Historical Sydney Suburbs: Artarmon, NSW: Was Known as “The Bush”

Artarmon is a suburb located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney, on the lower North Shore.

Cammeraygal people

Cammeraygal is variously spelled as Cam-mer-ray-gal, Gamaraigal, Kameraigal, Cameragal and several other variations.

Living as hunter–fisher–gatherers in extended family groups, the Cammeraygal, were severely impacted by Smallpox to which they had no immunity, with the arrival of the British.

British officer David Collins, who spent eight years in New South Wales in An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, published in London in 1798, wrote the women sang together as they fished and kept time with their paddles when they rowed.

Evidence of Aboriginal occupation can be found in caves, hand prints on stone, rock art, weapons and middens.

Barangaroo was a woman from the Camaragal people during the early days of the British arrival. She, unlike her husband, Bennelong, refused to wear clothes and had a pierced nasal septum.

An account of the English colony in New South Wales, from its first settlement in January 1788 to August 1801
Read: AN ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY IN NEW SOUTH WALES

1786

Polmont Farm (144 acres) on the western side of today’s Pacific Highway, was developed by James Williamson on land granted by Governor Hunter in 1796.

1800s

William Gore came to Australia with William Bligh who appointed him Provost Marshal. Gore was given a land grant in 1810, where Artarmon exists today.

Gore’s family lived in Ardthelmon Castle (pronounced Art-e-mon), in Ireland, which dates from the 1640s.

During the Rum Rebellion, William Gore arrested John Macarthur. Then the Rum Corps arrested Gore, and he served two years in the Newcastle coalmines.

In 1818, Gore defaulted on his mortgage and lost most of his land, except for a plot where he built Artarmon House in which he lived.

The first house, built by Gore at Artarmon in 1820 by Gore, was replaced by a grander building in 1869 by Richard Hayes Hartnett.

Bricks were first made in the area in 1828.

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Friday 23 August 1822

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Tuesday 15 December 1829

1830s

In 1830 there were no Aboriginal people living a traditional lifestyle in the area.

1850s

Orchards and market gardens were established.

1860s

In 1865, the Municipality of North Willoughby was proclaimed.

The land for Gore Hill Cemetery was first dedicated in May 1868.

1880s

The southern part of Artarmon developed several industries from the 1880s.

1890s

Artarmon Station was opened in 1898. On 25 April 1898, the Willoughby tram service was officially opened as an extension of the North Sydney network.

1900s

The BUTCHER BROTHERS AND CO.'S NEW BRICKWORKS, GORE HILL. Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 13 May 1903

A mailbox was established at Artarmon railway station in 1907.

Valetta House, Artarmon, NSW, PD. (Valetta, the original home of William Gore, is now known as Trelowarren) More info

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Monday 9 September 1912

Cleland Park was declared a public park in 1908.

Artarmon Railway Station, NSW, 1908, SLNSW

Artarmon Railway Station, NSW, 1908, Willoughby Library.

Looking towards Chatswood from Artarmon Railway Station, NSW, 1908. The northbound Sydney train track was first built in 1890. Artarmon Railway Station was opened, 6 July 1898 but it wasn't until 1916, that a brick station building was built.

New infants school at Artarmon, NSW, All the children from Artarmon had formerly to either walk to
the ChatBwood School, a distance of a little more than a mile, or travel by the train. The latter method often caused a good deal of anxiety to parents, as many of the children are only 6 or 7 years of age. The new school. Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Thursday 6 October 1910,

Artarmon Railway Station , NSW, 1915

WWI

Lieutenant D E Wilson (Artarmon), wounded. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Wednesday 16 June 1915

Private W. Roy Pugsley, Of the 18th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements. He has been missing since August 22, and his parents, who live at Hampden-road, Artarmon, would be grateful If any returned soldier has news of him. Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Saturday 11 December 1915

Comrade-in-Arms. The group was photographed in Cairo beforet he Gallipoli campaign. On the Ieft is Pte Collins, who was killed in action at Anzac, in thee centre is a Bengal lancer, who was wounded at the Suez Canal; and on the right is Sergt, Garnet R. Downer of Artarmon, near Sydney, who, after serving through the whole Gallipoli campaign, was last month killed in action in France. Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 2 August 1916

Fete at Artarmon, NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 21 February 1917

Before the Harbour Bridge was built to the North Shore, the area was known as “the bush”.

1920s

This snapshot was taken In Broughton-road, Artarmon, In tho Willoughby municipality, a thoroughfare leading from the railway station to the Lane Cove-road. Some of the local boys make quite a good thing by hiring out planks to motorists in trouble.Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Friday 13 January 1922

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Friday 24 October 1924

The wireless weekly : the hundred per cent Australian radio journalVol. 4 No. 26 (10 October 1924)

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Friday 12 February 1926

Wilkes Ave, Artarmon, NSW, 1924 (viewed from Artarmon Railway Station. Behind the gardens is Artarmon Road)

Mr. Harnett says that, when his father first took over the Gore Hill property from the wood-carter Sims, he found the remains of William and Mrs. Gore, and those of a daughter, in a portion of thick scrub. The coffins had originally rested on very low trestles, above ground, but Mr. Harnett says that when he saw them, the wood was almost all dust, through which showed the whitened bones of the pioneers. It is stated that the reason William Gore had his remains left above ground was because of an old belief regard- was "in aerial."

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Sunday 28 August 1927

Artarmon's New Public School Officially Opened, Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 17 September 1929

1930s

The Great Northern, at Artarmon, NSW, Building : the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant.Vol. 47 No. 277 (12 September 1930)

GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL, ARTARMON, SYDNEY. A Link With Early Days. The site of this hotel, the Great Northern, Artarmon, which has just been co’m-pleted, is that of one of the first hotels on the north side of the harbour, and is the third to occupy this position. Situated at the junction of Gordon and Mowbray Roads, it was originally the centre of a sporting circle, an old race-course being- located to the west of it, and many a race, sports meeting or even cock-fight, has been celebrated or deplored over its foaming tankards. The second hotel, and predecessor to
the present one, was opened some 51 years ago (1879) and was the excuse for much revelry, say the oldest inhabitant informs us, an ox being roasted whole in the yard and free beer being dispensed to all and- sundry; no wonder he remembers the incident clearly and says “times ain’t what thev were.” This hotel ended up bv being called The Artarmon Hotel, altered several times) but the new occupier of the site has styled itself the “Great Northern” in view of the fact that it flanks the new Great Northern Road to Newcastle (Pest’s Ferry permitting). Building : the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant.Vol. 47 No. 277 (12 September 1930)

Gardens at Artarmon Railway, NSW, 1930s (Charles Henry Wickham (1869-1936). The gardener in the photo was a resident who designed and managed the railway station gardens on behalf of the Artarmon Progress Association from 1928 until 1936.

Artarmon Village, NSW, 1935. Artarmon Progress Association

Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 25 January 1933

Clarke Bridge, Artarmon, NSW, Building : the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant.Vol. 48 No. 283, (12 March, 1931)

Repainting Artarmon police station with yellow and black bands yesterday. The new colour scheme will attract attention to the "pill-box," and so assist the police.Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 4 February 1933

Construction (Sydney, NSW : 1938 - 1954), Wednesday 1 June 1938

1940s and WWII

SOME WHERE I IN AUSTRALIA. — Flying - Officer A. P. Goldsmith, D.F.C., D.F.M., and Malta Cross, of Artarmon, celebrated his return to operational flying on Tuesday by shooting down one of the five Jap Zero fighters destroyed over Darwin by Spitfires.Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), Friday 10 September 1943

REPATRIATED prisoners of war from Italy, who arrived in Sydney yesterday. From left to right: Sergeants Walter Martin, of Artarmon, and Russell Kelly, of Strathfield, and Privates Thomas Carter, of Scone, Stan Whitehead, of Young, arid Lance Ward, of Glebe. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Saturday 17 July 1943

Grace Bros, Repository at Pacific Highway, Artarmon, 1947, SLNSW. Originally built in 1932 for Grace Bros as a furniture repository

Two members of Artarmon Junior Red Cross circle, JEANETTE HUTLEY and YVONNE CARTER, admiring gifts which have been made by members for the JRC Exhibition opening in the Town Hall on Wednesday. Clothing and toys will later be sent to children of invalid ex-servicemen.Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Tuesday 17 August 1948

Midday Meals in Schools Is A New Deal Objective. Daily meal service at Artarmon is typical
of the best being provided in this State. Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation.Vol.30 No.4 (25 April 1949) (The Oslo lunch was devised by Norwegian physician and professor Carl Schiøtz in 1932 to improve the health of poor children. By 1950 it was in schools throughout Australia)

1950s

Artarmon tram, NSW, 1950s

Corner of Wilkes Ave and Elizabeth St, Artarmon, NSW, 1950s

St. John Ambulance Officer E. O. Perrot, of Artarmon, wearing medaIs belonging to himmself as well as some which belonged to his forefathers who took part in the .Battle of Waterloo. Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), Wednesday 25 April 1951

Sister Patricia Hadley, of Artarmon, N.S.W., climbs the rope ladder to the R.A.A.F. air-sea rescue launch in Port Phillip Bay. With other R.A.A.F. nurses she has been training with the R.A.A.F.'s Aviation Medicine Section at Point Cook. The nurses had first hand experience of survival when they were set adrift inthe Bay in a rubber dinghy. Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), Wednesday 17 November 1954

WOMEN DRIVERS can heat Junior's bottle or make a "cuppa" in the sun-bathed snack room, or have a freshening shower and brush-up in the plastic-curtained shower-room, which are facilities provided in a new Rest-Room service especially planned for the growing army of women motorists on the highways. First one of a nation-wide network of new service stations was opened on the Pacific Highway at Artarmon this week. Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 2 July 1954

“Speedo” knitting mill, known as “The House of Speedo”, opened in February 1957, at Artarmon.