Randwick, New South Wales

Randwick Sydney, New South Wales
Avoca Street and Belmore Road, Randwick
Population	28,943 (SAL 2021)
Postcode(s)	2031
Location	6 km (4 mi) from Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Randwick
State electorate(s)	Coogee, Maroubra
Federal division(s)	Wentworth, Kingsford Smith
Suburbs around Randwick: Centennial Park Queens Park Waverley Moore Park Randwick Charing Cross Kingsford The Spot Coogee

Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located about 6km south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick. Randwick is part of the Eastern Suburbs region and the postcode is 2031.

Randwick is primarily a residential area. Randwick Racecourse takes up a large portion in the north-west corner of the suburb. The Prince of Wales Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Children's Hospital are all located in Randwick. Randwick DRUFC play nearby at Coogee Oval.

Commercial Area

The main commercial area is centred on Belmore Road, Avoca Street and surrounding streets. Randwick has two shopping centres, both on its main street, Belmore Road. Other major streets in the area include Alison Road and High Street. The Spot is a locality in the south-eastern part of Randwick, containing a cinema and numerous cafes and restaurants. It has become a vibrant entertainment district in Randwick.

• 
  Statue of Captain James Cook
• 
  Belmore Road, Randwick
• 
  Randwick War Memorial
• 
  Alison Road, Randwick
• Randwick Racecourse
  Randwick Racecourse
• Randwick Town Hall
  Randwick Town Hall
• Old Randwick Post Office
  Old Randwick Post Office
• Wrought iron balcony, Avoca Street
  Wrought iron balcony, Avoca Street

Hotels

Randwick has a number of pubs and hotels including Avonmore on Park Boutique Hotel, Randwick Lodge, Royal Hotel and Coach and Horses Hotel.

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  Avonmore on Park Boutique Hotel
• 
  Randwick Lodge
• 
  Coach and Horses Hotel
• 
  Royal Hotel

Education

Primary schools in the area include Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart, Coogee Public School, Claremont College, Randwick Public School, Coogee Preparatory School, The Joseph Varga School and Rainbow Street Primary. Secondary schools include Brigidine College, Marcellin College, Randwick Boys' High, Randwick Girls' High, The Emanuel School and the Open High School (located on the site of the former Randwick North High). The University of New South Wales is also located nearby.

• 
  Marcellin College, Avoca Street
• Brigidine College
  Brigidine College

Churches

The churches in the area include Randwick Uniting, St Jude's Anglican, Randwick Presbyterian and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic.

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  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church
• 
  Randwick Presbyterian Church
• St Judes Church, Avoca Street
  St Judes Church, Avoca Street

History

Randwick was named after the village of Randwick in Gloucestershire, England, birthplace of Simeon Henry Pearce, who became Mayor of Randwick no less than six times. Simeon and his brother James, who migrated to Australia in 1842, were responsible for the early development of Randwick and Coogee. Simeon lived in a house called Blenheim, which can still be seen in Blenheim Street. It was neglected for some time but was eventually acquired by Randwick Council and then restored.

Randwick developed in the 19th century and is the oldest municipality in Sydney, outside the city centre, and as such it features a number of fine, heritage buildings. Another Mayor of Randwick, George Kiss, built the house known as Ventor in the 1870s. A two-storey sandstone house, Ventnor is situated on Avoca Street, overlooking Coogee. Nowadays it is owned by the nearby Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. Other buildings of note include the St Jude's Church group, also on Avoca Street. Originally designed by Edmund Blackett, the church was completed in 1865, but its appearance was altered by H.M.Robinson in 1889. The Rectory next door was built in 1870. The Verger's Residence, designed by Thomas Rowe and completed in 1862, was the original Randwick Burough Chambers. This distinctive building, with its Gothic touches, was succeeded later by the present Randwick Town Hall, which was built in 1886. The church group and Ventnor are on the National Estate.

Further down Avoca Street can be found the building originally known as the Star and Garter Inn, built probably in the 1830s. It was the home of Captain J.Watson, who was responsible for the memorial to Captain James Cook, which still stands in front of the building.

One of the dominant features of the area is the Prince of Wales Hospital, which started life as a home for destitute children. It was financed by the legacy of Dr. Cuthill, who now has a street named after him. In 1915 the home became a military hospital and continued to grow as a medical facility.

Other noteworthy buildings include private homes like Ilfracombe and Clovelly, both in Avoca Street, and Venice, in Frenchmans Road.

• 
  St Judes Church
• Original Randwick Borough Chambers
  Original Randwick Borough Chambers
• 
  Borough Chambers, detail of doorway
• Rectory, St Judes
  Rectory, St Judes
• File:Rand0009.jpg
• Venice
  Venice
• 
  Ventnor, home of George Kiss
• Avoca Street, early morning
  Avoca Street, early morning

Notes

1. Randwick City Council Website

2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The Heritage of Australia: Macmillan Company of Australia (1981)

References

• The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8

• The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company of Australia ( 1981) ISBN: 0 333 337506

External links

• Randwick City Council website
• 2001 Census Information
• Randwick City Tourism website