Abbotsford, New South Wales

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


caption = Abbotsford Ferry Wharf
lga = City of Canada Bay
postcode = 2046
est =
pop = formatnum:4946
pop_footnotes= census 2006 AUS|id=SSC11005|name=Abbotsford (State Suburb)|accessdate=|quick=on]
area = 1
propval =
stategov = Drummoyne
fedgov = Lowe
near-nw = Gladesville
near-n = Gladesville
near-ne = Henley
near-w = Cabarita
near-e = Chiswick
near-sw = Five Dock
near-s = Wareemba
near-se = Russell Lea
dist1 = 10
location1= Sydney CBD

Abbotsford is a suburb in the Inner West region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Abbotsford is located 10 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Canada Bay. Abbotsford sits on the peninsula between Abbotsford Bay and Hen and Chicken Bay, on the Parramatta River. [Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, Gregory's Publishing Company, 2007]

History

Abbotsford took its name from Abbotsford House, owned by Sir Arthur Renwick. He named his property after Abbotsford House in the United Kingdom, the residence of historical novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott. [Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon (Angus and Robertson) 1990, p.1]

Aboriginal culture

Abbotsford was first known by its Aboriginal name Bigi Bigi.

European settlement

The suburb was originally part of Five Dock Farm and when subdivided in 1837, was called Feltham. Sir Arthur Renwick, a doctor, philanthropist and politician built his home here in 1890 and called it Abbotsford House in honour of Sir Walter Scott's home. Renwick's sold his property in 1903 and it became the site of a Nestlé chocolate factory, with the house used for their administrative offices. Australian poet Henry Lawson died in Abbotsford House in 1922. It is now listed on the Register of the National Estate. [The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/23]

Transport

Sydney Buses run a bus route through Abbotsford and a ferry wharf provides access to Parramatta River ferry services. Electric trams operated to Abbotsford until their replacement by buses in 1954. [D. Keenan: "Tramways of Sydney". Transit Press 1979]

Commercial area

Abbotsford has a small group of shops on Great North Road.

port and recreation

Abbotsford Sailing Club sits on the Parramatta River, at the end of Great North Road. Abbotsford houses the rowing sheds for Sydney High School, Newington College and MLC School.

Notable residents

* Sir Arthur Renwick
* David Hicks

References

External links