Homebush West and Flemington

by Cathy Jones (2025)

Homebush West, historically known as Flemington, is a suburb with a rich history and evolving urban development. Its identity has shifted through urban growth and demographic changes, reflecting its multicultural character and residential growth over time.

The suburb was originally called Flemington after John Fleming, who received a land grant in 1806. It was briefly renamed Strathfield West in 1971 before officially becoming Homebush West in 1992, though many locals still use the name Flemington.

Most of Homebush West is situated on Fleming’s 201 acre 1806 Crown Land Grant, bounded by Arthur Street and Parramatta Road, and intersected by the railway line.

A smaller portion of Homebush West lies on the Samuel Thorley grant to the west of Marlborough Road, and a small area north of Parramatta Road containing the Wentworth Hotel and Flemington Road is part of the Wentworth Estate.

The area’s development centred around the Flemington Railway Station, both as a source of transport and the location of Sydney Markets (formerly the Flemington Saleyards).  The railway opened in 1884 to support the Cattle and Sheep Saleyards that opened in 1882.  The Saleyards were later replaced by Sydney Markets in 1975.

Residential subdivision of the Fleming grant, now part of the Underwood Estate, began in 1881.  The subdivision plan was in a grid-style layout of streets named after places in England eg Hampstead, Tavistock, Henley and Exeter.

In 1892, Flemington (the area south of the railway line) was annexed into the Municipality of Strathfield, partly to regulate local industries. From 1892, Flemington was one of three wards of Strathfield Municipality and ratepayers elected Alderman from the Ward to represent their interests at Council.  Strathfield Council reverted to a single ward system in 1916.

Early housing was sparse in the late 19th century, with most residential development occurring in the early 20th century, mainly in the form of timber cottages. Post-1920 under Council’s planning provisions, new buildings were required to be brick, not timber.  Mature Brush Box street trees were planted around this time and are an important element of the local streetscape.

A small shopping centre developed near the railway station by the early 1900s, expanding in the 1920s and including various shops and services by the 1930s. The shopping centre, particularly on Henley Road was redeveloped in the 1980s and 1990s, with 3 storey mixed shopping and residential, replacing older shops.  From the late 1980s, the shopping centre strongly featured Asian influenced businesses particularly food stores and restaurants.

Community infrastructure includes in the Homebush West area includes the Homebush West Public School School (opened 1912), Kuralee Child Care Centre (built 1975), Homebush West Community Centre, Melville Reserve, Henley Reserve and Tavistock Reserve as well as places of worship reflecting diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In its early development, the area had a primarily Anglo-Celtic population, however the suburb experienced post-war European migration from countries including Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Italy and Hungary.  This was followed by significant Asian migration after the 1970s dismantling of the White Australia Policy. By 2021, 72% of residents in the area of Homebush West (south of the railway) were born overseas, with communities from India, Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Rezoning in the 1960s and late 1990s facilitated multi-unit residential developments, leading to a population increase from 2,198 in 2001 to 4,134 in 2021, and a shift from houses to predominantly multi-unit dwellings. As at the 2021 Census, only 5.5% of dwellings are houses.  Despite these changes, representations of heritage from the 19th-century and early 20th century remain including houses and churches.

There are four distinctive precincts in Homebush West:

‘Village’ of Homebush West

Located between the railway line (north) and Arthur Street (south).  This area is primarily residential with a small shopping centre near Flemington Railway Station.  This area is located on the original John Fleming land grant and maintains the original subdivision grid-style street patterns.  This area has been part of Strathfield Municipality since 1892.

The ‘Ford Factory’ Precinct/Centenary Park

A mixed residential and commercial area located west of Marlborough Rd and bounded at west by the rail goods line. This area is located on the original Samuel Thornley land grant. Most of the residential area was created by the subdivision of the Mandamar Estate in 1926.

Sydney Markets

Formerly the site of the Homebush Cattle Saleyards, Sydney Markets were established in 1975. This large site operates Sydney’s growers and flower markets. It also has a shopping centre, major banks, hotels and has its own postcode. This site is built part of the John Fleming 1806 land grant. This area was located in the former Homebush Council (1906-1947) but is now part of Strathfield Council.

Parramatta Rd/Welfare St Precinct

This precinct is primarily commercial businesses with some surviving small 1920s residential eg Flemington and Welfare Streets, and the Wentworth Hotel.  This area was located in the former Homebush Council (1906-1947) but is now part of Strathfield Council.

The suburb of Homebush West includes the following streets:

• Arthur Street [part]
• Couralie Ave
• Exeter Road
• Flemington Street
• Hampstead Road
• Henley Road
• Kessell Avenue
• Malborough Road
• Manadamah Avenue
• Parramatta Road [part]
• Potts Avenue
• Richmond Road
• Tavistock Avenue
• Telopea Avenue
• The Crescent [part]
• Welfare Street

Significant sites in Homebush West include:

• Flemington Railway Station
• Sydney Markets
• Wentworth Hotel
• Homebush West Shopping Centre
• Parks – Melville Reserve, Henley Reserve, Hudson Park Oval and Golf Course and Airey Park.
• Churches
• Schools.

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