By Cathy Jones
Pilgrim Park is located on land granted by Crown Grant to Joseph Hyde Potts in 1841. The land remained undeveloped for many years. In 1923, George Bayley Smith acquired a portion of the Potts Estate and subdivided the land for residential purposes. The subdivided land was marketed under the name ‘Gowan Brae Estate’ and commenced sales in 1925.
In March 1940, over an acre of land from the ‘Gowan Brae Estate’ was transferred to Strathfield Council for a public park and recreation. The land was not considered a viable site for housing development as the land was bisected by a large water course and a creek which drains to the canal in Airey Park. The land title notes that part of the land was a drainage reserve. The park has a frontage on Arthur Street and has a street entry on Bates Street. The majority of the park is located behind houses in Francis Street, Shortland Avenue and Bates Street. In 1943, a small section of the land was resumed for road purposes, presumably widening of Arthur Street. Strathfield Council developed the land into a park.
The park is named after William Pilgrim, Mayor of Strathfield [1921-22].
The park contains a children’s playground and a small sporting field.
