Petersham is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Approximately 6 km south-west of the central business district, Petersham is in the Marrickville Council area and is bordered by the suburbs of Leichhardt to the north, Stanmore to the East, Marrickville to the South and Lewisham to the West.

Demographics and transport

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The population of Petersham as at 2001 was 6639, 50% male and 50% female (Australian Bureau of Statistics). The suburb has a high number of persons born in Southern Europe, particularly Portugal, Italy and Greece.

The 428, 445 and 412 buses run through Petersham at different points. The 428 runs from Canterbury to Circular Quay, the 445 runs from Canterbury to Balmain, and the 412 runs from Campsie to King Street Wharf in the city.

Petersham is a station on the Inner west line from Liverpool to City Circle on the CityRail network. Travelling towards the city, the railway stops in order are Stanmore, Newtown, Macdonaldtown, Redfern, Central, and Town Hall.

Characteristics

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Petersham's houses are predominantly terrace houses, similar to those of Summer Hill and Stanmore on the north side of the railway station near Parramatta Road. A small row of shops lines New Canterbury and Audley Rows, including several Portuguese restaurants (some of which sell coal-cooked chicken, or cod dishes).

Local landmarks and events

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Local events include the annual Audley Street festival, which is a celebration of the suburb's Portuguese ties. Local landmarks include the Petersham Town Hall, The Oxford Hotel, Petersham Roller Rink (now closed), the WaterTower, All Saints Anglican Church, Petersham Train Station (including an iron pedestrian bridge over the train line) and Petersham Park.

Petersham is also the site of Fort Street High School, the oldest public school in New South Wales.

External links

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• Marrickville Council - Petersham

Incomplete Sydney suburbs | Suburbs of Sydney

Mosquito PR.XVI NS735 of 618 Squadron RAF (UK) disintegrated over the inner western Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Petersham on 2 May 1945 during an air test flight. The crew of two were killed but fortunately no one on the ground was seriously injured by the falling debris of the Mosquito. The Daily Telegraph of 3 May 1945 stated that two civilians were injured and a total of 18 properties were damaged. Five houses were set on fire by the falling debris.

It was suspected that a violent pull out from a power dive, with its associated high 'g' forces may have lead to the structural failure of the aircraft. The two crew members tried to eject from the aircraft but they were not high enough for their parachutes to open.

Flight Lieutenant David Rochford of Oxford, England and LAC Charles Boydell from Mosman NSW were both killed in this tragic incident. F/Lt Rochford's body was found in the playground of Petersham Public School while LAC Boydell's body was found on the roof of a railway building about 100 metres away.