Wolli Creek, New South Wales

Wolli Creek is currently being redeveloped from a predominantly industrial precinct into a high density residential and commercial area. Its close proximity to the Sydney CBD and Sydney Airport make it attractive to young urban professionials and singles. A shopping centre has begun forming around the intersection of Brodie Sparks Drive and Arncliffe Street, near Wolli Creek railway station.

[edit] Transport

The Princes Highway links Wolli Creek north to Tempe and the Sydney CBD and south to Arncliffe and Rockdale.

Wolli Creek railway station is a railway junction for the Illawarra line and East Hills line on the City Rail network. The train trip to Town Hall railway station takes approximately 16 minutes on the Illawarra line via Sydenham, while the trip to Museum railway station takes approximately 18 minutes on the East Hills line via the Airport.

[edit] History

Wolli Creek was named after the waterway on its northern border. The creek was originally known as Woolly Creek, quite likely because the reeds in the water gave it a thick, woolly appearance.

The suburb was previously part of Arncliffe. Reuben Hannam was granted land in 1825 on the banks of Cooks river. Alexander Brodie Spark purchased land in 1826 and built Tempe house in 1836. It was named after 'Vale of Tempe', a beautiful valley in ancient Greek legend set at the foot of Mount Olympus. Tempe House, designed by John Verge, has a Georgian feel and is regarded as one of the great houses of Sydney.

Cooks River railway bridge between Wolli Creek and Tempe

View of Wolli Creek station and apartments being constructed in February 2006

Philanthropist Caroline Chisholm leased Tempe House as a boarding school for young women (1863-1865). The estate was known as Greenbank during this time and presented an ideal location for Chisholm's work. She remarked on the spacious and lofty rooms and the 'fine large and open orchard of fruit trees, intersected by wide and shady walks'.

In 1884 the estate was sold to the Sisters of the Good Samaritan for use as a charitable refuge for women. The Sisters added the impressive St Magdalen's Chapel (1888), which is believed to be the work of Sheerin & Hennessy, an important firm of Sydney architects, who designed the Archbishop's Residence and St Patrick's College at Manly. The neo-Gothic style Chapel is of major cultural significance. It is now deconsecrated and has been restored as part of the Discovery Point redevelopment.

The area became predominantly industrial until a redevelopment was planned in the late 1990s. The new suburb was to be called North Arncliffe, but residents in the area petitioned the council to conduct a vote to select a better name. Wolli Creek was the most popular choice. Wolli Creek railway station opened in 2000. Wolli Creek was officially declared a suburb in 2002.

[edit] Historic Buildings

St Magdalen's Chapel

Tempe House

Tempe House, view from Tempe

[edit] Residential buildings

[edit] References

The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8
Pictorial Memories ST GEORGE Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville, Compiled by Joan Lawrence, Kingsclear Books, Published in Australia ISBN 0-908272-45-6

[edit] External links

Coordinates: -33.935° 151.154°

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

Suburbs and localities within the City of Rockdale \| St George \| Sydney
Arncliffe \| Banksia \| Bardwell Park \| Bardwell Valley \| Bexley \| Bexley North \| Brighton-Le-Sands \| Dolls Point \| Kingsgrove \| Kogarah \| Kyeemagh \| Monterey \| Ramsgate \| Ramsgate Beach \| Rockdale \| Sandringham \| Sans Souci \| Sydney International Airport \| Turrella \| Wolli Creek
List of Sydney suburbs