Willoughby, New South Wales Facts for Kids

The City of Willoughby takes its name from the suburb but its administrative centre is located in the adjacent suburb of Chatswood, which is the local area's major commercial centre.

History
Parks and recreation
Transport
Other
Gallery
- Heritage
Notable residents
Images for kids

History

There is some conjecture as to how Willoughby was named. Some historians believe it was named after a parish, while others believe that Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell decided to commemorate Sir James Willoughby Gordon whom he had served during the Peninsular War and was the quartermaster-general in England when the First Fleet sailed to Botany Bay.

Captain Arthur Phillip's search for "good land, well watered" led to the discovery and colonisation of the rough shores of Roseville Chase, where Samuel Bates built a farm at Echo Point.

Later developments included the building of the first post office in 1871 and the construction of Pommy Lodge in the same year. The latter—a small sandstone building in Penshurst Street—was originally the Congregational Church, which later changed premises. Laurel Bank Cottage, a single-storey home, was constructed in Penshurst Street in 1884. The cottage is now owned and run by the local Masonic Lodge as a function and conference facility.

Circa 1920, Telford Lane—between Fourth Avenue and Eastern Valley Way—was created and paved; the method used was the one pioneered by Thomas Telford in England in the nineteenth century. This lane is one of the few surviving examples of the Telford method in Sydney.

In 1934, the Willoughby incinerator was built in Small Street, after a design by Walter Burley Griffin. It has been described as "a particularly successful example of an industrial building integrating function with site." Like Telford Lane, the incinerator is listed on the Register of the National Estate.

Parks and recreation

Bicentennial Reserve which includes Hallstrom Park, features a soccer field, T Ball & softball fields and a children's playground. Willoughby Leisure Centre features a 25m lap pool, spas, children's pool, swim school, gym, basketball courts, netball courts and baseball field. Flat Rock Gully, built on an old rubbish tip, is bushland with two walking tracks to Long Bay, following the creek line.

Carlson Park
Julian St Park
Willoughby Squash courts
Hallstrom Park
Willoughby Park

Transport

Artarmon is the nearest station for Willoughby's residents, on the western border of the suburb. Also, a number of bus routes cover the area. It is close to St Leonards and Chatswood stations. The Gore Hill Freeway, a major arterial route into the Sydney CBD, runs along the southern border of Willoughby, with exit from the freeway from Reserve Road and entry from Reserve Road and Willoughby Road. Bus Routes serving Willoughby include:

115 Chatswood - Pitt Street via Crows Nest, North Sydney
120 Chatswood - Queen_Victoria_Building via Warringah Freeway
205 Willoughby East - City Gresham Street via Warringah Freeway
267 Chatswood - Crows Nest via Northbridge

Busways' Willoughby Bus Depot is located in Willoughby East.

Other

Willoughby Fire Station, Laurel Street
1st Willoughby Scouts, Laurel Street
Bridgeview Hotel, Willoughby Road
The Willoughby Hotel, Penshurst Street

Gallery

Heritage

Laurel Bank Cottage (1884)
Incinerator designed by Walter Burley Griffin (1934)
Telford Lane (c.1920)
Pommy Lodge (1871)

Notable residents

John Davies, gold medal-winning Olympic swimmer for Australia in the 1952 Summer Olympics
Matthew Reilly, best-selling author
Evonne Goolagong, tennis legend
Doc Neeson, lead singer of The Angels

Images for kids

TCN-9 TXA TV tower
Incinerator designed by Walter Burley Griffin (1934)

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Willoughby, New South Wales Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

Willoughby, New South Wales facts for kids

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