The Historical Markers Program has been developed in response to requests from the community to recognise places of historical and cultural importance. Council receives many such requests throughout the year and they will be managed through this program to ensure a consistent and accurate approach. Each year Council will fund and instal up to five new historical markers. 

Georges River Council’s Historical Markers Program was launched in 2018 to highlight and recognise people and places of historical and cultural importance, as recommended by the local community.
 

2022 Historical Markers Program

Applications for the 2022 Program closed on 15 May 2022 and are now being reviewed. In keeping with the theme of History Week 2022, we have welcomed nominations that focus on the ways our residents have worked, played and created whilst living in the Georges River Area.

The new historical markers will launch during NSW History Week, 4 – 12 September 2022.

 

2021 Historical Markers 

The 2021 Historical Markers have been approved and will be installed during the first quarter of 2022. We are looking forward to announcing the date when you will be able to see the new markers.   
 

Lugarno Market Gardens	The place now known as H.V. Evatt Park was initially developed to produce food by the Webb family, who established a citrus orchard and built a dam on the site during the 1920s. Lee Wun, who had arrived in Australia to work as a market gardener in Botany, took over the lease in the 1950s. Along with family members, Lee turned it into a Chinese market garden, producing carrots, pumpkins, and tomatoes. This was one of the last operating market gardens in the Georges River area. As early as 1951 a section of Webbs Garden was reserved for recreational purposes, under the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme. In 1965 the area was made public land. The combined efforts of the Lugarno Progress Association and Hurstville Council resulted in a park of around 25 acres being established. The recommended location of the marker is near the entrance of the reserve off Forest Road
John O'Grady	Author John O’Grady (1907-1981) used the pseudonym Nino Culotta and wrote the famous book “They’re a Weird Mob”. He lived in Algernon Street Oatley from 1958 till his death in 1981. He was asked why he lived in Oatley and his reply was that it was “the best place to live”. He was described by locals as “an elderly delinquent” as he used to wander the local streets in sandals or thongs and wore flamboyant shirts. His book “They’re a Weird Mob” was not his only publication but was his most successful. The recommended location of the marker is in the Oatley Memorial Gardens.
Ruby Payne-Scott	Ruby Payne-Scott (1912-1981) was a scientist and pioneer in radio physics and radio astronomy. She is believed to be the first female radio astronomer. She taught at Danebank School in Hurstville from 1963-1974. She died at Oatley in 1981. Her key role in science and the development of equal rights for women is well recognised by the CSIRO, the National Archives and internationally. The recommended location of the marker is recessed in the footpath beside Park Road, Hurstville in the vicinity of Danebank School.
Carss Park Football Club	Soccer has a long association with the vicinity of Kogarah Bay. The Carss Park Football Club (previously known as the Carss Park Soccer Club) has been associated with the area since 1953. The club has a proud history in football and a long association with supporting community recreation in the area, including the recent establishment of a special needs program in 2014. The recommended location of the marker is recessed in a footpath in the vicinity of the playing fields on Parkside Drive Reserve, Kogarah Bay.

Markers for restoration

Mortdale Fire Station	This existing marker recounts the history of the building and the volunteer fire brigade in the early 1900s. The text on the marker is worn and hard to read. It is located at 38 Morts Road, Mortdale and is attached to the fire station building.
Site of Ithiel	This existing marker is for the home of Daniel James a prominent tailor in the late 1800s. The text is extensively faded, discoloured and hard to read. The marker is located at 55 Inverness Avenue, Penshurst and is attached to a freestanding concrete plinth next to the footpath outside the property.
Penshurst Presbyterian Church	This existing marker relates to the establishment of the church at this site more than 100 years ago. The text is faded and hard to read. It is located at 118 Penshurst Street, Penshurst and is attached to a freestanding concrete plinth outside the property.

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2020 Historical Markers

No.52 Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battery c.1942-1945 Location: Corner Baker Street, Oatley	During WWII, the Australian Women’s Army Service operated an anti-aircraft searchlight located in this park which was intended to detect and illuminate enemy aircraft. Find more stories about the searchlight on the Local Studies Blog
Isaac Peake’s Farm Location: Olds Park, Penshurst	The homestead of Isaac Peake (1838-1920), after whose family the suburb of Peakhurst was named, was located in this vicinity, with the farm occupying the north-west part of what is now Olds Park. Find more stories about Isaac Peake on the Local Studies Blog
Edith Blake 1885-1918 Location: Edith Blake Reserve, Kogarah	The only Australian nurse to die in WWI as a direct result of enemy action, when the hospital ship HMHS Glenart Castle was torpedoed off the English coast on 26 February 1918. Find more stories about Edith Blake on the Local Studies Blog
The Nethery Family Location: Anglo Square, Carlton	The family has lived in the vicinity of this park for more than 100 years since the arrival of Edward and Mary Ann Nethery in 1917. Their eight children made outstanding contributions to the community through sport, education and the service of seven sons during WWII. Find more stories about the Nethery Family on the Local Studies Blog
Steam Tram Terminus 1887-1937  Location: Kogarah Station	The service ran from Kogarah Station to Sans Souci along Rocky Point Road, providing access to the beach and Moorefield Racecourse. Find more stories about the Steam Tram on the Local Studies Blog

2019 Historical Markers

• Collaroy House, Peakhurst – 764 Forest Road, Peakhurst
• “Ellesmere” camp, Sans Souci - Endeavour Street Reserve, Sans Souci
• Edmond & Elizabeth English - corner of English Street and Princes Highway, Kogarah
• Paramount/Hoyts Cinema, Mortdale - 126 Railway Parade, Mortdale
• William Currey VC MLA - 4 Regent Street, Kogarah (site of William Currey’s office while he was Member for Kogarah).
   

2018 Historical Markers

• Sans Souci Hotel - Sans Souci Park, Sans Souci
• Michael Gannon - Forest Road, Hurstville (near Kenwyn Street/ Croydon Road)
• Robert Kyle - Merriman Reserve, Kyle Bay
• Joe Anderson (King Burraga) - Ogilvy Street, Peakhurst
• Mervyn ‘Merv’ Lynch - Penshurst Park, Penshurst.

Please see Georges River Council’s Historical Markers Policy for more details.

For more information please contact the Cultural Engagement and Library Services team: library@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au