News

Strathfield Historic Transport Exhibition

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The Next Stop, Strathfield: Travel through history exhibition will officially open on 6pm Thursday 15 October 2026. There will be a short talk and serving of refreshments.  If you wish to attend the opening, please RSVP by Thursday 8 October 2026 by email: exhibitions@strathfield.nsw.gov.au. Bookings are required for the opening for catering purposes.

The exhibition will be open until Sunday 6 December 2026 at the Ironbark Gallery, Strathfield Library, Rochester Street, Homebush during Library opening hours. 

The exhibition is a collaboration between Strathfield Council and Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society.

The exhibition welcomes everyone to get All Aboard for a lively journey through Strathfield’s transport story! Best known today for its busy railway station, Strathfield has also been home to some surprising transport firsts, including Australia’s first motorcycle race at Homebush. Discover how people, goods and ideas moved through the district over time, from early roads, stagecoaches, ferries and steamers to bicycles, motorcycles, freight, trams, buses, car yards, cars and even planes. Come along and see Strathfield’s history in motion.

The exhibition will feature photos and images, information, displayed objects and a video showing a range of transports from all periods of Strathfield’s history.

Aboriginal references on Strathfield Gateway signage

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The Society made a submission to the Strathfield Council in September 2026 requesting that Council to reconsider its decision to remove references to Aboriginal history from Municipal gateway signage. The Society argues that the change is inconsistent with Council’s own research, policies and public commitments.

Letter Aboriginal acknowledgement Gateway Signage 20 September 2026Download

Talk: History of Malvern Estate

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Talk: History of Malvern Estate

John Johnson will discuss stories from his book The  Model Suburb: A history of the Malvern Hill Estate, Croydon. The event will take place on Saturday 8 August from 10.30am at the Ironbark Room, Strathfield Library, Rochester Street Homebush. Morning tea will be served from 10.15am before the commencement of the talk. The event is free.

The talk will highlight how the Malvern Hill Estate developed, the architecture and architects, and the interesting people who lived there including actors, soldiers and politicians.  The talk will interest anyone with an interest in the local history of the Burwood and Strathfield districts.

John Johnson is an experienced local studies librarian, archivist, and consulting historian. The book The Model Suburb: A History of the Malvern Hill Estate will be available for sale at $30 per copy.

Copies of the Pictorial History of Strathfield book will also be available for sale.

Further questions, email Cathy Jones at strathfieldhistory@gmail.com

Registrations are required for this event.  For bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/strathfield-history-talk-malvern-hill-estate

Update: Proposed Strathfield boundary change

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Update: Proposed Strathfield boundary


Strathfield Council resolved on 26 May 2026 to discontinue further consultation on the boundary change proposal.

As a result, the consultation that commenced on 7 April 2026 has now ceased, and the further consultation, which was due for the amended boundary option, will now also not proceed.

At this time, there are no plans to progress the proposal further. While Council retains the ability to consider suburb boundary matters in the future, any new proposal or consultation process would be subject to separate consideration and formal endorsement by Council.

For more information on the proposal and decision not not to progress it further, please see the Have Your Say Update.

Strathfield Boundary Proposal

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Deju Vu – Again. Another proposal to expand the Strathfield suburb boundary!!!!!

Another proposal to rename Homebush as Strathfield has been released with the addition of parts of Homebush West (or as most people call it Flemington)! Are there limits to the potential boundaries of the suburb of Strathfield?

You can make comments on the proposal until  5pm Sunday 17 May 2026 at Have Your Say Strathfield  

We have lodged our objection to Strathfield Council yet again. 

Submission Objection To Strathfield Boundary Changes April 2026

The Strathfield–Homebush District Historical Society has lodged an objection to the amended proposal to rename parts of Homebush and Homebush West (south of the railway line) as “Strathfield”.

The Society argues that suburb names and boundaries are long-established place identities shaped by historical development and community identity.  The idea that there is an infrastructure divide in 2026 is bizarre, given the railway infrastructure was built in 1855, long before there was any residential development.

The submission also questions whether consultation has been adequate given the impacts across the multiple local government areas of Strathfield, Burwood and Canada Bay Councils. The submission disputes claims that the current suburb arrangement is “confusing”, arguing instead that the proposed changes would create greater confusion for residents and for long-standing institutions that use the Strathfield, Homebush and Homebush West names.

In relation to Homebush or Homebush West, the Society argues it is illogical to rename areas whose neighbourhood centres and station connections are oriented to Homebush or Flemington rather than Strathfield.

Submission Objection To Strathfield Boundary Changes April 2026Download

Update to Homebush Boundary proposal

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The Society lodged a submission to Council in September 2025 regarding a proposal to rename parts of Homebush as Strathfield. See post – Proposal to rename parts of Homebush as Strathfield

Many people have asked about the status of this proposal as there didn’t appear to have been a public notification issued.  We contacted Council this week and received the following response:

“The issues raised in your submission, including heritage considerations, impacts on local identity, resource allocation, and concerns regarding the basis of the proposal, were noted and considered alongside broader community feedback.

Following this evaluation, Council resolved not to proceed with the original boundary change proposal, noting it did not receive overwhelming community support. This resolution was made at the 25 November Council meeting and is recorded in the meeting minutes.

A revised boundary proposal has since been developed for consideration at the upcoming Council meeting. Should this proposal progress, further community consultation will be undertaken. In the meantime, the area remains part of Homebush.”

 

Pictorial History Talk – 1 March 2026

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A talk will be held on Sunday 1 March 2026 at Strathfield Library on the new Pictorial History of Strathfield Book. The talk will be held from 2pm to 4pm at Strathfield Library, 65-67 Rochester Street Homebush.

Afternoon tea will be served at 2pm before the commencement of the talk. The event is free. For bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/strathfield-pictorial-history-talk

About the talk

Come along to a talk and hear some of the stories featured in the Pictorial History of Strathfield district book. The book and talk explores many important chapters from our past, from the Aboriginal history and early settlement to the arrival of the rail and homes as well as events including the 1930s Depression and World Wars.

Speakers are the book authors, Cathy Jones and Jenny Macritchie.

Books will be available for purchase ($30) and author signing on the day.

SHDHS Newsletter January-February 2026 Pictorial History of StrathfieldDownload

Submission to Strathfield Council – draft Heritage Development Control Plan 2025

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The Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society has submitted detailed comments on the draft Heritage Development Control Plan (DCP) 2025. A primary focus of the submission is the mapping and classification of Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs).

The Society questions the criteria used to assess properties, particularly the broad definition of ‘neutral’ properties, which uses the same definition for historic buildings with minor modifications as those that are substantially altered or new development. This may undermines incentives for property owners to restore or maintain heritage features. There are examples in Strathfield where properties have been restored from poor condition to significant heritage status, highlighting the need for a more nuanced and dynamic approach to classification.

The use of the term ‘intrusive’ for non-original properties is also challenged, as it carries negative connotations. The Society suggests ‘infill’ as a more appropriate term, noting that some new developments are sympathetic to the heritage character and should not be automatically deemed detrimental. They advocate for clearer guidelines on how infill properties can be designed to support HCAs and call for stricter enforcement against unsympathetic developments and violations such as illegal demolitions.

Submission Strathfield Heritage DCP draft – November 2025

Request to preserve historic street lettering

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A letter was sent to Strathfield Council to request that historic street lettering be preserved with upgrades or replacements to footpaths.

The Society expresses concern over the removal of historic street lettering, a feature dating back to around 1926, which involved embedding red street names into concrete footpaths. This practice was not unique to Strathfield and has been preserved in other areas, but recent upgrades in Strathfield have led to the loss of these historical markers. The Society requests that the Council restore the removed lettering and adopt a policy to preserve and reinstate existing historic street name lettering, emphasizing its cultural and historical value to the community.

Letter Historic Street Lettering 20-11-2025