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Home | Australian Place | Municipality of Strathfield
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A disastrous attempt in the 1790s by the first settlers to farm the land around the current locality of Homebush, resulted in the land being abandoned. However, by the 1870s, the district commenced development primarily as a residential area. The central location, halfway between Sydney and Parramatta, the establishment of rail services (from 1855 at Homebush) and availability of land, initially at low costs, attracted many wealthy merchants to build country style mansions within reasonable access to their City based businesses. Strathfield was also promoted as a healthy environment, away from owercrowded City conditions and diseases. Early land advertisements speak of the inland location as away from the 'injurious sea conditions'. With the relocation to Strathfield of many prominent families including the heirs of retailer David Jones, chemist Washington H Soul and many others, Strathfield became an elite and wealthy area. Its development differed markedly from the more working class areas of surrounding districts like Canterbury, Auburn and Concord. The Strathfield Municipality has expanded over time and now includes the suburbs of Strathfield, Homebush, Homebush West, Flemington, Greenacre, Enfield, Strathfield South, Chullora (part) and Belfield (part). Over the years it has become a major multicultural centre, having many different nationalities in its 14.1 km2 boundaries, of which the 3 largest non-Australian born groups are South Korean, Chinese, and Sri Lankan. Strathfield Municipal Council has a population of about 36,000 people and is one of Sydney's medium sized Councils. Strathfield Municipal Council has traditionally opposed forced amalgamations with other local government areas, though the current Council itself has been expanded in size and population by incorporating the former Homebush Council in 1947 and the west ward of the former Enfield Council in 1949. Strathfield Council was rocked in 2004-05 by allegations of corruption involving rezoning of land use. The two councillors involved resigned following the inquiry by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). |
