Hurlstone Park was first known as 'Wattle Hill' and then 'Fernhill'. After the Postmaster-General's Department refused to open a post office called Fernhill, a 1910 referendum chose the name 'Hurlstone', after the nearby Hurlstone College. John Kinloch founded the college in 1878, on the site of present-day Trinity Grammar School and named it after his mother's maiden name, which was Helen Hurlstone. The college moved to a new site, now known as Hurlstone Agricultural High School. The 'Park' was added at the request of the Railways Department, to avoid confusion with the New South Wales town of Hillston.
Transport
is a Sydney Trains station on the Bankstown line. Transit Systems operate the following bus services in Hurlstone Park: 444; 445, 428 and L28 routes which run along the Canterbury Road and New Canterbury Road boundary, and the 418, and 406 routes which pass through the suburb.
Commercial area
There are a group of shops around Hurlstone Park Station: along Crinan Street, the southern end of Duntroon Street and Floss Street. There are also commercial areas along Canterbury Road and New Canterbury Road. There is an active, local Chamber of Commerce: Canterbury-Hurlstone Park Chamber of Commerce. The rest of the commercially used land in Hurlstone Park is made up of various shops, ranging from fast food outlets and milk bars to a couple of petrol stations. Hurlstone Park also has three childcare centres. Specific to Hurlstone Park village are the following businesses: three cafés, a seven-day supermarket, newsagent, gourmet butcher, lawyer, accountants, dry cleaner, laundry service, post office, doctor's surgery, dentist, shoe repair, bakery, real estate agent, naturopath, seven day bottle shop, convenience store, three hairdressers, an Asian grocery store and two ATMs. The locals and shop-owners in Hurlstone Park are well-acquainted. The local shoemaker still crafts bespoke shoes, and sells local honey.
Pubs and clubs
Hurlstone Park contains the following clubs and pubs:
The Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL club, located on the corner of Canterbury Road and Crinan Street, is an entertainment venue that attracts many Australian and international performers. The club also contains a war memorial chapel.
The Hurlstone Park Bowling & Recreation Club. Located in Marcia street. This club has been closed down by the council. This building has been demolished, and turned into a green-space.
The Hurlstone Park Hotel, located on the corner of New Canterbury road and Duntroon street, is also known as "Grumpy's". Now demolished to build Units above a refurbished Hotel on the same site.
The Sydney Olympic Sporting Club was located at 64 Tennent Parade but was demolished in October 2010.
Houses
Hurlstone Park has a range of period homes. It is generally a low-rise residential area with maintained family homes and larger back-yards, with tree-lined streets, and small parks and playgrounds. Older shop façades, some with original features make up the small shopping strip. There is an increasing number of high-rise units in the suburb mostly along Canterbury and New Canterbury Roads. Some of the suburb is an oasis of heritage, with a village atmosphere valued by the residents it is potentially threatened by changes to zoning and increased high-rise development.
Parks and reserves
Hurlstone Park includes the following parks and reserves:
Ewen Park. Located along the Cooks river. It is the largest individual park in the suburb and contains two playing fields that are home to the Hurlstone Park Wanderers soccer club. The fields in Ewen park are also used for cricket in summer.
Warwick Reserve. Located at the intersection of Church and Canberra streets in the south-west corner of the suburb.
Euston Reserve. Located at the intersection of Euston and Floss streets, the reserve contains a war memorial.
Sawyer Reserve. Located at the intersection of Dunstaffenage street and Foord avenue, and at the end of the cul-de-sac of Kilbride St.
Hurlstone Memorial Reserve. A small reserve located next to the Hurlstone Park Bowling Club.
Burnett Street Reserve. The reserve splits Burnett street into two sections.
Dick Poole Reserve. A small reserve that joins the end of Barre street with the point where Wallace avenue and Wallace lane meet.
Moser Reserve. A small reserve on the south side of the railway line in Keir Avenue.
Fernhill Street Reserve. A small reserve near the northern end of Fernhill street.
Dunkeld Reserve. A small reserve near the western edge of the suburb.
A small reserve at the intersection of Garnet street and Tennent parade. Located next to the 14th hole of Marrickville golf course, the unnamed reserve contains a cricket practice net and a practice goal post.
A small reserve on the corner of Crinan and Melford streets. The unnamed reserve is a small grassed area that was opened to the public following the demolition of a single house.
A green belt along the entire southern border of the suburb. The belt follows the Cooks River and encompasses Ewen park. The Botany Bay cycle way extends for 23 km. The western part of the belt contains a constructed rectangular inlet of water named Boat Harbour. The eastern part of the belt constitutes part of the 13th and 14th holes of Marrickville Golf Course. There are three foot bridges that cross the Cooks River to the south of the belt: One bridge crosses from the end of Sugar House Road, a second bridge crosses from the end of Foord Avenue, and the third bridge crosses near the intersection of Tennent Parade and Burnett Street.
Churches and religion
According to the 2016 census, the top responses for religious affiliation in Hurlstone Park were No Religion 30.0%, Catholic 29.0%, Eastern Orthodox 11.2%, Not stated 9.2% and Anglican 5.1%. The suburb contains the following religious establishments:
Hurlstone Park Vietnamese Baptist Church. Technically, the location of the church is in the neighbouring suburb of Ashfield.
Schools
Only one school is located in Hurlstone Park. The Edgeware School is an alternative Department of Education facility, mainly for year 9 to 12 students who have been unsuccessful in mainstream schools. It is located in Burnett street.
Population
At the 2016 census, there were 4,692 residents in Hurlstone Park. 57.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were Greece 4.5%, China 3.1%, Lebanon 2.7%, England 2.4% and Italy 2.3%. 54.9% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Greek 9.4%, Arabic 5.1%, Mandarin 3.1%, Italian 3.1% and Portuguese 2.9%. Of occupied private dwellings in Hurlstone Park, 37.9% were owned outright, 30.0% were owned with a mortgage and 29.5% were rented. Residents of Hurlstone Park value the safety and intimacy of their suburb. Many residents have lived here for decades.
