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Established 1998

Anecdotal History of Annandale

Johnston's Creek

Johnston's Creek was a natural waterway, which flowed into Johnston's Bay, Port Jackson at the Crescent Annandale. It marked the Eastern boundary of the land granted to George Johnston, in the 1790s. The Western Boundary of Johnstone's Annandale Estate was another creek. The estate was subdivided in the latter part of the 19th Century into what is now Stanmore and Annandale.

Camperdown and Forest Lodge are on the Eastern Side of the Creek

From Mutton to Tin Hares - Harold Park

Between Rozelle Bay and Blackwattle Bay was once a boggy area of mangroves and rocky creek beds. Mud flats lay between White's Creek, Johnston's Creek and Blackwattle Creek...sydneyarchitecture.com

Storm Water Channel

To improve Sanitation, many natural waterways were converted into concrete and brick channels in Sydney. The creation of the channels straightened and deepened the natural waterway and the boundaries of the suburbs were adjusted to reflect this. The Canal is tidal upto the old shoreline of Johnston's bay.

Johnstone's Bay Storm-water Sewers Act 1894 No 28a (From New South Wales Acts As Made; 4 KB) AUSTLII

Johnston's Creek became Johnstons Creek Stormwater Channel No 55.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.map-f523 1857 Subdivision of Annandale Estate North showing superseded subdivision, without back laneways or Trafalgar Street, and Johnston's Creek. Only Johnston Street and Parramatta Road have retained their names. Edward Street is now Albion Street. Albert Street is Collins Street and George Street is Nelson Street. There were three cottages West of Johnston Street.

The Johnston's Creek Storm Water Channel now forms a boundary of Annandale, Forest Lodge, Camperdown and Stanmore. Orphan School Creek, now an underground channel and surface swale (a rock-lined stormwater system), feeds into Johnston's Canal at the Southern end of Wigram Road.

It wasn't until 1936, that the Eastern Boundary of Annandale was adjusted to follow the Canal line instead of the natural waterway line...1936 Alteration to [Annandale Borough] boundary with City of Sydney

Crossing Johnston's Creek

There are four road bridges over Johnston's Creek. The Annandale Bridge at Paramatta Road, Booth Street, the Crescent and one to Harold Park. The reconstructed 1890 truss bridge near the mouth of the canal is now a footbridge.

22 November 2011: "we have received further advise from our water services coordinator that the lid to the drainage canal is not suitable nor permissible access for pedestrians' nor bicycle access. As we were informed that the water board dose not provide access points for pedestrians nor Bicycles along the canal and indeed the canal in many area has no lid. Evidence of this can be seen from the barricade erected at the end of McCarthy Lane along with the deviation of the Lane height to the canal lid which is in excesses of 500mm with no obvious path or steps.
Given the facts we see no other choice other than to prepare our sec 96 application deleting the proposed bicycle and pedestrian walk way connecting Parramatta road to the canal and landscaping the area in question...re:DA sec 96, 1-13 Parramatta Road, Annandale (0011434F.001.htm viewed 20 February 2012)

Ordinary Meeting 17th October 1904...That the Glebe Council be asked to cooperate with this Council in the deputation to the Hon. the Minister for public works requesting him to open a road for vehicular traffic along the ....trams-line from Johnston Street Annandale to Ross Stree Forest Lodge. ...requesting the road from Glebe Point to Annandale across the reclaimed land...Annandale Borough Minutes

There are four footbridges across the Canal. The former Federal Park Road Allen Truss Bridge, connects Jubilee Park to Bicentennial Park, near the mouth of the canal. A pedestrian Bowstring Bridge connects the Harold Park to Federal Park and a similar bridge crosses Johnston's creek on the other side of the crescent. A former Tram Bridge provides a pedestrian and cycle route from Minogue Crescent to Taylor Street/Smith and Hogan Park. There is another bridge at Chester Street. South of Chester Street, the canal is covered to Parramatta Road.

A Heavy Rail viaduct, now used for Light Rail, passes over the Channel, between Jubilee Park and Federal Park.

Annandale Sewer Aqueducts and Pumping Stations

In 1898, the Johnston's Creek Aqueduct was built above the Channel to connect the Western suburbs to the Main sewer line. The Johnston and White's Creek Aqueducts were the first reinforced concrete structure in Australia. 1890s Annandale. There are two heritage listed Sewerage pumping stations along Johnton's creek...more

Ecological Sustainability Projects

Reintroduction of Local Provenance Vegetation

Local provenance plant species have been reintroduced into the parklands along Johnston's Creek by the Rozelle Bay Community Native Nursery and Bushcare group.

Constructed Wetland

The Federal Park Salt Marsh wetlands were constructed in 2001 to filter storm water before it enters Sydney Harbour via Johnston's Storm water Channel.

Reintroduction of Mangroves to Rozelle Bay

The introduction of mangroves into the south-east foreshore of Rozelle Bay, was part of the Sydney City Council, Glebe Foreshore Project. Brief at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au and Community Consultation Forum at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Ecological restoration is applied natures. Whose nature? This paper explores the complex interplay of scientific, organisational and community cultures in a proposed restoration project. In March 2004 the City of Sydney released the Glebe Foreshore Plan, which included the creation of a mangrove habitat in Bicentennial Park West. Despite widespread support of the mangrove concept, the associated plan generated significant opposition, including what one local newspaper dubbed "mangrove battlelines"...Mangrove Battlelines: culture/nature and ecological restoration Preview, Phil McManus

LED Energy Efficient Active Lighting

At the Leichhardt Council Climate Change Taskforce meeting on June 1, it was proposed to Pilot LED Lighting along the new Johnston Creek Cycle Path and Footpath in Smith Hogan and Spindlers Park, Annandale. There was support for the Pilot, at the Annandale Precinct meeting on June 6, with a request for Active Lighting - for safety and security...LED Lighting Pilot

Living Streets project has commenced construction in Taylor Street South, includes water sensitive infrastructure, native vegetation, swales, traffic calming and an expanded children's playground....http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/living-streets.html

Public Open Space

Western Expressway Greenban(March 1974)

There is a plaque at the pedestrian bridge between the crescent and Aqueduct that marks the 40th Anniversary, in 2011, of the Green Ban that saved Annandale.

"Residents in the Leichhardt Municipality requested B.L.F. to impose ban on demolition to make way for this expressway.
If the expressway goes ahead, 1,180 homes in the muicipality will be demlished and Annandale, Glebe and Leichhardt would lost most of their parkland."...www.greenbans.net.au

Upgrade of Taylor Street North/Spindlers Park Playground to include a new rope structure climbing frame for older children, a new infants swing set, landscape improvements, a new water bubbler and other features....http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/ITEM%2038%5B13%5D.pdf

Leichhardt Council to lease of disused Sydney Water land for open space...http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/ITEM%2042%5B9%5D.pdf

Wigram Road Booth Street Intersection

Filling in of the Booth Street Waterhole in the late 1890s...more

Revised plans for Roundabout and Pedestrian Refuge presented to Precinct Meeting 7 February 2012...more

"It was a slow start but Peter was a good salesman, able to convince Architects to try new products. One of the first jobs was a black and white marble mosaic in the entrance of Kodak’s shop in George Street. Kodak House was rebuilt in 1955 and the original mosaic done by Peter was preserved at Melocco Bros Showroom at 1 Booth St Annandale...Melocco Brothers, 1 Booth Street

Johnstons Creek Route (2005)

Johnstons Creek Route is the name that is commonly given to the proposed county road between Mascot and Annandale, the northern portion of which follows Johnstons Creek...www.ozroads.com.au

Proposed Cycleway (2011)

Choice Villa Sites, Pyrmont Bridge Road to be sold by auction on the ground, on Saturday, 19th August at 3 o'clock 1885. shows DIDLISTON F COOPER, CHESTER LODGE AJ WATT, QUARRY South of Booth Street Adjoining Johnston's Creek, MIDANGA MRS JB JONES, HON JOHN LUCAS

"The northern sections of pedestrian and shared pathways join at Harold Park Bridge (leading to the former Rozelle Tramshed on the eastern side of the canal). The pathway is then bituminised and continues south on the western side of the canal (Federal Park South and Spindler Park) for approximately another 500m to the McMahons Bridge (foot bridge) connecting Taylor Street to Minogue Crescent. The pathway then continues south on the eastern side of the canal past housing units on the former PABCO industrial site....
Bowstring Bridge (Bicentennial Park), Allen Truss Bridge (Bicentennial Park)...Federal Road Bridge (CCSA Mar 1939).. Taylor Street tramway bridge...STATEMENT OF HERITAGE IMPACT JOHNSTONS STORMWATER CANAL SHARED PATHWAY PROJECT (6MB PDF)

On 16 September 2009 a shark believed to be 1.8 metres long was sighted in Johnston's Creek...Johnston's Creek's on Wikipedia

Harold Park and the former Rozelle Tram Depot site

The Harold Park Paceway comprised an 800m track, a 3000 seat grandstand and administration and parking facilities. The former Rozelle Tram Depot includes a heritage listed Federation warehouse with saw-tooth roofed tram sheds, a large cast iron water tank and Federation period offices....www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

FLAG - [Forest Lodge, Annandale and Glebe] Residents Impacted by Harold Park community action group concerned about the overdevelopment of Harold Park....more

www.ramin.com.au/annandale/johnston-screek.shtml last updated 23 February 2012.