Petersham is a suburb and municipality of Sydney's inner west. European settlement of the region is recorded as early as 1793. Lieutenant Governor Major Francis Grose ordered settlement and cultivation of the locality to alleviate the colony's produce shortage. The Governor named the suburb after his native Peters-Ham, in Surrey, England. In 1793 it was described thus :

"a small district in the neighbourhood of Sydney, so named by the Lieutenant Governor, by whose orders a timber yard 200 feet square was formed, nine huts for labouring convicts were built, and sixty acres of government ground cleared of timber, twenty of which were sown with Indian corn".

The initial government grants in Petersham totalled 520 acres. Indian Corn cultivation was later complemented with wheat crops. The earliest land recipients included the prominent colonial surgeon John White, Captain Joseph Foveaux, Lieutenant Rowley and master bricklayer James Bloodworth. The local soil was regarded as superior in richness to that of Sydney town, and a 1796 map drafted by John Hunter reveals the region was indeed immediately cultivated.

Petersham originally encompassed a larger region than today. It initially included the area of present day Annandale. Hence probably the most prominent early settler was Major (later Colonel) Johnson. His grand residence Annandale House was bordered by an extensive orchard and orangery. An avenue of Norfolk Island Pines created a dramatic canopy leading to the entrance of Annandale House.

Another early Petersham resident of prominence was Dr Wardell. A barrister admitted to the Supreme Court in 1824, Dr Wardell acquired his Petersham estate in 1831. His holdings were extended to 2,000 acres in subsequent years. Vehemently opposed to Governor Darling, Wardell joined with fellow patriot William Charles Wentworth to establish the anti-Government newspaper, The Australian. At the height of his career in 1834, Wardell was ruthlessly murdered upon his estate by the bushranger Wilson.

The subdivision of this considerable estate, coupled with the popularity of the Parramatta Road, spurred on development of the township of Petersham. To cater for passing trade, Mr Thomas Weedon opened "The Cherry Tree", the first hotel in Petersham. With the completion of the rail line from Sydney to Parramatta in 1855, passengers were able to board and alight at Petersham. However, the lack of a platform persisted as an inconvenience until 1863. This structure was again improved and enlarged exactly 20 years later.

By 1870, the 750 residents of this still rural district began agitating for local government. A petition was successful and the Borough of Petersham was gazetted in December 1871. An amendment in 1885 increased the boundary of the Borough, and the title was later changed to that of the Municipality of Petersham. The first council meeting of February 1872 elected Alderman W H Pigott Mayor. December 1880 witnessed the laying of the foundation stone of the Petersham Town Hall.

Postal service arrived in Petersham in May 1860, with John Jones appointed Postmaster of "Norwood Post Office". In October 1870 the postal service was transferred to the railway station. The first "Petersham Post Office" was opened on Parramatta Road in 1855. When "Norwood" became Petersham with the transfer to the station, the Parramatta Road post office was changed to Annandale. After much agitation the Petersham Post Office was removed from the station in 1897 to a purpose built office on its present site.

The foundation stone of St Thomas Roman Catholic Church was laid in 1848, constituting it as the first church in the region. Although Congregational services were conducted in Petersham from 1852, no church existed until 1862. A larger church replaced this nearby in 1878. To accommodate the growing congregation of Church of England worshippers from 1860, the foundation stone of All Saints Church of England was laid in May 1870 by Dr Barker, Bishop of Sydney. The foundation stone of the present day Petersham Presbyterian Church was laid in December 1904, replacing the original weatherboard church of 1881. The Petersham Baptist Church was erected and commenced services in 1884.

Education arrived with the All Saints Church of England, who conducted a school from the early 1860s. This school continued until 1918. Petersham Public School commenced tuition under the instruction of Headmaster Woods. Taverners Hill Petersham was selected as the site for the transfer of Fort Street High School, originally located on Observatory Hill. Fort Street National School opened in 1849 with 300 children enrolled. In 1916, due to growing enrolments, Fort Street moved to its present address and continues a tradition of academic excellence.


Petersham Anzac Memorial was erected by the Council in 1921 as a memorial to those who had served in World War I. A pair of stone pillars and iron gates, removed from the front of the Town Hall, were renovated and re-erected in Brighton Street to form the main entrance to the Park. A bronze tablet was attached to one of the pillars and bears the inscription: In memory of the men who left Petersham and fought in the Great War of 1914-1918.

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