FYSH WICK

Gazetted as a Division Name 20 September 1926
Honourable Sir Philip Fysh, KCMC (1835-1919) Legislator.

Federalist and one of the Founders of the Constitution; Premier of Tasmania from 1877 to 1878 and from 1887 to 1892; represented the State at the 1891 and 1897-98.

Federal Conventions; held several commonwealth portfolios before retiring from politics 1910. It was named after Sir Philip Fysh, a Tasmanian politician who assisted in bringing about Australia's Federation. The suffix "wick", from Old English, means "dwelling place" - and, by extension, "village" or "district".

Its streets are named after Australia's industrial towns and regions - for example, Mount Isa is represented by Isa Street and Townsville is represented by Townsville Street. The suburb consists mainly of light industrial and retail space.

The only railway line into Canberra runs through the middle of Fyshwick dividing the area into two halves. Ipswich and Newcastle Streets as well as the Monaro Highway cross the railway line uniting both halves of Fyshwick.

The Fyshwick sewage treatment works was built in 1967 to treat waste water that couldn't easily be pumped to the other side of Canberra. It has been recently converted to use a modern portable pressurised treatment system developed by ACTEW called CRANOS. It is now used to treat industrial waste water, which is then used to water the Duntroon grounds and golf course. [1] [2]

One noteworthy portion of Fyshwick, located between the railway line and a major road called Canberra Avenue, was built as a German prisoner of war camp immediately after World War I (1918). The prisoners never arrived, and the camp was left empty while half of the buildings were sold off. Soon after the government was using unemployed returned servicemen to help build Canberra, and in 1921 the camp was converted to house labourers to alleviate a severe housing shortage. Gradually the camp buildings where moved to other camp sites around Canberra and the roads used to service the camp became the first streets of Fyshwick.

Got any Photo's?

At fyshwick.com we are more than happy to share your knowledge on the history and growth of Fyshwick. If you have any photo's of interest or stories to share please contact us.

Maybe you have some old shots of your business and the characters who helped shape Fyshwick today! Please send them to us!

Below we have some photo's courtesy of the A.C.T. Library and information services.

Floodwaters flowed over the old Dairy Flat Bridge in August 1974

Canberra fire fighters battled a warehouse blaze in Geelong Street Fyshwick in July 1988.

Canberra's light industrial area of Fyshwick had developed each side of the railway line by the late 1960s.