Budgewoi, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Budgewoi is a suburb
located on the Central Coast of New South Wales
, Australia
, as part of the Wyong Shire local government area. Budgewoi itself is located more than 100 km north of the Sydney central business district
.
Much of the town is surrounded by water; Lake Munmorah, Budgewoi Lake and the Pacific Ocean. An Ideal spot for water enthusiasts. Long an area of retirees and holiday homes, rising housing prices in the Sydney metropolitan area during the 1990s has seen it become a sleeper town, with increasing numbers of people commuting to the Sydney metropolitan area daily.
In 1856 Henderson Holdings was purchased by John Hargraves who built "Noraville". Wollombi Aboriginal Tribe members are known to have worked on the property. Some sources state that Hargraves "befriended" tribe members. Cattle were grazed as far as Buff Point and Elizabeth Bay.
Norah Head lighthouse built and opened in 1903 after vessel wreckages.
Originally used for grazing cattle and agriculture, by the early 1930s Budgewoi was becoming known as a holiday destination and families would come from Sydney to camp over weekends and during holidays. However, getting to the area was not easy so it did not become as popular as other places on the Central Coast.
1889 saw the opening of the railway from Sydney to Newcastle and Wyong turning into a proper township with the opening of the Royal Hotel and the first post office established. The railway was the making of the timber industry. In its hey day, around the turn of the century, Wyong exported thousands of railway sleepers. In 1904 the Lighthouse at Norah Head was built and the first few houses began to appear at The Entrance. Already early tourists were making the trip to Tuggerah Lakes - by boat, horse-drawn vehicle
and train. They went mainly for the fishing and the long bracing walks along the beaches. Slowly, but surely, the population of the Shire grew. Roads, bridges and boarding houses were built. After the war, the Central Coast came of age. The event was marked by the creation of a New Shire, Wyong, out of the old Erina Shire in 1947.
With no high school located in the town, it has always been necessary for students to be bused to schools in the surrounding area, this was Wyong High School until the opening of Gorokan High School in 1976 and to Northlakes High School since its opening in 1981.
services held fortnightly in the community hall during the 1950s and 1960s. The Budgewoi Ladies Guild was formed to buy a block of land, which was purchased for $423. In December, 1971 St John the Evangelist Budgewoi was dedicated and 20 people attended and worshipped. In 2006 church buildings were in need of refurbishment and upgrading to meet the requirements of Wyong Shire Council and due to the short notice given by Council and the significant funds needed the Parish Council reluctantly agreed that it had no option but to close the church for public worship. The final service was held in St John's Church Budgewoi on 10 September 2006 and it was formally closed by the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, Graeme Rutherford, on that day.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
located on the Central Coast of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, as part of the Wyong Shire local government area. Budgewoi itself is located more than 100 km north of the Sydney central business district
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
.
Much of the town is surrounded by water; Lake Munmorah, Budgewoi Lake and the Pacific Ocean. An Ideal spot for water enthusiasts. Long an area of retirees and holiday homes, rising housing prices in the Sydney metropolitan area during the 1990s has seen it become a sleeper town, with increasing numbers of people commuting to the Sydney metropolitan area daily.
Name
Some sources give the original name as Pudgeway (Aboriginal term for young grass) but this is open to conjecture with local historian (Bruce Russell, "From Pudgeway to Budgewoi", 1984) stating the aboriginal name for the area as Budjeri, which meant "good conditions" and described the abundance of wallabies, birds, fish, prawns, trees, shrubs and plants they could use to sustain a healthy tribe. The early colonists named the area Pudgewoy but over the years it has been know by many other names: Budgeway, Possum's Fence, Sinking, Sandy Point, Halekulani and the present name of Budgewoi which was made official in July 1978.History
In 1827, John Slade offered grant of 640 acres (2.6 km²) but appears not to have taken up the offer. On 11 August 1843, Robert Henderson was granted 640 acres (2.6 km²) in what is now known as Budgewoi, where he had a dairy.In 1856 Henderson Holdings was purchased by John Hargraves who built "Noraville". Wollombi Aboriginal Tribe members are known to have worked on the property. Some sources state that Hargraves "befriended" tribe members. Cattle were grazed as far as Buff Point and Elizabeth Bay.
Norah Head lighthouse built and opened in 1903 after vessel wreckages.
Originally used for grazing cattle and agriculture, by the early 1930s Budgewoi was becoming known as a holiday destination and families would come from Sydney to camp over weekends and during holidays. However, getting to the area was not easy so it did not become as popular as other places on the Central Coast.
Surrounding Areas
Chinese fishermen worked the Tuggerah Lakes area in the late 1850s, in particular, what is now known as Canton Beach at Toukley. While not confirmed, it is believed this is where the name is derived from. It was a base for catching and curing fish that were then shipped to Queensland, the goldfields and back to China.1889 saw the opening of the railway from Sydney to Newcastle and Wyong turning into a proper township with the opening of the Royal Hotel and the first post office established. The railway was the making of the timber industry. In its hey day, around the turn of the century, Wyong exported thousands of railway sleepers. In 1904 the Lighthouse at Norah Head was built and the first few houses began to appear at The Entrance. Already early tourists were making the trip to Tuggerah Lakes - by boat, horse-drawn vehicle
Horse-drawn vehicle
A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load...
and train. They went mainly for the fishing and the long bracing walks along the beaches. Slowly, but surely, the population of the Shire grew. Roads, bridges and boarding houses were built. After the war, the Central Coast came of age. The event was marked by the creation of a New Shire, Wyong, out of the old Erina Shire in 1947.
Schools
The Budgewoi Public School was built in 1961, the first headmaster being Mr R. Passlow. He had a staff of five and about 150 pupils in the original block on the corner of Woolana and Lukela avenues. The official record of the school states that a teacher was appointed in January, 1960 and the first class started in February, 1960. It is possible that these pupils could have been taught at the Budgewoi Hall, the only one available at the time. The alternative would have been a home or a marquee.With no high school located in the town, it has always been necessary for students to be bused to schools in the surrounding area, this was Wyong High School until the opening of Gorokan High School in 1976 and to Northlakes High School since its opening in 1981.
Churches
St John's Budgewoi had Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
services held fortnightly in the community hall during the 1950s and 1960s. The Budgewoi Ladies Guild was formed to buy a block of land, which was purchased for $423. In December, 1971 St John the Evangelist Budgewoi was dedicated and 20 people attended and worshipped. In 2006 church buildings were in need of refurbishment and upgrading to meet the requirements of Wyong Shire Council and due to the short notice given by Council and the significant funds needed the Parish Council reluctantly agreed that it had no option but to close the church for public worship. The final service was held in St John's Church Budgewoi on 10 September 2006 and it was formally closed by the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, Graeme Rutherford, on that day.
Notable residents
- David HallDavid Hall (tennis)Hall was inducted into the New South Wales Hall of Champions in 2009.In 2010 Hall was appointed an ambassador for wheelchair tennis by the International Tennis Federation to help promote the sport in Australia and worldwide...
- ParalympianParalympianA Paralympian is an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games.A Paralympic athlete has a physical disability. The disability can be amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment or cerebral palsy. An exception is the sighted guides for athletes with a visual impairment... - Alexander S. FoxhallAlexander S. Foxhall-Life:Foxhall was born to Peter Christopher Foxhall and Glenda Jill "Jill" Foxhall née Pender in 1969, the eldest of four children of that marriage, his father having a son by his first wife....
- Australian children's author - Mark O'MeleyMark O'MeleyMark O'Meley is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the European Super League team, Hull, and previously of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. He also previously played for the North Sydney Bears, the ill fated Northern Eagles and the Bulldogs...
- Australian NRL Player - Ray Price - Former Wallaby (Union) & Kangaroo (League) Player
- Short StackShort StackShort Stack is a band from Budgewoi Short Stack is a band from Budgewoi Short Stack is a band from Budgewoi (on the 'Central Coast', New South Wales, Australia. The band consists of members, Shaun Diviney (lead vocals, electric guitar), Andy Clemmensen (backing vocals, bass), and Bradie Webb...
- Punk Pop band consisting of Shaun Diviney, Andy Clemmensen and Bradie Webb.