Randwick was named after the village of Randwick, Gloucestershire, England, birthplace of Simeon Henry Pearce, who became Mayor of Randwick six times.[3] Simeon, who migrated to Australia in 1842, and his brother James who arrived in 1848, were responsible for the founding and early development of Randwick.[citation needed] Simeon built the first stone house in the area in 1848, called Blenheim House, which can still be seen in Blenheim Street. It was neglected for some time in the mid-1900s, but was eventually acquired by Randwick City Council and restored.[citation needed]
Proclaimed as a Municipality in February 1859, and as a City in 1990, Randwick has a rich history and a number of heritage buildings. Another Mayor of Randwick, George Kiss, lived in the house known as Ventnor in the 1870s.[4] A two-storey sandstone house, Ventnor was built by Alderman Edward Dawson in 1859, and is situated on Avoca Street, overlooking Coogee. It is now owned by the nearby Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church (built 1888). Other buildings of note include the St Jude's Church group, also on Avoca Street. Originally designed by Edmund Blacket,[5] (who also designed St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney and the University of Sydney), the church was completed in 1865. It was modified by H.M. Robinson in 1889. The rectory next door was built in 1870. The Verger's Residence, designed by Thomas Rowe[6] and completed in 1862, was the original Randwick Municipal Chambers. This distinctive building, with its Gothic touches, was followed by the present Randwick Town Hall, which was built further north in Avoca Street in 1881. The church group and Ventnor are listed on the Register of the National Estate.
Further south down Avoca Street is the sandstone building with a tower, built in 1859 as an investment property by William Ellis, one of Randwick's first six elected aldermen. After briefly being used as the 'Star and Garter' Inn by Mrs Elizabeth Shipway, it was later the home of Captain Thomas Watson,[7] who was responsible for commissioning the 1874 statue of Captain James Cook, sculpted by Walter McGill, which still stands at the south side of the building. Captain Watson also heightened the square tower, thus ensuring another distinctive landmark feature of the area. Close by is another even more imposing building in Randwick's heartland - the Prince of Wales Hospital, which started life as the Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children.[8] Opened in 1858, it was partly financed by the legacy of Dr. Cuthill, whose name is commemorated by the adjacent Cuthill Street. The southern wing was added in 1863, by which time over 800 children were being cared for. In 1915 the Asylum buildings were finally deemed unsuitable as premises in which to provide a realistic home life for children, and they were then adapted for WWI use as a military and repatriation hospital. In 1953 the complex was officially renamed as the Prince of Wales Hospital, which continues to grow as a renowned medical facility.
Other noteworthy buildings include private homes like Ilfracombe, Clovelly and Torquay in Avoca Street, and Venice, in Frenchmans Road. The latter was built 1884–84 on part of St Mark's Glebe. The land had been leased in 1880 for 99 years to S.Holmes and J.Parsons. The house features Tudor and Gothic elements and has stained glass windows. It has been described as a "comparatively rare and distinctive example of late Victorian Gothic architecture retaining most of its detailing intact."[9] It has a New South Wales heritage listing.
Another notable home was Sandgate, located in Belmore Road. This sandstone house was built circa 1870 on Crown land purchased by Simeon Pearce in 1853. It was bought by the Federal Government in the 1920s; it was then used as a Red Cross facility for First World War veterans. It was saved from demolition in 1978 and restored by Randwick Council.
The last Gothic mansion left in Randwick is Nugal Hall, located in Milford Street. It was designed by Mortimer Lewis and the southern portion of the house was built in 1853 for Alexander McArthur, a shipping merchant. The house features a staircase with glass dome above; the staircase was built of Mauritius mahogany and cedar. The coach house building at the front was originally a lodge for horse-drawn vehicles. The northern portion of the house was completed by Dr Fred Tidswell who owned the Coogee Bay Hotel. The architect of the northern portion is thought to have been Mortimer Lewis's son, Oswald. The Tidswell family owned the house from c. 1880 – 1903.[10] Frederick Squire Tidswell (1831–1898) and his wife Mary Ann (1836–1912) had nine children including the microbiologistDrFrank Tidswell (1867–1941) and architect Thomas Tidswell (1870–1950).[11]
Heritage listings
Ventnor, Avoca StreetSuperintendent's Cottage, Prince of Wales HospitalCorana and Hygeia, also known as Randwick Lodge, Avoca Street
The following structures are listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate (unless stated otherwise),[29] or the heritage schedule of Randwick Council's Local Environment Plan; the latter list includes approximately four hundred items.[30]
In the 2021 Census, there were 28,943 people in Randwick, of which 52.9% were female and 47.1% were male.[1] The most common ancestries in Randwick were 31.1% English, 22.2% Australian and 17.8% Irish.[1] 73.5% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included 2.4% Mandarin, 1.9% Spanish, 1.5% Greek, 1.4% Portuguese and 1.3% French.[1] The most common responses for religion were 41.0% No Religion, 26.0% Roman Catholicism, 8.1% Anglicanism and 4.9% Judaism.[1] The median weekly household income in Randwick was $2,442, which was 28.5% higher than the national median.[1]
Commercial area
Randwick is primarily a residential area. The Randwick Racecourse takes up a large portion in the north-west corner of the suburb. The Prince of Wales Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney Children's Hospital and the Prince of Wales Private Hospital together occupy the Randwick Hospitals' Campus,[36][37] a large contiguous campus bounded by Barker Street, Avoca Street, High Street and Hospital Road. A number of teaching and research facilities are also located on the campus. The campus is being expanded under a major project called the "Randwick Campus Redevelopment" project, which will see it expand west to the suburb boundary with Kensington and Kingsford.[38] Prince Henry Hospital is also in Randwick.
The main commercial area is centred on Belmore Road. A range of retail stores are located at Belmore Road along with two shopping centres (Royal Randwick Shopping Centre and Randwick Plaza, which contains a Coles Supermarket) on eitherside of Belmore Road. Avoca Street is also quite popular for commerce, there is the 150-year-old Coach and Horses Hotel. Where the two busy streets meet is the gourmet Cookhouse, a heritage sandstone building with a statue of Captain Cook outside and High Cross Park, with a war memorial. Within one kilometre, Coogee is another retail precinct offering good food services while enjoying the great view of the beach. St Pauls Road junction also wins good fame for its popular restaurants, cafés and recreational facilities. Randwick's main entertainment district is The Spot, located in the suburb's south-east, which contains the Randwick Ritz cinema, a famous art deco cinema which dates from the 1930s[39] and numerous cafes, bars and restaurants.[40]
Just 6 kilometres east of Sydney's CBD, the City of Randwick, once known as the 'Sports Coast' is home to some 29km of coastline, 10 beaches and bays and many major recreation facilities. Randwick City is one of the most visited tourist areas outside central Sydney, attracting some 13 million visits each year. The city is home to the Coastal Walkway, Randwick Racecourse, Coogee and Maroubra Beaches, Botany Bay National Park, Centennial Parklands (which includes Queens Park and Moore Park), several top class golf courses and major institutions including the University of New South Wales and the Prince of Wales Hospitals.
A number of well-known sporting teams represent the local area. Since 1882 the Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club nicknamed the 'Galloping Greens' or 'The Wicks' have represented the district in the Sydney premier grade rugby competition, the 'Shute Shield' and play their home games at the picturesque Coogee Oval. The local cricket team Randwick Petersham Cricket Club plays in the Sydney Grade Cricket domestic competition and was formed through a merger between Randwick and Petersham Cricket Clubs.
The former Randwick Post Office building in the centre of Randwick Junction (corner of Alison Road and Avoca Street) is known as Easts House. The building is owned by the Sydney Roosters (Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club), which has donated the building for use by the Ted Noffs Foundation, for the purpose of providing assistance to troubled youth in the district. There are numerous community or corner parks like Alison Park, Randwick Peace Park, Frank Doyle Park, Fred Hollows Reserve and Writtle Park in the locality of Randwick used for recreational and sporting purposes.
Until December 2019, Randwick was only served by buses. The main bus corridor is Belmore Road with buses to Bondi Junction, Coogee, Eastgardens, Maroubra, Sydney Airport and Sydney CBD.
On 13 December 2012, the NSW Government announced a commitment to build the CBD and South East Light Rail from Circular Quay down George Street to Central Station, then across to Moore Park and down Anzac Parade. South of Moore Park the line splits into two branches; one of which heads to Randwick via Alison Road.[59] A bus/tram interchange will be established in Randwick and many of the bus routes that currently traverse Anzac Parade to access the city will be replaced by feeder routes connecting to the light rail.[60] Construction commenced in 2015 and services on the Randwick branch commenced in December 2019.
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Goulburn is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 195 kilometres (121 mi) south-west of Sydney and 90 kilometres (56 mi) north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters patent by Queen Victoria in 1863. Goulburn had a population of 24,565 as of the 2021 census. Goulburn is the seat of Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
Glebe is an inner-western suburb of Sydney in New South Wales. Glebe is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney, in the Inner West region.
Coogee is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, eight kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district.
The City of Randwick is a local government area in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1859, Randwick is the second-oldest local government area in New South Wales, after the City of Sydney. It comprises an area of 36 square kilometres (14 sq mi) and as per the 2021 census had a population of 134,252.
Woollahra Municipal Council is a local government area in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Woollahra is bounded by Sydney Harbour in the north, Waverley Council in the east, Randwick City in the south and the City of Sydney in the west.
Bondi is a suburb of eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council.
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John Horbury Hunt, often referred to as Horbury Hunt, was a Canadian-born Australian architect who worked in Sydney and rural New South Wales from 1863.
The National Shrine and Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic church in Randwick in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is heritage-listed.
The St Jude's Church is an active Anglican church in Randwick, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of a significant heritage group that includes the church, cemetery, rectory and original Randwick Borough Chambers, later converted to church use. The group is located on Avoca Street, Randwick, and has a federal heritage listing. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Ritz Cinema, also known as the Ritz Theatre, is a heritage-listed cinema located at 43 St Pauls Street, in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Aaron Bolot and built in 1937 by C. & B. J. Williams. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The architect, Aaron Bolot, is known for his classic art deco buildings throughout Sydney, such as his commissions for grand apartment buildings in Potts Point.
Nugal Hall is a heritage-listed Gothic Revival style former private residence, ambassador's residence, boutique lodge, embassy and now private residence located at 16-18 Milford Street, in the Sydney suburb of Randwick on the boundary with the suburb of Coogee. Nugal Hall sits in the City of Randwick local government area as part of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.
Sandgate is a heritage-listed former residence, repatriation hospital and heritage centre at 128 Belmore Road, Randwick, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. It was built during 1879 by Simeon Pearce. It is also known as Kilkerran and Felton. The property is owned by Randwick City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Venice is a heritage-listed apartment building and residence in Randwick, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1884 to 1885 by Stephen Gee. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Avonmore Terrace is a heritage-listed row of terrace houses at 26-42 The Avenue, in the Sydney suburb of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. The terrace houses were built from 1888 to 1891 by John Walsh. It is also known as Randwick Mansions. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. As of 2007, the terrace houses are predominately used as domestic housing, with one of the terraces used as a boutique hotel.
The Randwick Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office located at 124 Alison Road in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The former post office was designed by Walter Liberty Vernon in his capacity as NSW Government Architect and was built from 1897 to 1898 by W. B. Chessell. It is also known as Randwick Post Office (former) and Jubilee Fountain. The property is owned by Australia Post (Federal Government). It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 June 2000.
Rathven is a heritage-listed former private residence and boarding house for school and private residence in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by George Raffan during 1887. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Corana and Hygeia are a heritage-listed pair of semi-detached residences at 211-215 Avoca Street in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. They were built from 1893 to 1894. They are also known as Corana & Hygeia Victorian Terraces,Corona, Randwick Lodge and has recently re-branded to The Lurline. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Hooper Cottage is a heritage-listed residence at 17 Gilderthorpe Avenue in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1847 to 1848. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
↑ "Sydney's Light Rail Future". Transport for New South Wales. 13 December 2012. pp.13, 16, 17. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
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