Transport

1. Transport Marrickville became a municipality in 1948. The ground is higher in the north and west sloping gradually down to Cooks River. In the east, the ground runs gradually to the river between Shea’s and Gumbamorra Creeks. Marrickville serves as a transit suburb to the west and southwestern suburbs of Sydney. Sydney’s first road went to the farming town of Parramatta in 1790. It also served Stanmore and Petersham. Cooks River Road was the main southern road. It grew from Bulanaming Road at Newtown ridge and crossed Cooks River at Tempe. Later, Unwin’s Bridge Road was constructed. These roads were the only roads used by horse-drawn traffic. Other minor tracks were only suitable for walking on. In 1855, trains carried passengers and goods quickly. The track went through Newtown and Petersham to Parramatta. The fares were very expensive, so not many people travelled by train. But it did increase land subdivision in Marrickville. As suburbs developed, roads increased. By the 1890s,people used local railway travel with the introduction of cheaper fares. In 1881, tracks for steam trams were laid in Marrickville . The line was extended to Canterbury in 1889. The new tram service was cheaper than the railway and made Marrickville a more accessible place to live in. Marrickville map courtesy of Laurel Horton

2. In the 1920s, private bus services began. By the early 1930s. most of them became government buses. From 1957, buses replaced trams as the main form of public transport. The train services also expanded and after 1926, electric trains produced a much better service. The production of the internal combustion engine lead to the production of motor cars and trucks. Road construction was revolutionised and a Main Roads Board was responsible for building highways. The History of Transport in the Marrickville Local Government Area, Marrickville Council, [online, accessed 8Sep, 2009] http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/edrawer/Files/494442592/TRIM_TR_REC_602884.pdf

3. Outcome Stage 4 4.4 Student identifies major periods of historical time and sequences people and events within specific periods of time. Outcome Stage 5 5.4 Student sequences major historical events to show an understanding of continuity, change and causation. Task: Using the map of Marrickville, locate the roads mentioned. Make models of the transport and place the models on the correct roads. Extension: Add the transport used today. Explain how modern transport has developed because of our needs.