Judd's Brickworks, Mortdale NSW, ca 1972

The Hurstville Steam Brick Company was established at Mortdale in 1884, the first managing director of the enterprise being William George Judd. The brickworks continued to produce bricks until 1972 and the site was later acquired by two public bodies. D.J.Hatton, 'Mortdale in Early Days', Hurstville Historical Society, Hurstville NSW, 1981, p.1 & p.21 Local Studies Collection, Georges River Libraries.

In June 1973, following the acquisition of the site by the St George County Council and the Department of Education, the brickwork facilities were demolished and the site was remediated to accommodate subsequent development. 'St George and Sutherland Shire Leader', 4 July 1973, p.3. Local Studies Collection, Georges River Libraries.

Negotiations involving the [New South Wales] Department of Education and the St George County Council for the acquisition of 32 acres (13ha) of land at the brickwork site were underway in 1971. A joint proposal for the development of an educational facility and a pole depot at the site was approved by representatives of Kogarah Council at a meeting of relevant stakeholders. 'St George and Sutherland Shire Leader', 3 February 1971, p.32. Local Studies Collection, Georges River Libraries.

Formerly known as Newman's Paddock, the area was subdivided during the 1890s. One of the subdivisions, the Mort's Township Estate, was comprised of a number of local streets including Pitt and George. Semi-detached housing had been earlier constructed on the opposite side of the railway line in Princes Street to accommodate the families of those employed at the nearby brickworks. D.J.Hatton, 'Mortdale in Early Days', Hurstville Historical Society, Hurstville NSW, 1981, p.8. Local Studies Collection, Georges River Libraries.

Five hundred land allotments of the Mort's Township Estate, Hurstville Municipality, were offered for sale at auction on 3 April 1893. The convener of the sale, E.C.V. Broughton, of Pitt Street Sydney, expected the lots to realise between £7 to £11 each. 'Australian Town and Country Journal', Sydney NSW, 18 March 1893, p.3.

Mortdale was named after Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, a merchant who had extensive land holdings in the area. A track in the area was known as Mort's Road and the area was variously known as Mort's Hill, Mort's Hill and Mort's Dale. By the late 1880s, the public school, post office and railway station were called Mortdale. Davis, P. 'The Hurstville Story; A History of Hurstville Municipality 1887-1987', Marque Publishing, Hurstville NSW, 1986, p.46.