By Cathy Jones
Matthews Park was formerly located on Roberts Road Greenacre. It was located on land resumed in 1923 by Enfield Council which was used as a nightsoil disposal depot. In 1949, this area was added to Strathfield Council. In 1951, the land was dedicated as a public garden and recreation space and was known as Matthews Park, named for former Strathfield Council Town Clerk James Matthews (1938-1966).
The park remained largely undeveloped, Matthews Park was used in the late 1960s and early 1970s for a variety of recreation purposes including use by the Strathfield Pony Club and for club sports including soccer, football and baseball.
The park was originally about eight acres in size. In the 1980, the rear of the park was sold to the Board of Fire Commissioners and funds from the sale were allocated to Parks Improvement Reserve and eventually allocated to a variety of projects including refurbishment of Strathfield Park.
With the increasing traffic on Roberts Road, especially after the building of Homebush Bay Drive/Centenary Drive, pedestrian access to the park by local residents was significantly reduced. In 2010, Strathfield Council sold the land occupied by the park. The site was then redeveloped into a commercial park and is currently occupied by commercial businesses including Officeworks, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Woolworths Petrol Station and Gloria Jean Coffee.
