Camperdown real estate

1. The name and the grant

Camperdown's name comes from the Battle of Camperdown, known in Dutch as Camperduin. Governor William Bligh named the suburb, and he received a grant of 240 acres of land that covered present day Camperdown and parts of Newtown.

When Bligh returned to England the land passed to Maurice O'Connell, who had married Bligh's daughter and commanded the 73rd Regiment, and who was later Sir Maurice. In the early years of the 19th century the suburb grew as a place of homes and farms.

2. A racecourse and a university

In 1827 a racecourse opened, on ground that the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital occupies today. In 1850 the University of Sydney gained its incorporation, and Edmund Blacket designed its first buildings. He lived from 1817 to 1883. In 1859 the Great Hall he designed opened at the university.

3. Hospitals and the cemetery

Camperdown holds a large population, and it is home to the University of Sydney, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the historic Camperdown Cemetery. The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children also stood here before it moved to a site beside Westmead Hospital in Sydney's west. Apartments now occupy the buildings and grounds of that former hospital.

4. Heritage sites today

A number of sites in Camperdown are heritage listed. Cranbrook is at 10 and 14 Australia Street, and the Admission Block of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is on Missenden Road, where the Victoria and Albert Pavilions also stand. Victoria Park is at the corner of Parramatta and City Roads.

5. Living in Camperdown

Camperdown lies four kilometres south-west of Sydney's central business district, in the Inner West region, across the City of Sydney and Inner West Council areas. It is a heavily populated suburb.

The University of Sydney, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the historic Camperdown Cemetery all stand in the suburb. The site of the former children's hospital has been redeveloped into apartment complexes.