by Cathy Jones 2024
The Flemington Rail Station opened in 1884, mainly to support the operations of the Sheep and Cattle Saleyards. These moved from a location close to Homebush station to north of the railway where Sydney Markets are now located.
A few small grocery shops were operating c.1896 on Henley Road, south of Flemington Station. This shopping centre expanded to include shops on The Crescent (formerly Victoria Crescent) and Henley Road in the early 1900s. Some of the older shop buildings facing Henley Toad and The Crescent were built in the 1920s.
Shops listed in directories on The Crescent in the 1930s included a bakery, general store, newsagent, bootmaker, fruit shop, confectionery, butcher, medical practitioner, post office and telegraph office. The shopping centre is linked via footbridge access (across the railway station) to Sydney Markets.
The area was historically known as Flemington. The suburb was renamed Strathfield West in 1971, though this name was not widely used. In 1992, the Geographical Names Board adopted the suburb name Homebush West.
