Bennett Street
Probably to honour William Christopher Bennett (1824-1889), Engineer
and Surveyor, who arrived in New South Wales in 1855 and accepted a position in the Public Service.
He helped to form the Department of Roads and later became Commissioner for Main Roads – which probably is the reason for there being 32 “Bennett” avenues, streets and roads throughout Sydney metropolitan area.
My great grandfather, Thomas Ashton (1882-1962) built his family home at 2 Bennett Street, Mortlake early in the 20th century. The house fronted the river. My grandmother, Gladys Barker (nee Ashton 1910-1996) and grandfather William lived there in the 1950s till early 1970s when the property was sold to build a factory. My grandmother recalled the Ashton Baths where she used to go for a swim. In 1970 there was a paint factory, Anzol Paints, built in Bennett Street and I got my first job as a secretary in the company’s office.