Pyrmont, New South Wales

Pyrmont Sydney, New South Wales
Pyrmont, New South Wales
Population:	11,088 (2006 census)
• Density:	11088.0/km² (28,717.8/sq mi)
Postcode:	2009
Area:	1 km² (0.4 sq mi)
Location:	2 km (1 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA:	City of Sydney
Parish:	St Andrew
State electorate:	Sydney
Federal Division:	Sydney
Suburbs around Pyrmont: Balmain Balmain East Millers Point Rozelle Pyrmont Darling Harbour Glebe Ultimo Haymarket

Pyrmont Wharfs

Pyrmont is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Pyrmont is located 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney. It is also part of the Darling Harbour region.

Pyrmont was once a vital component of Sydney's industrial waterfront, with wharves, shipbuilding yards, factories and woolstores. As industry moved out, the population and the area declined. In recent years it has experienced redevelopment with an influx of residents and office workers.

History

Pyrmont contained a mineral spring of cold water bubbling out of a rock and was thus named for a similar natural spring in Bad Pyrmont, close to Hanover, Germany.^[1] The area was also the site of the first Presbyterian Church in the colony, built in 1864 and situated in Mount Street. The congregation eventually outgrew the premises and had to move to a new church at Quarry Street, Ultimo.^[2]

Aboriginal culture

Before European settlement the Eora tribe of Indigenous Australians inhabited the area. Their Aboriginal name for this area was 'Pirrama', which is still the name of a road on the Pyrmont waterfront.

European settlement

Thomas Jones was granted 55 acres (22 ha) of land on the peninsula in 1795. Land was sold to Obadiah Ikin in 1796 for 10 pounds, which he then sold to Captain John Macarthur in 1799 for a gallon of rum.^[3] Pyrmont quarries provided sandstone for many of Sydney's 19th century buildings. The first Pyrmont Bridge opened in 1858. A larger bridge with a swinging span opened in 1902.

Pyrmont became a working class industrial and port community. A major sugar refinery was operated by CSR Limited. In 1900 the area had a population of around 30,000.^[4]

Decay

It was considered to be a slum area in the 19th century.^[5]

Pyrmont started to decay after World War II, when industries closed down, and the residents moved to the suburbs. In 1963 the Ultimo Powerhouse closed down as well. Its population declined to only 1,800 by 1978.^[4]

By 1991 the population had dropped to around 900.

Redevelopment in the 1990s

In order to rejuvenate the area the government initiated the Better Cities Program. In 1992 the City West Development Corporation has been created with the mission to renew the precinct. In 1999 this responsibility has been transferred to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.^[6]

This led to a larger community of 13,000 by 2004 and also an increase of trade with businesses moving back into the area, totalling 22,000 employees.^[6] Almost all industrial function is gone from the area now, replaced by low and high-rise residential developments. .

Following the redevelopment the suburb became more multicultural, with only 35% of residents born in Australia, followed by 8% born in China.^[6]

Landmarks

Pyrmont Fire Station in Pyrmont Street was designed by the Government Architect, Walter Liberty Vernon, in 1907. It is an example of the Federation Free Style, predominantly made of brick with sandstone trimmings, and with Art Nouveau elements. It is now on the Register of the National Estate.^[7]

The public school in John Street was designed by W.E.Kemp and built in 1891; a brick building, it features a bell tower, belfry and slate roof, and is on the Register of the National Estate.^[7]

Union Square is a major heritage precinct. It includes the Post Office in Harris Street, the Harlequin Inn pub, two bank buildings in Union Street, the homes from 4-20 Union Street, all buildings from 99-125 Harris Street, the terrace from 135-141 Harris Street and terraces from 1-21 Paternoster Row. All of these buildings are listed on the Register of the National Estate.^[8] Also on the Register is the Waite and Bull building at 137 Pyrmont Bridge Road.^[7]

Commercial areas

Star City casino, front

The Star casino dominates the Darling Harbour waterfront of Pyrmont and the Sydney Fish Market is located on Blackwattle Bay. Jacksons Landing is a residential and commercial property development located on the northern part of the peninsula.

Pyrmont is home to the headquarters of several corporations including American Express Australia, Vodafone,Fairfax Media, Accenture Australia, Google ^[9] the Network Ten studios, the Seven Network production studios and radio stations Nova 96.9, Classic Rock 95.3, 2GB and 2SM.

Transport

Pyrmont is linked to the city by the Pyrmont Bridge, used only by pedestrians and by the Sydney Monorail which runs between the city and nearby Darling Harbour. The Anzac Bridge, which replaced the Glebe Island Bridge, is a large cable-stayed bridge spanning Johnstons Bay between Pyrmont and Rozelle.

Pyrmont is also served by State Transit buses, Sydney Ferries and Metro Light Rail. There are four light rail stations in Pyrmont at Pyrmont Bay, Star City, John Street Square and the Sydney Fish Market.

Gallery

• 

  Pyrmont Public School

• 

  Pyrmont Fire Station, Pyrmont Street

• 

  Union square

• 

  Sydney Fish Markets

• 

  Pyrmont Bridge 1900

• 

  Pyrmont wharves

• 

  Pyrmont Power Station, before demolition

• 

  Pyrmont Power Station (chimneys removed)

• 

  Pyrmont end of ANZAC Bridge, rest area where bicycle/pedestrian ramp joins the bridge from Quarry Master Drive (between Bank St. and Saunders St.)

• 

  Bike/pedestrian ramp connection to ANZAC Bridge, cnr. Saunders St. and Quarry Master Drive, Pyrmont. Blackwattle Bay in view at left.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pyrmont, New South Wales

• Pyrmont, New South Wales is at coordinates 33°52′30″S 151°11′47″E / 33.87497°S 151.19635°E / -33.87497; 151.19635Coordinates: 33°52′30″S 151°11′47″E / 33.87497°S 151.19635°E / -33.87497; 151.19635
• From heaven to hell in one easy walk
• Paradise, Purgatory and Hellhole: a history of Pyrmont and Ultimo
• Ultimo + Pyrmont a decade of renewal 1874 and 1912 were years of the Tiger