Oatley, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Oatley is a suburb
in southern
Sydney
, in the state of New South Wales
, Australia
. Oatley is located 21 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district
and is part of the St George
area. Oatley lies across the local government areas of the City of Hurstville
and Municipality of Kogarah
.
, watch-maker, who was transported to Botany Bay
for life in 1814. Seven years later, in 1821, Governor Lachlan Macquarie
granted Oatley a conditional pardon and appointed him overseer of the Town Clock for his work in installing the clock at Hyde Park Barracks
.
When a group gathered in Oatley Park in December, 1959, to form a Bowling Club, it was inevitable that the founding members should choose a clock as the club emblem. The hands on the clock were set at 15 minutes after 10 - the precise time the first meeting of the Oatley Bowls Club was opened. The Club has since closed, though the greens and Club premises remain.
The post office opened in 1903, thus giving the district its official suburban name of Oatley. Prior to this, the area west of the railway line was officially in the suburb of Hurstville and attached to the Hurstville Post Office with "Oatley's" in parenthesis at the end of the address. Likewise, the streets east of the railway line were officially in the suburb of Kogarah and attached to the Kogarah Post Office. In the late 1890s both Hurstville
and Kogarah
were much larger suburbs and were later divided up into separate suburbs.
Oatley is notable as the terminus of the first railway electrification
project in Sydney, which reached this station from Sydney Central in 1926.
The Oatley campus of Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education opened in 1981 on the site of the former Judd's Brick Works and quarry.In 1981, when many teacher's colleges were amalgamated, it became The St George Institute of Education, part of Sydney College of Advanced Education, and then a campus of the University of New South Wales. It is now a secondary school, the Oatley Senior Campus of the Georges River College.
The traditional main shopping centre is located on Oatley Avenue and Frederick Street, near the railway station. A small group of shops and a Coles Supermarket
are also located on Mulga Road in Oatley West. The village atmosphere, along with good cafes, and large parklands located in the centre of the shopping area adjacent to the train station, has led Oatley to be commonly mentioned as the most picturesque shopping village in the St George area.
Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra railway line before crossing the Georges River
to Como
in the Sutherland Shire
.
The 955 bus route operates a service from Oatley West, through Oatley to Hurstville.
Since 2004, local Kogarah Councillor, Mark Coure, has campaigned to upgrade the railway station to include a lift for the elderly and parents with prams and strollers.
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/funds-bypass-station/1868868.aspx
The area's main attraction is Oatley Park but there are also a number of local bush parks surrounding the suburb: Oatley Point Reserve
, Oatley Pleasure Grounds
, Moore Reserve, Renown Park, Lime Kiln Bay Bushland Sanctuary, Giriwa Picnic Ground, Stevens Reserve, Meyer Reserve. They attract many birds both native and introduced, with Oatley Park alone recording 146 species; as many as 90 recently.
Oatley Park became a public recreation area on 25 March 1887. It protects important examples of natural environment which occur in all parts of the park. There is a swimming area, a playground featuring an old steamroller, lookouts, barbecues, a Soccer/Cricket Oval, a castle, as well as the natural environment in the park and it has become popular with the local community. The man-made wetlands provide refuge for bird species, such as, chestnut teal, Pacific black ducks, dusky moorhens and purple swamphens. Native mammals which are uncommon in the region can still be found within the park, including the short-beaked echidna
and swamp wallaby
.
and its bays. Oatley has many sporting teams and sporting fields:
Census
of Population, there were 9,326 people usually resident in Oatley. 76.7% stated they were born in Australian. The top countries of birth for those born outside Australia being United Kingdom 4.1%, China 1.9% and New Zealand 1.1%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 81.0% of residents and the most common other languages spoken were Greek 2.9%, Cantonese 2.5% and Croatian 1.6%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Roman Catholic
30.2%, Anglican 25.4% and Uniting Church 6.8%.
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...
in southern
Southern Sydney
This article refers to an area the same as a combination of St George and SutherlandSouthern Sydney is a general term which is used to describe the southern metropolitan area of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in the state 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...
. Oatley is located 21 kilometres south 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...
and is part of the St George
St George, New South Wales
St George Area is an unofficial name applied to a group of southern suburbs in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The area includes all the suburbs in the local government areas of the City of Hurstville, the City of Rockdale and the Municipality of Kogarah...
area. Oatley lies across the local government areas of the City of Hurstville
City of Hurstville
The City of Hurstville is a Local Government Area in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The city centre is located 17km SSW of the Sydney central business district and west of Botany Bay....
and Municipality of Kogarah
Municipality of Kogarah
The Municipality of Kogarah is a Local Government Area in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The centre of the municipality is located 14km SSW of the Sydney central business district and west of Botany Bay....
.
History
This suburb's name can be traced to James Oatley snrJames Oatley
James Oatley snr was sentenced to transportation for life at the Hampshire Assizes in March 1814.The reason for his conviction is not stated. His age is given as 44 years. He is said to be from Stafford....
, watch-maker, who was transported to Botany Bay
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The Cooks River and the Georges River are the two major tributaries that flow into the bay...
for life in 1814. Seven years later, in 1821, Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
granted Oatley a conditional pardon and appointed him overseer of the Town Clock for his work in installing the clock at Hyde Park Barracks
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney
The Hyde Park Barracks is an internationally significant, impressive brick building and compound designed by convict architect Francis Greenway between 1818–19; originally built at the head of Macquarie Street to house convict men and boys....
.
When a group gathered in Oatley Park in December, 1959, to form a Bowling Club, it was inevitable that the founding members should choose a clock as the club emblem. The hands on the clock were set at 15 minutes after 10 - the precise time the first meeting of the Oatley Bowls Club was opened. The Club has since closed, though the greens and Club premises remain.
The post office opened in 1903, thus giving the district its official suburban name of Oatley. Prior to this, the area west of the railway line was officially in the suburb of Hurstville and attached to the Hurstville Post Office with "Oatley's" in parenthesis at the end of the address. Likewise, the streets east of the railway line were officially in the suburb of Kogarah and attached to the Kogarah Post Office. In the late 1890s both Hurstville
Hurstville, New South Wales
Hurstville is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hurstville is located 16 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area. Hurstville is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of...
and Kogarah
Kogarah, New South Wales
Kogarah is a suburb of southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kogarah is located 14 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is considered to be the centre of the St George area...
were much larger suburbs and were later divided up into separate suburbs.
Oatley is notable as the terminus of the first railway electrification
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
project in Sydney, which reached this station from Sydney Central in 1926.
The Oatley campus of Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education opened in 1981 on the site of the former Judd's Brick Works and quarry.In 1981, when many teacher's colleges were amalgamated, it became The St George Institute of Education, part of Sydney College of Advanced Education, and then a campus of the University of New South Wales. It is now a secondary school, the Oatley Senior Campus of the Georges River College.
Commercial area
Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
are also located on Mulga Road in Oatley West. The village atmosphere, along with good cafes, and large parklands located in the centre of the shopping area adjacent to the train station, has led Oatley to be commonly mentioned as the most picturesque shopping village in the St George area.
Transport
Oatley railway station is the last station on the CityRailCityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra railway line before crossing the Georges River
Georges River
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway...
to Como
Como, New South Wales
Como is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Como is located 27 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire. The postcode is 2226, which it shares with neighbouring Jannali and Bonnet Bay...
in the Sutherland Shire
Sutherland Shire
The Sutherland Shire is a Local Government Area in the Southern Sydney region of Sydney, Australia. Geographically, it is the area to the south of Botany Bay and the Georges River...
.
The 955 bus route operates a service from Oatley West, through Oatley to Hurstville.
Since 2004, local Kogarah Councillor, Mark Coure, has campaigned to upgrade the railway station to include a lift for the elderly and parents with prams and strollers.
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/funds-bypass-station/1868868.aspx
Parks
Oatley Point Reserve
Oatley Point Reserve is a reserve located in the Sydney suburb of Oatley.-Features:Oatley Point Reserve has the following features:*Panoramic views of Georges River and Oatley Bay....
, Oatley Pleasure Grounds
Oatley Pleasure Grounds
Oatley Pleasure Grounds is a fairly hilly bush park located in Oatley, New South Wales. It is 3.4 hectares and is known for being a very relaxing spot- great for picnics.-Features:Oatley Pleasure Grounds has the following features:...
, Moore Reserve, Renown Park, Lime Kiln Bay Bushland Sanctuary, Giriwa Picnic Ground, Stevens Reserve, Meyer Reserve. They attract many birds both native and introduced, with Oatley Park alone recording 146 species; as many as 90 recently.
Oatley Park
Oatley Park is a tree covered area that is almost completely surrounded by water. It covers an area of about 45 hectares and it is one of the most significant areas of bushland remaining in the St George area.Oatley Park became a public recreation area on 25 March 1887. It protects important examples of natural environment which occur in all parts of the park. There is a swimming area, a playground featuring an old steamroller, lookouts, barbecues, a Soccer/Cricket Oval, a castle, as well as the natural environment in the park and it has become popular with the local community. The man-made wetlands provide refuge for bird species, such as, chestnut teal, Pacific black ducks, dusky moorhens and purple swamphens. Native mammals which are uncommon in the region can still be found within the park, including the short-beaked echidna
Short-beaked Echidna
The short-beaked echidna , also known as the spiny anteater because of its diet of ants and termites, is one of four living species of echidna and the only member of the genus Tachyglossus...
and swamp wallaby
Swamp Wallaby
The Swamp Wallaby is a small macropod marsupial of eastern Australia. This wallaby is also commonly known as the Black Wallaby, with other names including Black-tailed Wallaby, Fern Wallaby, Black Pademelon, Stinker , and Black Stinker...
.
Schools
- Oatley Public School
- Oatley West Public School
- St Joseph's Catholic School
- Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus- located on Hurstville Road.
Churches
- All Saints' Anglican Church
- St Joseph's Catholic Church
- St Paul's Anglican Church Oatley
- Mortdale Oatley Baptist Church (MOBC)
- Oatley Uniting Church
- Oatley Christian Brethren Church
- Hurstville District Christadelphian Ecclesia
Landmarks
- Oatley BayOatley BayOatley Bay is a bay located in the Municipality of Kogarah, surrounded by the suburbs of Oatley, Hurstville Grove and Connells Point. The bay is part of the Georges River waterway. It is popular for boating, fishing, picnicking and bush walking, and is surrounded by multi-million dollar waterfront...
, Gungah Bay, Lime Kiln Bay, Neverfail Bay, Jewfish Bay - Oatley Point, Lime Kiln Point, Lime Kiln Head, Jewfish Bay Point
- Hills Lookout, Websters Lookout
- The Oatley Hotel (Oatley Pub)
- Oatley Library
- The 1905 George FinchamGeorge FinchamGeorge Fincham & Sons was an Australian company that designed and built pipe organs.It was a family run company, founded in 1862 by George Fincham and based in Melbourne, Australia. The company has completed many projects in more than a century of organ building...
Pipe OrganPipe organThe pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
located at Hurstville Christadelphian District Ecclesia is a historically-significant musical instrument in the area.
Community events
- Oatley Lions Village Festival - An annual festival held on the third Saturday in October in Oatley Memorial Gardens and part of Frederick Street
- Oatley West Arts and Crafts Festival - An event held at Oatley West Public school each year
- Oatley Spring Fair - A fair held biennially at Oatley Public School
Sport
Water sports and recreation are a way of life in the peninsula suburb of Oatley whose eastern, southern and western boundaries are formed by the Georges RiverGeorges River
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway...
and its bays. Oatley has many sporting teams and sporting fields:
- Renown United, the local Rugby LeagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team, play at Renown Park. - Oatley Rugby Club, play Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
at H.V Evatt Park in LugarnoLugarno, New South WalesLugarno is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lugarno is located 23 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Hurstville and is part of the St George area....
. - Oatley RSL, who play at Renown Park, and All Saints Oatley West, who play at Oatley Park, are the two football teams.
- Oatley NetballNetballNetball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
Club. - Oatley RSL Youth Club Gymnastics and Sport Aerobics
Demographics
According to the 2006 Australian Bureau of StatisticsAustralian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of Population, there were 9,326 people usually resident in Oatley. 76.7% stated they were born in Australian. The top countries of birth for those born outside Australia being United Kingdom 4.1%, China 1.9% and New Zealand 1.1%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 81.0% of residents and the most common other languages spoken were Greek 2.9%, Cantonese 2.5% and Croatian 1.6%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
30.2%, Anglican 25.4% and Uniting Church 6.8%.
Notable residents
- James Oatley snrJames OatleyJames Oatley snr was sentenced to transportation for life at the Hampshire Assizes in March 1814.The reason for his conviction is not stated. His age is given as 44 years. He is said to be from Stafford....
- Fiona Margaret Hall - an artistic photographer and sculptor.
- John O'GradyJohn O'GradyJohn Patrick O'Grady was an Australian writer. His works include the comic novel They're a Weird Mob and the poem The Integrated Adjective, sometimes known as Tumba-bloody-rumba.- Pseudonym :...
, novelist, who often wrote under the pseudonym 'Nino Culotta'. He lived in Algernon St., was a local builder, and frequented the Oatley pub pictured above. - Todd Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Rugby League Club, resides in Oatley.
- Ian McNamara, ABC Radio "Australia All Over" presenter.
External links
- Oatley Park Plan of Management 24 November 2004
- Oatley Park.
- http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/funds-bypass-station/1868868.aspx
- Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society
- Kogarah Council
- NSW Heritage Office