One of its more notable inhabitants was Catherine, Duchess of Queensberry.
When the towns of the Swift River Valley were disincorporated, Petersham and neighboring New Salem benefited the most, with Petersham receiving all of the former town of Dana, much of the town of Greenwich, and a small portion of the former town of Prescott east of the Middle Branch of the Swift River.
Mosquito HR576 RAF (UK) disintegrated over the inner western Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Petersham on 2 May 1945 during an air test flight.
Waters completed his primary schooling at North Rocks Public School and then attended Fort Street High School in Petersham a school whose alumni includes artists and bands such as Josh Pyke, Horrorshow and Spit Syndicate.
General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington, G.C.H., PC, PC (Ire) (17 March 1753 – 5 September 1829), styled Viscount Petersham until 1779, was a British soldier.
In minor civil dispute settlement, in 1628 the borough of Kingston received a grant of jurisdiction within the "hundred of Copthorne and Effingham" in compensation for their loss of the privilege of court leet in Richmond and Petersham and this grant was confirmed by Charles I to in 1638, and as the last vestige of the hundred's influence held good until late 19th century reforms.
It was originally the council summer camp for the Wachusett Council, serving Massachusetts towns from Leominster through Petersham.
Petersham train station is frequently used by more than 600 students from Fort Street High School, especially between 8:00am and 8:30am and 2:30pm to 3:30pm (when school ends).
Petersham is named after the eighteenth century English lord Viscount Petersham who invented an overcoat and breeches made of a special heavy woolen cloth with a round nap surface.
Born on 25 January 1829, Ellis was the fifth son of Joseph Ellis, owner of the Star and Garter Hotel in Richmond, Surrey, from 1830–1847 and lived in Byfleet for some years at Petersham House (built in High Road c. 1859 and now a Lloyds Bank).
Although the latter had his way Harrington remained secretary until the great minister's fall in 1742, when he was transferred to the office of Lord President of the Council and was created Earl of Harrington (Harrington, Northamptonshire) and Viscount Petersham (Surrey).
Lord Dysart's seats were Ham House, Petersham, Richmond, Surrey, and Buckminster Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire.