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Sydney suburbs have their own signature
June 7, 2010 Author: Jerry Tyrrell
Like people, every Sydney suburb has its own identity and style. This character is rooted the geography of the area and the era when the building was erected. Most roads originally followed the easiest route – often along the top of ridges, parallel to rivers and creeks or zig-zagging down the steep hills. In contrast, flat areas have straight roads and therefore rectangular sites and buildings.
To me, the older the suburb, the more character it has; a bit like the lines and twinkles in your favorite grandparent or oldie. The Rocks is place of classic sandstock brick and stone buildings nestled into the sandstone of Sydney’s foreshore. Paddington is a bit younger with its rows of terraces sweeping down the curves. Beach suburbs follow the sea and headlands. The further west you head, the more regular the layouts as planners could use a ruler and only had to worry about the shape of Nepean and Parramatta River and the base of the Blue Mountains.
From 1788 Sydney expanded outwards from the original settlement around its ‘epicentre’ the Tank Stream. Most major development was within 20 kilometres of the city for the first hundred years. Then it took off as cars and better infrastructure made travel easier.
So your house type and style will depend upon when and where it is built and the building technology of that era. Any Sydney house built before 1900 is usually brick or stone with a metal or slate roof. Terracotta tiled roofs became fashionable in Federation style building from 1890 – 1915. Project homes with concrete tiled roofs began in the 1960s and radiated out from Ryde to Penrith, Campbelltown and Berowra.
As soon as I drive into a Sydney suburb I know what house style and type of construction to expect. Roselle has tightly packed cheap brick terraces and poorly built free standing timber cottages. Wahroonga is filled with grand homes close to railway and are a mixture of 1950′s architect designed homes as they get closer to bush. Penrith is mainly project homes with some surviving historic homes. Liverpool is a mix of older fibro (asbestos) clad cottages with newer project homes.
Each is unique and someone’s home. It is a statement of the time and place it was built, and the needs and style of its many owners. But as with all buildings it will have problems which stem from how and where it was built.
Does your suburb have its own style? Please share your suburb’s identity in the comments below.
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