Croydon: House History, Railways and Shubra Hall

Croydon can be explored through several very different historical traces. Bell Reserve preserves mementos from a demolished house; at Croydon Railway Station, railway buildings tell the story of two phases of expansion; and Shubra Hall combines an elevated setting with stables, harbour views and garden features from different periods. Together, these stories span personal legacy, the development of the rail network and the design of an estate. If you include Croydon in your travel plans, you can consider more precisely what kind of history interests you most.

Bell Reserve: A House’s History as a Legacy

The building “Balmoral” was demolished in September 2019. Bell Reserve was established and opened to the community in 2021. Betty Bell bequeathed Bell Reserve to the Council for use as public open space. This sequence distinguishes two separate steps: the departure of the building and the later creation of the reserve. The bequest also explains why the open space is part of this story.

The original trees from Betty’s garden, along with the house’s original front brick wall and gates, were retained. Other surviving items include the door knocker, house numbers, a washtub and plant pots from Betty’s garden. The mix can be viewed from several angles: the wall and gates represent the structural aspects of the house, the door knocker and house numbers its details, and the washtub and plant pots domestic life and the garden. The original trees add the garden’s vegetation to these items. The story therefore does not end with the year of demolition, but also encompasses specific surviving elements.

Croydon Railway Station: Two Phases of Expansion

At Croydon Railway Station, the focus shifts from a former home to infrastructure. The surviving railway buildings date from the line’s four-track expansion in 1892 and its six-track expansion in 1927. The two phases can be distinguished by their dates and track numbers. The buildings illustrate the expansion of the railway network in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which served suburban development along the line and to the west of it. While Bell Reserve makes history tangible through individual traces of a house and garden, the railway buildings show a broader infrastructure transformation.

Shubra Hall: Estate, Harbour Views and Garden

Shubra Hall offers a different focus. The estate sits on elevated ground, and some views of the harbour can still be seen from the tower. Its connection to the surviving stables has been preserved. The garden design includes features dating from the late 19th century to the present day. This brings together a feature of the site, a structural connection and a design spanning several periods. The tower’s surviving views add a connection to the harbour to the estate’s story; the garden features also show a longer arc of design.

This contrast makes a difference when choosing a theme: Bell Reserve preserves traces of a house and garden, the Railway Station represents infrastructure and suburban development, and Shubra Hall turns the focus to an estate and its garden. This lets you consider house history, railway network expansion and garden design as different interests for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Gerroa, Chinderah, Rand, Macksville, Fordwich, Upper Colo, Cudal, Central Tilba.

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