Homebush

Proposal to rename parts of Homebush as Strathfield

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The Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society is a community-based, incorporated organisation dedicated to conserving, protecting, and promoting the history and heritage of the Strathfield–Homebush district. Due to the impact of the proposal to rename parts of Homebush as Strathfield, the Society opposes the proposal and urges Council to withdraw it.

Letter objection to Homebush renaming proposal – SHDHS September 2025

The key reasons for our position are:

  • Homebush is one of Sydney’s oldest suburb names, dating back to the early 19th century, and has been part of the Strathfield Municipality since its incorporation in 1885. Removing or replacing this name would blur the historic and geographic distinction between neighbouring suburbs and risk erasing an important part of Sydney’s heritage.
  • Council’s notification does not provide background studies, costings, or a balanced analysis of the proposal’s impacts. Further, the notification information appears to assume that the impacts are wholly positive, despite clear and significant consequences for community identity, local institutions, and heritage.
  • Claims of “confusion” regarding location are not substantiated. On the contrary, renaming an area serviced by Homebush Railway Station and containing long-established institutions such as Homebush Public School, Homebush Boys High School, Homebush Village Shopping Centre and Homebush Post Office as Strathfield would increase confusion for residents, businesses, and visitors.
  • If clarity of location is the actual concern, a more obvious issue is the shared postcode (2140) for the distinct suburbs of Homebush and Homebush West. This anomaly regularly causes misreporting in postal, demographic, and statistical records and is more deserving of correction.  Council could also consider restoring Flemington as the suburb name of Homebush West, which would provide greater differentiation with the suburb of Homebush.
  • The Society has no objection to the inclusion of the isolated property ‘Strathbelle’ on Beresford Road (which does not contain an address on the notification) being included in the suburb of Strathfield which is consistent with other properties in this street location.
  • Renaming a suburb involves significant practical costs, from updating signage, maps, and government records to requiring businesses, schools, and households to amend their documentation and communications. These resources could be better directed towards improving community facilities and infrastructure

Strathfield Industrial Heritage Exhibition

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The Industrial Heritage of Strathfield Exhibition, Minding Our Business, is presented by Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society and Strathfield Council. The exhibition is open during Library opening hours from Friday 17 June 2022 to Sunday August 14 2022.AF675189-7951-4FC8-9F20-32D5329EF3F9

This exhibition explores the many businesses which were based on the Strathfield district from the 19th century, usually located close to rivers or transport such as railways and major roads. The district’s central location facilitated transportation of materials and goods across Sydney and beyond from businesses as diverse as Arnotts Biscuits, EMI/HMV records, Ford Car manufacturing, Textile factories, Flour Mills, Cattle and Sheep Stockyards and Brickworks. Industrial development also supported growth of worker populations and housing in the southern and northern ends of the Strathfield Council area in the early to mid 20th century.

Opening: The exhibition opens on Thursday 16 June 2022 at 6pm. View the exhibition and enjoy the refreshments. Please register to attend at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/opening-night-industrial-heritage-of-strathfield-exhibition-tickets-353442645467

Talk: A talk will be held on Sunday 31 July 2022 at Strathfield Library commencing at 12.30 for refreshments and 1pm for the talk. The event finishes at 3pm. Bookings at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/354877467057

 

Historic Houses of Strathfield Exhibition 2021

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https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/opening-historic-houses-of-strathfield-exhibition-tickets-206912008387?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

You are invited to attend the Historic Houses of Strathfield exhibition at Strathfield Library.

OFFICIAL OPENING EVENT will be held on Thursday 16 December 2021 6pm. Refreshments served. Free entry. Booking at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/opening-historic-houses-of-strathfield-exhibition-tickets-206912008387?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

EXHIBITION – will be shown from 16 December 2021 – 6 February 2022.  Open during Library opening hours. Free entry.

LECTURE – will be held on Sunday 6 February 2022 12.30pm for 1pm lecture. Refreshments served.  Free entry. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lecture-of-historic-houses-of-strathfield-tickets-228196129767

About the Exhibition

Historic Houses of Strathfield explores the rise of the mansion houses in late 19th century and their eventual fate in the 20th and 21st centuries. The first Australia economic boom from the 1850s to 1890s coincided with the residential development of the Strathfield district.  Many wealthy merchants and professionals viewed Strathfield as the ideal place to build large and lavish homes, supported by rail access to the City where their businesses were located.  By the 1890s, Strathfield was considered one of the premium suburbs of Sydney.  

However, this was not to last.  Decline commenced with the 1890s Depression followed by significant and continued economic and social change. The exhibition features photos, maps and illustrations of the stories of the houses and their owners. Visit the exhibition and attend the lecture. Presented by Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society with support from Strathfield Council.

For further details, email Cathy Jones at strathfieldhistory@gmail.com, or cathy.jones@optusnet.com.au. Phone 02 96423145.