Toukley, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toukley Central Coast, New South Wales
Sunset over the water at Toukley
Toukley Location in New South Wales
Postcode(s)	2263
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Area	3 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Location	35 km (22 mi) NE of Gosford 14 km (9 mi) E of Wyong 14 km (9 mi) NNE of The Entrance 54 km (34 mi) SSW of Newcastle 109 km (68 mi) NNE of Sydney
LGA(s)	Central Coast Council
State electorate(s)	Wyong
Federal Division(s)	Dobell
Suburbs around Toukley: Budgewoi Lake Budgewoi Gorokan Toukley Pacific Ocean Tuggerah Lake Canton Beach Noraville

Toukley (pronounced TOO-klee) is a lovely town on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the Central Coast Council area.

Toukley is about 109 km north of Sydney and 54 km south of Newcastle. It sits right between three important bodies of water: Tuggerah Lake, Budgewoi Lake, and the amazing Pacific Ocean.

A modern bridge connects Toukley to Gorokan on the western side of the lakes. This bridge was built between 1983 and 1985, replacing an older wooden one. Toukley is also a popular spot for visitors, offering many places to stay like motels, caravan parks, and holiday homes.

What's in a Name?

The town was first called Toukley Oukley. People say this was an Aboriginal name for the area, meaning "rough and smooth."

Early settlers shortened the name to Toukley. However, it wasn't until 1969 that the name was officially changed to just Toukley.

A Look Back: Toukley's History

Toukley has a rich history with many interesting events:

• 1856 – Edward Hargraves, famous for finding gold in Australia, bought land here. He built a home called "Norahville." Edward Hargraves was known for being friendly with the local Aboriginal people. Cattle used to graze over a wide area, reaching places like Buff Point.
• Late 1850s – Chinese fishermen worked around the Tuggerah Lakes. They often stayed at what is now called Canton Beach. It's believed the name "Canton Beach" comes from this time. They caught and preserved fish to send to other parts of Australia and even back to China.
• 1891 – Toukley Public School opened its doors for the first time.
• 1903 – The Norah Head Lighthouse was built. This was very important because many ships had crashed in the area before it was built. During World War 2, there were some naval events near here. Several ships were sunk by mines or submarines.
• 1939 – The first Toukley Bridge was built, connecting Toukley and Gorokan. This bridge was later replaced by the newer one in July 1985.
• 2013 – Toukley was mentioned in an episode of the TV show Housos called "Tokyo."

Who Lives in Toukley?

According to the 2021 census, about 4,557 people live in Toukley.

• Most residents (nearly 80%) were born in Australia.
• Other common birthplaces include England and New Zealand.
• The main languages spoken at home include English (by most people), Portuguese, Greek, and Tagalog.
• Many people in Toukley identify as having Australian or English family backgrounds.
• About 8.2% of the population are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• When it comes to religion, many people said they had no religion. Other common religions include Catholic and Anglican.