The name Allawah is of Aboriginal origin meaning, "make your abode here," or "remain here".
Gadigal People of The Eora Nation
The Gadigal Aboriginal people have lived around the Allawah area for thousands of years.
Aboriginal people often had distinct land boundaries and languages and the mode of life and cultures varied greatly from region to region.
However, Major George Johnston did fulfil the grant on 9 July 1808, when John Townson received 1950 acres on the south side of Mrs Hannah Laycock's King's Grove farm. The farm would be known as Townson's Farm. Townson's Allawah grant extended from King Georges Road and Stoney Creek Road to beyond Kogarah railway station.
Captain Townson's land grant included the area which would later become the suburb of Allawah. However, he was not happy with the south-east corner of his land, the Allawah area (also included Bexley and Calton) and so, he asked Lt Col Paterson for additional land, because "about 300 acres of my land being so bad as to be perfectly useless".
Townson also said:
The Allawah Hotel was built in 1928 by Jack Shaw (real name Jacob Woolf Shroog) a Russian Jewish immigrant born in Gorky Russia in 1884, who arrived in Australia with 30 shillings to his name.
Allawah was an area with many heritage style homes but rezoning allowed the building of flats in the 1970s and more recently, dual occupancy and increased density are leading to gridlocked roads and overdevelopment.
.jpg) |
| A 19th-century engraving of an Aboriginal Australian encampment |
 |
| Aboriginal shields at the Museum of Sydney, NSW |
Captain John Townson
After the British arrived, the area of Allawah was granted to Captain John Townson, who was a British army officer and settler in the colony of New South Wales. Soon after arriving in Sydney, Townson was sent to Norfolk Island, however, he was promoted later to acting lieutenant-governor in Philip Gidley King's absence.
Captain Townson retired in England in 1803, but he came back to Sydney, arriving 5th of August 1806, on the same ship which brought Governor Bligh to New South Wales. Townson had a letter from the authorities in England, directing Governor Bligh to grant Townson 2000 acres of land, but Bligh refused.
However, Major George Johnston did fulfil the grant on 9 July 1808, when John Townson received 1950 acres on the south side of Mrs Hannah Laycock's King's Grove farm. The farm would be known as Townson's Farm. Townson's Allawah grant extended from King Georges Road and Stoney Creek Road to beyond Kogarah railway station.
Captain Townson's land grant included the area which would later become the suburb of Allawah. However, he was not happy with the south-east corner of his land, the Allawah area (also included Bexley and Calton) and so, he asked Lt Col Paterson for additional land, because "about 300 acres of my land being so bad as to be perfectly useless".
Townson also said:
"Having in the course of four years that I have been living upon this spot, employed a deal of labour, and expended a considerable sum of money in building, forming a stock yard, making and enclosing a large garden, clearing and inclosing paddocks and making roads, etc., etc., I hope your Excellency will think I have a just claim to indemnification and that you will give me at least a quantity of land equal to what I have been compelled to give up, with assistance to enable me to remake a similar establishment".
Captain John Townson sold his Botany Bay grants to Simeon Lord in 1812 and with Lord's ownership, the district became known as Lord's Bush or Lord's Forest. Interestingly, Simeon Lord was transported to Australia after being convicted at Manchester Quarter Sessions in April 1790 for stealing 21 pieces of cloth, 100 yards (91 m) of muslin and 100 yards (91 m) of calico from Robert Peel and associates.
Captain John Townson sold his Botany Bay grants to Simeon Lord in 1812 and with Lord's ownership, the district became known as Lord's Bush or Lord's Forest. Interestingly, Simeon Lord was transported to Australia after being convicted at Manchester Quarter Sessions in April 1790 for stealing 21 pieces of cloth, 100 yards (91 m) of muslin and 100 yards (91 m) of calico from Robert Peel and associates.
 |
| Portrait of Simeon Lord, ex-convict and wealthy merchant in early NSW. |
After the death of Simeon Lord, the land came under the control of John Rose Holden and James Holt of the Bank of New South Wales (later Westpac). The area was subdivided into small farms and dairy farms were established.
Struggletown
For many years, the Allawah area was known as Struggletown as small two bedroom houses were mostly built there (2).
Bellevue Estate was the name of the Allawah area in the late 1890s, when the land was sold for 12 pounds, requiring only one pound deposit.
The railway line to Hurstville was opened in 1884, but the railway station at Allawah did not open until 23 October 1925.
 |
| Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Saturday 7 March 1896 |
1920s
In 1925, the railway station officially opened with the celebration taking place on October 24th, with Mr G. H. Gotley as the first station-master. The new railway station between Carlton and Hurtsville increased real estate prices and shops began to crop up. Two subdivisions for sale at this time were the Ryan Estate and Peach Estate.
ALLAWAH—STAY HERE.
Brilliant Weather—Brilliant Function
Last Saturday afternoon the new station "Allawah" was officially opened in the presence of about 1,000 people. Kogarah Municipal Band attended, and during the proceedings rendered some very fine selections which were much appreciated. It might be mentioned at this district during the past few years, has developed in a very remarkable manner, up-to-date shops are already near the station, and five more are in course of construction, a picture theatre will soon be in existence, whilst villas and other classes of residences over the hills and valleys in the neighbourhood.
Thirty-five years ago, the writer was present at the first land sale in Bellevue, whereat the Auctioneer predicted the station would be erected six months hence from that date, but year after year went by until now with 35 years behind us, the station is at last, actually in evidence, and thus last Saturday's opening was the consummation of a hope so long deferred. With gay bunting flying in the gentle breeze, the bridge tastefully adorned with palms, ferns and flowers, and a glorious early summer sun smiling down on the scene, the whole presented a magnificent picture, more particularly enhanced by the uninterrupted view of Georges River and parts of Botany Bay.
St George Call (Kogarah, NSW : 1904 - 1957), Friday 30 October 1925 |
| Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Saturday 21 June 1924 |
The Allawah Hotel
The Allawah Hotel was built in 1928 by Jack Shaw (real name Jacob Woolf Shroog) a Russian Jewish immigrant born in Gorky Russia in 1884, who arrived in Australia with 30 shillings to his name.
After building several suburban hotels he built the Astra Hotel at Bondi also, in 1928. Meetings of the Illawarra Jewish Association were also held at the Allawah Hotel in the 1930s.
1930s
In December 1932 the Allawah Hotel was raided by a gang of thieves who attempted to blow open the safe in the hall. They then took the safe, which resembled a writing table, making off with money and jewellery worth 900 pounds. Then, in January 1950, the Allawah Hotel was held up by two masked bandits who tied up a guest and demanded the hotel safe be opened. The newspaper headlines stated: GUNMEN PANIC -AS WOMEN SCREAM.
several years ago, is 10 miles from the
city. The train journey at peak hours
takes 16 minutes, and a weekly ticket
costs 6/1 to Central, or 6/4 to the city.
 |
| Allawah Shopping Centre, NSW, 1935. Photo: Georges River Council |
A newspaper article in 1937 stated that:
Allawah, a new subdivision opened upseveral years ago, is 10 miles from the
city. The train journey at peak hours
takes 16 minutes, and a weekly ticket
costs 6/1 to Central, or 6/4 to the city.
Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Tuesday 18 May 1937
1940s
1950s
Around Allawah
 |
| PATRONS at the Allawah Hotel, Allawah, yesterday enjoying counter lunch which the hotel serves with drinks in its beer garden. The menu includes oysters, biscuits and cheese, frankfurts, and beef tea. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Wednesday 25 May 1949 |
 |
| Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Wednesday 21 September 1949 |
1950s
 |
| Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), Saturday 7 January 1950 |
 |
| St George Call (Kogarah, NSW : 1904 - 1957), Thursday 31 May 1956 |
Around Allawah
 |
| Heritage house, Balfour Street Allawah, NSW |
 |
| Shop with leadlight glass on Railway Pde, Allawah, NSW |
 |
| Allawah Hotel, NSW, built circa 1928 |
 |
| Allawah Shops, NSW |
 |
| Allawah Train Station, NSW |
 |
| Blocks of flats have been replacing Victorian, California bungalow and Federation houses since 1975 |
