Made in Eastwood

70,000 people are expected to turn up to the 20th Granny Smith Festival this month. We look at the history of Maria Smith's famous apple.

Granny Smith's home at North Road, Eastwood. Painted by A Leslie Sotheron around 1914.

For those who believe everything they read, it was a bite of an apple that led to Adam and Eve being cast out of The Garden of Eden. Original sin and generations of damnation have been laid on the shoulders of Eve, Adam, the serpent, but not the apple.

Before you grab your pitchfork and head out to abuse the nearest apple tree, don't forget to leave Granny Smith out of it, for she has only been in existence since 1868 and couldn't possibly have been at the scene of the crime.

Alternatively, you could channel this energy into attending the Granny Smith Festival. Join the festival and celebrate the existence of the innocent apple, who was born in our own backyard, Eastwood.

This year marks 20 years of celebrations and Ryde Council Community Relations and Events manager Derek McCarthy believes that like a good apple pie, the event will rise to the occasion

"20 years is a long time for a festival to continue to operate," Mr McCarthy said. "We have seen the Granny Smith Festival grow from a small local festival to what we have today — one of Sydney's leading street festivals."

Mr McCarthy attributes the festival's success to the fact that it has managed to keep its focus on the community

"The festival allows for participation from schools, dance groups, youth activities and local organisations to raise funds."

This year that impressive entertainment will consist of 60 acts over 6 stages with acts ranging from karaoke to bush poetry and Humphrey B Bear to Beatles tribute band The Beatnix. Of course it wouldn't be a community festival without a fireworks display, which will round out the day's events.

Mr McCarthy estimates around 70,000 people will turn up, which is an indication of the continuing popularity of the Granny Smith apple.

The famous apple is believed to have first sprouted from a French Crab Apple seedling in Maria Ann Smith's garden where modern day North Road and Abuklea Road meet in Eastwood.

The apple never reached commercial viability by the time Mrs Smith herself passed away in 1870. However the popularity of the apple continued to grow and by 1881 the apple was winning awards at the Castle Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Show and by 1895 the apple was ready for export.

The success of 'our' apple didn't stop there. The green apple has become a worldwide hit for its tart flavour and crisp texture, which makes it perfect for cooking or eating straight from the tree.

Today the variety is grown all over the world with large crops in the United States while the French have given it a decidedly fancier name, Pomme Granny Smith.

"The local community takes great pride in the historical significance of the festival," said Mr McCarthy. "It is celebrated at schools in the lead up to the festival and a special service at St Anne's Church, Ryde is held where Maria Smith is buried."

If you want to get to the core of your apple adoration, the Granny Smith Festival takes place Saturday, 15 October, 9am to 9.30pm around the Eastwood shopping precinct & oval.