The History of Carlingford
Before Federation
Fruit growing had become the primary industry in the area by the 1830s as the larger estates were divided into smaller tenant or owner occupied holdings and a second wave of settlers moved into the area. Orange, other citrus, stone fruit, apple and pear orchards were common interspersed with crops such as potatoes and peas. Familiar names in the district, often from a convict background, had set down roots including the Mobbs, Eyles, Spurway, Sonter and other families.
Other economic activity in the district[33] included timber getting from around 1817 with the government convict sawmill operating until about 1830 at the Pennant Hills Sawing Establishment at Barren Ridges (Epping). Timber was hauled to the Pennant Hills Wharf opened in 1817 at Ermington on the Parramatta River. Timber continued to be cut by private contractors into the 20th century.
A public telephone and telegraph service at the Carlingford Post Office began in December 1892[34] and gas mains were entering the district[35] around the same time.
Other economic activity in the district[33] included timber getting from around 1817 with the government convict sawmill operating until about 1830 at the Pennant Hills Sawing Establishment at Barren Ridges (Epping). Timber was hauled to the Pennant Hills Wharf opened in 1817 at Ermington on the Parramatta River. Timber continued to be cut by private contractors into the 20th century.
A public telephone and telegraph service at the Carlingford Post Office began in December 1892[34] and gas mains were entering the district[35] around the same time.
Federation-1940's
Carlingford had a private railway to take goods to market, '... a public school with 235 scholars and staff of six teachers, telephone and money order office, two lines of coaches, five stores, and blacksmith and baker's shop'.[36]
Alongside long standing orchards, nurseries and market gardens were increasing in number. While Carlingford was still distinctly rural, technological change in the district continued with the laying of reticulated water mains from 1908,[39] establishment of the Pennant Hills Wireless Telegraphy Station (1912, first radio tower demolished 1959;[40]second radio tower opened 1935[41] and demolished 1981), metropolitan water storage reservoir on Mobbs Hill (1916,[42] 1934 and 1970[43]), extension of telephone lines, arrival of electric power (1922[44]), the transition from horse drawn road transport to motorised, the sealing of district roads and eventually sewrage.
A sign of progress and modernity was the installation of a public drinking water fountain in the middle of the road at Mobbs Hill in 1911[45] and removed in 1929[46] as it had become a hazard to the increased volume of motorised traffic.
Alongside long standing orchards, nurseries and market gardens were increasing in number. While Carlingford was still distinctly rural, technological change in the district continued with the laying of reticulated water mains from 1908,[39] establishment of the Pennant Hills Wireless Telegraphy Station (1912, first radio tower demolished 1959;[40]second radio tower opened 1935[41] and demolished 1981), metropolitan water storage reservoir on Mobbs Hill (1916,[42] 1934 and 1970[43]), extension of telephone lines, arrival of electric power (1922[44]), the transition from horse drawn road transport to motorised, the sealing of district roads and eventually sewrage.
A sign of progress and modernity was the installation of a public drinking water fountain in the middle of the road at Mobbs Hill in 1911[45] and removed in 1929[46] as it had become a hazard to the increased volume of motorised traffic.
Memories from Marilyn Bisset- 1950/1960's
" As children we would shop opposite Carlingford station. The corner shop is now the Liquor store.
Instead of a real estate agent, there was a chemist.
We would bank at the Commonwealth bank- which is now where you would buy a pizza!
We no longer bought our fruit and vegetables from the back of a truck and the supermarket would no longer deliver groceries to your home.
In the 1980's as I drove into the turning circle I saw the high camellia tree which is still standing. This natural landmark has stood- still growing- despite all the change. "
Source "Carlingford West: Coming of Age 1967-1988.
Instead of a real estate agent, there was a chemist.
We would bank at the Commonwealth bank- which is now where you would buy a pizza!
We no longer bought our fruit and vegetables from the back of a truck and the supermarket would no longer deliver groceries to your home.
In the 1980's as I drove into the turning circle I saw the high camellia tree which is still standing. This natural landmark has stood- still growing- despite all the change. "
Source "Carlingford West: Coming of Age 1967-1988.
1940's-today
As Sydney rapidly expanded, following World War II, Carlingford underwent rapid urbanisation. James Ruse Agricultural High School, established in 1959, is a testament to the agricultural history of Carlingford as well as the rapid pace of urbanisation; which soon made the school, and its large farm, somewhat of an anomaly amongst the 1970s and 1980s housing which dominate the suburb. More recently, in the 1990s, the government policy of urban consolidation has seen the development of high-density units and apartment blocks around the town centre and the train station. There have also been redevelopments of older houses into medium-density townhouses, and duplex housing.
The first large shopping centre opened in 1965 as the Carlingford Village on a former orchard and nursery site. After redevelopment in the 1970s it was renamed Carlingford Court. Additional redevelopments of the centre occurred in the late 1990s with further changes when the Myer department store closed on 31 March 2006. The old 19th century and early 20th century shops and houses on the corner of Pennant Hills and Marsden Roads at Mobbs Hill were demolished in the 1970s, and "The Orchard" shopping centre was built on the site, and after later redevelopment it was renamed as Carlingford Village.
The major Carlingford shopping and commercial areas are located on Pennant Hills Road. Two small- to medium-sized shopping centres, Carlingford Court and Carlingford Village, together with a shopping strip are 'at the top' of Mobbs Hill, and another shopping strip is 'at the bottom' of Mobbs Hill near Carlingford railway station. There is also a small strip of shops located on Mobbs Lane.
Carlingford Court (opened in 1965 as "Carlingford Village") on the corner of Pennant Hills and Carlingford Roads on top of Mobbs Hill is a medium-sized suburban shopping centre featuring supermarkets, department and variety stores, and specialty shops.
Carlingford Village (opened in the 1970s as "The Orchard" shopping centre) on the corner of Pennant Hills and Marsden Roads on top of Mobbs Hill includes many Asian food outlets.
The first large shopping centre opened in 1965 as the Carlingford Village on a former orchard and nursery site. After redevelopment in the 1970s it was renamed Carlingford Court. Additional redevelopments of the centre occurred in the late 1990s with further changes when the Myer department store closed on 31 March 2006. The old 19th century and early 20th century shops and houses on the corner of Pennant Hills and Marsden Roads at Mobbs Hill were demolished in the 1970s, and "The Orchard" shopping centre was built on the site, and after later redevelopment it was renamed as Carlingford Village.
The major Carlingford shopping and commercial areas are located on Pennant Hills Road. Two small- to medium-sized shopping centres, Carlingford Court and Carlingford Village, together with a shopping strip are 'at the top' of Mobbs Hill, and another shopping strip is 'at the bottom' of Mobbs Hill near Carlingford railway station. There is also a small strip of shops located on Mobbs Lane.
Carlingford Court (opened in 1965 as "Carlingford Village") on the corner of Pennant Hills and Carlingford Roads on top of Mobbs Hill is a medium-sized suburban shopping centre featuring supermarkets, department and variety stores, and specialty shops.
Carlingford Village (opened in the 1970s as "The Orchard" shopping centre) on the corner of Pennant Hills and Marsden Roads on top of Mobbs Hill includes many Asian food outlets.
Source: Wikipedia; Carlingford/Epping- Partners in History