Richmond/West Richmond Places

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RICHMOND / WEST RICHMOND

(+ former suburbs of Craigholme, Ellenville, Hilton Estate, North Richmond, Richmond Blocks, South Richmond, West Richmond & Penrhyn/Penryn), Twickenham. Twickenham Gardens )

Richmond is one of the larger suburban areas within West Torrens and covers the area between Marion Road, Richmond Road, South Road and Davenport Terrace/Craig Street almost to Burbridge Road [now Sir Donald Bradman Drive] in the north. In the early stages of settlement in the West Torrens district the village of New Richmond was created by dividing Section 95 into acre allotments and by 1840 there were three houses in existence and three more being built. Section 94

as also subdivided into acre allotments at this time. South Richmond was also described as a village in 1850 and this area did contain early village settlement.

The Holdfast Bay Railway Company put their line through West Torrens passing through the village of Richmond in 1878 thus enabling further subdivision of parts of the area including West Richmond associated with the provision of better transport links to the City. At this time Ellenville was also subdivided but was incorporated as part of Richmond. However, apart from houses in the subdivisions along the main roads the area remained as agricultural until well into the 1880s. The Depression of the late 1880s brought about a significant residential development in Richmond. The government resumed land in Sections 49 and 50 and subdivided it into 'Homestead Blocks' in 1895 for lease by working men. This was an attempt to help relieve social distress caused by the Depression. These blocks were approximately one hectare in size and they were offered for lease under the terms of the Homestead Act, 1895. The land continued under lease until 1902 when the blockers, as they were known, were permitted to convert the leases to freehold. The blocks were large enough to contain a family house, orchards and sufficient land to grow wheat, hay and lucerne for a small number of stock also kept on the land. The area in Richmond was known as 'Tin Town' as most of the houses were constructed in narrow flute corrugated iron. Richmond, as with other small suburbs within West Torrens, suffered from the lack of sanitation and water supply during the 1880s and 1890s and problems developed from the rural nature of the land use, particularly the many piggeries around the area. 

The Baptists within this working class area constructed a church in 1895 on Richmond Road and a school was constructed soon after the passing of the Education Act in 1875. An important indication of the working class nature of Richmond's population was the construction of the Democratic Hall on Richmond Road near the railway crossing. This was the site of various meetings and community gatherings. The hall was constructed between the Police Station and the Baptist Church on Richmond Road. Further subdivision took place within the area after the First World War during the early 1920s converting previously agricultural land to residential areas. The Depression of the 1930s was felt severely in areas such as Richmond where most of the families were working class and relied on paid employment for their survival. 118 of the 549 students at Richmond Primary School were provided with what relief was available during that time. The 'Homestead Blocks' were subdivided during the immediate post Second World War period when closer subdivision was necessary in this area so close to the City and each of the blocks was subdivided into nine or ten building allotments. Council negotiated to purchase land for the establishment of the Richmond Oval from part of the area of the blocks. Little now remains to indicate the extent of the 'Homestead Blocks' in Richmond. The area which was once subdivided into the 'Homestead Blocks' now contains consistent residential development ranging from very early returned soldier's houses (State Bank Homes) through to recent flat development. On the whole the housing seems to date from the 1930s to the 1950s with pockets of 1920s residences. There are very few of the 1890s houses remaining and it is difficult to determine exactly which these are, as early State Bank Houses also follow traditional designs with bull-nose verandahs and gable roofs.[From 1998 Heritage Review]