CONDELL PARK, NEW SOUTH WALES

'Condell Park' is a residential suburb in the south-west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Its postcode is 2200, which it shares with Bankstown, Mount Lewis and Bankstown Airport.
Condell Park is home to the Bankstown Trotting Club, where Bankstown Markets are held every Sunday. The sporting venue Deverall Park is home to an extensive number of netball courts, 6 tennis courts, and the Condell Park Basketball Stadium which is the largest basketball stadium in Australia. Kinch Reserve, next to the Basketball Stadium, is home to Condell Park Soccer Club.

Contents

History

Shops

Schools

References

External links

History

'Condell Park' was named after Mr Ousley Condell, an engineer who was granted four 50-acre adjoining lots in 1830 that was called Condell Park.^[1]
'Black Charlie's Hill', located in Simmat Avenue Condell Park, was named after a local identity who's nickname was 'Black Charlie'. His real name is said to have been Charles Luzon or Charlie Lopez, a man of Aboriginal ancestry. He lived near Edgar Street, South Yagoona and like others in the area, during the early 1900's, grew vegetables that he carried off to the market by horse and cart. His home was constructed of corrugated iron. Black Charlie was said to fire a single shot each evening promptly at 9pm but the reason was never disclosed. Some suggested he was hunting rabbits, others to warn of the approach of aircraft. ^[2]
Main articles: Bankstown Bunker

'The Bankstown Bunker' is a disused RAAF operations bunker that was located on the Corner of Marion and Edgar Street Condell Park.^[3][4] This facility was once a three story underground RAAF base that was secretly used during the Second World War^[5]. The bunker consisted of reinforced concrete with 1.5 metres thick walls. Inside the bunker there was a code room, radio transmitter room, kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, bedrooms and the main operation area had a large map of the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. The bunker also had its own generator and fifty telephone lines.^[6] After the war the base was disbanded and it wasn't until 1971 that it was rediscovered by an editor from a local newspaper in Bankstown. In 1972 the shelter was set on fire by persons unknown. In 1976 the location of this site was sold and redeveloped into town houses which cover most of the site.
There is a small reserve between the town houses at the end of Taylor Street. It is under this hill that the bunker has been concealed. The entrance to the bunker has been landscaped over with artificial hills and greenery to conceal its position. It is possible to enter the site through an undisclosed location.

Shops

There are a number of shops in Condell Park, including a Franklins, Civic Video, Liquorland, Commonwealth Bank and numerous other shops and restaurants. Most of the shops are located on a small section of Simmat Avenue, with a very small amount of shops scattered around the suburb.

Schools

There are 3 schools in the Condell Park area, Condell Park Public School (Augusta St), Condell Park High School (Third Ave) and Condell Park Christian School.

References

1. Bankstown Council - How Did Your Suburb Get Its Name?
2. Joan Lawrence, Brian Madden and Les muir. (Page 104). ''A Pictorial History of Canterbury Bankstown.'' (Alexandria: Kingsclear Books 1999. Printed by Australian Print Group.) Retrieved on the 3rd of August 2007.
3. http://www.bunkerboyz.org/bankbunk.htm The Bankstown Bunker, info and images, rumors and gossip.
4. Images of the Bankstown Bunker located in Condell Park.
5. http://www.bunkerboyz.org/bankbunk2.htm More images and proof of the Bankstown Bunker.
6. Joan Lawrence, Brian Madden and Les muir. (Page 89). ''A Pictorial History of Canterbury Bankstown.'' (Alexandria: Kingsclear Books 1999. Printed by Australian Print Group.) Retrieved on the 13th of August 2007.

External links

★ More info on the Bankstown Bunker including pictures of when it was in operation during The Second World War.

★ Bankstown Bunker images

★ Community Profile