Oatley Memorial Gardens To Oatley Heritage and Historical Society November 2017 Rodger Robertson
Oatley Memorial Gardens • Started as a railway line 1885 • 1905-1940 – an eye-sore, rubble heap. • 1940 Kogarah Council purchases the land and makes it a Park. Called Oatley Embankment Park or Oatley Reserve. They spend money renovating it. • 1960 and 70s more work beautifying the environment.
OMG-summary • 1962 The Oatley War Memorial moves from its previous site to the Park. • Oatley RSL propose Oatley Memorial Park- Council makes it Oatley Memorial Gardens. • 1950-today. Park is used for a great variety of events. • 1977 First Lions fete. • 1983 the clock and its celebrations.
1885
1885?
1901
1929
DP 1930 North OMG
DP 1930 South OMG
Jim Nicholson • “when the Nicholsons moved into the newsagent in October 1925, the old platforms were still in place, and we boys caught many tadpoles in the pools where the tracks had once been. It was in the depression years that Frederick Street was extended between Oatley Avenue and Oatley Parade, by voluntary labour using horses and drays. If you dug down, the old platform would still be there. Prior to the extension of Frederick Street it was necessary to cross to the present station at the end of the platform about where the hardware shop is today. The land either side of the extended Frederick Street was auctioned by the Railways, but because of the Depression, all purchases but one defaulted. ( Ed this piece sold was to the Oatley Hotel) . “He” was bought out when all the former railway land was converted to parkland. Between Neville Street and the station and northward to Hurstville road • were high railway embankments, well covered with blackberries which we used to pick. These embankments were still there on Black Saturday 1939, when bushfires jumped the station burning the signs and a fire engine parked in Oatley Avenue. Later, with modern machinery, the embankments were flattened to the present gentle slopes to form the park as it is today.”
1937 aerial south
1937 Aerial - north
1905 -1940 • No decision as the boundary between Hurstville and Kogarah Council seems to prevent any progress. • Railway seems to also slow in reacting. • 1929 Land given by railways to the two Councils for extension of Frederick street to Oatley Parade and Woonona Parade East • Nothing else happens! • 1930s Oatley Hotel buys a few blocks in the “park”. • Oatley District Improvement Association begins agitating 1936-1940 for a Park. • 1940 Kogarah buys the land from the railway and declares it a “park”. Oatley Embankment Park. • 1941 water pipeline from Woronora dam to Penshurst reserviour built under southern end of park. ( maybe this was catalyst?)
1940 Kogarah council- who made it a park? • Sydney Robert Bell (Mayor), Guy Edwin Moore, Ernest Theophilus Marx, Roy Westbrook Harslett, Patrick Joseph Ferry, Harry Leonard Poulton, Nicholas James Lobb, John Charles Sydney Battye, Wilfred Neil Todd, Norman Russell Bertram, Nehemiah Hardman, Edwin Henry Trollope.
1940-2000s who used the Gardens- from Council approval records • 1948 Bus turning circle incurred into park • 1950s Oatley Public School uses park for sporting events • 1954 School of Arts pony rides refused • 1958 Oatley West Boys Club Field Sports day approved • 1962 Oatley Bay Sea Scouts Fete • 1963 Kogarah Municipal band played • 1963 Girl Guides hall built • 1964 Oatley RSL Youth Club asks for 2 basketball courts at Southern end
Events ( continued) • 1969 SMH Garden Contest • 1970 Remembrance day • 1972 Oatley West Scout Group fete. • 1972 W Wheeler appointed Honorary Ranger • 1972 Oatley Scouts “sit-a-thon” on towers • 1973 Oatley Lodge 381 has a fete. • 1973 Mr A Leach asks Council to built a clock • 1974 Oatley RSL has Anzac day ceremony • 1975 The Rose Pergola built K R Patrick • 1975 Oatley RSL Women’s Auxiliary run bazaar • 1977 Oatley Lions first Fete
Events (continued) • 1983 Clock opening and fete • 1984 Proposed draft board with 4 chairs?? • 1984 Fun Run starts finishes in Park. • 1987 New playground equipment bullt at Southern end • 2004 Tiled mozaic path built ( later removed) • 2010 Small children enclosed playing area built.
1962 C
Frans Felten Dutch Immigrant 1950C
1964
1964
1964
O’Grady tree plaque
?
1983
1983 The Clock is part of the OMG
2004
Blossoms August 2017
Blossoms time August 2017
To the south
Childrens Playground 2010
The Bubbler- 1940
Oatley’s Platform site 1885
2017 garden bed
Bus turning circle
2017
2017 to the south
2017
Old fountain area
2017
2017 and heritage aspects • Oatley Memorial Gardens is administered by Georges River Council and is included in the State Heritage Inventory as an urban park. • the Gardens are an historical layering of development over the site of the original Oatley railway line and platform. It is indicative of the progress of the district with growing suburbanisation of the suburbs and the development of the community at the time. The Gardens have historical significance at a local level because of the association with the early Oatley community and development of civic pride. The Gardens make a positive contribution to the character and quality of the townscape and to the heritage of Kogarah. Some aesthetic value but primarily amenity value for the local community. The Gardens have been a focus for the community. Locally rare, Central Gardens rare in Municipality.
Heritage aspects • A 6.1m strip is under control of the Water Authority. • The Gardens have a GRC Plan of Management. • It recommends that the Gardens be included in the Heritage Schedule of the LEP and should be protected. “Subdivision should not occur”.
Oatley Memorial Gardens • A wonderful legacy for the people of Oatley • It was not planned this way but the absence of decision making in our Government bodies led to its eventual declaration as a Park. • Thanks you to the Kogarah Council members who made it so- from 1940 to today! • Thank you!
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