Blakehurst, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Blakehurst
city = Sydney
state = nsw


caption = Blakehurst marina
lga = Municipality of Kogarah
postcode = 2221
pop =
area =
propval =
est =
stategov = Electoral district of Rockdale
fedgov = Division of Barton
near-nw = South Hurstville
near-n = Carlton
near-ne = Kogarah Bay
near-w = Connells Point
near-e = Carss Park
near-sw = Kyle Bay
near-s = Sylvania
near-se = Sans Souci
dist1 = 18
dir1 = south
location1= Sydney CBD

Blakehurst is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blakehurst is located 18 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Kogarah and is part of the St George area.

Blakehurst is connected to Sylvania, in the Sutherland Shire, to the south, by Tom Uglys Bridge over the Georges River. Tom Uglys Point is the southernmost part. The eastern border runs along Kogarah Bay and the western border runs along Kyle Bay.

History

Blakehurst was named after William Blake, road assessor and postmaster for Cooks River in 1863. Blake ran a small farm in this area that was originally part of a land grant of 75 acres to Robert Townson in 1808. [ "The Book of Sydney Suburbs", Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8 ]

A punt was established in 1864 at Tom Uglys Point or Punt Point. A few tales have been told about the origin of the name possibly being mispronunciation by local Aborigines of the names of two locals, Tom Huxley or Tom Woguly. However, it is now believed that it was named after an Aboriginal man from the south coast called 'Towwaa' or Toweiry', who later lived and died at the point. His nickname was Tom Ugly. [ Eora: Mapping Aboriginal Sydney (1770-1850) ]

Tom Uglys Bridge was originally known as Georges River Bridge when it first opened in 1929. The second crossing at this location was opened in 1987.

Landmarks

* Tom Uglys Bridge, Tom Uglys Point, Tom Ugly Reserve, Kogarah Bay, Kyle Bay, Shipwrights Bay.
* Bald Face Point, Bald Face Reserve, Kyle Williams Reserve, The Green, Todd Park, Carss Bush Park.

Commercial area

A small shopping strip is located on the Princes Highway near the intersection with King Georges Road. Commercial developments also extend north along these two main roads. A bus service runs between Hurstville and Miranda via Blakehurst and Sylvania.

Tom Uglys Point features a couple of small reserves, fishing spots, a marina, seafood restaurants and a number of take-away seafood shops.

Houses

Blakehurst is mostly residential. A landmark is The Castle, a 4500 square metre sandstone mansion on Shipwrights Bay.

chools

*Blakehurst High School,
*Blakehurst Primary School,
*Bald Face Primary School,
*Mater Dei Catholic School

Churches

*Mater Dei Catholic Church
*St Martins Anglican Church
*Blakehurst Baptist Church
*Blakehurst Uniting Church

port and recreation

Blakehurst has many sporting teams including the Rugby Union team, The Blakehurst Blues. Past famous players and locals include ex-Wallaby star Phil Kearns and current Waikato forward Toby Lind. Kogarah Bay Sailing Club and marina is located on Princes Highway.

References

External links