NSWPort & river
Drummoyne
A merchant’s riverside estate that became a bridge-end suburb.
1853William Wright names his estate Drummoyne Park
WHAT STARTED IT
Drummoyne is a narrow ridge almost surrounded by the Parramatta River, Iron Cove and Five Dock Bay. Merchant William Wright bought riverfront land here and in 1853 named it Drummoyne Park after a family estate in Scotland; river steamers called at its wharves.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Wright built Drummoyne House, a stone mansion with gardens above the river. The township site was subdivided for sale in 1881, just as the Gladesville and Iron Cove bridges put Drummoyne on the main road north from Balmain. The area left Five Dock to become the Borough of Drummoyne in 1890, and by 1896 most of its growth as a residential suburb had come in the previous dozen years.
TURNING POINTS
1853William Wright names his Parramatta River land Drummoyne Park and begins building Drummoyne House.
1881The site of the township is subdivided for sale by its owner, W. J. Hobbs.
1882Works Minister John Lackey opens the Iron Cove bridge on 22 November, linking Drummoyne with Balmain.
1890The new Borough of Drummoyne holds its first council meeting in April, with Mark Williamson as mayor.
1971Drummoyne House is demolished and replaced by units.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A residential suburb of the City of Canada Bay, formed in 2000 when Drummoyne and Concord councils merged. Drummoyne House was demolished in 1971.