Mortdale, New South Wales

Mortdale is a suburb located in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mortdale is located 20 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area. Mortdale is situated in the local government area of Georges River Council. Mortdale extends south to Lime Kiln Bay, on the Georges River. Mortdale Heights is a locality in the western corner of the suburb.

Mortdale
Sydney, New South Wales
Morts Road, Mortdale
Mortdale
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates33°58′10″S 151°04′11″E
Population10,419 (2016 census)[1]
Established1885
Postcode(s)2223
Location17 km (11 mi) south of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)Georges River Council
State electorate(s)Oatley
Federal Division(s)Banks
Suburbs around Mortdale:
Peakhurst Beverly Hills Penshurst
Mortdale
Peakhurst Heights Oatley Hurstville Grove
Mortdale Memorial Park
Lime Kiln Bay

History

Mortdale has been known in the past as Mort's Road, Mort's Hill, Mort's Crossing, Mort's Township and Mort Dale. The suburb was named after Sydney industrialist Thomas Sutcliffe Mort (1816–1878), who was famous for pioneering the refrigeration of shipping meat and the construction of Mort's Dock, Balmain. Thomas Mort purchased the land from Robert Townson (1763–1827), who had been granted land in the Hurstville area with his brother John Townson.

A small farming community started when the land around Mort's Road was subdivided into 17 farms. The Hurstville Steam Brick Company (better known as Judds Brickworks) was established in 1884 by William George Judd. The large brick-making chimneys were easily seen from around the district. The first residences were built opposite the Brickworks in 1885. The railway was extended through the district around the same time. The railway divided two of the main farms, Kemp's orange orchard and Parkes's farm near Victoria Avenue, and these were subdivided for housing by 1894. The official title for the suburb was set as Mortdale when the railway station opened with that name on 20 March 1897.

The school opened in January 1889, and the post office and grocery store opened in November. Mortdale became a popular residential suburb in 1920s for soldiers returning from World War I.[2]

In 1921, there was a movement for Mortdale to split from Hurstville and form a separate municipality. An official 1923 inquiry into the proposed Municipality of Mortdale decided against the change, despite the separation movement having the law behind them.

At the same time there was also a push to have the name of Mortdale changed due to its similarity with the suburb of Mortlake and the association with its literal translation from Latin ('Valley of the Dead'). Suggestions by various groups over several years included: Leyton, Montrose, Morella, Kingrose and Boronia. A final list approved by the Department of Lands were: Carruthers, Princemead, Wyargine, and Storrieville, but the matter was never resolved.[3]

Commercial area

Mortdale consists mainly of residential dwellings with some commercial and industrial developments in the north-west corner. The main shopping centre is located on Morts Road and Pitt Street, near Mortdale railway station. Commercial and industrial developments are located along Boundary Road.

A number of streets near the commercial area are named after notable streets in the Sydney CBD; These include: George Street, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Macquarie Place and Oxford Street. This is the only group of Sydney-wide streets named as such.

  • Mortdale Fire Station
  • Mortdale Hotel
  • Woronora Lodge, Mortdale Masonic Centre (now demolished)

Transport

Mortdale railway station is on the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line of the Sydney Trains network. Mortdale is a 30min (approx) train journey from the city. Punchbowl Bus Company services 944, 945 and 955 run throughout the week, with limited services on weekends.

Churches
  • Christ Church Anglican
  • Mortdale Uniting Church
  • Mortdale Oatley Baptist Church
  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)[4]
  • Hurstville District Christadelphian Ecclesia[5]
  • Mortdale Spiritual Church

Schools

Parks and Waterways
  • Mortdale Memorial Park, Renown Park, Jubilee Park, Hurstville Golf Course, Mick Downes Reserve, Oatley Heights Park, Lime Kiln Bay Reserve, Olds Park, Edith Park, Beatty Street Reserve, Ruby Wing Reserve, Paddy Tyler Reserve, Milsop Place Reserve, Sunlea Avenue Reserve, Treloar Avenue Reserve, Walter Street Reserve, Nicol Murray Reserve, Lesley Crescent Reserve,
Mortdale Memorial Park

Landmarks
  • Historic Buildings - Mortdale Fire Station, Old Police Station, Mortdale Hotel, Mortdale railway station, Mortdale RSL Club, Mortdale Bowling Club (demolished 2012), St George Masonic Club, Mortdale Scout Hall, Mortdale Senior Citizens Centre, Ellen Subway underpass.
  • Mortdale Memorial Park - Contains a perimeter of large Small-leaved Fig trees, a classical rotunda and a decorative War Memorial. The park is popular for picnics, weddings, and concerts.

Sport
  • Hurstville Golf Course - 18-hole golf course
  • Ken Rosewall Tennis Centre - 8 tennis courts adjoining the golf course
  • Renown United Rugby League Club - play at Renown Park, Mortdale
  • Mortdale Heights Cricket Club - play at Oatley Park Oval
  • Hurstville Small Bore Range - rimfire shooting rifle range opposite the golf course
  • Beatty Street Reserve - Cricket Nets
  • Jubilee Park - netball court

Pop culture

Mortdale has been colloquially referred to as the "Valley of the Dead" or "Death Valley", due to the Latin mort ("death")[7] and English dale ("valley"). In 1992, Su Cruickshank, published a book entitled 'Bring A Plate to The Mortdale Scout Hall - The Autobiography of a Fat Tart Complete with Recipes'.

Population

Demographics

According to the 2016 census, there were 10,419 people usually resident in Mortdale, being 48.4% male and 51.6% female, median age 37 years. 42.8% stated they were born overseas, with the top countries of birth being China 9.2%, Nepal 3.1%, New Zealand 2.1%, England 2.0% and Macedonia 2.0%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 54.7% of residents, and the most common other languages spoken were Mandarin 8.4%, Cantonese 6.4%, Macedonian 3.6%, Nepali 3.4% and Greek 2.7%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were no religion 26.7%, Catholic 23.8%, Anglican 11.4% and Orthodox 7.7%, with religion not stated being 8.0%.[1]

Mortdale households consisted of 48.4% occupied by 2 parent families, single parent families 15.3%, 34.4% by couples with no children at home, and 1.9% by others. 32.4% of households were purchasing their homes, 34.9% were renting, and 30% were owned outright (others not stated).

There were 43.1% of these in separate houses, semi-detached 16.1%, and 40.4% in apartments. 44.9% had one vehicle, and 30.2% had 2.[8]

Notable residents

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mortdale (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  2. Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon (Angus and Robertson) 1990, page 178 ISBN 9780207144950
  3. Mortdale in Early Days
  4. http://www.ldsmortdalestake.org/
  5. Hurstville Christadelphians
  6. Mortdale Public School
  7. Latin Dictionary University of Notre Dame. Retrieved on 15/12/07
  8. ABS
  9. Australian Dictionary of Biography
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