By Cathy Jones 2024
The Strathfield South shopping centre is located on the ‘crossways’ of Homebush Road and Liverpool Road (Hume Hwy). Liverpool Road was built in 1814, which enabled road travel between the settlements of Sydney and Liverpool. This road predates most residential development in Strathfield and in its early history, inns and hotels for travelers operated along this road and near the Cooks River.
By the late 19th century a small shopping area, then known as Druitt Town, emerged. It featured a public school (1881), Congregational Church (1873), Post Office (c1878) and a smattering of local shops. The boundary between Strathfield and Enfield Councils was Liverpool Rd from 1885-1949.
The centre expanded in the 1920s and 1930s, with brick shops/residences replacing the older wooden buildings and offering an increased range of goods and services. The Crossways Hotel opened in 1930 and shops including a timber yard owned by the White family, led to this centre being locally known as ‘White’s Corner’. Many bus routes travel through this centre, but large volumes of motor vehicle traffic and restricted parking has created challenges.
A large motel called the “Spanish Inn” was once located on the corner of Homebush Road and Liverpool Road, which is now a mixed use multi-storey building. The shopping centre currently contains post office, restaurants, medical services, hairdresser, chemist and laundromat.
