Sans Souci, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sans SouciSydney, New South Wales |
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Sans Souci around 2010
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| Postcode(s) | 2219 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 17 km (11 mi) south of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||||
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| State electorate(s) | Rockdale | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Cook | ||||||||||||||
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Sans Souci (say "San Soo-see") is a suburb in southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 17 kilometres south of the main city area of Sydney.
Sans Souci is managed by two local councils: the Bayside Council and the Georges River Council. It is part of the wider St George area. The suburb sits on the western side of Botany Bay. Lady Robinsons Beach and Cook Park are on its eastern side. Kogarah Bay is on its western side. Sans Souci is connected to Taren Point by the Captain Cook Bridge over the Georges River.
Contents
What's in a Name? The History of Sans Souci
The name Sans Souci comes from a French phrase meaning "without care" or "no worries". The area between the Cooks River and Georges River was first called Seven Mile Beach. In 1874, its name changed to Lady Robinson's Beach. This was to honor the wife of Governor Sir Hercules Robinson. Cook Park is named after Samuel Cook, who wanted it to be a public park for everyone to enjoy.
Early Settlers and a Grand House
In 1830, Catherine Cooper received a large piece of land, about 100 acres (0.4 square kilometres). She and her husband, Robert Cooper Junior, built a home there. They later ran a distillery on the land. This area was known as Charlotte Point, and then Rocky Point.
The suburb of Sans Souci got its name from a grand house. This house was built on Rocky Point Road on land bought in 1853 by Thomas Holt. He was a wool merchant and politician. Holt built the house for his German wife and named it after Sanssouci in Potsdam, Germany. This was the summer palace of Frederick the Great, a king of Prussia.
However, Thomas Holt felt the area was too far away from everything. So, he built another house in Marrickville. He called this new home The Warren. At The Warren, he raised rabbits for hunting and kept interesting animals, like an alpaca. In the 1860s, Holt sold his Sans Souci property to William Rust. Rust turned the house into a popular hotel, even though it was quite isolated.
Travel and Transport in Sans Souci
In the 1890s, a steam tram ran between Sans Souci and Kogarah. This made it easier for people to visit the area for swimming, boating, and fishing. Later, in 1937, a quiet electric trolley bus started running. It connected Rockdale to Kogarah, Sans Souci, and Dolls Point until 1959.
The Kogarah to Sans Souci Tram Line
This steam tram line opened in 1887. It was later replaced by an electric trolleybus service in 1937. The tram connected with trains at Kogarah station. It then went south along Rocky Point Road to Sans Souci, Sandringham, and Dolls Point.
Shopping and Community Life
Sans Souci is mainly a place where people live. There is a shopping area on Rocky Point Road, near Sandringham Street. Here you can find shops like The Party People, places to eat fast food, and the post office. Another smaller group of shops is located at Clareville Avenue and Russell Avenue. This area is on the border with Dolls Point and Sandringham. It includes the Sans Souci Library and other small businesses.
Schools and Churches in Sans Souci
Sans Souci has several schools and churches for the community.
- Sans Souci Public School
- St Finbars Catholic School
- St George Christian School (Infants Campus)
- St Finbars Catholic Church
- St Andrews Anglican Church
- Sans Souci Baptist Church
St_Andrews_Church_Sans_Souci-3.jpg)
Parks and Fun Things to Do
Sans Souci has many parks and places for recreation.
- Cook Park
- Sans Souci Park
- Bona Park
- Kendall Street Reserve
- Claydon Reserve (a soccer field and playground)
- St George Sailing Club
- St George Motor Boat Club
- Botany Bay Yacht Club
- Sans Souci Leisure Centre
Who Lives in Sans Souci?
People and Languages
According to the 2021 census, there were 10,864 people living in Sans Souci. Most people (64.7%) were born in Australia. Other countries of birth included Greece (4.4%), China (2.4%), Egypt (2.0%), England (1.6%), and New Zealand (1.2%).
Most people (56.1%) spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Greek (13.9%), Arabic (4.0%), Mandarin (2.5%), Spanish (2.3%), and Macedonian (1.9%).
The most common religions were Catholic (26.2%), Eastern Orthodox (23.8%), and No Religion (18.9%).
Famous People from Sans Souci
Several well-known people have lived in Sans Souci:
- Michelle Ford – A swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal in 1980.
- Kostya Tszyu – A famous boxer and two-time world champion.
- Sam Sparro – A singer who was nominated for a Grammy Award.
- Kay Cottee AO – The first woman to sail around the world alone without stopping.
Images for kids
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Sans Souci around 2010
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View across Kogarah Bay from Sans Souci
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Rocky Point Road, a main street in Sans Souci
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St Andrew's Anglican Church
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View from Georges River Sailing Club, Sans Souci.
