Belmore is named after the fourth Earl of Belmore, Governor of New South Wales from 1868 to 1872. The area was known as Darkwater in its early days. Some of the first land grants in 1810 were 40.5 hectares (100 acres) to Richard Robinson east of Sharp Street and Kingsgrove Road and 24 hectares (60 acres) to Thomas Mansfield, to the west. Francis Wild and John Sullivan were each granted 12 hectares (30 acres) in 1823. The area was originally used for market gardens and orchards. Subdivision started after the railway came through in 1895.[3]
The first school, Belmore South Primary School opened on 25 April 1892 and the post office opened in 1907.[citation needed] The town centre began developing in the 1920s and features some classic examples of art-deco architecture.
Heritage listings
Belmore has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
37-37A Isabel Street: Federation and Inter War House
39 Isabel Street: Federation and Inter War House
2 Wilson Avenue: Federation Bakery, White House Bakery
436 Burwood Road: Federation detached house Station Master's house
37 Wilson Avenue: Federation House
52 Albert Street: Federation House
43 Wilson Avenue: Federation Weatherboard House
370-372 Burwood Road: Inter War Building Post Office (former)
35, 37 & 39 Isabel Street: Federation and Inter War House
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 Lakemba Street: Californian Bungalows Inter War House
103-105 Lakemba Street: Built in the 1920s
12 Oxford Street: Victorian House
31 Forsyth Street: Victorian Villa The Towers
Houses
Belmore has a high percentage of period homes.[citation needed] It is predominantly a low-rise residential area full of well-maintained period family homes with large back-yards, wide tree-lined streets, and small parks and playgrounds. Art Deco shop façades dominate the small shopping strip. There are now an increasing number of high-rise units in the suburb mostly along Canterbury Road.
Commercial area
Belmore contains a mixture of residential, significant landmarks, commercial and industrial developments. The main commercial area is located along Burwood Road, near Belmore railway station. Commercial and industrial developments are also located along Canterbury Road and surrounding streets.
Art-deco building, corner Burwood Road and Bridge Road
Al-Azhar Mosque - Located @ 172B Burwood Rd, Belmore
Schools
The Heritage Listed Belmore South Public School was officially opened on the 22 January 1917.
Belmore Boys' High is a small, comprehensive, multicultural high school.
St Joseph's Primary School is a coeducational K-6 primary school.
All Saints Grammar School is a co-educational Orthodox Christian School from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, run under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.[7]
Gallery
All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
St Joseph's Catholic Church
Belmore Boys High School
The Towers, a heritage-listed house in Forsyth Street[8]
According to the 2021 census of population, there were 13,781 residents in Belmore.
44.0% of residents were born in Australia, compared with the national average of 66.9%. The next most common countries of birth were Greece 5.9%, China 5.4%, Lebanon 4.4%, Vietnam 3.6% and South Korea 2.3%.
28.9% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Greek 12.4%, Arabic 11.7%, Mandarin 5.0%, Vietnamese 4.6% and Cantonese 3.3%.
The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic 23.6%, Eastern Orthodox 16.9%, No Religion 16.5% and Islam 13.3%.[1]
The most common ancestries in Belmore were Greek 14.4%, Lebanese 11.3%, Chinese 10.4%, Australian 9.9% and English 8.3%.