Chatswood West, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chatswood West Sydney, New South Wales
Fullers Bridge, Chatswood West
Population	1,521 (2021 census)
• Density	543/km2 (1,410/sq mi)
Established	20 January 2006
Postcode(s)	2067
Area	2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi)
Location	10 km (6 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Willoughby, City of Ryde
State electorate(s)	Lane Cove Willoughby
Federal Division(s)	Bennelong Bradfield North Sydney
Suburbs around Chatswood West: Macquarie Park Lindfield Roseville North Ryde Chatswood West Chatswood Lane Cove West Lane Cove Artarmon

Chatswood West is a suburb located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of Sydney's Lower North Shore area. This suburb is about 11 kilometres north-west of the main city centre.

Chatswood West is managed by two different local councils: the City of Willoughby and the City of Ryde. It shares the same postcode, 2067, with the nearby suburb of Chatswood. It's important not to confuse Chatswood West with areas informally called "West Chatswood" which are actually part of Chatswood.

This suburb sits between the larger areas of Chatswood and North Ryde. It stretches across the Lane Cove River, covering both the flat areas near the river and the hills leading up to it.

History of Chatswood West

How did Chatswood West get its name?

The name "Chatswood" is thought to come from "Chat," the pet name of Richard Harnett's second wife. Richard Harnett was an early settler in the area. The "wood" part of the name refers to the many trees that used to cover the land.

Chatswood West became its own separate suburb on 20 January 2006. Before this, it was considered part of Chatswood. A large historic house called Chislehurst used to stand on Centennial Avenue in the area.

What is Chatswood West like?

Homes in Chatswood West

Chatswood West is mostly a place where people live. Most of the buildings are detached houses, meaning they are stand-alone homes. Many houses, especially on streets like Greville Street, Colwell Crescent, and Mooney Street, have views of the Chatswood Golf Club.

Shopping and Businesses

While it's mainly residential, Chatswood West does have some small business areas. You can find these commercial spots along Fullers Road.

Education and Facilities

Schools in Chatswood West

Students in Chatswood West can attend Chatswood High School and Chatswood Public School. Other nearby schools, like Mowbray Public School, are located in Lane Cove North.

Local Facilities

One of the main facilities in Chatswood West is the Chatswood Golf Club. It offers a place for residents to play golf and enjoy outdoor activities.

A view from a home looking onto the Chatswood Golf Course.

Getting Around Chatswood West

Public Transport

There are a few bus services that connect Chatswood West to other areas. These buses can take you to the main Chatswood city centre and to suburbs like North Ryde. The main bus routes serving the area are routes 255 and 256, which are run by Busways.

Who Lives in Chatswood West?

Chatswood West's Population

According to the 2016 census, about 1,499 people lived in Chatswood West. Most residents, about 57.9%, were born in Australia. The next largest group, 9.3%, came from China.

When it comes to languages, 67.7% of people spoke only English at home. Mandarin was the next most common language, spoken by 11.2% of residents. For religion, the most common choices were No Religion (36.5%), Catholic (21.2%), and Anglican (13.0%).

Famous People from Chatswood West

Several well-known people have lived in Chatswood West:

• Kenneth Slessor - a famous Australian poet.
• Roger Woodward - a talented pianist.
• Errol Flynn - a well-known movie star.
• Tony Abbott - a former prime minister of Australia.

Parks and Nature

Green Spaces in Chatswood West

Chatswood West is home to several beautiful parks and forest areas, including Ferndale Park. These areas offer walking tracks where you can explore nature.

You can also find two entrances to the large Lane Cove National Park from Chatswood West. One entrance is on Lady Game Drive, and another is on Delhi Road, near Fullers Bridge.

Plants and Animals

The local bushland has many interesting native plants. Some trees you might see include the blackbutt, tree heath, celery wood, coachwood, native crabapple, and hard corkwood. You might also spot ferns like the jungle brake, fishbone water fern, filmy fern, and necklace fern.

The area is also home to various animals. Keep an eye out for birds like the powerful owl, barking owl, Australian king parrot, brush turkey, eastern whipbird, and satin bowerbird. You might also see reptiles like the eastern water dragon, or amphibians like the emerald spotted frog. Smaller creatures include the enamelled spider, red triangle slug, and blue planarian. Mammals like the long-nosed bandicoot and marsupial mouse also live here.

Images for kids

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  Crossing of Swaines Creek, Chatswood West

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  Coachwood - Ferndale Park

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  Forest scene - Ferndale Park

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  Tributary of Swaines Creek

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  Large blackbutt - Ferndale Park

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  Coachwood rainforest - Ferndale Park

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  Lilli pilli rainforest - Ferndale Park

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  Hawkesbury sandstone and rock felt fern (Pyrrosia rupestris)