury apartments are all here. You’ll also find a library and retail shops.
In 2021, Zetland’s population was 12,622. The median age of residents was 30. This is younger than the national median of 39.
Zetland is ethnically diverse. About 32.3% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include China, England, and Ireland. Zetland has a large Brazilian population. Over 2% of residents were born in Brazil.
Zetland is a transport hub. Green Square railway station is on the Airport & South Line. Central and Mascot railway stations are nearby.
Zetland has transformed. From wetlands to racecourses to factories, it is now modern living. Its history is layered beneath the surface.