Burwood Local History
Burwood is a suburb located in the Inner West of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Its history dates back to the early 19th century when the land was inhabited by the Wangal and Cadigal Aboriginal clans. The name "Burwood" is believed to have been derived from the local Indigenous word for "place of big trees".
The first European settlers arrived in Burwood in the 1820s, and by the 1850s, the suburb had become a prosperous agricultural area. However, with the extension of the railway line from Sydney to Parramatta in the 1860s, Burwood began to develop into a residential suburb. The railway station, along with the construction of roads and housing, made Burwood easily accessible from Sydney and other parts of the state.
The 1880s saw a boom in the construction of large houses and mansions on the outskirts of Burwood, attracting wealthy families and establishing the suburb as a fashionable address. One of the most notable residences was Woodstock, a grand Victorian mansion owned by the wealthy merchant, James H. Williams. The mansion was designed by the prominent architect, John Horbury Hunt, and its construction cost around £20,000.
By the early 20th century, Burwood had a population of around 8,000 people, and the suburb continued to grow as more land was developed for housing. In the 1920s and 1930s, Art Deco apartment buildings were erected in the area, such as the iconic "Regis Towers" on Railway Parade.
During World War II, Burwood played an important role as a centre for the Australian Army. The former Woodstock mansion was converted into a military hospital, and the NSW University Regiment was stationed at Burwood for training purposes.
In the post-war years, Burwood experienced further development as the suburb's population boomed. Many of the large houses were demolished to make way for apartment buildings and townhouses. The construction of the Westfield Burwood shopping centre in the 1960s marked a significant change in the area's character.
Today, Burwood is a bustling suburban centre, home to a diverse community and a wide range of shops, restaurants, and amenities. Despite its rapid development and urbanisation, the suburb's historic buildings and landmarks still remind us of its rich and colourful past.