Concord West

Concord takes its name from Concord, Massachusetts, in the United States. It was the site of the Battle of Concord, the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1778). Some believe the suburb was named Concord to peace between soldiers and settlers. The first land grants in the area were made in 1793.The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, p. 68 {{ISBN|0-207-14495-8}}, page 286

European settlers arrived in the area in the early 19th century. The land around the Parramatta River was used primarily for farming, with the Concord region becoming an important area for agriculture due to its fertile soil. Concord West was part of the broader Concord area, which was subdivided over time for residential and commercial development.

Concord West was under the jurisdiction of Concord Council, until it amalgamated with Drummoyne Council in 2000 to form the City of Canada Bay. The surrounding parish is also named Concord Parish.

A major historical figure in the area was Thomas Walker (1804–1886), a philanthropist who lived in the Victorian Italianate mansion, Yaralla, on the shores of Parramatta River. When he died, Walker left substantial funds for the establishment of a convalescent hospital in the area. The hospital—known as the Thomas Walker Hospital—was designed by Sir John Sulman in the Federation Free Classical style and built on a large site north-west of Yaralla. It is now listed on the Register of the National Estate. Since the late 1970s, it has functioned as Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Unit, which specialises in the treatment of young people with psychological problems.

Walker's philanthropic work was continued by his daughter Dame Eadith Walker (1861–1937), who was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919, and was made a Dame 1929.Parramatta River Walk, Department of Planning, New South Wales, 1989, p. 16 The family home, Yaralla, eventually became the Dame Eadith Walker Hospital; like the Thomas Walker Hospital, it was listed on the Register of the National Estate.The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/23 Dame Eadith also aided in establishing the Concord Repatriation General Hospital.

In the early 20th century, Concord West remained a relatively quiet suburban area, with a mix of agricultural and residential land use. However, following World War II, suburban expansion began in earnest, and the area grew rapidly as more people moved to the suburbs for better living conditions. Italian families began to settle in the more affordable suburban neighbourhoods of Concord West during the 1950s and 1960s, contributing to its strong and informal atmosphere.

The portion of Concord north and west of Concord Golf Club and Majors Bay Reserve was designated a separate suburb under the name "Concord West" and gazetted in 1993.[https://proposals.gnb.nsw.gov.au/public/geonames/a8985f34-1fad-42fd-89c5-43231a0d2695 Geographical Names Board - "Concord West"]

Concord West has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Hospital Road: Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital Buildings{{cite NSW SHR|5045693|Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital|hr=00115|fn=EF14/4542; S90/6034 & HC 30356|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• The Drive: Yaralla Estate{{cite NSW SHR|5045176|Dame Eadith Walker Convalescent Hospital|hr=00119|fn=EF14/4537; 09/04421; S90/02002|access-date=18 May 2018}}

Concord West has a group of shops beside Concord West railway station. Another commercial area is located along Concord Road.

Image:Concord West Pub.JPG|The Concord Hotel

Image:ConcordWest-Shops.JPG|Concord West shops, view from railway station

Image:Crgh multibldg.jpg|Concord Hospital

Image:YarallaMansion.JPG|Yaralla, now the Dame Eadith Walker Hospital

The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a Walkway located near the repatriation Hospital which commemorates the Australian soldiers who participated in the New Guinea campaign during the Second World War.

Concord West is home to one of Sydney's major hospitals, Concord Repatriation General Hospital (commonly known as Concord Hospital). Concord Hospital has its own postcode, 2139.

The hospital grounds, particularly around the Dame Edith Walker Hospital in the Yaralla Estate to the south, contain some remnants of critically endangered Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest in a relatively intact state.{{cite web

|last = City of Canada Bay Council

|title = Remnant Bushland

|work = Home / Environment and Health / Natural Environment / Remnant Bushland (web page)

|publisher = City of Canada Bay

|year = 2007

|url = http://www.canadabay.nsw.gov.au/environment_and_health/natural_environment/remnant_bushland.html

|access-date = 2 July 2007

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829062523/http://www.canadabay.nsw.gov.au/environment_and_health/natural_environment/remnant_bushland.html

|archive-date = 29 August 2007

|url-status = dead

}}

Concord West railway station is on the Northern Line of the Sydney Trains network.

There are also various buses which service in and around the Concord West area.

Concord West Public School is serving K-6. St Ambrose Catholic Primary School is a catholic primary school serving K-6. Victoria Avenue Public School is a government school serving K-6.

• [https://www.stambrose.org.au/ St. Ambrose Catholic Church]

• Concord Repatriation General Hospital provides the external shots for the fictional All Saints General Western Hospital in the Australian television drama series All Saints.
• Australian mini series Bangkok Hilton was partly filmed in the grounds of the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital.
• Hollywood blockbuster Superman Returns features shots of Rivendell Hospital, portraying Vanderworth Mansion.{{Cite web|title=Filming Locations for Superman Returns (2006), in New South Wales, Australia.|url=http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/s/Superman-Returns.php|access-date=2021-03-10|website=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations}}

According to the {{CensusAU|2021}}, there were {{formatnum:6178}} residents in Concord West. The most common ancestries in Concord West were Australian 18.2%, English 18.0%, Italian 17.8%, Chinese 14.7%, and Irish 9.4%. 60.9% of people were born in Australia; the next most common countries of birth included China (excluding Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan) 5.6%, Italy 3.6%, South Korea 2.7%, England 1.6%, and India 1.4%. 58.4% of people spoke only English at home, other languages spoken at home included Italian 6.6%, Mandarin 6.5%, Cantonese 4.1%, Korean 3.2% and Greek 2.6%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 40.8%, No Religion 24.3%, Anglican 6.2%, and Eastern Orthodox 5.3%; a further 6.1% of respondents elected not to disclose their religion.{{Census 2021 AUS |id=SAL11000 |name=Concord West |access-date=10 July 2024 |quick=on}}

• Sydney Weekender host Mike Whitney{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
• Luke Foley, former Opposition Leader and Labor Party politician.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/15/who-is-luke-foley-how-a-labor-everyman-ended-up-in-charge |work=The Guardian |archive-date=10 July 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710105425/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/15/who-is-luke-foley-how-a-labor-everyman-ended-up-in-charge |access-date=10 July 2024 |date=15 March 2015 |title='Who is Luke Foley?' How a Labor everyman ended up in charge |quote=He responds: “I’m a husband and a father, married with three young kids, lived in Sydney all my life, live in Concord West, I’ve got two girls eight and six, and a five-year-old boy – they’re all at school now.” |first=Bridie |last=Jabour}}

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{{Sydney Canada Bay suburbs}}

{{Coord|-33.84416|151.09021|format=dms|display=title|type:city_region:AU-NSW}}

Category:Suburbs of Sydney

Category:City of Canada Bay