Annandale, New South Wales

Annandale is a suburb of Inner West Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Annandale is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt. Annandale's northern end lies on Rozelle Bay, which is on Sydney Harbour. Glebe lies to its east, Leichhardt to its west and Stanmore to its south.

Annandale's main street, Johnston Street, is notable for being the first 30m wide street in Sydney. The street was completed in 1888. Located on this street is the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church. Constructed in 1885-89, this Gothic revival church's 56m sandstone spire was the tallest in New South Wales for over 100 years, until the 70m twin spires of Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral were completed in 2000. Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church was designed by Cyril and Arthur Blacket, sons of the famous architect Edmund Blacket.

History

Major George Johnston (1764-1823) captained a ship of the First Fleet, which brought convicts to Australia from England. He was granted of land in the area around Annandale and Stanmore, which became known as Johnston's Bush. He later renamed it Annandale after his birthplace Annan in Scotland, United Kingdom. His name is remembered in Johnston Street, Johnston Lane, Johnstons Creek and Johnstons Bay. Johnston and his wife Ester Abrahams, one of the convicts on the ship, farmed it with their children. They built a fine residence called Annandale House in 1799, a distance back from Parramatta Road. It was demolished in 1905 but the gatehouse still stands in Johnston Street on the grounds of Annandale Public school. His son Robert inherited the estate but in 1877 sold it to John Young, who was a businessman, architect and mayor.

Young began turning the Johnston estate into an attractive suburb by building some very picturesque houses. One of those houses was Kenilworth, with a "witch's cap" style of roof common to that period of architecture, which Young rented to Henry Parkes, father of Federation and former Premier of NSW. Other houses in the group were The Abbey, Oybin, Rozelle (now demolished), Greba, Hockingdon, Highroyd and Claremont (now demolished). Some of the houses are popularly known as "witches houses" because their towers resemble witches' hats. Of the various houses in this group, The Abbey is the most notable. Built by John Young, The Abbey has been described as a stone Gothic Revival mansion, modelled on Scottish manors. Young gave his imagination a free rein and the house incorporates gables, arches, gargoyles, lions, quatrefoils, chimneys, turrets, a cloister and a tower with copper cladding (it was rumoured that Young may have stolen gargoyles from St Mary's Cathedral, which he built, but there was no proof). Young was the highest ranking Mason in Australia and The Abbey incorporates Masonic themes. It is possible that the building may have been used by Young as a Masonic Lodge. After Young's death, The Abbey was occupied by a series of tenants, who subdivided the house to create flats and flatettes. A new owner acquired the house in 1959 and restored it. It is now on the Register of the National Estate.

Another home in the area was Kentville, which was built as John Young's home, in a three-hectare garden setting adjacent to Rozelle Bay. The land was bought by Young in 1877, and included a cottage built by Robert Johnston. Young enlarged the cottage and named it Kentville after his home county in the UK. He also built a bowling green on the land and opened it to the public. Young hoped that the Annandale area would be fine enough to rival places like Darling Point, but was unable to get rid of industries in the area or prevent the subdivision of lots. He died in 1907.

The land was subdivided in the late part of the 19th century and more so after Young's death. Since then it has undergone a number of social transformations, from factory floors, migrant stop off, ageing population, to now young families and modern small and micro businesses. Source Annandale on the Web

The Municipality of Annandale was incorporated on 2nd January 1894 but merged with the Municipality of Leichhardt in 1949. The old Council Chambers are now the home of the Annandale Neighbourhood centre

Landmarks

The former Beale Piano Factory at Annandale was the first and largest Australian piano manufacturer. The following buildings are listed on the Register of the National Estate:

• Villas, 13-15 Collins Street
• Post Office, Johnston Street
• Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church, Johnston Street
• Annandale Public School, Johnston Street
• Annandale Council Chambers, 79 Johnston Street
• Former Primitive Methodist Church, 81A Johnston Street
• North Annandale Public School, Johnston Street
• The Abbey and Stone Walls, Johnston Street
• Goodmans Buildings, 2-12 Johnston Street and 103-119 Parramatta Road
• North's Factory, 43 Trafalgar Street

The Johnston Street group

Churches

• Annandale Community Church
• Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church
• St Brendan's Catholic Church
• Annandale Uniting Church

Schools

Annandale Public School at 25-31 Johnston Street and Annandale North Public School at 198 Johnston Street are both on the Register of the National Estate. St Brendan's Catholic School is at 49 Johnston Street.

Culture

Sport

• Annandale once had a Rugby League team in the NSWRL Premiership competition between 1910-1920.

Music

• The Annandale Hotel is a popular live music venue for rock/indie bands. Live At The Annandale is an album recorded at the Annandale Hotel by American punk rock band The Bronx. Isis released a DVD of their full performance at the Annandale Hotel from 2005.
• Trafalgar Studios was where many influential bands of the 70-80s in Sydney recorded their albums. Artists who recorded here included Radio Birdman, Died Pretty, Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly. Trafalgar Studios is currently home to Christian music label Emu Music.
• Australian music label Didgeridoo Records is located in Annandale.

Pop culture

• American author, Mark Twain, stayed in Johnston Street, in the home of Sir Henry Parkes toward the end of Parkes' life, according to Bill Bryson in his 'Down Under' book.
• Booth Street, one of the main streets of the suburb, is a song by popular local band Youth Group on their debut album 'Urban and Eastern' (2000).
• Sydney band Seventeen (featuring members of Smudge and 2 Litre Dolby) have a song called Annandale on their 1999 album 'Gaggin For It'.

Population

Notable residents

• Nightclub owner and property developer Abe Saffron was born in Annandale
• 'Father of Federation' and Premier of NSW Henry Parkes died in Annandale

References

External links

• Annandale on the Web
• Christians In The Media/Annandale Community Church
• Hunter Ballie Memorial Presbyterian Church
• St Brendan's Catholic Church
• Annandale Uniting Church
• Annandale North Public School