Parramatta Road, Homebush, 1928

Road widening on Parramatta Road, Homebush, 15 October 1928. Courtesy NSW State Records & Archives.

This lovely photo from the collection of NSW State Archives & Records is labelled ‘Widening Parramatta Road, Homebush.’ A small notation in the bottom right-hand corner gives the date as 15 October 1928. The photo has been taken from the corner of Powell Street and Parramatta Road, just where the A.J Bush & Sons building currently stands. Zooming in on a high resolution photo reveals incredible detail and really does provide a ‘snapshot’ of the time. Opposite are the premises of G.J. Iler, engineering and general smith. Established in 1887, he had been in business for 41 years at the time this photo was taken. The house on the far right of the photo is possibly the residence of the Iler family, Darlemerla. However as George Jackson Iler was from Victoria, the correct spelling may have been Darlimurla after a small locality in South Gippsland. In 1890 Iler had advertised for help in the business.

Evening News 23 September 1890 p.1

When Homebush Council was first incorporated in 1906, George Jackson Iler had stood unsuccessfully as a candidate. He was finally elected in 1914 and served until 1920, also serving as mayor from 1919-1920, as well as being a JP. He died in August 1946, aged 82 by which time the family had moved to Concord West.

Just out of sight to the right of the photo would be the Horse and Jockey Hotel, however this would have been the previous building as today’s Horse and Jockey Hotel was built in 1941. Next to Iler’s business is the farrier’s of John Elliott. Perhaps that’s John Elliott in the doorway, checking on the photographer’s movements. He had not there been there long, as his business is not listed in Sands’ Street Index of 1925. Beyond is the fibrous ceiling manufacturing business of A.J. Gordon, another fairly recent addition to the shopping strip which may have been tucked in behind the main shops.

The Sun 4 November 1928 p.6

Two fashionable young ladies are chatting outside the fruit shop and alongside the ute is a produce shop on the corner of Station Street. It appears to have been a fairly old, substantial house. A huge roll of something industrial is on the footpath next to the tree. The business was offered for sale just a year later.

Sydney Morning Herald 4 October 1929 p.18

Station Street is difficult to see at this point, but it is just possible to see the gap in the gutter. Across Station Street is Jack McGill’s hairdresser’s and tobacconist’s and then a motor repair shop. Around the bend out of sight are a few cottages, the rose nursery of George Knight and the Columbia Gramophone (or Graphophone) Factory which opened in October 1926. The ‘Columbia Records’ sign is just visible to the right of the telegraph pole in the foreground and about halfway up. You can faintly see some letters on a roof too.

On the left hand side across Powell Street are piles of dirt on the footpath. These seem to be the result of the construction of the new telegraph poles on the left as the road does not yet appear to have been widened. A couple of men seem to be surveying the mess. There were several cottages along the north side of Parramatta Road here although some other advertising signs are visible too. Beyond this point is Arnott’s Biscuit Factory. Two lines of figures are walking along the dirty footpath towards the railway line. All are dressed in white. Could this be a group of school students – or perhaps workers heading to Arnott’s? In the distance is a large advertising sign for Wolfe’s Schnapps, just to the left of where the iconic Arnott’s bridge still stands today.

The Catholic Press 13 September 1928 p.18

Looking west along Parramatta Road, Homebush, 1929. Courtesy NSW State Records & Archives

By 1929 the road widening had been completed when this photo was taken from near today’s Ismay Reserve, looking west along the same stretch of Parramatta Road. This time the Horse and Jockey Hotel is visible in the distance, with a ‘Stag Lager’ sign on the side of the building. The produce merchant on the corner of Station Street is advertising horse feed while the hairdresser and tobacconist is promoting ‘Country Life cork tipped Virginia Cigarettes.’ This building at 40 Parramatta Road still stands, currently occupied by the Butter Shack & the Smoky Shack, although without the wide awning. A motor repair business advertises duco and spray painting on the left. This building was owned by butcher, Norman Verne Bush of A.J. Bush & Sons, whose business still operates from this site.

On the right a few cottages are visible near the corner of Powell Street where the piles of dirt had been in the earlier photo. The residents of these cottages included Daniel Whitbourne at number 23 and Alfred Edwards at number 21. The original row of telegraph poles has been removed and the footpath is tidier – and narrower – than it was. In the foreground is the Red White Blue Service Station belonging to George Henry Smith. It had not long been in business, but sadly Smith went bankrupt in 1930. Parramatta Road boasted quite a number of service stations by this time as car ownership increased, but it was Depression time and life was difficult for many families.

There have been many changes to Parramatta Road over the years – not least the number of vehicles on the road, as evidenced by these wonderful photos of a bygone era.

By J.J. MacRitchie

Local Studies Advisor