In
this pictorial history of Ryde by Megan Martin the suburbs Putney, Gladesville,
Meadowbank, Marsfield, Rhodes, West Ryde, Kissing Point, Ryde, Top Ryde,
North Ryde and Eastwood are represented in a wide range of photographs.
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The Aboriginal occupants of the Parramatta River, the first convict and
soldier settlers and land grantees map out their terrritory in the beginnings
of white land use. The aggressive Pemulwuy fought white settlers and Bennelong
had his origins in Ryde. Blaxland, of Blue Mountains crossing fame, tilled
land at Brush Farm and bred stock.
Travelling by boat from Parramatta to Sydney, gentry could view the brewery
and fine farms and marine villas on this fertile land. By the 1860s substantial
mansions could be seen surrounded by native bush. The Field of Mars subdivision
and construction of De Burghs Bridge advanced land sales as did a tramway,
and later a trainline. Joining the rest of Sydney, large mansions gave
way to suburban subdivision in the 1920s or were converted into homes
for the infirm or insane.
As a riverside settlement, Ryde was famous for shipbuilding, sculling
and swimming. Institutions became a feature of Ryde and Gladesville in
the twentieth century and CSIRO, Ryde TAFE and later Macquarie University
were located there. Pictorial History Ryde is a new book in
the famous series of pictorial histories which cover the suburbs of Sydney.
Written by Megan Martin. 144 pages, black & white. A4 format. $24.95
plus $10 postage (includes GST).
ISBN 0-908272-54-5
