RESEARCH ON INNER WEST CULTURAL SERVICES SITE

35-39 Dickson Street, Newtown NSW

This research is still underway and some elements will be included on an Anniversary plaque to be installed on the front of what is now Dickson Space.

The traditional Aboriginal owners of the area are the Cadigal people of the Eora nation.

On 9th December 1794, 25 acres (which included the current land) were originally granted to Private William Field, (who was most likely a convict from the First Fleet) by a Crown Grant from Governor King. County of Cumberland, Parish of Petersham and District of Bulamaning or Balanaming (correct spelling to be confirmed)

1794 – 1841 – We are as yet unsure of how long Private William Field retained ownership the 25 acres

In 1841 the land of 25 acres was sold to William Fanning, a wine merchant.

In 1859 the land of 25 acres was sold to James Dickson a wine merchant and he built a mansion for his family named Holmwood on King Street.

On 18th July 1896, lot 14, 15 & 16 of the sub-division of Dickson & Holmwood Street were transferred, under the Instrument of Transfer from The Perpetual Trustee Company Limited to The Church of England Property Trust Diocese of Sydney by the Registrar General of New South Wales.

The first official church minutes were recorded in 1913 and it became St Columb’s Church of England. It was consecrated on 13 September 1913, see below*. From 1921 onwards it was known as St Columb's Camdenville. By the time it was sold in 1973/74, it was a branch church in the Parish of Erskineville (Holy Trinity).

1974 - Kids Activities Newtown (KAN) held it's first committee meeting 22 Nov 1974 with the inaugural Annual General Meeting being held on 26 July 1978.

14th April 1976 numbers 35, 37 and 39 (lot 14, 15 and 16) were bought for $45,000 from the Church of England by the Commonwealth Department of Housing, Environment & Community Development from a Commonwealth Government Grant for Kids Activities Newtown (KAN).

Kids Activities Newtown added Community Arts Marrickville (KANCAM) to the name in the 1980's enabling the organisation to broaden the scope of it's activities to include arts project using a community cultural development process.

In 1998 the name was changed from KANCAM to Inner West Cultural Services (IWCS).

The following stone can be found on the front wall:
A.M.D.C.*
This stone was laid by
Ven Archdeacon F B Boyce
13th September 1913
*Probably meant to be AMDG (Latin: For the Greater Glory of God)

Anne Davey and Denise Tart