Strathfield South c.1940

Liverpool Road, Enfield c.1940. Courtesy State Library of NSW

This c.1940 photo, from the collection of the State Library of NSW, shows Liverpool Road (Hume Highway) at Strathfield South (formerly Enfield) as it slopes up towards modern-day Centenary Drive.

The lonely house on the right was Staffordvilla, owned by Miss Clara Thompson, although she actually lived in Emu Street, Enfield. If it was still standing today, the house would be on the corner of Hedges Avenue, within the grounds of Strathfield South High School and just next to the pedestrian bridge. In 1940 the surrounding land was leased to the Strathfield Golf Club.[1][2] The school was built c.1960.

Cropped photo of Liverpool Road, Enfield c.1940. Courtesy State Library of NSW

The factory building on the far left belonged to H. & E. Crossan’s Engineering Co. This stood on the corner of Cosgrove Road, which was then named Park Road. Crossan’s specialised in meat preservation technology for the abattoirs. Crown’s Car Wash now stands on this site.

Across Cosgrove Road stood advertising hoardings including one spruiking ‘hoods, roller blinds and side curtains while u wait.’ The others are difficult to read although one appears to read ‘Hyde Brae’, which may have been an advertisement for the Hyde Brae Private Hospital then operating at 8 Hydebrae Street, Strathfield. The Massaya Lebanese Restaurant, Subway and Fitness Plus currently operate on this corner.

Next door, where Oporto is currently in business, was the Lion Garage, advertising its petrol as ‘cheaper’ and ‘better’. The proprietors and owners were Herbert and Ellen Thomasson who lived in a cottage next door. In June 1938 Ellen had rushed to the aid of the occupants of a car after a single-car accident in the very early hours of the morning. But she had sadly been unable to save the young female passenger, the victim of a drunk driver.[3]

Sun (Sydney) 17 December 1932, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230577636

In December 1932 Herbert Thomasson had survived an armed robbery at the garage. He had wrestled with an intruder who had broken free and pointed a gun at him at close range. The thief pulled the trigger but the gun did not go off.[4][5]

Lion Tile Co., Liverpool Road, Enfield, by Sam Hood c.1930s. Courtesy State Library of NSW

Beyond the garage and cottage, across Gould Street, was the Lion Tile Company, where McDonalds now stands. In early February 1949 the factory suffered a major fire with damage amounting to £10,000, putting 200 employees out of work. At the time, the business was the second largest tile works in NSW.[6][7] Two years earlier 15 year-old employee, William Jamieson had suffered serious injuries when a lift at the factory crashed 60 feet to the ground after the rope snapped – with William inside.[8]

Construction and Real Estate Journal 29 September 1937 p.14 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222923502

In the distance on the left, behind Crossan’s factory, you can just see the flour mills of N.B. Love. This is now the site of George Weston Foods at 1 Braidwood Street.

Courtesy Six Maps

This photo from Six Maps, 1943 shows the same stretch of Liverpool Road with Crossan’s on the far right, bottom of the photo, on the corner of Cosgrove Road (formerly Park Road).

Stay tuned for the next historical exhibition at the Ironbark Gallery of Strathfield Council Library & Innovation Hub which will focus on Strathfield’s industrial past. The exhibition will open in June 2022.

 

By J.J. MacRitchie

Local Studies Advisor

 

References

[1] Sun (Sydney) 17 December 1932, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230577636

 

[2] Construction and Real Estate Journal 29 September 1937 p.14 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222923502

 

[3] Jones, Cathy ‘Strathfield Golf Club’ https://strathfieldheritage.com/2018/11/28/strathfield-golf-club/

 

[4] History – Strathfield Golf Club https://www.strathfieldgolf.com.au/cms/about-us/history/

 

[5] Daily Telegraph 21 June 1938 p.8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247242520

 

[6] The Mercury (Hobart, TAS) 7 February 1949 p.8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26496985

 

[7] The Sun (Sydney) 5 February 1949 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230246437

 

[8] Daily Telegraph 1 July 1947 p.7 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248395993