Strathfield History

Homebush Municipal Council was incorporated 6 June 1906.  The area was 600 acres with 6 and half miles of streets.  The 1906 population was 548.  The boundary of the Council was described as:

County of Cumberland, parishes of Concord and Liberty Plains; area about one mile commencing on the centre of the railway line from Parramatta to Sydney at a south-eastern corner of the Municipality of Rookwood; and bounded thence by the part of the eastern boundary of that municipality and its continuation generally north-easterly to the south-western boundary of the Municipality of Concord; thence by that boundary and the south-western boundary of the annexation to the latter municipality generally south-easterly to the western boundary of Burwood Municipality; thence by that boundary southerly to the northern boundary of the Municipality of Strathfield; thence by that boundary and the northern boundary of the annexation of that municipality generally westerly, to the point of commencement.

There was 170 ratepayers and 90 houses.

First meeting was held in Mrs Wrights’ building Parramatta Road Homebush on Friday 31st August 1906.  Mr F Bundy was the returning officer.  The purpose of the meeting was to elect Mayor in accordance with Sec 50 Div 3 of the Municipalities Act 1897.

First meeting of Homebush Council held on Monday September 10 1906.  Mayor Alderman H N Kite with  Aldermen Dalton, Knight, Hughes, Slattery and Wilkins.

Development

Homebush Municipality was formed in 1906 and was abolished and added to Strathfield Municipality in 1947. Parts of Homebush Municipality are built on the large Underwood Estate.

By the time subdivision of streets commenced, markers were already established such as Parramatta Road and the Railway Line, which determined how land was subdivided. The Homebush Bay wetlands and Powell’s Creek also provided a constraint as substantial amounts of land were unusable for building, though much of the wetlands was filled and reclaimed as tips, later parks.

Homebush Council contained considerable land dedicated to commercial and industrial use, namely the Sydney Stock and Cattle Yards [now Sydney Markets], established 1909. Tipping sites were established, where Bressington Park now stands. Other significant industrial sites included Former EMI Records [Parramatta Road and Columbia Lane].

Homebush Council adopted a Residential Proclamation in 1927.

The building of the M4 motorway involved relocation of streets in Homebush and some streets became dead-ends such as Short Street. The establishment of Sydney Markets in 1975 also involved relocation and abolishment of some streets in Homebush. Building of Homebush Bay Drive has also altered street alignments such as Malborough Rd and Austin Avenue.