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Hopeville Park, Hornsby Heights
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DetailsIn 1931 a group of local residents, who had been made homeless in the early part of the Great Depression, applied to Hornsby Shire Council for an area suitable for a camping site. Council looked at their request sympathetically and Normanhurst Park was initially favoured. However, Normanhurst residents put up strong objections and another site had to be found.
The location ultimately selected was a section of cleared Crown Land, off Galston Road, in an area called “Fish Ponds Reserve”, which had been previously used as private trotting track.
The waterboard quickly connected pipes to provide communal water to the area. They also provided material for sanitary conveniences which were erected by the residents and were their responsibility to maintain. For a communal area a large marquee was erected in the centre of the cleared reserve. This was eventually surrounded by 23 structures which acted as temporary housing for homeless families. Council strictly stipulated families moving into the camp had to be from the Hornsby Shire.
The building materials used for the structures included timber chopped out of the bush, flattened old kerosene tins and hessian bags covered in white clay sourced from around the nearby creek, which, when dried, made the hessian very stiff like a board. There was also an appeal for material that went out to the wider community via an article in the Advocate newspaper in September 1931. Requested was old iron, timber and any other building material for the camp, which had been named “HOPEVILLE” by those living there. Local residents and businesses answered the call and the unemployed “suburb” quickly took shape.
Men from Hopeville got some work through the Government works program that was run by Council. Work on these projects was in high demand, irregular and for little pay, but every little bit was welcome. Families also established their own vegetable patches and fruit trees, as well as traded and shared anything extra amongst their community.
Over the next 5 or 6 years the economy improved and more regular work became available. Slowly Hopeville residents were able to leave the camp and move into proper housing, As each site was vacated the rough accommodation was dismantled and disposed of by Council. By 1937 the last Hopeville resident had left and the area was entirely clear.
It is interesting to note that at the time Hopeville was established Hornsby Council actually had no formal control over the land. The reserve was finally handed over to Council in April 1966, just before the wider area was first sub-divided in 1968. “Hopeville Park” was officially opened in November 1978. It was appropriately named after the Depression camp which proved to be a valuable safety net for nearly two dozen local families during a very difficult period.
Today Hopeville Park is a highly valued piece of open space which is surrounded on two sides by valuable native bushland that compliments the wider residential area. Since the 1960s the reserve has always had an informal kids’ bike track built and maintained by locals. This still exists today and is perfect for young BMX riders learning the ropes. It also has a popular playground which is being upgraded by Council in 2021. In addition, there is a large open grassed area that is a great place for a large social gathering, family picnic or to kick a ball.CreatorNathan TilburyKeywordsHopeville ParkHornsby HeightsParks
DetailsIn 1931 a group of local residents, who had been made homeless in the early part of the Great Depression, applied to Hornsby Shire Council for an area suitable for a camping site. Council looked at their request sympathetically and Normanhurst Park was initially favoured. However, Normanhurst residents put up strong objections and another site had to be found.The location ultimately selected was a section of cleared Crown Land, off Galston Road, in an area called “Fish Ponds Reserve”, which had been previously used as private trotting track.
The waterboard quickly connected pipes to provide communal water to the area. They also provided material for sanitary conveniences which were erected by the residents and were their responsibility to maintain. For a communal area a large marquee was erected in the centre of the cleared reserve. This was eventually surrounded by 23 structures which acted as temporary housing for homeless families. Council strictly stipulated families moving into the camp had to be from the Hornsby Shire.
The building materials used for the structures included timber chopped out of the bush, flattened old kerosene tins and hessian bags covered in white clay sourced from around the nearby creek, which, when dried, made the hessian very stiff like a board. There was also an appeal for material that went out to the wider community via an article in the Advocate newspaper in September 1931. Requested was old iron, timber and any other building material for the camp, which had been named “HOPEVILLE” by those living there. Local residents and businesses answered the call and the unemployed “suburb” quickly took shape.
Men from Hopeville got some work through the Government works program that was run by Council. Work on these projects was in high demand, irregular and for little pay, but every little bit was welcome. Families also established their own vegetable patches and fruit trees, as well as traded and shared anything extra amongst their community.
Over the next 5 or 6 years the economy improved and more regular work became available. Slowly Hopeville residents were able to leave the camp and move into proper housing, As each site was vacated the rough accommodation was dismantled and disposed of by Council. By 1937 the last Hopeville resident had left and the area was entirely clear.
It is interesting to note that at the time Hopeville was established Hornsby Council actually had no formal control over the land. The reserve was finally handed over to Council in April 1966, just before the wider area was first sub-divided in 1968. “Hopeville Park” was officially opened in November 1978. It was appropriately named after the Depression camp which proved to be a valuable safety net for nearly two dozen local families during a very difficult period.
Today Hopeville Park is a highly valued piece of open space which is surrounded on two sides by valuable native bushland that compliments the wider residential area. Since the 1960s the reserve has always had an informal kids’ bike track built and maintained by locals. This still exists today and is perfect for young BMX riders learning the ropes. It also has a popular playground which is being upgraded by Council in 2021. In addition, there is a large open grassed area that is a great place for a large social gathering, family picnic or to kick a ball.
CreatorNathan TilburyKeywordsHopeville ParkHornsby HeightsParksClick on the image to add
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Nathan Tilbury, Hopeville Park, Hornsby Heights. Hornsby Shire, accessed 17/09/2024, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/5663