Beaconsfield

Background

Originally inhabited by the Gadigal people, Beaconsfield was named after Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, a British Prime Minister during the reign of Queen Victoria. It was originally part of the 1823 land grant to William Hutchinson, who sold the land to Daniel Cooper and Solomon Levy and became known as the Waterloo Estate. Beaconsfield was subdivided In 1884 as the ‘working man’s model township’. It was part of the suburb of Alexandria and all 0.2 square kilometres of the suburb was officially gazetted in 1977.

After a coffee kickstart at Social Society (technically Alexandria) we headed to the Beaconsfield border of Johnson St, full of small warehouses and showrooms, old and new. Up Victoria St, more old and new warehouses and lots of old and new houses as well. The street is full of shade from the well established trees and quiet, there’s little traffic noise considering its surrounded by the two major roads of Botany and O’Riordan.

We head back to Botany Rd via Reserve St with its bustling newsagent and pass two clothing outlets, Industrie and Assembly. No one is shopping but they’re both air conditioned!

Around the corner to Collins St and into Beaconsfield Park, which was officially opened in 1938. The boundaries were defined by an ornamental stone fence and entrance. Part of the area was devoted to a children’s playground equipped with swings and ‘other pleasing devices’. A tennis court was constructed and the design completed by the planting of shade trees and the installation of garden seats and toilets. A number of the trees are old Moreton Bay figs and provide great shade.

On to O’Riordan St for a wander through the Australian Meat Emporium, Sydney’s largest fresh meat market, taken over by the Greenhalgh family in 2019.  You can grab a jacket and experience Sydney’s largest walk-in cool room where you’ll find all cuts of meat. Super cold and such a range of meat, carnivore heaven.  In the same complex, we had a quick visit to the Beer Bar, with 42 beers on tap. They support independent Australian breweries and change the beers every month - what a find! Finally the Liquor Emporium, an independent and family owned bottle shop in the same complex. Nothing better than one stop shopping!

  • It’s freezing inside

  • Yes, 42 of them!

  • Welcome to The Beer Bar

  • The inviting Beer Bar

  • The Liquor Emporium

  • The Meat Emporium

Into Bourke Rd, past Perry Park, home of the Alexandria Basketball Stadium, named after Alderman Arthur Reginald Horatio Perry JP who was Mayor of Alexandria in the 1930s. It was originally a garbage tip until 1957. In 1967 the basketball courts were built. Finally, off to lunch at The William Angliss Institute.

References

https://www.whereis.com/nsw/beaconsfield-2015

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaconsfield,_New_South_Wales

https://www.homely.com.au/beaconsfield-sydney-sydney-greater-new-south-wales

https://www.australias.guide/nsw/location/beaconsfield/

https://thebeerbar.com.au/

https://www.meatemporium.com.au/

https://www.liquoremporium.com.au/

https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/histories-local-parks-playgrounds/history-perry-park

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