Redfern’s sandy beginnings

The Carrahdigang, more widely known as the Cadigal people, valued this area for its abundant supply of food.

The name of the area originates from an early land grant to William Redfern in 1817. It was previously known as Roberts Farm and Boxleys Swamp.

The majority of houses in Redfern in the 1850s were of timber construction. From the 1850s market gardeners congregated in Alexandria south of McEvoy St, around Shea’s Creek and Bourke Rd.

In 1885, the Sands’ Sydney Directory listed 54 market gardens. While many were first worked by European-Australians, by the 1870s Chinese market gardeners had acquired leases in the district and a decade later were dominating the trade.

The passing of the Sydney Slaughterhouses Act in 1849 brought other businesses to the district.

The act banned abattoirs and noxious trades from the city. Tanners, wool-scourers and wool-washers, fellmongers, boiling down works, and abattoirs had 10 years to move their businesses outside the city boundaries.

Many of the trades moved to Redfern and Waterloo - attracted by the water.

The sandhills still existed but by the late 1850s Redfern was a flourishing suburb housing 6500 people. The Municipalities Act of 1858 gave districts the option of municipal incorporation.

The move toward incorporation was led by the radical Edward John Hawksley. He had edited the working class People’s Advocate newspaper from 1848-1856, and later became the inaugural chairman of Waterloo Council.

Public meetings were held and after a flurry of petitions Redfern Municipality was proclaimed on August 11, 1859, the fourth municipality in Sydney to be formed under the Act.

The Town Hall opened in 1870 and the Albert Cricket Ground in 1864.

Redfern Post Office came in 1882.

Acting City of Sydney historian Dr Lisa Murray noted with sadness that many of these services have disappeared or have been substantially downgraded over the past couple of decades, even though Redfern is still a densely populated inner-city area.

The Eveleigh complex in 1886 became one of the largest employers in the state.

Redfern was an industrial working class suburb by the end of the 19th century. Reschs brewery and other factories attracted migrants.

The Syrian/Lebanese community began settling around Redfern and Surry Hills by the 1880s.

In the 1940s 73 per cent of all industrial activity in Sydney was concentrated within a radius of 3.5 miles from Redfern station.

The endgame is the story of de-industrialisation and urban renewal.

*Taken from notes prepared by Acting City of Sydney Council historian Dr Lisa Murray.

Source: http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/redferns-sandy-beginnings/