Historical Sydney Suburbs

Auburn, NSW, is located about 16 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD and around 7 kilometres southeast of Parramatta.

Auburn is named after a mythical place in Oliver Goldsmith's poem 'The Deserted Village,' published in 1770. Specifically the words of the poem, 'Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain, Where health and plenty cheer d the labouring swain.' However, the inhabitants desert the formerly lovely village. and the rural village named Auburn falls into decline.

Aboriginal Clans

The Auburn area is associated with the Wangal and Wategoro, clans of the Eora. But it is also a border region between the Darug inland group and the Eora/Dharawal coastal groups. (various spellings)

The earliest descriptions of Aboriginal people of the Eora and Darug can be found in the writings of Watkin Tench, A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson: Including An Accurate Description of the Situation of the Colony; of the Natives; and of Its Natural Productions. Read here

Some excepts:

'What we were able to learn from them was, that they depend but little on fish, as the river yields only mullets, and that their principal support is derived from small animals which they kill, and some roots (a species of wild yam chiefly) which they dig out of the earth. If we rightly understood them, each man possesses two wives. Whence can arise this superabundance of females? Neither of the men had suffered the extraction of a front tooth.'

'Whether the women cut off a joint of one of the little fingers, like those on the sea coast, we had no opportunity of observing.'

Although our natives and the strangers conversed on a par, and understood each other perfectly, yet they spoke different dialects of the same language; many of the most common and necessary words, used in life, bearing no similitude, and others being slightly different.

That these diversities arise from want of intercourse with the people on the coast, can hardly be imagined, as the distance inland is but thirty-eight miles; and from Rose Hill not more than twenty, where the dialect of the sea coast is spoken. It deserves notice, that all the different terms seemed to be familiar to both parties, though each in speaking preferred its own.

The Wangal people occupied the mangrove-lined estuary stretching from Parramatta to Darling Harbour

In the local language of the Sydney basin, Eora means 'man' or maybe 'people.' The Eora are made up of 29 different Aboriginal clans.

Colebee applying grilled fish to Nanbarry's gum after having his tooth struck out c1798

According to the historical records, the Auburn district, prior to its being the first free-agricultural settlement in Australia, was almost an impenetrable forest, with dense thickets of underwood. (1.)

Yoo-long Erah-ba-diang 4, From 'An account of the English colony in New South Wales...' by David Collins, 1798

It is only after the 1870s that the names Darug, Dharawal, Darginung and Gundungurra were used by anthropologists.

Dr Geoff Ford's thesis on the region's Aboriginal history argues that the original name for the inland groups was Darkiñung. He contends that the name Darug was later introduced by academia in the late 1980s.

1788

In the early months of 1788, 11 British tall ships sailed into Port Jackson – six convict transports, three store ships and two naval escorts of the First Fleet.

5 February 1788: Captain John Hunter sailed up Parramatta River to (now) Homebush Bay.

15 February 1788; Governor Arthur Phillip sailed 3 km inland from Homebush Bay.

26 June 1789: Watkin Tench, a young First Fleet Marine officer, explored further. His party of 5 were the first Europeans to walk from Rosehill wharf (now Parramatta) to Marrong (now Prospect Hill). Watkin Tench sailed up the Hawkesbury River with Captain Arthur Phillip. Read Tench's diary here

A narrative of the expedition to Botany Bay; with an account of New South Wales, its productions, inhabitants, &c. To which is subjoined, a list of the civil and military establishments at Port Jackson. By Captain Watkin Tench, ... (published, 1789) or here

A corroboree in the area:

On one occasion, it being a holiday, the boys were allowed to pay a visit to the blacks' camp, some distance out (Parramatta, towards Prospect The blacks had assembled from various parts of the colony, for the annual feast given them by the Governor, and to receive a blanket piece. The latter gift is still customary wherever any blacks remain.

Before the feast came off, quarrels had sometimes to be adjusted, and on this occasion a fight took place, which we had the opportunity of witnessing.

There were probably six or seven hundred blacks assembled at their camps. The women of each party had first to be placed at a safe distance. The men painted themselves with white pipe-clay and red ochre and thus, without any clothing, the two parties advanced towards each other in a half cirde, in ranks three and four deep, armed with spears, boomerangs, nullah-nuUahs, waddies, and shields. When within a hundred yards or so of each other, the battle began. The spears flew across the half circle in great profusion, but were well parried

In Old Australia: Records and Reminiscences from 1794, by James S. Hassall

An Account of the English Colony of NSW Vol 1 by David Collins. Read here

1790s

The first free settlers arrived on the 'Bellona' on 16th January, 1793 (initially Quaker farmers were to settle in the colony). They received grants in an area named Liberty Plains, south of the Parramatta River about halfway between Sydney and Parramatta. (the area was named Liberty Plains because the newcomers where free settlers in a convict colony)

They were Thomas Rose, who brought his wife and four children. Edward Powell, Thomas Webb, Frederick Meredith and Thomas’ nephew, Joseph Webb.

Almost 6 months later Thomas Bishop received a grant.

These were the first land grants made to free settlers (non-convict). These grants were intended to supply food for Sydney but the farms failed due to poor soil conditions and most of these farms were abandoned.

1830s

The parish of Liberty Plains was proclaimed in 1835. The area which was first developed by free settlers rather than convicts, now includes the suburbs of Auburn, Regents Park, Potts Hill, Sefton, Chester Hill, Bass Hill and Lidcombe, as well as Flemington and a small part of Strathfield that was formerly part of Flemington. It also includes the Rookwood Cemetery.

1850s

In 1855, development in the area increased with the first railway line from Sydney to the Parramatta Junction.

1870s

In the late 1870s a township was surveyed. Auburn's shift from farms to a suburb increased in 1877 when the railway station opened.

The Auburn railway station opened in 1877.

Industrial development occured in the 1870s.

1880s

by 1880 there were about 40 homes and a population of 200 people living in Auburn.

Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Wednesday 1 February 1882,

Henry Vale & Co. built locomotives in Auburn, manufacturing several steam locomotives for the NSW Railways, such as F Class locomotives, which were in service from 1885 to 1901.

In 1883, John Buchanan, a Timber Merchant, bought land in Mary Street on which he built Duncraggan Hall. This Hall was purchased by the Sisters of Charity in 1892 and transformed into St Joseph’s Hospital.

1890s

Council established in 1892 to govern Auburn Municipality, which later incorporated Lidcombe Municipality.

1900s

Auburn Railway Station, c.1905. NSW, Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

Royal Hotel, Auburn, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 21 January 1903

AUBURN-ROAD, FROM RAILWAYBRIDGE. NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 21 January 1903

Auburn Superior School, Auburn, NSW, Auburn News and Granville Electorate Gazetteer (NSW : 1903 - 1905), Saturday 5 November 1904

Auburn Road showing Royal Hotel, Auburn, N.S.W. - early 1900s, Kaye

Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 - 1893; 1895 - 1903; 1906 - 1914; 1916 -1980), Saturday 29 April 1911

King Edward VII Home, Auburn was opened on Saturday 7 October 1911 by the Australian Protestant Orphans’ Society.

Locomotive built at Auburn, NSW, for use on a Queensland plantation, Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), Sunday 3 November 1912

WWI

George Bell and staff pictured 1915. Hairdresser, confectioner and tobacconist on Auburn Road, Auburn NSW. CCC

Munitions making at Caldwell Vale, Auburn, NSW, (a tractor maker), Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Sunday 25 June 1916

AUBURN FAMILY OF FIGHTERS. Mrs. Martha Jones, of Provincial-street, Auburn, has had three. sons and two sons-in-law fighting for the Empire. She has been a resilient of Auburn six years. Her only son left, not fighting, tried seven times to pass the test, but .failed. He is now at sea on a merchant-man. Her eldest son, Alfred, who is 26 years of age, resides with his wife at Gateshead, England. He was sent from the battleship Drake to taka charge of one of the small boats that conveyed Ausrtalian troops from the troopships to the landing at Gallipoli on the fateful morning of 25th April, 1915. In carry-ing out his duties he was shot through the Ieg; and was afterwards discharged as unfit for active service. Private Henry Jones, the second son, is 24 years of age. He left for the front in October, 1915, and was wounded in the leg in France, he is back again in the firing line. He worked at Hoskins' Foundry, Rhodes. Private Ernest Jones, the youngest son. is 19 years of age. He has been away about 12 months. He was admitted into hospital on 21st February last suffering from trench feet. In his last letter he stated he was still off duty but improving. Private David Hackett is son-in-law and is 22 years of age. He left for the front 12 months ago, and was admitted into hospital with trench feet on 29th February, and according to latest ac-counts he was still in hospital. John George Hackett, another son-in-law, is 31 years of age. His wife and five children reside in Union— road, Auburn. He left Eveleigh workshops on 2nd De-cember last to engage in the construction of submarines in England. He passed all the tests that soldiers undergo and signed on for the duration of the war. AiFRED JONES, JOHN GEORGE HACKETT. PRIVATE HENRY JONES. PRIVATE ERNEST JONES. PRIVATE DAVID HACKETT. MRS. MARTHA JONES.Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 4 August 1917

Patriotic Women on the March.— An Auburn Contingent...... nearly all members o!' the local War Chest, having sons, brothers or sweethearts nt t!ic front, took part in tlio liig patriotic procession in Sydney on Empire Day. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 1 June 1918

Cottage Hospital, Auburn, NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Auburn Rd, Auburn, NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

E. Webber & Co., Auburn, NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Auburn Brick Co. Ltd, NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Auburn Superior Public School (girls and infants) NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Auburn Superior Public School (boys' Department), NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Construction and Local Government Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1913 - 1930), Monday 27 October 1919

Oxford Pottery, and later as Oxford Tile Works. Oxford Pottery was located on the northern side of Mary Street and included the portion of land spanning from the residence at 59 Mary Street to the west towards Chisholm Road.

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 18 October 1919

Salvation Army Citadel and Young people's Hall in 1919. This building was located at the corner of Mary Street and Harrow Road, Auburn, NSW, it opened in 1919. Demolished in 1963. Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

1920s

Church of Christ, North Auburn, c.1920. Located at the intersection of of St Hilliers and Parramatta Roads. 1920. Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

Auburn Road at corner of South Parade and western side of Auburn Road, NSW, 1920. Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

The War Memorial was built in 1921, to commemorate those who fell in WW1 (1914-1918).

This postcard from about 1920 shows the Auburn War Memorial, NSW. The memorial was originally built on land donated by the Railway Department and was unveiled on 30 April 1922 by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal. 1920, Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

First Baptist Church, Auburn, NSW, c.1920, Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

Auburn Road looking south from South Parade, NSW, 1926, Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

PURCELL ENGINEERING COY. Big Modern Works at Auburn. THE Purcell Engineering Co. (Capital. £100,000) is one of the best-equipped and most modern engineering estab lishments in the Commonwealth. The modern works at Auburn occupy 3¼ acres, and the company specialise in the manu facture of oil-driven locomotives, tools, of all descriptions, pumping and drilling machines, grinding and hack-sawing machines, ball and roller bearings, and high-class general engineering. Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 21 December 1927

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Wednesday 26 October 1927, page 19

DOINGS IN COUNCILS

ALLIGATOR FARM » SCHEME FOR AUBURN ALSO OCTOPUSES

Auburn Council receives some -strange requests. At last night's meeting permission was sought by Mr. J. Merldlth, a local resident, to erect breeding

pens on land fronting Duck Rivor for the propagation of 'alligators, crocodiles, walruses, and octopuses. These, creatures, It was explained, would be .sold to zoological gardens In various parts of the world. Alderman Ritchie: We should say at once that we 'will not crlve normleelnn

for this sort of thing. Alderman Chapman: We don't want crocodiles floating around In Auburn's creeks. . . Council decided to refer the letter to a committee, and the inspector Is to report upon the proposed arrangements. Several months ago the council received a similar request from a woman of Sutherland-street, Auburn. She wanted to. breed lions and tigers In her back yard, and told tho council that they would be kept in concrete cages. Council turned doWn her application because of tho protests of residents, who said that not only would they bo kept awake by the roaring of the lions but that children
would be scared to pass the place.
Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Wednesday 26 October 1927

Exibition of Australian Manufacturers at the Auburn Works of Metropolitan-Vickers Australia Pty. Ltd.Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Thursday 6 December 1928

Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), Sunday 28 August 1927,

Baptist Church, Harrow Road, Auburn, NSW, 1928, Local Studies Collection Cumberland City Council Library Services

Auburn Rd, Auburn, NSW. 1928

1930s

The former St. Johns Ambulance brigade operated between 1930 and 1953.

Keighery Hotel, Auburn, Sydney, NSW. Greg Keighery built the pub in 1931

This imposing and most up-to-date Ambulance Station at Auburn, NSW, was officially opened by the Premier (Mr. J. T. Lang)Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Thursday 26 March 1931

Auburn District Hospital. NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Thursday 14 May 1931

ST, JOSEPF'S HOSPITAL, AUBURN, NSW. Although St. Joseph's is a Catholic institution, more than seyenty- five per cent. of the patients are of theProtestant faith.Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Thursday 14 May 1931

The Great Depression

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Thursday 23 June 1932

CHURCH PARADE AT AUBURN BAPTIST CHURCH. NSW Members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade on their way to attend their annual church parade, Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 28 May 1934

1940s and WWII

AUBURN-LIDCOMBE SEVEN SCHOOLMIATES SERVING IN' A.I.F. ALL PLAYED WITH THE SAME SOCCER CLUB Dvr. R. H. Klein Dvr. E. F. Manks Gnr. H. R. Haggett Gnr. M. Froud Pte. R. W. Bowen Pte. C. Burrows Gnr. R. M. ViqueratCumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Wednesday 8 October 1941

The foyer at the Civic Theatre in Auburn, NSW, in the 1940s. SLNSW (built 1934 and demolished in March 1973)

Located in the Auburn district of Sydney at the corner of Park Road and South Parade. The Civic Theatrewas opened on 13th February 1934. Demolished 1973. See more on Cinema Treasures

79 Sydney Rd Auburn NSW later became 179 Parramatta Rd Auburn.J A Goldthorpe Motor Garage. Barney Morley sitting on front mudguard. no date. Archives and Special Collections

AIR COMMODORE HIPPOLYTE FERDINAND DE LA RUE, DFC, RAAF Inspector of Administration, is one of the nnost experienced Air Force officers in Australia, and was born at Auburn, NSW, in March, 1891. Before entering the service he had 8 years' experience with Mercantile Marine, from which, at outbreak of last war, he was transferred to RN Transport Service as a navigator. Joining RN Air Service in 1916, he carried out anti-submarine work on seaplanes, won the DFC and Italian Silver Valour Medal, and was mentioned in 20 despatches. In 1918 he transferred to RAF, and later AFC, and after the war was attached to RAF HQ in Middle East. After he came to Australia in 1921, he was first attached to the Flying Training School, Pt Cook, which he commanded 12 years later. In 1929 he carried out exchange duty with RAF, and 2 years later commanded seaplane squadron at Pt Cook. At outbreak of war, Air Commodore Oe La Rue was CO at Richmond, NSW, and in 1940 was appointed AOC Western Area. Appointed to a new post in 1941, he became senior administrative officer at an area HQ. Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 29 May 1943

Lang Casts Vote At Auburn MR. J. T. LANG, M.L.A., being helped to find his roll number by Mr. Thomas Geary, before casting his vote at Auburn in today's State Elections. Mr. Lang is the Auburn candidate for the Lang Labor Party.Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), Saturday 27 May 1944

AIRZONE (1931) LTD., NEW PREMISES, PARRAMATTA ROAD, AUBURN SYDNEY. Construction (Sydney, NSW : 1938 - 1954), Wednesday 14 June 1944 (Airzone started manufacturing crystal radio sets in 1925)

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Wednesday 23 June 1948

Railway retaining wall and shops, Auburn NSW, 1948, Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection

1950s

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Auburn became a place of settlement for successive waves of immigrants.

The Auburn Railway Signal Box opened in 1954.

Prams outside Auburn Baby Health Centre [Health Department of NSW, 1956, Government Records

1970s

Great Western Highway (SH5), Parramatta Road near Junction Street, Auburn, with Michelin and Firestone tyre buildings in the background, Jan, 1970, Transport Historic Assets Library

The Auburn Botanic Gardens, located in Auburn, were established in 1977, covering an area of 9.7 hectares.

The Sri Mandir in Auburn is Australia's oldest Hindu temple, having opened in 1977.

The first mosque on the present Gallipoli Mosque site was opened for worship on 3 November 1979.

2000s

Auburn Ambulance Station, NSW, 2011, Neal Jennings

The first Melton Hotel at Auburn, NSW, appears to have been built in a similar location to the current standing Melton Hotel. The hotel was built in c.1890 for Fredrick Martineer who owned the Wheatsheaf Inn nearby on Parramatta Road in the 1880s.

Auburn, 2012, PD (e Auburn Gallipoli Mosque)

Auburn, NSW, 2014, https://www.flickr.com/photos/eddymilfort/

Keighery Hotel, Auburn, Sydney, in 2016, Sardaka

Auburn, NSW, 2017, (Geoff dude)

In Auburn (NSW) in 2021, Islam was the largest religious group reported overall (42.4%) (excludes Not stated). ABS

Ramadan Street Festival in Auburn, NSW, 2022

In March 2026, in Auburn, Sydney, there is a rally supporting Iran's Islamist regime, holding portraits of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Around Auburn

In 1883, John Buchanan a Timber Merchant, bought land in Mary Street, Auburn, NSW, on which he built Duncraggan Hall. This Hall was purchased by the Sisters of Charity in 1892 and transformed into St Joseph’s Hospital.