Since its settlement in 1794, Dulwich Hill has been known as Petersham Hill, Wardell’s Bush, Wardell’s Hill, Fern Hill and South Petersham, before being formally named after the London suburb of Dulwich. It lies to the north of Marrickville on a group of low hills renowned for their rich soil and quality orchards, vineyards and gardens during the 1800s.

The railway station opened in 1895 and was known as Wardell Road station, after landowner Dr Robert Wardell, whose estate once covered the whole of Dulwich Hill. The station name changed to Dulwich Hill in 1920.

The 30-acre Abergeldie Estate owned by tobacco tycoon and philanthropist Sir Hugh Dixson, was the suburb’s final subdivision in 1928, when 153 allotments were auctioned in one day.

Prime Minister John Howard has a connection to Dulwich Hill, as his father owned a garage on the corner of Ewart Street and Wardell Road.

Dulwich Hill is a character-filled suburb with many parks and a strong community atmosphere. The main focal points of the suburb are its two shopping centres on New Canterbury and Marrickville Roads.

The main Dulwich Hill shopping strip is on Marrickville Road, where there are 30–40 stores, including cafés, gift shops, a supermarket, banks, delis and bakeries. A smaller group of shops are on New Canterbury Road, including beauty salons, take-away shops and a popular Lebanese sweet shop.

The local primary schools include Dulwich Hill Public School on Kintore Street, St Paul of the Cross School on May Street and St Maroun’s School on Wardell Road. The co-ed Dulwich High School is on Seaview Street.

The area has a mix of Federation and California bungalows, built from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s.

A selection of Thai, Vietnamese, Greek and Lebanese restaurants are on Marrickville Road, the popular Sideways Deli Café is on Constitution Road, and there are also Egyptian, Chinese and Indian restaurants on Canterbury Road and Old Canterbury Road.

Dulwich Hill is located 9km south-west of the CBD. Trains run regularly from Dulwich Hill railway station to the city on the Bankstown line, every 10 to 15 minutes in peak hour and half-hourly during the day. State buses run to the city every 10 minutes on the 426, 428 and 412 routes.