Granny Smith's Farm

In 1855 and 1856, Thomas Smith bought, 2 blocks of land totalling around 24 acres on the edge of the Field of Mars Common. The farm lay between the present North Road and Abuklea Road, Eastwood. The Smith’s house stood near the North Road boundary. The Granny Smith Memorial Park marks part of the southern boundary of the farm.

The Granny Smith Apple

Maria Smith died in 1870 and sadly, her apple never became a commercial variety during her lifetime. It continued to be cultivated by local growers and it was exhibited as 'Smith's seedling' in the 1890 Castle Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Show. In the 1891 show, 'Granny Smith's seedlings' took out the prize for cooking apples. By 1892, many growers were exhibiting 'Granny Smith's'.

In 1895, a fruit expert for the NSW Department of Agriculture, named 'Granny Smith's Seedling' as a suitable variety for export. He also initiated the first large scale cultivation of the apple.

Maria Ann Smith died on 9 March 1870 and buried in St. Anne's cemetery, Ryde. Her husband died six years later. Their headstones still stand in the churchyard today.

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