Figtree, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Figtree Wollongong, New South Wales
Figtree Location in New South Wales
Population	12,335 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	2525
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Location	85 km (53 mi) from Sydney 4 km (2 mi) from Wollongong
LGA(s)	City of Wollongong
State electorate(s)	Keira Wollongong
Federal Division(s)	Cunningham
Suburbs around Figtree: Mount Keira West Wollongong Mount Kembla Figtree Mangerton, Mount Saint Thomas, Spring Hill Cordeaux Heights Unanderra

Figtree is a suburb located in the western part of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It's found southwest of West Wollongong. The suburb is connected to Wollongong by the Princes Highway.

Figtree has a few shopping areas. One is near the highway junction. Another area with food stores is further north. There's also a smaller shopping spot on the east side of the highway.

In Figtree, you can find a hotel, a sports oval, and many different shops. There's also a dog park, a private hospital, and several schools.

A part of Figtree called Figtree Heights is a bit higher up. To the south, between Figtree and Unanderra, is Cobbler's Hill. Houses have been built on its slopes.

Figtree's Past: A Giant Tree and More

The suburb of Figtree gets its name from a huge fig tree. This giant tree once stood on the eastern side of the highway. It was near the junction with O'Brien's Road. This road was an old mountain pass. It was built in 1821, partly by people paying for it and partly by convict workers.

In 1861, the Figtree Bridge was built. It was constructed by Moore and Vaughan. Six years later, in 1867, the Figtree Inn opened. It was a small wooden building. Later, its name changed to Figtree Hotel. This hotel is still standing today.

In the 1880s, farming was the main job in the area. The Figtree Sunday School started in a small house in 1888.

Parks, Schools, and Hospitals

On November 25, 1903, Figtree Park was officially opened. It was opened by a senator named Hugh Vaughan-Floyd.

Many schools opened in Figtree over the years. The public school opened in 1956. Figtree High School followed in 1969. Figtree Heights Public School opened in 1972. Nareena Hills Public School, located near Mount Nebo, opened in 1977.

The Illawarra Private Hospital opened its doors on October 15, 1979.

The Famous Fig Tree and Floods

The famous fig tree that gave the suburb its name was cut down in 1996. Only a small part of its trunk remains. In 1998, Fig Tree Park was updated. It now has an Aboriginal mosaic. This mosaic was part of a community art project. The park's name was changed to Moreton Bay Figtree Park.

Figtree was badly affected during the 1998 Wollongong floods. Floodwaters went through the Westfield shopping centre. People living in the Figtree Caravan Park had to be rescued. The State Emergency Service helped them.

Figtree is also known for its successful soccer club. It's called Figtree Junior Soccer Club. They have a stadium. This stadium is also used by the Collegians Rugby League team for their games.

Shopping at Figtree Grove

Figtree Grove is a large shopping centre. It is located where the highway meets The Avenue. This shopping centre has two floors. Inside, you'll find big stores like Woolworths, Coles, and Kmart.

The shopping centre first opened in 1965. The second floor has some businesses. It also has more parking spaces. Next to the centre is a park. This park has sports facilities. It also has a baby health centre and a small sculpture garden.

Changes to the Shopping Centre

When it first opened on September 23, 1965, it was called Westfield Figtree. It was owned by Westfield Corporation. The centre was made bigger in 1974. More expansions were finished in 2009. These added 15 more specialty stores. Coles, Kmart, and Woolworths are the main stores there.

In August 2015, the shopping centre was sold. It was bought by Blackstone and renamed Figtree Grove. Later, in December 2018, it was sold again. It is now owned by Paragon REIT (85%) and Moelis Australia (15%).

Who Lives in Figtree?

The 2021 census counted the people living in Figtree. There were 12,335 people in total.

• About 2.1% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
• Most people, 76.0%, were born in Australia.
• Other common birthplaces included England (3.3%), North Macedonia (1.7%), China (1.6%), India (1.3%), and Italy (1.1%).
• About 77.5% of people spoke only English at home.
• Other languages spoken at home included Macedonian (2.7%), Mandarin (2.3%), Italian (1.6%), Arabic (1.5%), and Greek (1.4%).
• For religion, 34.1% said they had no religion. Catholic was 22.2%, Anglican was 13.9%, and Eastern Orthodox was 7.2%.

Famous People from Figtree

• Abigail Paduch, a talented judoka (someone who practices judo).