James Hilder Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

121-131 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW, 2010


James Hilder Reserve has a playground, exercise equipment and is an off-leash area for dogs at all times. Dogs are not allowed in playground.
History: Surry Hills was one of Sydney's most densely populated suburbs in the 19th century. Its population doubled in the 20 years after 1870, with a peak of 30,000 people living here by 1890.
Houses, pubs, factories, stables and shops jostled for space, and there were not many open recreation areas for residents. The congested living conditions were a concern for city planners as the new century dawned.
The northwestern part of Surry Hills was earmarked for "slum clearance" in the early 20th century. By the 1930s, many of the buildings here were demolished and the streets widened and realigned.
Buildings on the corner of Campbell and Samuel Streets were demolished during the slum clearances. The vacant land was set aside by the council in 1948 for use as a park.
In 1952, the council approved the use of the land as an unsupervised playground and rest park.
In 1957, it was named after James Hilder, a well-known and highly respected resident of Surry Hills. A welfare centre on nearby Albion Street was also named after him in 1958.