Ashfield Station

Ashfield in Sydney’s Inner West is steeped in History.

A Self-Guided Walk in Ashfield

Download the Walking Map

My research on the Sydney suburb of Ashfield has me on the lookout for parks, historic buildings and a cultural mix. I wonder what else I will find in this historic suburb in Sydney’s Inner West.

Ashfield’s streetscape

In Charlotte Street, the streetscape is like many in the inner west. Above the small shop fronts, signage on the metal awnings has seen better days, and decorative facades remember a different time. One red and white sign is newer than the rest.

Polish groceries in Ashfield, Sydney

Polish groceries in Ashfield

Queen Anne Cottage in Ashfield, Sydney

Queen Anne Cottage in Ashfield

I recognise the word “Polski”. The door slides open. That’s all the invitation I need. The Asian man behind the counter laughs when I ask if he speaks Polish, and then rattles off a couple of words. My husband speaks Polish and I recognise “do widzenia” (good bye) and “dziękuję” (thank you).

People come to Ashfield from far afield to buy their Polish groceries. The Polish church is up the road and there’s a Polish doctor nearby. I buy horseradish for my husband and leave smiling. These encounters invigorate me and make my walks worthwhile.

Ashfield wall murals

Another

Ashfield Wall Murals

Wall mural

Murals funded by Ashfield Council are different in style from the Street Art of the Perfect Match program in Marrickville, yet they too seem to have deterred people from tagging the walls. A delightful row of small single fronted Queen Anne cottages in Wood Street were built in 1908.

Ashfield Park sculptures

Ashfield Park is spacious with plenty of shade. Beyond a big beautiful fig, is a well-maintained community garden. Nearby, a shiny yellow bicycle intrigues me. A laminated card informs me that the bike is part of a relatively new dockless bike sharing scheme. I’ll have to check out how it works.

Rainbow Serpent in Ashfield Park

Rainbow Serpent

Mary Poppins in Ashfield Park

Mary Poppins

I spend some time playing “find the sculpture”. There is an Aboriginal Rainbow Serpent sculpted from the trunk of a felled tree and the figure of Philippine hero Jose Rizal who advocated for reform in the Philippine Colony under Spanish rule. Executed in 1896, he became an icon for the Nationalist movement.

Nearby a monument to “International Mother Language Day”, tells me something new. Celebrated each year on the 21st February this day aims to foster access to education in the learner’s mother tongue.

The war memorial stands proudly where four paths lined with rosemary cross. I crush some leaves between my fingers and inhale the unmistakable scent.

Mary Poppins

The author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, lived in Ashfield for a time. There is a sculpture of Mary Poppins standing proudly inside the play area. She holds her signature umbrella with parrot head handle and beautifully detailed carpet bag.

Aboriginal History in Ashfield Explorer's Park

Aboriginal History

Explorers Park in Ashfield

There is history here

Explorers Park

The Explorers Park is on the corner of Liverpool Road and Parramatta Road, where many Australian explorers started their journeys. An Aboriginal totem, designed to raise awareness of Aboriginal heritage in Ashfield has an arrow indicating Pemulwuy. He popped up in Parramatta as well as in Addison Road, Marrickville. The connections between suburbs are fascinating.

An arch of wisteria shades the petal covered walkway which runs the length of the narrow park. Metal plaques name the explorers, map their routes and a provide brief history of their discoveries.

Explorers Park in Ashfield

One of many explorers

Bottle Brush in Ashfield, Sydney

Full bloom

The Bottle Brush (Callistemon) is in flower and brightens up the streetscape as I walk to the next point of interest. The sound of heavy digging dominates. Work on the controversial WestConnex is well underway.

A beautiful building, with a domed tower, is now an aged care facility like many of the grand old homes in Ashfield. St John’s Church, built in the 1840s is the oldest authenticated building in the suburb. A worker resting in the shade of the entrance to the church offers to move so that I can take a photo.

Little Library

Another grand building looks like a church with its four-storey tower. In fact, it is a 10-bedroom Queen Anne style mansion. While a community garden and a “Little Library” create a sense of community, the numerous “report illegal dumping” signs and a few piles of discarded goods indicate a problem.

Grand Ashfield Homes

Grand Homes

St John's church Ashfield

Oldest building in Ashfield

Boys play ball at Hammond Park on Frederick street where a line of trailers advertise anything from asbestos removal, tree lopping and roofing. They are an eyesore. The building that once housed the Peek Freans (Vita Wheat) factory is now home to a large hardware store. There is no hint of its previous use, but the clock tower added in the 1940s remains.

Queen Anne Mansion in Ashfield

Queen Anne Mansion

Little Library in Ashfield

Little Library

The Underline Project

It is time to explore the other side of the railway line. When children from St Vincent’s Primary school approached the Council to clean up the underpass in 2008, The Underline Project was born. With many community members contributing, the underpass is now decorated with bright panels which alternate with historic photos representing the past, present and future of the area.

In Hercules Street, I read about Mei Quong Tart, the first Chinese citizen in Ashfield. A bearded man in a panama style hat is sitting nearby. He says “Excuse me, that man you are reading about, my grandfather was his lawyer”. “Tart wasn’t silly”, he tells me. “He didn’t go to the goldfields. He started selling tea and set up Tea shops in Sydney”. I sit down to hear more about Tart and his family who apparently still live in the area.

The Underline Project

The Underline Project

Loaves and Fishes Restaurant of the Exodus Foundation

A meal for the needy

Liverpool Road has a definite Asian feel. It seems as if most of the shop signs are in Chinese and many of the people around me are of Asian background. Yet the Crocodile Farm Hotel is just like any Aussie pub. Except for one thing. I push the corner door open to find out more. From under the glass floor two bright eyes stare straight at me. They belong to the big fat croc on display in floor of this hotel.

Unfortunately, the Polish Club and its small goods Shop will only open later today. The Exodus Foundation on the grounds of the Uniting Church, is a charity I support for its great work with homeless people. I pass their Loaves and Fishes Restaurant. An older woman is leaving dragging her shopping trolley behind her.

Polish Club in Ashfield

As it says

Yeo Park Rotunda

Yeo Park Rotunda

Allman Park

Feeling refreshed after a bite to eat at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club (pretty much like all Leagues clubs), I walk back to Victoria Street and through Allman Park. There, a couple of people are asleep on benches, their belongings in bags besides them. A father supervises his young child pushing his walker across the grass. The beautifully manicured garden has a water fountain (bubbler) feature.

Back in Victoria Street, a honking sound emanates from the fronds of the palm trees lining the road. A closer look reveals nesting Ibises. I pass more grand houses and boys playing cricket on the Trinity Grammar oval. In Yeo Park, the restored rotunda gleams in the sun. It was worth the extra walk.

Ashfield Heritage water reservoir

Historic Water Reservoir

Pratten Park

Pratten Park

Returning to the station I pass the Ashfield Reservoir (1914). It has state significance with its riveted steel walls and concrete posts. Pratten Park, a sports oval, has a small sculpture garden showcasing pieces owned by Ashfield Council. One, “Celebrating Nature” was created by the local Men’s Shed.

Another, known as Ashfield’s “Rosetta Stone” welcomes visitors to the area in various languages. Nearby, the grass tennis courts of Thirning Villa (1868) are still in use today.

Ashfield's "Rosetta Stone"

The Rosetta Stone

Made by the Men's Shed

Made by the Men’s Shed

Final thoughts on Ashfield

After a long day discovering Ashfield in Sydney’s Inner West, I have met interesting people and developed a better appreciation for the suburb. Filled with historic buildings, lovely parks and delightful sculptures, it is worth spending time getting to know Ashfield and surrounds.

Get to know more of Sydney’s inner suburbs and walk through Chippendale and Summer Hill.
Next stop: St Peters

Useful information:

Ashfield in Sydney’s Inner West is 8km South West of the Sydney CBD

Plan your trip at transportnsw.info

Addresses (in order of “discovery”):

  • The Island Supermarket (for Polish groceries): 6 Charlotte Street
  • Ashfield Park: Corner Orpington Street and Parramatta Road
  • Explorers Park: Corner Liverpool Street and Parramatta Road
  • St John the Baptist Anglican Church: 71 Bland St (Alt St)
  • Hammond Park: Frederick Street
  • Site of Peek Freans factory: Corner Parramatta Road and Frederick Street
  • Crocodile Farm Hotel: 262 Liverpool Rd
  • Polish Club: 73 Norton Street
  • Polish shop – Wed & Thurs (5pm – 8pm), Sunday (1pm – 5pm)
  • Polish club and restaurant – open wed – Sunday (see website for times)
  • Ashfield Uniting Church (Exodus Foundation): 180 Liverpool St
  • Wests Leagues club: 115 Liverpool St
  • Allman Park: Corner of Norton and Victoria Streets
  • Yeo Park: Corner of Victoria Street and Canterbury Road
  • Ashfield Reservoir: 81 Holden Street
  • Pratten Park: Arthur Street

Walking Map

And a map to assist you: (You can download it here). (NOTE that the time indicated on the map does not allow for any stops. I take an average of 4-5 hours when I explore)

Walking Ashfield Sydney Map

 

Comments

    1. Author

      Sometimes my motivation to get out and achieve my goal of a post a fortnight is low, Philip. But then something on the walk surprises me and I’m rejuvenated. That’s what happened in Ashfield. Thanks for reading.

  1. I really enjoyed this blog Jo – I’m motivated to visit Ashfield! H and I will do it before long. Thanks! Di

  2. it’s actually Liverpool Road Joanne ..lol..not street..I was born in Ashfield,schooled there, I was baptised and made my first Holy Communion in the beautiful old Saint Vincent’s Church in Bland street,also my Confirmation..my old home town has changed radically from the 1950s and 1960s..gone has the village feel when we all knew each other,if not by name by familiar sight,gone has the lovely old Art Deco Town Hall,the Commonwealth Bank and many other wonderful old shops in the main street..so sad to see the changes in time..:(

    1. Author

      Ooops. I’ll fix that now. Yes. I’m finding many people commenting about how the places they grew up in have changed.

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