About The Area

History

The suburb of Concord is situated on the Parramatta River around 11km from Sydney CBD, sitting half way between Sydney and Parramatta, and next door to the site of the 2000 Olympic and Paralympics at Homebush Bay.

The area was explored by men from the First Fleet 1793, when the lieutenant-governor, Major Francis Grose, made the land grants to six non-commissioned officers of the New South Wales Corps and four other settlers, in an area he named Concord. Some think it was so named to encourage a peaceful attitude between soldiers and settlers, but the name has an historical significance. During the American War of Independence, the town of Concord was the site of the first battle. Among the British soldiers taking part as an advance guard was 21-year-old Francis Grose. Years later he was in the penal settlement of New South Wales, and he named the newly opened grant Concord.

A number of well-known colonists were associated with Concord’s early history. In 1797 Isaac Nichols added further properties until he held 600 acres in the district. He called his estate Yaralla. The land was gradually sold off in the 1830’s. Thomas Walker, a merchant, amassed a huge fortune and in the 1840s he bought Isaac Nichols land at Concord. He gave the mansion he built on it in 1864 the name Yaralla, after the old property name. Walker had only one child, Eadith who became an untiring work for charitable causes, and she was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1928. Thomas Walker’s will had set aside $10,000 to establish and maintain what is now the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital in Concord. The Dame Eadith Walker Convalescent Home for Men was established in her old home, Yaralla.

On 11th August 1883 Concord was proclaimed as a municipality. The Australian Gas Light Company was one of the areas at Mortlake, attracting many workers to the area. In the 1920s, when the new railway line made it easier to commute to, the area was extensively subdivided. Most of Concord’s signature Californian bungalows were built around this time.

In more recent times Concord has had much of its industrial land, mostly located along the banks of the Parramatta River, redeveloped into modern luxury apartments and townhouses making it one of the most popular & desirable inner west suburbs. Majors Bay Road shopping strip has become the Champs Elysees of the Inner West. The street is wide and tree lined and comes alive at night strollers socialising and frequenting the many fine restaurants and cafes.

Real Estate & Design

Concord has a wonderful assortment of homes, including Californian Bungalows, magnificent waterfront homes, Federation cottages, beautifully renovated semis, sprawling residences abutting the many gold courses, and a range of older style and contemporary apartments. A number of luxurious resort-style estates have also been developed such as Cape Cabarita, Pelican Point, and Phillips Landing & Breakfast Point

Shopping

Concord features a range of supermarkets and grocery stores, video library, liquor stores, butchers, delicatessens, bakeries, pharmacies, banks and medical centres. For department and specialty stores, there are the nearby Strathfield plaza shopping centre, Rhodes Shopping Centre & Westfield Shoppingtown Burwood.

Sport & Fitness

Concord boasts a selection of sporting and recreational facilities. There are a large number of parks and reserves, including Majors Bay Reserve on the water, which features playgrounds, soccer, cricket, baseball and rugby fields. The close by Prince Henry Place has picnic shelters and stunning formal gardens; Bayview Park offers barbeque and picnic facilities, jetty and boat ramp; Cintra Park features a walkway, tennis, netball, and hockey fields; and Concord Oval is a great place to play and watch Rugby.

There are three golf courses in the suburb, including Concord Golf Club, Bradwel Park Golf Club and Massey Park Golf Club. Because of the beautiful waterways, boating is a popular past time, and the Concord-Ryde Sailing Club is great for competitions or learning how to sail.

Transportation

There are train stations at Strathfield, North Strathfield, Concord West & Rhodes, which are express into the city. You can catch the 458 and 459 buses to Strathfield Railway Station and then catch a train. Take advantage of the Rivercat Ferry service and travel in style. This service stops at Cabarita Park and runs from the City to Parramatta.

Famous Landmarks

The Yaralla Estate (also known as the Dame Edith Walker Estate), located on the Parramatta River is significant in the evolving pattern of occupation of the colony, starting with a grant to an ex-convict and then from mid 20th century to current times as an institution facility. It is historically significant as one of the last large 19th century estates remaining in metropolitan Sydney

Restaurants & Cafes

Concord and the surrounding area is becoming increasingly renowned for its fantastic cafes and restaurants, particularly on the recently revamped Majors Bay Road strip. Others include the waterfront restaurant Angelo’s on the Bay at Cabarita, Olivetto Ristorant & Bar at Rhodes, Borelli Family Restaurant, the Liu Rose Chinese Restaurant, Laliza’s Woodfire Pizza, Peppercorns of Concord, Picket Fence Café, Platong Thai, The Pine Inn, Sanders Restaurant on Westport Marina in Cabarita, The Albatross Seafood Restaurant at Massey Park Gold Club, Ahbi’s Indian Restaurant, Baywok Thai & Chilli Jam Thai Restaurant and Rasa Ria Malaysian Restaurant in North Strathfield.

Schools, Education & Institutions

Preschools and schools in the area include, Concord Kindergarten, Concord West Preschool, Concord Public School, Concord West Public School, Concord High School, Strathfield North Public School, St Ambrose & St Mary’s Primary school, Santa Sabina at Strathfield, MLC Burwood, Meriden School for Girls at Strathfield, Rosebank College at Five Dock, The McDonald College of the Arts, St Patrick’s College Strathfield and Trinity Grammar School.