by Cathy Jones (2007, update 2024)
The Bakehouse Quarter in George Street Homebush is the redevelopment of the former Arnott’s Biscuit Factory. This factory was relocated to Huntingwood in 1997, though the head office is still located on George Street Homebush.
The Bakehouse Quarter incorporates a range of businesses such as WOTSO workspace, Kingpin Bowling, Holey Moley, Aldi, North Strathfield Pharmacy, Komart, LV Nails & Beauty, Fitness First, radiology, medical, dental, chiropractic and paediatric practices, restaurants and cafes. Refer to directory of businesses and shops.
It has successfully readapted many historic buildings of the former Arnott’s Biscuit Factory, preserving icons such as the prominent SAO neon sign.
Arnott’s Biscuits and the Arnott family are important in the history of Strathfield, Homebush and Concord districts. Many members of the Arnott’s family lived in Strathfield including its founder William Arnott and his sons and grandsons, who managed the business after his death in 1901.
Arnott’s Biscuits were originally established in Newcastle but the first Sydney factory at Forest Lodge was opened in 1894. In 1905, the Arnott family wanting to expand, decided that a larger factory was required. Requiring access to the railway for transportation, the Arnott’s purchased a six and half acre site at Homebush in 1906. The purchase was known as ‘Arnott’s Folly’ as the site was considered too far from the City to attract workers. However, the Homebush factory which opened in 1908 was eventually the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and exported biscuits from Homebush to the rest of the world.
The architect Charles Slatyer was engaged to design the new factory in 1906. Slatyer, one-time President of the NSW Institute of Architects was also a resident of Strathfield until his death in 1919. He designed many private residences in Strathfield but also designed commercial buildings such as the Art Nouveau remodelling of the YMCA in Pitt Street Sydney. Slatyer’s Arnott’s factory designs have been described as Edwardian factory buildings at their best, incorporating fine brickwork detailing. The site was substantially expanded with additional buildings over the 90 years it occupied the Homebush site.
Though the Arnott’s factory has left Homebush, the Bakehouse Quarter provides many references to its Arnotts history ranging from the SAO sign to small Arnott’s Parrot emblems woven into building facades. George St has been recast with a cobblestone road and Edwardian style-lighting harking back to the days in the early twentieth century when the Arnott factory was first built.
© Cathy Jones 2005 (updated 2024). This article is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of the author.
Strathfield Heritage 
Hello, dont know if your interested or not but my sister has the original arnotts bird, about 7ft, hung on the factory wall, she is not sure what to do, thanks for your time.
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Do you have a photo?
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Hi Leedy, Do you still have that original Arnott’s bird? We are setting up a shop inside Bakehouse quarters and would really love to have a link to the history of the precinct. If you still have it, please contact me.
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Just visited and there needs to be some history written and displayed. Had to google it to find out about the heritage. To attract people have done signs etc giving done history
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