Concord West, New South Wales

Concord West Sydney, New South Wales
Thomas Walker Hospital, now Rivendell
Population	6,178 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)	2138
Elevation	17 m (56 ft)
Location	16 km (10 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Canada Bay
State electorate(s)	Drummoyne Strathfield
Federal division(s)	Reid
Suburbs around Concord West: Rhodes Ryde Putney Liberty Grove, Olympic Park Concord West Mortlake Homebush North Strathfield Concord

Concord West (also known as West Concord) is a suburb in Sydney's inner-west, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Concord West is located 16 km west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canada Bay. Concord is a separate suburb, to the east.

Concord West is bordered on the west by Rhodes, Liberty Grove and Homebush Bay; to the south by North Strathfield and Homebush; and to the east by Concord, Breakfast Point, Cabarita and Mortlake. It shares the postcode of 2138 with Rhodes.

The suburb takes its namesake from the town of Concord, Massachusetts in the United States of America.

Concord West is known for its extensive Italian commercial offerings, with many Italian businesses and restaurants, although 22% of the suburb's growing population is of Italian ancestry.

History

Concord takes its name from Concord, Massachusetts, in the United States. It was the site of the Battle of Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1778). Some historians believe the suburb was named Concord, to encourage a peaceful attitude between soldiers and settlers. The first land grants in the area were made in 1793.^[2]

European settlers arrived in the area in the early 19th century. The land around the Parramatta River was used primarily for farming, with the Concord region becoming an important area for agriculture due to its fertile soil. Concord West was part of the broader Concord area, which was subdivided over time for residential and commercial development.

Concord West was under the jurisdiction of Concord Council, until it amalgamated with Drummoyne Council in 2000 to form the City of Canada Bay. The surrounding parish is also named Concord Parish.

A major historical figure in the area was Thomas Walker (1804–1886), a philanthropist who lived in the Victorian Italianate mansion, Yaralla, on the shores of Parramatta River. When he died, Walker left substantial funds for the establishment of a convalescent hospital in the area. The hospital—known as the Thomas Walker Hospital—was designed by Sir John Sulman in the Federation Free Classical style and built on a large site north-west of Yaralla. It is now listed on the Register of the National Estate. Since the late 1970s, it has functioned as Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Unit, which specialises in the treatment of young people with psychological problems.

Walker's philanthropic work was continued by his daughter Dame Eadith Walker (1861–1937), who was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919, and was made a Dame 1929.^[3] The family home, Yaralla, eventually became the Dame Eadith Walker Hospital; like the Thomas Walker Hospital, it was listed on the Register of the National Estate.^[4] Dame Eadith also aided in establishing the Concord Repatriation General Hospital.

In the early 20th century, Concord West remained a relatively quiet suburban area, with a mix of agricultural and residential land use. However, following World War II, suburban expansion began in earnest, and the area grew rapidly as more people moved to the suburbs for better living conditions.

The portion of Concord north and west of Concord Golf Club and Majors Bay Reserve was designated a separate suburb under the name "Concord West" and gazetted in 1993.^[5]

Heritage listings

Concord West has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Hospital Road: Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital Buildings^[6]
• The Drive: Yaralla Estate^[7]

Commercial area

Concord West has a group of shops beside Concord West railway station. Another commercial area is located along Concord Road.

• 
  The Concord Hotel
• 
  Concord West shops, view from railway station
• 
  Concord Hospital
• 
  Yaralla, now the Dame Eadith Walker Hospital

Visitors site

The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a Walkway located near the repatriation Hospital which commemorates the Australian soldiers who participated in the New Guinea campaign during the Second World War.

Health

Concord West is home to one of Sydney's major hospitals, Concord Repatriation General Hospital (commonly known as Concord Hospital). Concord Hospital has its own postcode, 2139.

The hospital grounds, particularly around the Dame Edith Walker Hospital in the Yaralla Estate to the south, contain some remnants of critically endangered Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest in a relatively intact state.^[8]

Transport

Concord West railway station is on the Northern Line of the Sydney Trains network.

There are also various buses which service in and around the Concord West area.

Schools

Concord West Public School is serving K-6. St Ambrose Catholic Primary School is a catholic primary school serving K-6. Victoria Avenue Public School is a government school serving K-6.

Churches

• St. Ambrose Catholic Church

Pop culture

• Concord Repatriation General Hospital provides the external shots for the fictional All Saints General Western Hospital in the Australian television drama series All Saints.
• Australian mini series Bangkok Hilton was partly filmed in the grounds of the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital.
• Hollywood blockbuster Superman Returns features shots of Rivendell Hospital, portraying Vanderworth Mansion.^[9]

Demographics

According to the 2021 census, there were 6,178 residents in Concord West. The most common ancestries in Concord West were Australian 18.2%, English 18.0%, Italian 17.8%, Chinese 14.7%, and Irish 9.4%. 60.9% of people were born in Australia; the next most common countries of birth included China (excluding Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan) 5.6%, Italy 3.6%, South Korea 2.7%, England 1.6%, and India 1.4%. 58.4% of people spoke only English at home, other languages spoken at home included Italian 6.6%, Mandarin 6.5%, Cantonese 4.1%, Korean 3.2% and Greek 2.6%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 40.8%, No Religion 24.3%, Anglican 6.2%, and Eastern Orthodox 5.3%; a further 6.1% of respondents elected not to disclose their religion.^[10]

Notable residents

• Sydney Weekender host Mike Whitney^{[citation needed]}
• Luke Foley, former Opposition Leader and Labor Party politician.^[11]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Concord West (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, p. 68 ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 286
3. Parramatta River Walk, Department of Planning, New South Wales, 1989, p. 16
4. The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/23
5. Geographical Names Board - "Concord West"
6. "Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00115. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
7. "Dame Eadith Walker Convalescent Hospital". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00119. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
8. City of Canada Bay Council (2007). "Remnant Bushland". Home / Environment and Health / Natural Environment / Remnant Bushland (web page). City of Canada Bay. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
9. "Filming Locations for Superman Returns (2006), in New South Wales, Australia". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Concord West". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
11. Jabour, Bridie (15 March 2015). "'Who is Luke Foley?' How a Labor everyman ended up in charge". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024. He responds: "I'm a husband and a father, married with three young kids, lived in Sydney all my life, live in Concord West, I've got two girls eight and six, and a five-year-old boy – they're all at school now."

33°50′39″S 151°05′25″E