Protect our local character

The houses around Dulwich Hill station have immense importance as they were built around the same time that Australia was made a nation.

For instance, 90 suburban housing blocks bordered by Keith, Wardell, Macarthur and Beach Rds (and including Canonbury Grove) were auctioned off in November 1901. This area was known as the “Macarthur Estate” (see photo to the left).

 

This auction was just 11 months after Australia became an independent nation on 1 January, 1901.

 

The housing built in the area reflected and celebrated this new nationhood. Gone was the lace ironwork, brick render and the attached London-style Victorian terraces of the late 19th century. This was replaced by Federation-era detached housing which was far more suitable to the Australian climate.

 

This new form of housing featured roofs with eaves to protect the house from the sun, along with verandahs to help air circulation. This was the first time that Australians had a form of housing they could really call their own and Dulwich Hill was at the centre of this expression of nationality.

 

Some of the streets around the station are now listed as being in a heritage area in the Marrickville LEP 2010 but in reality many other streets could easily qualify for heritage status.

 

Subdivisions happened through the 1880s, 1890s, 1900 and 1910s. These subdivisions typically pre-dated the construction of the Rozelle goods line (now the light rail line), which happened around 1912.

 

For instance, blocks fronting Beach St between Durham and Wardell Rds, and the northern section of Macarthur Parade, were auctioned in 26 April 1902.

 

Many of the original subdivision patterns – and the housing - remains in place, giving them rare historical importance. Much of the century-old housing has been preserved and looks just the same as when originally built. There are few existing inappropriate development intrusions, such as unit blocks from the 1960s or 1970s.

 

The area around Dulwich Hill station has rare character and heritage housing and this must be respected and protected from inappropriate development.

 

More information - see Dulwich Hill's Wikipedia page