Hillsdale, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Hillsdale
city = Sydney
state = nsw


caption = Southpoint Shopping Centre, Hillsdale
lga = City of Botany Bay
postcode = 2036
pop = 5788 (2001 census)
area = 0.7
est =
propval =
stategov = Heffron
fedgov = Kingsford Smith
dist1 = 10
dir1 = south-east
location1= Sydney CBD
near-nw = Pagewood
near-n = Eastgardens
near-ne = Maroubra
near-w = Banksmeadows
near-e = Maroubra
near-sw = Banksmeadows
near-s = Matraville
near-se = Matraville

Hillsdale is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hillsdale is located 10 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district in the City of Botany Bay. The post code is 2036.

Hillsdale is surrounded by the suburbs of Eastgardens, Maroubra, Matraville and Banksmeadow.

Hillsdale has a shopping centre called Southpoint on Bunnerong Road, which is a high-rise complex with commercial and residential space. The Hensley Athletic Field is located on Wentworth Avenue, opposite the Westfield Eastgardens shopping centre. Matraville Public School is located at the corner of Bunnerong and Beauchamp Roads.

History

Hillsdale was originally part of the suburb of Matraville until the 1960s. Matraville was originally reserved for the Church and Schools Corporation with income generated intended to support clergy and teachers. It reverted to the crown in 1917 and was allocated for a settlement for soldiers returning from World War I. The suburb was split between Randwick and Botany Councils. When problems arose from the division in 1961, Botany Council decided to rename its portion Gilmore, to honour Australian poet Dame Mary Gilmore (1864-1962). After the post masters general office pointed out that there already was a Gilmore, New South Wales, the council chose Hillsdale to honour Patrick Darcy Hills, who was the New South Wales minister for local government. It was a controversial choice since most residents believed that a name should have been chosen that reflected Australia's history.

Many homes were built in Hillsdale after World War II including some by the Housing Commission.

Education

Matraville Public School is a primary school in Hillsdale, drawing its students predominantly from the surrounding suburbs of Hillsdale, Banksmeadow and Matraville. In 2007 the school had approximately 300 students from kindergarten to Year 6.The school opened as Cross Road Public School in 1903, named after the school's location at the intersection between Beauchamp and Bunnerong Roads. It was renamed as Matraville Public School in 1904. [cite web | publisher=NSW Department of Education and Training | title=Matraville Public School | url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRecord&code=2502 |accessdate=2007-10-30 ]

References

*"The Book of Sydney Suburbs", Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8

External links