Sydenham is located 8 kilometres south of Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of Inner West Council.

It was named after Sydenham, a suburb of London, for their similarities in their close proximity to the city and a railway junction.

On 12 December 2017, the Inner West Council voted to shrink the proposed precinct to an area immediately adjacent to the station only.

The period also saw the stable development of industrial areas around Sydenham, with a number of factories, warehouses and manufacturing facilities, contributing to the working-class character of the suburb.

Sydenham is a small suburb extending southeast from the railway station to the Princes Highway.

Two heritage buildings along Railway Road were retained, a sandstone terrace house and St Marys Church (which was later controversially demolished after a suspicious fire.

[8]) In the park, a series of oversized 'living room' sculptures – lamp, chairs and fireplace pays homage to the residential houses that formerly occupied the site.