Norma Thornburn speaks about a history of St Marys - 150 Years Speaker Series

Norma Thornburn speaks about a history of St Marys on behalf of the St Marys District History Society. She is the 6th generation of her family that have lived in St Marys.

She speaks about: Tench saw a stream with great flow/abundance and named it Wianamatta. It became South Creek then finally named St Marys in 1870 after St Mary Magdalene church which was started by the King family. In 1890 it became a municipality taking in Orchard Hills, Werrington, Llandilo, Erskine Park. Land grants of 1804 began the areas development. Grants were given to Samuel Marsden, Lethbridge family, King family, Gregory Blaxland, Mary Putland (daughter of Governor Bligh). St Marys grew from businesses- wagons, brickmaking, tanneries, saw milling. In 1890 it had 10 shops on Queen Street, 4 on GWH, 4 churches, St Marys public school, a Catholic school, Post office, Protestant Hall, the Mechanics Institute, Masonic Temple, a park. Council chambers were built in 1933 and prior to this the Protestant Hall was used for meetings.This Council Chambers is now used by St Marys Historical Society with Council in the old Commonwealth Bank building along with St Marys library. Importance of St Marys - Bennetts Wagons sold overseas, Peter McCormack composer of Advance Australia Fair was teacher at St Marys, Crossing of blue mountains began from Gregory Blaxlands home, Charles Kingsford Smith landed plane at Werrington Park, Munitions factories were built and supported WW2. When sold these factories became homes for migrants (particularly from the Balkans) , Cucksons came after WW2 and set up factory, ballet school and swimming pool.