Abbotsford took its name from Abbotsford House, owned by Sir
Arthur Renwick. He named his property after
Abbotsford House in
Scotland, the residence of
historical novelist and
poet, Sir
Walter Scott.
Aboriginal culture Abbotsford was first known by its
Aboriginal name Bigi Bigi. The
traditional owners are the
Wangal clan of the
Eora Nation.
European settlement The suburb was originally part of Five Dock Farm and when subdivided in 1837, was called Feltham. Sir Arthur Renwick, a doctor, philanthropist and politician built his home here in 1890 and called it Abbotsford House in honour of Sir Walter Scott's home. Renwick sold his property in 1903 to Albert Grace, and in 1918 it became the site of a
Nestlé chocolate factory, with the house used initially for chocolate production and later as their administrative offices. The factory was closed in 1991, after which the area was redeveloped as the medium-density Abbotsford Cove housing complex. Australian poet
Henry Lawson did not die in Abbotsford house in 1922, as is sometimes claimed, but at the home of Mrs Isabella Byers at 437 Great North Road, recently demolished. Abbotsford House is now listed on the
Register of the National Estate. ==Demographics==