Queen Street - The Past

In the past Queen Street was known as Dickson Lane, Mamre Rd, Windsor Rd and Station Street.

Download the Queen Street poster (pdf 315kb)

The street changed its name after Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Bennett’s Wagon Workshop on Queen Street
Unknown photographer
Unknown year
Source St Marys Historical Society

Queen Street History

Queen Street is now the main street of the St Marys Town Centre. Queen Street was earlier called Dickson Lane, Mamre Rd, Windsor Rd and Station Street. 

In 1890 there was no footpath along the east side from the Highway corner to the Railway Station. There was a public animal pound in the street in 1898. In 1903 the Nepean Times comments on a cow straying on the street that was quite a common sight with animals straying from yards.

Queen Street changed its name after Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. In 1906, St Marys’ Council was calling for tenders for gravel and kerbing of 10 chains of footpath along the street. In 1909 there was a break and enter into Thomas Chisholm’s home in the street with a lengthy court case and a fine ensuing.   In 1910 Council was calling for tenders for the provision of six Council lights along the street, a street that seemed to attract much in the way of drunkenness and riotous behaviour. 

In 1916 Council confirmed that a car and pedestrian crossing was being placed on the north-western side of the street to the railway yard.

John Lamming Store on Queen Street 1914
Unknown photographer
Source St Marys Historical Society

Queen Street St Marys in 1970s
Unknown photographer
Source Penrith City Council Social History Photographic Collection

St Marys Corner

St Marys Corner had the pub the “Strangers Home” on the western side of the highway and Queen Street and opposite Beecroft’s butchers on the eastern side. St Marys Corner was the common name for the intersection of Queen Street and the Great Western Highway.

William Mosley was one of the last publicans and was originally a Police Constable who was part of the inquest into the stabbing death of Sergeant Beatty in 1890. He died in 1955 at North Sydney at the age of 93 years. 

In June 1909 Edward Bourke was granted the license for the hotel now called “The First & Last”. Edward was the last licensee. After 58 years the hotel was de-licensed in January 1917 at 11 pm and immediately the Misses Donnelly & O’Brien opened the premises as Confectioners and Caterers with an “Up-to-Date Refreshment and Dining Room” at the old hotel corner.

They also stocked Boots, Shoes and Haberdashery. This venture didn’t prove popular and the hotel remained closed until 1919 when the bar room became the barber shop of Herbert Andrews. 

In 1953 Dr M E Renshaw started his practice in an upstairs room of the old hotel but in May 1953 the hotel was demolished and Dr Renshaw joined Dr Pittarino in Queen Street in the St Marys Medical Centre.

The hotel was knocked down to make way for Neale’s store that opened that year.

Aerial photograph of St Marys taken in April 1987
Unknown photographer
Source: Penrith City Council Social History Photographic Collection

1990s

In the early 1990s the State Government funded the bus/rail interchange and the easy access upgrade of St Marys’ station. Council upgraded Queen St and sealed the adjacent car parks. The main street is now known as “St Marys’ Town Centre” and is characterised by traditional shop fronts and wide pedestrian footpaths. Most buildings comprise ground floor retail/offices with some first storey commercial/residential.

Most of the retailing and commercial activity currently occurring along the street is located towards the centre and south of the thoroughfare. Towards the northern end development is poor and run down but there is currently activity to knock down and rebuilt this part of Queen Street with residential on top and shops at street level and the “kiss & ride” area getting a face lift and small park.

Interview with Norma Thorburn

Researcher: Lyn Forde St Marys & District Historical Society Research Officer

Lyn Forde is 56% English/Scottish, 19% Irish and 25% European.  She is a 7th generation Australian with two First Fleeters connected to Ropes Crossing. Lyn was born in Penrith, lived in St Marys, Kingswood and now lives in Werrington. She went to St Marys Public School, St Marys High School and Penrith Business College. Lyn retired in 2005 working in administration. 

Lyn is divorced and a great grandmother of four. She has researched local history since the 1970’s and she is a contributor of the History Page in the local Nepean News. Lyn was a Secretary of the first St Marys Historical Society and currently a Research Officer & Vice-President. She is also a member of Encore Historical Sewing Group at St Marys Corner.  Lyn has researched and self-published several books on local history, it is the area where she feels at home and where she can research her earlier family and community connections.