Cooranbong, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CooranbongGreater Newcastle, New South Wales |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cooranbong
Location in the Hunter-Central Coast Region
|
|||||||||||||||
| Population | 7,077 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1,573/km2 (4,070/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1826 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2265 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 20 m (66 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4.5 km2 (1.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
|
||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Coorumbung | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hunter | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Cooranbong (/kɔːrənbɒŋ/ kor-ƏN-bong) is a town in New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the City of Lake Macquarie area, near Newcastle. You can find it west of Morisset, close to the M1 Pacific Motorway. The beautiful Watagans National Park surrounds Cooranbong.
The name Cooranbong comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "rocky bottom creek" or "water over rocks".
Cooranbong has a strong connection with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In the 2021 census, many residents identified as Seventh-day Adventist. This group is larger than any other religious group in the area, except for those with "no religion".
Contents
Cooranbong's Past: A Look at History
Early Days: Aboriginal People
The Awabakal people were the first inhabitants of the land now known as Cooranbong. They lived here long before European settlers arrived. We don't know exactly how long they lived as one group. We also don't know much about their interactions with other groups.
First European Settlers
The first European settler was Lieutenant Percy Simpson in 1826. He received a large piece of land, about 2,000 acres (809 hectares). Six convicts helped him clear the land and raise cattle. They built a home near Dora Creek.
Simpson only stayed for two years. However, one of his convicts, Moses Carroll, became a local stockman. He later became the area's police constable.
Town Growth and Challenges
A law called the Robertson Land Act in 1861 helped Cooranbong grow. This led to new buildings like a Catholic church and a school. Later, a police station, courthouse (1873), and post office (1881) were built. An Anglican church also opened.
Cutting timber was the main way people made money. By the 1880s, about 700 people lived in Cooranbong.
When the railway line from Sydney to Newcastle was built in the 1880s, it passed about 5 km (3 miles) east of Cooranbong. The train station and nearby settlement were first called Cooranbong. But they later became known as Morisset. This was bad for Cooranbong's economy. The population dropped to just 206 people by 1891.
The Seventh-day Adventist Influence
The town's economy improved when the Seventh-day Adventist Church bought 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of land. They built Avondale School for Christian Workers in 1897. They also started the Sanitarium Health Food Company in 1909. These institutions brought new life to Cooranbong.
Cooranbong Today: Modern Living
Cooranbong is growing fast, especially with the new Watagan Park estate. This planned community has attracted over 1,000 families. Another 2,000 families are expected to move here in the next few years. Watagan Park is popular because it's close to nature and offers many activities. It also has schools like Avondale School and Avondale University.
New Town Centre
A new Town Centre is being built in Watagan Park. It's expected to open in late 2025. This centre will have 23 specialty shops and a Woolworths supermarket. It will also offer different types of housing. This development meets the growing need for family-friendly homes in the area.
Johnson Property Group, led by Keith Johnson, is working to improve life for residents. They plan more parks, hiking and biking trails. Residents will also have easy access to Lake Macquarie for boating and water sports. The goal is to create a community with a focus on lifestyle, convenience, and nature.
Avondale Estate
The Avondale Estate is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located across from the main Cooranbong shops. This estate is home to Avondale University, a Seventh-day Adventist university. It also has the Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company, Avondale College Church, and Avondale Memorial Church. There's also a retirement village and some housing for university students and staff.
St Patrick's & St Brigid's Catholic Church
Cooranbong also has St Patrick's & St Brigid's Catholic Church. This small church was built in 1906. It replaced an older church from 1861. The oldest gravestone in its cemetery is from 1862.
Sunnyside Historic Home
Sunnyside Historic Home was built by Ellen G. White. She was a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She lived in this home for six years (1895–1900) while in Australia. She bought the land, about 40 acres, from the church to help fund the school.
At Sunnyside, Ellen White wrote important parts of her famous books. This includes The Desire of Ages, which is about the life of Christ. She was very important in starting Avondale College. Her home is located near the university campus. The church bought Sunnyside in 1960 and restored it. You can now take tours of the home.
Education in Cooranbong
Cooranbong offers several educational options:
- Cooranbong Public School: This is a public school for students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
- Avondale School: This is a private Christian school for students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
- Avondale University: This is a private Christian university offering various degrees.
Cooranbong's People: Demographics
The 2016 census counted 5,449 people living in Cooranbong.
- The average age of Cooranbong residents was 43 years old. This is a bit older than the average age for all of New South Wales, which was 38 years.
- Most people (77.7%) were born in Australia. The next most common birthplaces were New Zealand (4.6%) and England (2.5%).
- Most households (88.3%) spoke only English at home.
- For religion, the most common answers were Seventh-day Adventist (30.8%), No Religion (19.1%), Anglican (13.7%), and Catholic (10.8%).
- The average weekly income for households was $1,232.
Famous People from Cooranbong
- Lindy Chamberlain (born 1948): She is known for a famous trial involving her daughter, Azaria, in 1980.
- Michael Chamberlain (1944–2017): He was Lindy's ex-husband, a pastor, teacher, and writer.
- Elsa Klensch (1930–2022): She was a fashion journalist and TV presenter, known for her show Style with Elsa Klensch. She was born in Cooranbong.
- Ellen G. White: She is famous for helping to start the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She lived in Cooranbong and helped found Avondale School.
