Allawah

History

The name "Allawah" is Aboriginal in origin, from a local term meaning "make your abode here" or "remain here". It is thought that the Aboriginal clan of the Tharawal people most prominent in the St George area, the Gameygal or Kameygal – the people of Kamay (Botany Bay), lived in and around the area.

The first land grant was made in 1808 to Captain John Townson by Major George Johnston after he had briefly deposed Governor Bligh in 1808, consisting of 1,950 acres (790 hectares), which became known as Townson's Farm. The grant extended from King Georges Road and Stoney Creek Road (of modern-day Penshurst and Beverly Hills) to beyond Kogarah railway station. Later, an additional 250 acres (100 hectares) to the north was granted after Townson complained about the quality of about 300 acres (120 hectares) of this grant (in what was later to become Bexley, Carlton and Allawah).

The railway line to Hurstville was opened in 1884, but the railway station at Allawah did not open until 23 October 1925.

The Allawah post office opened in May 1933.

Demographics

According to the of Population, there were 5,351 residents in Allawah. 34.6% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 16.0%, Nepal 12.2%, Philippines 3.7%, Hong Kong 2.6% and India 2.2%. 27.6% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 13.8%, Nepali 12.1%, Cantonese 10.8%, Arabic 3.3% and Macedonian 3.2%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were No Religion 30.1%, Catholic 16.0% and Hinduism 13.6%.

Commercial area

Allawah is a small landlocked suburb, about 15–20 minutes walking distance from Hurstville. Allawah's main shopping centre is located on Railway Parade, beside Allawah railway station. The Allawah shopping strip contains a newsagent, post office, corner store, Nepalese/Indian grocery store, a real estate agency, take-away shops, a hairdresser, and the local pub and bottle shop, the Allawah Hotel. The Allawah Hotel was purchased by Justin Hemmes' Merivale Group in 2019.

Transport

Allawah railway station is on the Illawarra line serviced by Sydney Trains. Trains to Bondi Junction and to Hurstville stop at Allawah six times an hour during peak times, and four times an hour at all other times except weekends. Weekends run two train services an hour in both directions. Allawah is a 25 minute commute to the CBD via train.

Antisemitism

From the 1990s onward, the Jewish synagogue in Allawah has been the frequent target of antisemitic attacks, including firebombings, vandalism, and other arson attacks. Attacks have occurred in 1991, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2025.

Landmarks

• Allawah Hotel
• Meade Park
• PJ Ferry Reserve Community Hall
• Southern Sydney Synagogue

References

References

1. Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, Gregory's Publishing Company, 2007
2. {{Census 2021 AUS
3. (15 October 2019). "Allawah Hotel sells for $34 million". The Leader.
4. MattH. (2021-01-23). "Allawah Suburb Review & Profile".
5. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261603956 Premier's concern on shule arson]. ''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 5 Apr 1991. Page 3. Accessed 10 January 2025.
6. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122352238 Fire called blatant anti-semitism]. ''The Canberra Times'' Fri 29 Mar 1991. Page 4. Accessed 10 January 2025.
7. Ende, Tara (1991). [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261611304 Illawarra reconsecrated]. ''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 19 July 1991. Page 3. Accessed 10 January 2025.
8. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261612770 Petrol bomb hit on shule] ''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 6 Aug 1993. Page 3. Accessed 10 January 2025.
9. [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261910780 Attacks in ACT, Sydney]. ''The Australian Jewish News'' Fri 10 Mar 1995. Page 4. Accessed 10 January 2025.
10. Rutland, S. (2006). Negotiating Religious Dialogue: A Response to the Recent Increase in Anti-Semitism in Australia. Negotiating the Sacred: Blasphemy and Sacrilege in a Multicultural Society, 17-30.
11. Bialoguski, Stefan. (2001). [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262919335 $10,000 security bill for synagogue]. ''The Australian Jewish News'' Fri 29 June 2001. Page 6. Accessed 12 January 2025.
12. Lee, A. (2002). [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262901032 Sydney synagogue vandalised]. ''The Australian Jewish News''. 5 April 2002. Accessed 12 January 2025.
13. Lee, A. (2002). [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262901291 Antisemitic incidents rock community]. ''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 12 Apr 2002. Page 1. Accessed 12 January 2025.
14. Bard, A. (2003). [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262940536 Antisemitic incidents in Sydney]. ''The Australian Jewish News''. Fri 28 March 2003. Page 1. Accessed 12 January 2025.
15. [https://www.australianjewishnews.com/southern-sydney-synagogue-vandalised-with-swastika-signs/ Southern Sydney synagogue vandalised with swastika signs]. ''The Australian Jewish News''. 10 January 2025.
16. [https://www.theaustralian.com.au/dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Fbastards-angry-premier-condemns-new-graffiti-attack-on-sydney-synagogue%2Fnews-story%2Fa41711f89663b8cd0764a599762d2aa9 ‘Bastards’: Angry premier condemns new graffiti attack on Sydney synagogue]. ''The Australian''. 10 January 2025.
17. [https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Ftruecrimeaustralia%2Fpolice-courts-nsw%2Fvandals-paint-swastika-signs-on-allawah-synagogue%2Fnews-story%2F205159168b573b5bf1150c48920ecf88 Vandals paint Swastika signs on Southern Sydney Synagogue at Allawah]. ''The Daily Telegraph''. 10 January 2025.
18. [https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/monstrous-act-sydney-synagogue-vandalised-with-swastikas-20250110-p5l3en.html ‘Monstrous act’: Sydney synagogue vandalised with swastikas]. ''Sydney Morning Herald''. 10 January 2025.
19. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/sydney-synagogue-defaced-with-red-swastikas-day-another-synagogue-vandalized Sydney synagogue defaced with red swastikas, day after another synagogue vandalized]. ''Times of Israel''. Accessed 12 January 2025.