DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. Allan Forsyth was interviewed on 05 June 2002 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsfor McLeod. Interview SummaryAllan Glenbaum Forsyth was born in Paddington, Sydney, in May 1937. His father came from South Africa of English-Swedish-French ancestry. His mother was born in Cabramatta, as was his grandmother. Through his mother, Allan is related to the Rule family who built the Slab Hut Kitchen on display at FCMG.
As a child Allan lived at 55 Church Street Cabramatta. During the Great Depression Allan’s father struggled with work while his mother worked for a family which won the lottery. The money was used to expand their house. The house had a fuel stove, laundry, ice chest (later refrigerator), and a milk cow. Allan lived there until he married in 1960.
Allan went to Cabramatta Public School. He was an average student and repeated sixth class. He then went to Liverpool Boys Tech for three years and left with the Intermediate Certificate. Throughout his school years Allan enjoyed sport, including rugby league, cricket and tennis.
After school Allan went to Tech College and studied auto-electrics. He attended both Granville and Ulimo branches. He also worked at an auto-electrical shop. He worked there for 12 years. At the age of 19 Allan was drafted into the Army, where he spent two years (three months compulsory training, plus occasional parades and camps).
Allan married in 1960. He has three children and two grandchildren.
Allan remembers Cabramatta as a collection of small shops and a movie theatre. At Fairfield, he remembers shops along The Crescent, bowling clubs and tennis courts.
Allan had little trouble with the new European and Asian migrants to area. He knew of many of the local sporting personalities, as well as small business owners.
Allan has enjoyed caravanning around Australia and has travelled once outside Australia, to England.
Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldAll Oral Histories
Allan Forsyth Oral History . Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 19/03/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/2814
