Matraville is named in honour of James Matra (1746–1806), an American sailor and diplomat, who was a midshipman on the voyage by Captain James Cook to Botany Bay in 1770.[3] Matra was born in New York, but later settled in England. Matra had walked over the area with Cook and his close friend, botanist Joseph Banks. Matra had proposed to the British government that it establish a colony at Botany Bay in 1783, and settle dispossessed American Loyalists who had to leave the United States after the American War of Independence. Matra offered to be its 'Conductor and Governor'. The Pitt administration concurred with Matra's proposal but declined to offer him the government of the intended colony. Instead he was given the post of Consul at Tangier, where he remained until his death in 1806.[4]
Sandstone wall at the site of the soldiers' settlement
Landmarks
Copy of the Eternity sign Arthur Stace used to write around Sydney
Landmarks include Heffron Park, a large reserve bordering Maroubra, formerly the site of a naval stores base in World War II.
Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park sits along the southern border of the suburb and incorporates Botany Cemetery, Eastern Suburbs Crematorium and Pioneer Park.[5]Arthur Stace, known in Sydney as Mr Eternity, is buried at Botany Cemetery. He was famous for his practice of writing the word Eternity all over Sydney during the fifties and sixties.
Churches
Matraville is home to St Agnes Catholic Church and Matraville Baptist Church.[6] Matraville also has a large Jehovah's Witness congregation with a Kingdom Hall.[7]
Schools
There are three primary schools, one public and one Catholic and Matraville Sports High School and Matraville Public School.[8] A child care centre and preschool is also in the suburb. Matraville Soldiers Settlement School previously had a separate Infants and Primary School which are now combined into one larger school following the acquisition of park land at Finucane Crescent.
Transport
Matraville is located 9 km (6 mi) from Sydney CBD and 3 km (2 mi) along Bunnerong Road from Kingsford town centre. Sydney Bus routes operate to City – Central Railway station, Martin Place and Circular Quay via Bunnerong Road, Anzac Parade (UNSW), and Oxford Street.
Bunnerong Road, Matraville
Demographics
According to the 2021 census, the population of Matraville was 9,925: 48.2% male and 51.8% female. The median age of the Matraville population was 42 years of age, 2 years above the Australian median. In Matraville, 51.1% of households were made up of couples with children, compared with 37.9% in Randwick City. In Matraville, of all households, 73.8% were family households and 22.8% were single person households. 81.3% of households had at least one person access the internet from the dwelling.[1]
In Matraville, 60% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 3.5%, China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) 2.5%, New Zealand 2.0%, Indonesia 1.8% and Ireland 1.6%. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.3% of Matraville's population.
Notable people
Michael Atherton, emeritus professor and composer-performer attended Matraville High School 1965–1966
