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Sutherland

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Collection SummarySutherland is a suburb in Southern Sydney situated approximately 30km south of the Sydney central business district. It is the administrative centre for the Sutherland Shire local government area. It's boundaries extend to Burnum Burnum Sanctuary and Wattle Rd in the north, Acacia Rd and the Princes Hwy in the east, Woronora Memorial Park and Rata Pl in the west and First Ave (west of the railway) and Waratah Park Reserve (east of the railway) in the south.HistoryIn 1881 local land owner Thomas Holt subleased most of his land in Sutherland Shire to a company named the Holt-Sutherland Estate Land Company which was formed primarily to prepare and administer the land for settlement. In 1881 the company's surveyor, Curtis, was asked to submit a design for a proposed township. The subdivision was named Sutherland. Speculation rather than settlement was the initial interest in this subdivision. In 1868, the land close to what would become Sutherland shopping centre was described as mostly 'too rocky or too poor for the plough.' It was not part of the Holt-Sutherland Estate but remained government land, referred to in a report prepared for Thomas Holt. This land was purchased as two portions by Samuel Gray in 1878. In 1885 he sold the land to the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company. The railways decided to site the station in the Intercolonial subdivision rather than in that of the Holt-Sutherland Estate Land Company. The railway line to Sutherland was opened in December 1885. The Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company offered their estate, on the eastern side of the railway line, also known as Sutherland Township, for sale in April 1886. The Holt-Sutherland Estate Land Company subdivision, on the western side of the railway line, was offered for sale in September 1887. A difference between the land offered by the two companies was that the Intercolonial land was freehold and the Holt-Sutherland land was on a 99-year leasehold.

Timber-getters had contracts to take timber from the Holt-Sutherland township area before the railway line was completed to Sutherland. Supplies for the railway line could have been milled at the site, in addition to being used for general building purposes. Sutherland Brickworks was established by a Mr Cartwright in part of the grounds of the present day Woronora Cemetery. The brickworks provided sandstock bricks for some early residences By the end of 1887 the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company declared that their Sutherland Township subdivision was being settled and the shopping/commercial area was growing. The majority of families were 'labouring men' in transient occupations, however the growth was thought to be sufficient to warrant and 'maintain a small public school' which opened that year. William Bramley purchased three blocks in the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company subdivision on the eastern side of the railway station and built the first brick general store and a hotel, which he named the Railway Hotel.

On the western side of the railway line, in addition to the Royal Hotel run by Katherine Kitt, a congregational church had been erected in a location which was seen to be the centre of the township. Numerous denominations attended this church as it was the only religious building in use. Later, other religious denominations such as the Catholics (1892) and the Church of England (1894) opened purpose-built churches for their congregations. A limited postal service was available at the railway station from 1 July 1886 and at a separate building on railway land from 1891. In 1893 a brick house was rented for the postmaster, Charles Powell.
During the 1890s depression men were given relief work in the nearby national park. Some Sutherland shopkeepers, such as William Bramley, suffered financial loss and were forced to sell. However it was also a time for community-minded residents to establish community facilities. Daniel Lobb was responsible for building a community centre known as Lobb's Hall which replaced a very early building referred to as a school of arts.

Woronora Cemetery was gazetted on 2 April 1895. Charles Fripp was the first superintendent. A short railway link between Sutherland Station and the cemetery was opened on 28 July 1900. The cemetery provided the town with a source of employment and, later, fostered associated light industry such as stonemasonry. By 1890 the township had grown sufficiently to require a police presence. Later, in 1899, the residents united to form a progress association to assist with further development of the town. Issues of general concern were transport from Sutherland railway station to outlying farms and properties, and promotion of the area to the wider community. By the time the southern communities were ready for incorporation as a shire in 1906, Sutherland Township was the most likely candidate to become the centre for local government. There was some uncertainty about Sutherland's supremacy as the centre of the shire when the location of the first purpose-built council chambers was decided in 1913–14. By this time other suburbs of the shire had grown sufficiently to challenge the autonomy of the township of Sutherland. However the council voted that Sutherland should remain the location for the chambers and the die was cast. Today Sutherland continues to be the administrative centre.

The railway line to Sutherland was electrified in 1926 and nearby suburbs, including Sutherland, received a power supply. As time went on, improvements continued in proportion to the growth in population and stability of the local community. By 1928 the Sutherland school had grown sufficiently in numbers to become the first high school in the shire – it remained the only one until 1959. In the 1930s, Sutherland, like everywhere else in Sydney, suffered the Depression, with many families in trouble and in need of assistance. It was not uncommon to see unemployed people selling flowers along the road to the cemetery. Despite this, Sutherland was the first township to have a baby health centre. The work of Father Thomas Dunlea, Roman Catholic parish priest at Sutherland, was notable at this time. He took in homeless boys and later rented a small cottage in the centre of town to accommodate the growing number. Due to overcrowding and insufficient space, it later moved to Engadine and became the well-known Boys' Town. In 1939 a railway line from Sutherland to Cronulla was opened and completed the network of links between the shire suburbs with Sutherland as a hub. As Sutherland was so close to the national park, residents used parts of the park closest to the township for recreational purposes. In 1939, it was proposed that a courthouse be built in Sutherland as the closest one was at Kogarah. Land was purchased in 1945 and the courthouse opened in the 1950s. In the 1960s attention turned again to the civic needs of the shire. This included a new council chambers and civic hall. The new council chamber was opened on 22 October 1965 and a separate civic centre was opened in 1976. Since the 1990s the development of Sutherland has largely been determined by its proximity to public transport. Other infrastructure improvements, including office space, roads and parking have been prominent in planning strategies aimed at maintaining Sutherland's identity as the central transport hub and administrative centre for the Shire.

Photograph

Road Construction of The Grand Parade at Sutherland

Road construction of The Grand Parade at Sutherland

Signboard promoting railway crossing project at Sutherland

Railway overpass under construction Grand Parade, Sutherland

Railway Crossing under construction Grand Parade, Sutherland

Railway overpass at Grand Parade Sutherland

John Rayner former General Manager of Sutherland Shire Council speaking at the official opening of Peace Park at Sutherland in 1992

The offical opening of Peace Park at Sutherland on 12 September 1992 by then Shire President, Councillor Ian Swords (seated 3rd from left)

Shops on Old Princes Highway Sutherland looking south near Flora Street

Shops on East Parade Sutherland looking north

Shops in East Parade Sutherland near Adelong Street looking south

Shops on East Parade Sutherland near Adelong Street looking north

Sutherland Library located at 30-36 Belmont Street Sutherland

Old Princes Highway, Sutherland looking south

Looking across Illawarra Railway line at Sutherland Railway Station

House at 15 East Parade Sutherland

House located at 15 East Parade Sutherland

Map

Woronora Heights Estate Sutherland : overlooking Woronora River : for private sale

Sutherland. 63 : part of C Riding, Parish of Sutherland, Co. of Cumberland

Sutherland. 14 : C Riding, Parish of Sutherland, County of Cumberland

Sutherland Township, Diston's Subdivision : 2 cottages and home sites : one minute from station on Illawarra Railway Line : sale on the ground Easter Monday 8th April 1912 at 3.30

Sutherland Township Estate : freehold building sites

Sutherland Township : for auction sale on the ground Saty. 3rd April 1886 at 3 p.m.

Sutherland township

Sutherland Centre Estate : for auction sale on the ground at 3 o'clock on Saturday 8th December 1923

Riverside Extension Estate Sutherland

Holt-Sutherland Estate subdivisions, Georges River and Illawarra Railway Line. Township of Sutherland

City View Estate Sutherland, close to railway station : auction sale on the ground Sat. 6th January 1912 at 3

Person

Charles H Stapleton

Emily Russack

Ted Boyle

Samuel Brinsley

Nurse Kate Lobb

Place

Sutherland Picture Theatre

Brinsley's Joinery Works

Sutherland War Memorial

Forby Sutherland Memorial Park

Details

CategorySuburbGeolocation^[1]

Connections

SubjectsSutherland (N.S.W.)

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