Kingsgrove, New South Wales

History

Governor Philip King granted 500 acres (2 km²) in 1804 to Hannah Laycock (1758-1831), the wife of Quartermaster Thomas Laycock (1756-1809). She named the farm King's Grove in Governor King’s honour. This was later simplified to Kingsgrove. The area would be now bounded by Kingsgrove Road, Bexley Road and William Street. Governor King made Thomas Laycock an officer of merit and recommended him to fill the vacancy an ensign in the New South Wales Corps. Two of their sons, William and Samuel were also given land grants of 100 acres (0.4 km2) each in the same area in 1804 and Hannah received another 120 acres (0.5 km2) in 1812. The entire 820 acres (3.3 km2) of Kingsgrove farm when sold to Simeon Lord in 1829, extended from Campsie and Clemton Park to Stoney Creek Road.

The first inn built in the area was the Man of Kent on Kingsgrove Road, near Morris Avenue and was licensed on 1 July 1850. The licensee Evan Evans, was formerly a sea captain. In 1856, Thomas Smithson, a tobacco manufacturer from Leeds, England, established the Cooks River Tobacco Manufactory on Stoney Creek Road. He marketed snuff and cigars into Sydney until the 1880s.[2] One of Thomas’ sons, James Edward Smithson, made and sold wine from Smithson’s Wine Bar on the site of today’s Bexley Golf Course.[3] Kingsgrove railway station opened in 1931 and development in the area followed.[4]

Commercial area
Kingsgrove Road (north)

The main shopping centre is located on Kingsgrove Road, south of Kingsgrove railway station. Commercial and industrial developments are located on the northern side of the railway line, west of Kingsgrove Road. There are also some commercial developments scattered along Stoney Creek Road and Canterbury Road. A small group of shops on Stoney Creek Road is known as the Kingsway locality. Kingsgrove RSL Club is located in Brocklehurst Lane behind Kingsgrove Road.[5]

Kingsgrove Road features a variety of food outlets, gift stores, restaurants, cafes, hair salons and services such as Solicitors, Banks, Accountants and General Practitioners. There is also a Woolworths supermarket, a Bunnings Warehouse and three petrol stations in the area.

Transport
Kingsgrove Road (south)

Kingsgrove is well connected to both the road and public transport network.

Kingsgrove Road has entrance and exit ramps for the M5 Motorway, with access towards Sydney Airport and the Sydney CBD. The western end of the M8 Motorway also exits onto the M5 in Kingsgrove. Moorefields Road and William Street are other main roads in the suburb.

Kingsgrove railway station is on the T8 Airport Line of the Sydney Trains network. This line provides direct access to both the Sydney CBD and Sydney Airport.

There are two bus depots in the suburb - one for services operated by Transit Systems and the other for services operated by Transdev.[6] Bus routes 423 and L23 link Kingsgrove to the Sydney CBD via Earlwood, Marrickville and Newtown.

There are other direct local bus connections to Campsie, Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale, Roselands, Earlwood and Burwood on the 446, 455, 490, 492 and 493 routes. The NightRide N20 bus route also supplements late night T8 train services to Riverwood via Beverly Hills and the City - Town Hall via Rockdale, Arncliffe and Mascot.

Population

Demographics

According to the 2016 census,[1] there were 12,446 people in Kingsgrove. 55.3% were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 8.0%, Greece 5.4%, Lebanon 2.3%, Italy 2.2% and Vietnam 1.9%.

The most common ancestries were Greek 17.2%, Chinese 15.0%, Australian 10.7%, English 9.6% and Italian 6.7%.

39.1% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Greek 16.8%, Cantonese 8.2%, Arabic 6.5%, Mandarin 6.5% and Italian 3.6%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic (27.3%), Orthodox (22.6%) No Religion, 18.1%, Not stated 7.3% and Islam 5.7%.[1]

In terms of family composition, 50.4% were couple families with children, 30.3% were couple families without children and 17.3% were one parent families.

Notable residents

Schools

Churches
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Kingsgrove

Parks and recreation

Parks in the suburb include Kingsgrove Avenue Reserve, Smith Reserve, Dowsett Park, Butler Reserve and Beverly Grove Reserve.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kingsgrove (State suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  2. "From Kirkgate to Gannons Forest". The Smithsons from Weardley. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  3. "Smithsons Wine Bar". The Smithsons from Weardley. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  4. The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia, ISBN 0-207-14495-8, p.139
  5. Kingsgrove RSL Club ~ 4 Brocklehurst Lane Kingsgrove
  6. "New bus depot opens in Kingsgrove". Transport for NSW. 23 September 2016.
  7. http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/smart-alex-20090914-fnao.html

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