Matraville, New South Wales

Matraville Sydney, New South Wales
Matraville town centre
Matraville
Coordinates	33°57′41″S 151°13′53″E / 33.96139°S 151.23139°E / -33.96139; 151.23139Coordinates: 33°57′41″S 151°13′53″E / 33.96139°S 151.23139°E / -33.96139; 151.23139
Population	9,039 (2011 census)
Established	1904
Postcode(s)	2036
Location	9 km (6 mi) south-east of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Randwick
State electorate(s)	Maroubra
Federal Division(s)	Kingsford Smith
Suburbs around Matraville: Hillsdale Eastgardens Maroubra Banksmeadow Matraville Malabar Port Botany Phillip Bay Chifley

Matraville is located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately 9 km (6 mi) by road south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick.

Matraville is named in honour of James Matra (1746–1806), an American sailor and diplomat, who was a midshipman on the voyage by Captain James Cook to Botany Bay in 1770. Matra was born in New York, but later settled in England. Matra had walked over the area with Cook and his close friend, botanist Joseph Banks. Matra had proposed to the British government that it establish a colony at Botany Bay in 1783, which he envisaged could be a place that American loyalists could also settle.

Matraville was originally reserved for the Church and Schools Corporation with income generated intended to support clergy and teachers. The school was established in 1904, thanks to the efforts of John Rowland Dacey, the state member for Botany, who had nearby suburb of Daceyville named after him. The school was originally known as Cross Roads but Dacey suggested that the name Matra would be more appropriate in honour of James Matra. Dacey's suggestion was accepted by the Department of Education and the school and suburb became Matraville. The land at Matraville reverted to the crown in 1917 and 72.5 acres (29.3 ha) were allocated for a settlement for soldiers returning from World War I. This parcel became one of the first large residential developments in the area – between 1918 and 1925. The Voluntary Workers Association was formed to build homes for soldiers and their families at the intersection of Anzac Parade and Beauchamp Road. The first cottage at the settlement was completed in 1919 and the residential area became known as Matraville Soldiers Garden Village. A total of ninety-three cottages were built between 1918 and 1925. They were eventually taken over as State Government public housing. In 1977, all the cottages except one were demolished in spite of public protest; the one remaining cottage can still be seen in Somme Way. All that is left of the other cottages is a park with sections of sandstone walls and foundation stones laid by a number of people, including then Prime Minister William Morris Hughes. Matraville was gazetted as a postal area in 1911.