Bexley, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bexley Sydney, New South Wales
Forest Road, Bexley
Population	19,733 (2016 census)
Established	1822
Postcode(s)	2207
Elevation	62 m (203 ft)
Location	14 km (9 mi) south-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Bayside Council
State electorate(s)	Kogarah Rockdale
Federal Division(s)	Barton
Suburbs around Bexley: Bexley North Bardwell Valley Arncliffe Kingsgrove Bexley Rockdale Hurstville Carlton Kogarah

Bexley is a lively suburb located in southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the Sydney central business district (CBD). Bexley is part of the Bayside Council area and is known as a key part of the St George region.

Discovering Bexley's Past

Bexley got its name from a town in England. In 1822, a man named James Chandler bought a large piece of land here. He named it after his hometown, Bexley in south-east London, England.

Early Land and Settlers

The land James Chandler bought was originally granted to Thomas Sylvester. Chandler's property was huge, stretching across what is now Bexley North, Rockdale, and Kogarah. This area was covered in thick forests. A path used by people cutting timber eventually became Forest Road, a main street today.

Some streets in Bexley, like Queen Victoria Street, Gladstone Street, and Beaconsfield Street, are named after important British figures. James Chandler was a respected person in the area. However, his large property sometimes attracted bushrangers (like outlaws) and escaped convicts. Because of these issues, Chandler sold his land in 1836.

Later, Charles Tindell bought the land. By 1856, he started dividing it into smaller blocks. This allowed people to buy land and build homes.

Historic Homes and Families

One of the oldest homes still standing in Bexley is Lydham Hall. It sits on part of the original land granted in 1822. Joseph Davis lived in this historic house in the late 1800s. Streets like Herbert and Frederick are named after his sons. Other local families also gave their names to places, such as Henry Kinsela for Kinsel Grove.

Local Businesses and Industry

In the late 1800s, local businesses started to appear. Dick Stone sold meat in Bexley and Rockdale starting in 1868. His slaughterhouse, where animals were prepared for meat, opened in the 1890s. Animals were brought from Homebush to the abattoirs (slaughterhouses) in Kingsgrove until they closed in 1920.

Growth and Transport

Bexley grew a lot after the railway line to Hurstville opened in 1884. This made it easier for people to travel. Wagons and cabs would take train passengers to their homes. In 1909, a steam tram line was built. It connected Bexley to Arncliffe, making travel even simpler.

Many inns, which were like hotels and pubs, opened in the area. Some famous ones included the Man of Kent and the Robin Hood and Little John Inn.

Local Government Changes

Bexley became its own local council area on June 28, 1900. Before that, it was part of Hurstville Municipality. In 1948, Bexley Council joined with Rockdale Council. Together, they formed the Municipality of Rockdale.

Getting Around Bexley

Today, Bexley is served by Transit Systems and U-Go Mobility bus services. These buses help residents travel around the suburb and to nearby areas.

In the past, Bexley had a steam tramway. It started operating on October 13, 1909. The tram ran from Arncliffe railway station through several streets to Bexley Park. However, this tram service closed down on January 1, 1927.

Bexley's Community

Bexley Congregational Fellowship church designed by Harry Foskett

Bexley Park Grandstand

According to the 2016 census, Bexley was home to 19,733 people. The community is very diverse. About half of the residents (49.7%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include China (6.9%), Lebanon (4.0%), Macedonia (3.5%), Greece (2.8%), and New Zealand (1.8%).

Many different languages are spoken in homes across Bexley. While 36.9% of people spoke only English, other popular languages include Arabic (11.7%), Greek (7.6%), Macedonian (6.5%), Mandarin (6.3%), and Cantonese (5.1%). The census also showed a variety of religious beliefs, with Catholic, No Religion, Eastern Orthodox, and Islam being the most common responses.

Famous People from Bexley

• Patricia Carlon - A well-known writer of crime fiction and thriller novels.

Gallery

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  Two-storey home, Gladstone Street

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  Single-storey Federation cottage with wrought-iron detailing, Gladstone Street

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  Cottage with wrap-around verandahs and wrought-iron detailing, Harrow Road

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  Esperanza, Harrow Road

Images for kids

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  St Elmo, Harrow Road

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  Bexley Shopping Centre

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  Former Commonwealth Bank, Forest Road