Local History

In 1871, the Government Savings Banks of NSW opened an agency in the local post office. The bank, later known as 'which bank?'...the Commonwealth Bank of course.

In 1891 the Balmain workers founded the Labor Electoral League at a meeting in the Unity Hall (Balmain). The League was later called the Political Labor League and then became the Australian Labor Party.

In 1928, Council requested that all verandah posts on shops in the main thoroughfares be removed and replaced with cantilevered awnings. Now, they would like them put back!

In 1930, the main streets were resurfaced and replaced with asphalt and cement concrete.

Toelle Street Rozelle. Is it pronounced ‘Toe-ell’ or, is it perhaps pronounced ‘Tolly’. As the history records reflect, the street was named after Henry Toelle. According to folk lore though, there is another less known reason for the street being named Toelle which perhaps brought confusion to the pronunciation of the street name by later generations. Henry Toelle, a German carpenter made his passage to Australia from London on a ship in 1855 as a ‘working passenger’. He later became a prominent builder in the Balmain/Rozelle area, hence a street being named in his honour. Around the same time though, apparently a prominent political town member of the time had a mistress by the name of ‘Elly’ living in the street. Under the cover of dark, the political figure was known by other residents to visit his mistress. Local folk lore has it that the street was really named in honour of the mistress being “the road To Elle”.

Recently we met the charming 88 year old great granddaughter of Henry Toelle (still living in Balmain) that allows us to confidently dispel any confusion regarding the pronunciation of the street name. Though folk lore will always add spice to our colourful history, the records reflect the naming the street is attributable to Grandfather Henry Toelle, and that phonetic pronunciation is ‘Tolly’.