Carrington is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, and is named after Lord Carrington, governor of N.S.W. in 1887 when the area was proclaimed a municipality.
Carrington had a population of 1,874 in 2011.
Origins
Carrington was known by Aboriginal people as the place of the mud crab "wuna-r tee". Early land use by Aboriginals was for fishing and gathering oysters and mud crabs. During the settlement of 1804, it was referred to as Chapman's Island and considered as a site for a gaol.
Carrington is a testament to the white settlers' need to reshape the environment. Originally, the island was underwater at high tide and was slowly built up by ships dumping ballast and other reclamation work, which eventually saw the island grow out of the mud.
Carrington emerged as a residential suburb in the 1860s when many people moved to the island to escape the dirt and noise of the city or were forced off Honeysuckle Point as a result of land reclamation for port purposes. Early access to the island was by rowboat or punt across Throsby creek or on the Onebygamba express, a two-horse coach. There was also a footbridge from Honeysuckle at one point. Carrington was rich and progressive despite its relatively small size and was one of the few areas of Crown land close to Newcastle, the rest of the land in the area was owned by large companies or private individuals. Carrington was systematically sold off as it became more valuable.
In 1887 Carrington was constituted as a Municipality and the first council meeting was held on 1 June 1888. By 1900, the population was 2200, and Carrington had developed as a working class suburb and had a fearsome reputation. In the 1920s, steelworkers moved into the area, taking advantage of the proximity to the fledgling BHP works.
The Hydraulic Power Station, pictured, supplied power to a series of cranes which operated along 'The Dyke' loading ships with coal and other freight. This is probably the most significant surviving building from Newcastle's nineteenth century industrial past. These cranes were of the latest technology, built by Sir William Armstrong in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Great Depression hit Carrington with a vengeance. In 1933 Carrington had up to 58% of wage earners either unemployed or in part-time employ. A shanty town called "Texas" sprung up during the depression and provided shelter for many homeless and unemployed.
Today
Carrington is a mixed residential, commercial and industrial development that is physically separated from other suburbs. It is close to the harbour and CBD, services the Port and as such has expensive housing.It is accessible by Cowper Street bridge over Throsby Creek.
Gallery
Carrington council chambers, built in 1888 and now in use as a community centre.
Carrington council chambers, built in 1888
Sign outside the entrance of Newcastle Port Corporation. In the background is the ruins of Carrington Power station
Grain storage silos, Carrington port district, Newcastle, New South Wales.