Holroyd City Council

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Significant Events

The area that is now Holroyd City Council has had a long and colourful history.  Long before the establishment of the Municipality of Prospect and Sherwood Council in 1872, European colonists were exploring the district within months of their arrival and establishing land grants in the district a few years later.  And long before the Europeans arrived, the Indigenous Darug people lived, hunted, farmed and traded in this area.  Below are just some of the significant events that have helped shape Holroyd into the vibrant City it is today.  Short accounts are provided for some of these events below, but for more information, please contact Council's Local Studies Librarian on (02) 9840 9789 or stephen.coppins@holroyd.nsw.gov.au.

1780s | 1790s |

1800s | 1810s | 1820s | 1830s | 1840s | 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s |

1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s  | 1980s | 1990s |

2000s | 2010s |

1780s

  • Up to 1788 – The Darug people
  • 1788 - Governor Phillip visits Bellevue Hill (26 April)
  • 1788 - Settlement of Rose Hill (2 November)
  • 1789 - Watkin Tench views the Blue Mountains (26 June)

1790s

  • 1790 - Governor Philip has Domain laid out (June)
  • 1791 - Settlement of Toongabbie (April)
  • 1791 - Rose Hill renamed Parramatta (4 June)
  • 1791 - Land Grants at Prospect Hill (18 July)
  • 1793 - Denham Court Estate (28 May)
  • 1793 - Construction of the Western Road (later Great Western Highway) begins
  • 1795-1802 - Pemulwuy and Indigenous resistance to European settlement
  • 1797 - Portland Place – the failed settlement

1800s

  • 1802 - Parish of St. John proclaimed (July)
  • 1804 - Battle of Vinegar Hill (5 March)
  • 1805 - Peace talks between Weymaly Clan and settlers at Prospect Hill (3 May)
  • 1806 - John Gowan land grant on north-side of Prospect Creek (1 January)

1810s

  • 1810 - Fitzwilliam Place – D'Arcy Wentoworth's land grant (January)
  • 1811 - Veteran Hall – William Lawson's Prospect land grant
  • 1813 - Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth set off from Veteran Hall to cross Blue Mountains
  • 1816 - James Meehan, Surveyor General's land grant near Granville (23 December)
  • 1817 - Guildford – Lieutenant Samuel North’s land grant (April)

1820s

  • 1820 - Methodist preaching circuit established
  • 1820s - Woodlands, Joseph Kenyon’s land grant
  • 1822 - Toll bar constructed on Western Road
  • 1825 - Church and School Land established
  • 1826 - Shootout between police and bushrangers near the toll bar on Western Road (23 September), results in death of Constanble Benjamin Ratty (7 October)

1830s

  • 1831 - Ockbrook, William Sherwin consolidation (25 June)
  • 1832 - Charles Darwin visits Prospect Hill
  • 1833 - First Public School in Merrylands opened by Mr A. D. James
  • 1836 - Greystanes – Nelson Simmons Lawson acquires Grey Stanes Estate (10 November) 
  • 1839 - 1 acre of Government Paddock set aside for Presbyterian cemetery (3 December)

1840s

  • 1841 - St. Bartholomew's Church, Prospect opened
  • 1842 - Baptist services begin under a gum tree at Smithfield
  • 1843 - Guildford sold to Henry Whitaker (February)
  • 1843 - Star Inn registered by William Fullagar (18 April) 
  • 1845 - Cattle Sale Yard opened by William Fullagar next to Star Inn
  • 1849 - 1 acre of land set aside for Baptist cemetery (17 March)

1850s

  • 1855 - Sherwood Scrubs – Arthur Holroyd purchases parts of Sherwood (March)
  • 1856 - Rail line from Parramatta Junction (Granville) to Liverpool opened
  • 1859 - May’s Hill – Government Doman sub-divided (25 April)

1860s

  • 1861 - Rail line from Parramatta to Penrith opened
  • 1867 - Guildford Post Office opened
  • 1868 - Merrylands Road built

1870s

  • 1872 - Establishment of the Municipality of Prospect & Sherwood
  • 1876 - First purpose built Council Chambers
  • 1876 - Guildford Railway Station opened (13 April)
  • 1878 - Great Western Steam Brick & Pottery Works established
  • 1878 - Junction Brick and Pottery Co Ltd established (June)
  • 1878 - Merrylands Railway Station opened (6 July)

1880s 

  • 1880 - Toongabbie Railway Station opened (26 April)
  • 1880 - Merrylands (postal) Receiving Office opens at Railway Station (1 November)
  • 1881 - Gough Town – Australia’s first Temperance Township (16 April)
  • 1882 - Macquarie Park Primary School temporary tent school established for children of workers on Prospect Reservoir (May); Renamed Boothtown Public School (June)
  • 1883 - T. R. Smith’s Platform (Wentworthville Railway Station) opens
  • 1883 - Westmead Railway Station opens (March)
  • 1884 - Boothtown Primary School renamed Prospect Reservoir Public School and relocated
  • 1884 - Goodlet and Smith brickworks established
  • 1885 - Dunmore House built by Colonial Treasurer Sir William MacMillan
  • 1886 - Catholic Holy Trinity Parish, Granville established
  • 1886 - Goughtown Public School established (March) 
  • 1886 - Number of Aldermen representing the district increased from six to nine (8 September)
  • 1886 - Prospect and Sherwood Ratepayers' Association established (30 December)
  • 1887 - Official opening of new Council Chambers (5 February)
  • 1887 - Gas and kerosene street lighting introduced 
  • 1888 - Pitt Row Public School established (April)
  • 1888 - Water supply – the Upper Nepean Scheme completed
  • 1889 - St. Mary's Church of England, Toongabbie erected

1890s

  • 1890 - Wentworthville Post Office opens at Railway Station (10 October)
  • 1891 - Wentworthville Public School established (January)
  • 1891 - Linnwood House completed by George McCredie (April)
  • 1892 - St.Matthew's Mission Church, Holroyd (now St.Matthew's Anglican Church, Greystanes - Merrylands West) officially opened and dedicated (28 May)
  • 1893 - St.Peter's Church of England, Mays Hill (later Pitt Row) established
  • 1894 - Presbyterian services commence at George McCredie's Linnwood, Guildford
  • 1897 - Work commences on connecting Prospect & Sherwood to the Sydney water supply (19 July) 
  • 1898 - “Old Dairy” Post Office opens (1 February), renamed Holroyd (14 March)
  • 1898 - Ward System introduced (Guildford, Pitt & Wentworth) (29 December)

1900s

  • 1902 - Anglican Mission Hall, Guildford built
  • 1902 - Harper Street School (now Greystanes Public School) established (20 January)
  • 1902 - The Prospect Line – tramline connecting Emu Gravel Company quarry to Toongabbie Station completed (April)
  • 1908 - First triennial full-Council election held (31 January)
  • 1909 - Regular sanitary nightsoil collection service commences
  • 1909-10 - Girraween

1910s

  • 1910 - St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Guildford dedicated (2 April)
  • 1910 - St. Patrick's Primary School opened (October)
  • 1912 - Goughtown Public School renamed Merrylands Public School (January)
  • 1912 - Holroyd Post Office renamed Merrylands (1 June)
  • 1912 - Council boundary changes - Prospect & Sherwood and Parramatta Borough transfer land between each
  • 1913 - Shannon’s Brick, Tile & Pottery Works, Wentworthville established
  • 1914 - Council moves to Merrylands
  • 1914 - Schools of Arts at Wentworthville and Guildford
  • 1915 - Pendle Hill Progress Association formed
  • 1917 - Wentworthville Ratepayer's Association formed
  • 1917 - Linnwood House used as Boys Truant School
  • 1917 - Girraween Progress Association formed (24 September)
  • 1918 - Girraween School of Arts formed (5 January)

1920s

  • 1920 - Our Lady of Mt. Camel Catholic Primary School opens
  • 1920 - Paul's Church of England, Wentworthville, opened
  • 1922 - Ward system removed (2 December)
  • 1922 - Prospect & Sherwood Jubilee
  • 1922 - Electric street lighting
  • 1922 - Prospect and Sherwood Soldier’s Memorial unveiled for WWI fallen (9 December)
  • 1923 - Bonds Cotton Mill established
  • 1924 - Pendle Hill “Bonds” Railway Station opens (12 April)
  • 1924 - Official Merrylands Post Office built closer to railway line (18 September), existing Merrylands Post Office renamed Merrylands West
  • 1925 - Widemere Quarry tramline opens (October)
  • 1927 - Holroyd Municipal Council (11 January)
  • 1927 - Yennora Railway Station opens (6 November)
  • 1928 - Council boundary changes - Holroyd and Blacktown Shire transfer land between each other (1 January)
  • 1928 - Great Western Highway classisfied as State highway (1 July)
  • 1928 - St. Andrews Presbyterian Church moved stone by stone from Parramatta
  • 1929 - Merrylands East Infants School established (March)
  • 1929 - Electrification of the rail line between Granville to Liverpool completed (23 September)

1930s

  • 1932 - Number of Aldemen increased from six to twelve and return of Ward System (Guildford, Merrylands, Pitt & Wentworth) (2 January)
  • 1932 - Position of Deputy Mayor introduced (5 January)
  • 1933 - St.Patrick's Catholic Parish established
  • 1936 - Linnwood used as a residential girls school for State wards
  • 1937 - Pitt Row Public School renamed Parramatta West Public School (December)
  • 1939 - 1945 Holroyd's war effort (World War II)

1940s

  • 1942 - St. Margaret Mary's Primary School, Merrylands opened
  • 1944 - Wentworthville Baby Health Centre opened (21 October)
  • 1945 - Cerdon Marist Sisters move into Sherwood Scrubs (January)
  • 1945 - Merrylands train derailment (24 January)
  • 1945 – Memorial trees and name plaques for 44 local WWII fallen installed along Chertsey Street (now Memorial Avenue)

1950s

  • 1950 - St.Edna's Primary School, Toongabbie opened (January)
  • 1951 - Catholic Parish of Sacred Heart, Westmead established (1 February)
  • 1951 - Catholic Parish of St. Anthony of Padua, Toongabbie established (4 February)
  • 1952 - Wentworthville South Infants School established (January)
  • 1952-3 - Pan-Pacific Scout Jamboree (29 December – 9 January)
  • 1953 - First local election to use the preferential voting system held Number of Wards increased to six (Central, Guildford, Lawson, Merrylands, Pitt & Wentworth) (5 December)
  • 1953 - CSIRO Sheep Biology Laboratory established at Prospect
  • 1955 - Electrification of the rail line between Parramatta and Blacktown completed (27 February)
  • 1955 - Pendle Hill Primary School established (August)
  • 1956 - Sacred Heart Primary School, Westmead opened
  • 1956 - St. Edna's Primary School renamed St.Anthony's Primary School and relocated to Girraween
  • 1956 - Guildford West Public School established (January)
  • 1956 - South Wentworthville Public School renamed Hilltop Road Public School (April)
  • 1956 - Prospect County Council responsible for providing electricity to Western Sydney
  • 1957 - St. Simon Stock Primary School opened
  • 1958 - St. Simon Stock High School, Pendle Hill opened, later renamed Newman High School
  • 1958 - Pendle Hill Baby Health Centre opened
  • 1959 - Merrylands High School established (January)
  • 1959 - Nightsoil Dump in Fairfield Road replaced with Sanitary Depot in Peel Street, Granville (March)

1960s

  • 1960 - Cerdon College established
  • 1962 - Ringrose Public School established (January)
  • 1962 - Wentworthville Leagues Club opened (12 March)
  • 1962 - Present Council Chambers opened (12 June)
  • 1962 - Toongabbie Baby Health Centre opened (24 July)
  • 1963 - Sherwood Grange Public School established (January)
  • 1964 - Dunrossi Special School, Merrylands West established (April)
  • 1964 - Wentworthville Lions Club formed (3 November)
  • 1965 - Pendle Hill High School established (January)
  • 1965 - Pilot Holroyd Public Library opened at Guildford School of Arts building (3 August)
  • 1965 - Wentworthville Memorial Swimming Pool opened (27 November)
  • 1966 - Meals-on-Wheels service established (5 December)
  • 1968 - Merrylands West High School established (January); renamed Holroyd High School (March)
  • 1968 - Merrylands Olympic Pool opened (November)
  • 1969 - Council boundary changes - Holroyd and Blacktown Municipality transfer land between each other (1 January)
  • 1969 - Beresford Road Public School, Greystanes established (January)

1970s

  • 1970 - Greystanes Shopping Centre opened (3 September)
  • 1971 - Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society formed (24 February)
  • 1971 - Sydney Wool Centre established at Yennora (July)
  • 1972 - Catholic Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Greystanes established
  • 1972 - St. Simon Stock Primary School renamed Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School
  • 1972 - 7th National Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Games (12-18 March)
  • 1972 - Merrylands Mall (now Stocklands) completed, Kmart's second store opens at the mall (22 November)
  • 1972 - Greystanes Community Centre, including Library and Baby Health Centre completed (December)
  • 1972 - Council centenary celebrations
  • 1973 - Merrylands Lions Club formed (26 February)
  • 1973 - Guildford Swimming Pool opened (14 April)
  • 1973 - Western Sydney Organisation of Councils (WSROC) formed (November)
  • 1974 - Widemere Public School established (January)
  • 1974 - Woodpark - parts of Guildford West, Merrylands West and Smithfield renamed (March-April)
  • 1974 - Council boundary changes - Holroyd and Blacktown Municipality transfer land between each other (1 October)
  • 1975 - Central Gardens Park opens
  • 1976 - Girraween High School established (January)
  • 1977 - Granville Rail Disaster (18 January
  • 1977 - The Far Eastern and South Pacific (F.E.S.P.I.C) Games ( 20-26 November)
  • 1978 - Regional Library Service operated by Parramatta, Baulkham Hills and Holroyd Councils (February)
  • 1978 - First Mayoral Prayer Dinner Held (16 August)
  • 1979 - Inaugural Holroyd Family Festival

1980s

  • 1980 - NSW State Cabinent meeting held at Holroyd Municipal Council Chambers (1 December)
  • 1983 - Number of Wards reduced to three (Ward 1, Ward 2 , Ward 3) (24 September)
  • 1985 - Holroyd Centre opened (9 July)
  • 1987 - Sarah Daniels Court, Merrylands completed (April)
  • 1988 - Australian Bicentennial celebrations in Holroyd
  • 1988 - Council's Sanitary Depot ceases operation (28 September)
  • 1989 - NSW State Goverment Cabinent meeting held at Holroyd Municipal Council Chambers (20 June)

1990s

1991 - Holroyd becomes a City (1 January)

  • 1991 - Holroyd City Council Library Service opened (2 January)
  • 1991 - Inaugural Youth Achievement Award recipient announced (26 January)
  • 1991 - Present Ward Structure adopted (North, South, East & West) (14 September)
  • 1992 - M4 Western Motorway completed - 10km of dual carriageway between Mays Hill and Prospect links existing sections of road (May)
  • 1992 - Town Clerk becomes General Manager (2 September)
  • 1993 - Youth Achievement Award replaced by Young Ambassadors Award (26 January)
  • 1993 - Aldermen become Councillors (1 July)
  • 1994 - Inaugural Holroyd Citizen of the Year announced (26 January)
  • 1995 - Sydney Murugan Hindu Temple, Mays Hill officially opened (14 April)
  • 1999 - Newman High School, Greystanes renamed St. Paul's Catholic College
  • 1999 - Civic Centre extensions, new Merrylands Central Library, and Merrylands Community Centre officially opened (21 August)

2000s

  • 2000 - Sydney Olympic Torch Relay (13 September); and Paralympic Torch Relay (18 October) pass through Holroyd
  • 2001 - The suburb of Holroyd – new suburb established at former Goodlet and Smith site
  • 2004 - Pemulwuy – new suburb at Prospect
  • 2005 - Warali Wali – launch of interpretive Indigenous artworks along Prospect Creek

2010s

  • 2010 - M4 Motorway toll removed, ownership of road returned to NSW Government (16 February)
  • 2011 - Inaugural Young Citizen of the Year Award (26 January)