The Entrance, New South Wales

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The Entrance Central Coast, New South Wales
Pelican feeding at The Entrance
Population:	2,773 (2001)[1]
Established:	1991
Postcode:	2261
Property Value:	AUD $400,000
LGA:	Wyong Shire Council
Suburbs around The Entrance The Entrance North Tuggerah Lake The Entrance Pacific Ocean Long Jetty Blue Bay

The Entrance is a suburb on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The Central Coast is an urban region, located on the coastline north of Sydney and south of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.^[2] The Entrance itself is 2 km² and located approximately 97km north of the Sydney central business district.^[3]

The suburb occupies an area of land that is bounded by water on three sides. The Entrance gains it name from the channel that runs along much of its eastern border that is the entrance to The Tuggerah Lakes. The Entrance has been a very popular holiday destination for many people since the first guest house was established in 1885.^[4] The area is currently experiencing enormous growth as a result of small holiday cottages that dominated The Entrance for most of the 21st century, being replaced by multi-story apartment blocks.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Settlement 1.2 Growth 2 Politics 3 Suburb amenities 4 Notes 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Settlement

Although the area was previously inhabited by the Darkinjung people, the Indigenous Australians, it is believed Europeans first discovered it in 1796. It was found by Governor of Tasmania, Colonel David Collins, who had arrived on the First Fleet, during the search for an escaped convict woman, Mary Morgan, who was said to be living with the Aborigines to the North of the Hawkesbury River.^[5]

The area now known as The Entrance was occupied by Henry Holden in 1828. He occupied 640 acres and was bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the eastern side, Tuggerah Lake on the northern and western sides and extended all the way to the current Toowoon Bay Road. Holden named the property Towoon, although deeds were never issued. In 1835 the deeds were issued to John Edye Manning and he sold the land for £200 to Thomas Cade Battley who renamed the property Terilbah.^[6]

In 1850 ownership was transferred to the Taylor Family and it was referred to as Tuggerah Beach. The land remained privately owned until the turn of the century when it was divided up among the twelve children of Richard Brown Taylor and Norberta Maria Gertrude (nee Watkins). The Taylors were great citizens having donated land to the Roman Catholic Church, The Church of England and The Entrance Public School.^[7] Many streets in the area are named after them including Taylor Street, Richard Street, Norberta Street and Victoria Street.^[8]

On December 15, 1910, Karagi Receiving Office was opened. Karagi, meaning the entrance, was the Aboriginal name for the point on the south bank of the channel at the Pacific Ocean, a name which has since been officially adopted. On June 1, 1911, Karagi Receiving Office was designated a Post Office. The name Karagi was not popular locally and on November 15, 1911, the English interpretation was adopted.^[9]

[edit] Growth

In 1889 the railway line was completed from Sydney to Newcastle^[10] and tourism began to develop in the area during the late 19th century following the construction of several guest houses. The first guest house in the area was built at The Entrance North by Mr and Mrs Walter Denniss in 1885 and was called Dunleith Guest House. Bayview Guest House was the first to be opened in the Entrance and was opened in 1900^[11] by Mr and Mrs Dening (nee Taylor). Pinehurst Guest House was another that was constructed in 1903 by Les Taylor and was by far the largest at that time. By 1912, members of the Taylor family were operating four guest houses at The Entrance.^[12]

In March 1920 200 parcels of land were auctioned after it had become clear that the land in the township needed to be subdivided. Each block of land averaged a selling price of £60 to £80, although some blocks closer to the water sold for as much as £200. Immediately holiday houses began to be built rapidly. It also resulted in a total of 15 guest houses operating soon after, including Lakeside built by Rene Johnson (nee Taylor) that was the most exclusive. Although competition was fierce, the guesthouses had high occupency rates in the booming times.^[13] Bayview Avenue and Ozone Street are both named after guest houses that were located at The Entrance.^[8]

Despite the growth, the area was still isolated and access was restricted to a Wagon on the bush track from Gosford or by a Ferry from Wyong. The area was popular among fishermen and prior to 1908 the majority of boats that travelled to The Entrance used Tuggerah Jetty, the remains of which, still exists on the shore of Tuggerah Lake between the entrances to Wyong River and Ourimbah Creek. When Wyong River was dredged in 1908, the boats would take their catch into Wyong. The construction of Wyong Wharf allowed greater access to The Entrance and the demand for ferry transport boomed. Numerous operators took advantage of the demand and ferry's such as Wyong, Waiwera, Loongana and Maheno were making regular journeys across Tuggerah Lake. In 1922, the bush track to Wyong was opened as a road. By the end of the nineteen-twenties the ferry's were rendered obsolete by buses that could reach The Entrance quickly and cheaply.^[14]

The Entrance Bridge links The Entrance with The Entrance North over The Entrance Channel as part of Wilfred Barrett Drive. It was originally a wooden single lane bridge with bypass bays that allowed traffic travelling in the opposite direction to pass.^[15] It was opened in 1934. The original bridge was adequate until 1965 as it only served traffic travelling as far as The Entrance North. By the end of 1965 the traffic flow over the old bridge at The Entrance increased to such an extent the structure was under constant repair.^[5] Work began on the current two lane, concrete structure on 17 July 1967 after a successful tender by Transbridge Pty Ltd. The bridge was opened to traffic on 20 December 1968 and officially opened by the Premier, the Hon. Robert Askin on 18 April 1969.^[16]

The Entrance Cinema is another well-known icon. It is located on the corner of The Entrance Road and Bayview Mall. The cinema was opened as The Prince Edward theatre in 1934 and was immediately popular due to the fire that burnt the other theatre in The Entrance, the Wintergarden Theatre in the same year. The Prince Edward Theatre closed in 1977 but was reopened in 1981 when it was purchased and converted into a smaller cinema. A second screen was added in 1988.^[17] The cinema achieved notority in 2006 when it refused to screen the film, The Da Vinci Code as it was contrary to the owners beliefs.^[18]

In 1999, The Entrance waterfront was named 'The Pelican Capital of Australia' by Wyong Council to coincide with the opening of a pelican feeding platform as part of the waterfront redevelopment. The daily feeding of the pelicans at 3.30 pm daily has been a regular event at The Entrance for around 20 years since an employee at Clifford's fish shop Peter Major started giving them his scraps during his lunch break. The daily practice attracts 20,000 visitors annually.^[19]

[edit] Politics

2003 NSW Election[20]   Labor 52%   Liberal 36%   Greens 6%   Democrats 1%

2004 Federal Election[21]   Liberal 50%   Labor 36%   Greens 5%   Independents 3%

The Entrance is located within the federal electorate of Dobell. Ken Ticehurst currently represents the electorate of Canberra in the House of Representatives. Dobell was originally a fairly safe seat for the Australian Labor Party but was won by the Liberal Party in the 2001 election. The Liberals consolidated their hold on the seat at the 2004 election, and Dobell is no longer regarded as a key marginal electorate.

In the NSW Legislative Assembly, The Entrance is part of the Electoral district of The Entrance. The electorate is considered a safe seat for the Labor Party who have held the seat since 1992. It is represented by Grant McBride.

Polling statistics are shown to the right for the Dobell in the 2003 NSW and 2004 federal elections.

[edit] Suburb amenities

The Entrance Town Centre is located on The Entrance Road, extending from Dening Street (named after the original owners of Bayview Guest House.^[22]) to The Entrance Bridge.^[8] Lakeside Shopping Centre is located on the corner of The Entrance Road and Dening Street and contains a supermarket, bakery, chemist, building society, newsagent as well as several specialty stores. The Entrance Road, however, also has many more stores, especially those that cater for tourists such as clothing shops and many restaurants.

The Entrance is serviced by Red Bus Services, and the suburb is a major terminus, with several routes terminating and beginning in Torrens Avenue. Bus numbers 21, 22 and 23 all run an identical route through the suburb via Torrens Avenue, Fairview Avenue and The Entrance Road on the way to Gosford. Bus numbers 24, 25, 26 and run an identical route through the suburb via Torrens Avenue, Fairview Avenue, The Entrance Road, Warrigal Street, Boondilla Road and Bay Road on the way to Wyong. In addition to this bus number 29 travels along The Entrance Road, Fairview Avenue, torrens Avenue and Wilfred Barrett Drive on its way to Wyong Hospital from Stockland Bay Village. Generally, Red Bus Services run every 30 to 60 minutes from 5am to 12am.^[23]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Suburbs of Wyong Shire

Alison | Bateau Bay | Berkeley Vale | Blue Bay | Budgewoi | Budgewoi Peninsula | Buff Point | Canton Beach | Cedar Brush | Chain Valley Bay | Charmhaven | Chittaway Bay | Chittaway Point | Colongra | Dooralong | Doyalson | Fountaindale | Glenning Valley | Gorokan | Gwandalan | Halekulani | Hamlyn Terrace | Jilliby | Kangy Angy | Kanwal | Killarney Vale | Kulnura | Lake Haven | Lake Munmorah | Lemon Tree | Little Jilliby | Long Jetty | Magenta | Mannering Park | Mardi | Norah Head | Noraville | Ourimbah | Palmdale | Ravensdale | Rocky Point | San Remo | Shelly Beach | Summerland Point | Tacoma | Tacoma South | The Entrance | The Entrance North | Toowoon Bay | Toukley | Tuggerah | Tuggerawong | Tumbi Umbi | Wadalba | Wallarah | Warnervale | Watanobbi | Woongarrah | Wyong | Wyong Creek | Wyongah | Yarramalong

List of Central Coast, New South Wales suburbs

[edit] External links

• The Entrance Town Centre Management

Coordinates: -33.220° 151.290°

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Street Directory, MSN Maps and Multimap.
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, WikiMapia and Terraserver.