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Bexley, New South Wales

Coordinates: 33°57′24″S 151°7′34″E / 33.95667°S 151.12611°E / -33.95667; 151.12611
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bexley
SydneyNew South Wales
Forest Road, Bexley
Map
Population19,646 (2021 census)[1]
Established1822
Postcode(s)2207
Elevation62 m (203 ft)
Location14 km (9 mi) south-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)Bayside Council
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Barton
Suburbs around Bexley:
Bexley North Bardwell Valley Arncliffe
Kingsgrove Bexley Rockdale
Hurstville Carlton Kogarah

Bexley is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bexley is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Bayside Council and is part of the St George area.

History

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James Chandler named the suburb after his birthplace, Bexley which is in the south-east of London, England. Chandler bought Sylvester's Farm in 1822, from Thomas Sylvester who had been granted the land about ten years earlier. That year he was also granted 1,200 acres (490 ha) of land which stretched from what is now Bexley North to most of Rockdale and Kogarah. The estate was heavily timbered and a track through the centre, used by timber-getters, is today called Forest Road. Queen Victoria Street, Gladstone Street and Beaconsfield Street commemorate the British Queen and two of her prime ministers. Chandler was a well-respected citizen and became known locally as the Squire of Bexley, but his property attracted bushrangers, escaped convicts and other odd types. Chandler was not happy with his ill-assortment of neighbours and sold the land to Charles Thompson in 1836. Later it was bought by Charles Tindell, who began subdividing the land by 1856 for home sites.[2]

St Elmo, Harrow Road

Lydham Hall, the oldest surviving residence in the area, stands on part of the original land grant of 1822. Joseph Davis settled in this historic residence in the late nineteenth century. Herbert and Frederick Streets are named after his two sons. Henry Kinsela lived on Kinsel Grove. George Preddy occupied Besborough, part of which became Bexley Park.[3]

Dick Stone sold meats in Bexley and Rockdale from 1868. Stone's Slaughterhouse in Stoney Creek Road began operations in the 1890s. Cattle, sheep and pigs were driven from Homebush to the abattoirs in Kingsgrove until they closed in 1920.[3]

An upsurge in development began after the railway line to Hurstville was opened in 1884. A two-tier wagonette and hansom cab conveyed train travellers to their homes and in 1909 a steam tram ran between Bexley and Arncliffe. Many inns opened in the area including the Man of Kent, the Robin Hood and Little John Inn and the Highbury Barn. On 28 June 1900 the Bexley Ward of Hurstville Municipality seceded to become Bexley council. Bexley Council was merged with Rockdale Council in 1948 to form the Municipality of Rockdale.[4]

Commercial area

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Bexley Shopping Centre
Former Commonwealth Bank, Forest Road

Transport

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Bexley is currently served by Transit Systems and U-Go Mobility bus services. A steam tramway opened on 13 October 1909 and operated from Arncliffe railway station via Firth and Done Streets and then onto Wollongong, Forest and Stoney Creek Roads to Bexley Park, near Preddys Road. It closed on 1 January 1927.[5]

Population

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Bexley Congregational Fellowship church designed by Harry Foskett
Bexley Park Grandstand

According to the 2021 census of Population, there were 19,646 people usually resident in Bexley. 52.7% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 6.7%, Lebanon 5.3%, Macedonia 3.8%, Greece 2.9% and Philippines 1.8%. 38.2% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Arabic 13.2%, Greek 7.1%, Macedonian 6.3%, Mandarin 6.0% and Cantonese 5.1%. The most common responses were Catholic 20.9%, No Religion 19.9%, Islam 16.3% and Eastern Orthodox 16.1%.[1]

Notable residents

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Houses

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References

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  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bexley (State suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 August 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ *The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, Page 28
  3. ^ a b Pictorial Memories ST. GEORGE: Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville Joan Lawrence, Kingsclear Books, 1996, Published in Australia ISBN 0-908272-45-6, page 30
  4. ^ Pictorial Memories ST. GEORGE: Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville Joan Lawrence, Kingsclear Books, 1996, Published in Australia ISBN 0-908272-45-6, page 31
  5. ^ Pictorial Memories ST. GEORGE: Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville Joan Lawrence, Kingsclear Books, 1996, Published in Australia ISBN 0-908272-45-6, page 32
  6. ^ Windham, Susan ‘Ace thriller writer trapped in a silent world’ Sydney Morning Herald 25 September 2002.

33°57′24″S 151°7′34″E / 33.95667°S 151.12611°E / -33.95667; 151.12611