The History of Bradfield
Bradfield's history can be traced inconclusively back to when Lieutenant Bradley and Captain Hunter mentioned a cove the named "Lane Cove" in their survey of the Harbour. Years later, beginning in 1809, convict timber cutting camps were set up in the area, and in 1833 Thomas Hynde built his own road (now Bradfield Road) to protect his timber from being stolen off the "publick" wharf. Gradually, land in the area was cleared for settlers, businesses developed and grew along the main road and people began moving to the area.
Between 1900-1920 the area remained largely isolated. Residents relied on rainwater and water tanks and lacked electricity and public transportation. On July 19, 1924 the suburb was named Bradfield after the renowned engineer Dr J.J.C. Bradfield who lived on Park Avenue in Gordon. The Attorney General, Mr Bavin, who attended the ceremony, commented that the area was the best residential area around Sydney.
In 1938 the Lane Cove National Park - a result of the government's unemployment relief scheme - was dedicated, and in 1949 Bradfield officially became a Federal Parliament District. In 1953 the Beaumont Road School was built and in 1954-55 churches, such as the Bradfield Congregational Church and the Anglican All Saints Air Force Church, sprang up in the area.
Ever since, Bradfield has been changing, and so have the Liberal party members that have represented it. After former Prime Minister W M Hughes died in 1952, Henry Basil Turner was the district's MP until his retirement in 1974. David Connolly took over the district in 1974 and Dr Brendan Nelson has been in office since 1996.
Today, Bradfield has a population of over 120,000. The electorate has about 90,000 enrolled voters, 38% of which have tertiary education qualifications, a median age of 38 years old and an unemployment rate of 2% - one of the lowest levels in all of Australia. The electorate extends over 97.8 sq km. The main suburbs include Castle Cove, Chatswood CBD, Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Middle Cove, Pymble, Roseville, St. Ives, Turramurra, Wahroonga, Warrawee, West Chatswood and West Pymble.
John Bradfield
John Job Crew Bradfield was a practical engineer, an outstanding public servant and a man of vision whose greatest achievement was the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
He was born near Brisbane in 1867, the ninth of ten children. He did well at school from the beginning and in his final year won a Queensland Government scholarship to study at the University of Sydney. The University awarded him a bachelor of Engineering Degree with Honours, as well as the University Gold Medal and the Sulman Prize for Architecture.
Bradfield's first job was as a draftsman in the Queensland Railways but after two years he started as a temporary draftsman in the Engineering Drawing Office of the Roads, Bridges and Sewerage Branch of the Public Works Department. This was the start of a long and diverse career encompassing some of the most significant works in the State, and indeed the world, from an engineering perspective.
Bradfield was a classic example of the spirit that built Australia. He communicated equally at all levels, from the workmen to the Governor."
Wal Murray
Deputy Premier and
Minister for Public Works
The Unreasonable Man, Richard Raxworthy, Hale & Iremonger, Sydney, 1989