Oak Flats Subdivision and Road Layout

DESCRIPTION

NameOak Flats Subdivision and Road LayoutTypeLandscapeGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

AddressOak FlatsDescriptionThe original subdivision Of Oak Flats was in 1926 - contemporary with layout of Canberra. The street names reflect Federal leaders, and the design was considered ahead of its time. It is believed the plan was influenced (not designed) by Walter Burley Griffin. The Oak Flats name dates back to the 1820s, when it was owned by John Horsley.

Lots: regular dimensions & reflect 'garden suburb' movement principles.

Residential development began in earnest in the 1920s, when Oak Flats, Lake Illawarra South and Albion Park Rail were subdivided and holiday homes constructed.

Oak Flats was originally granted to John Horsley in 1821 and known as the ‘Oak Flats’ run. Ownership changed a few times to the Wentworth, Hughes and Towns families until 1880, when the 1200 acre property was purchased by George Warburton Fuller.

Lots 9-11 became the Oak Flats suburb in the 1921 Fuller subdivision. During the 1920s, developers Stewart & Morton of Berry and Staples & Co of Sydney created the Panorama, Lake Illawarra Township and the Kembla Vista estates.

The Panorama estate was owned by the Orange family of Albion Park Rail who intended the area to be a holiday retreat. In 1927, they constructed Illawarra Guesthouse and established a ferry service with jetty (extant 45 The Esplanade) to transfer people from the Albion Park Rail station. Due to the Depression, the venture failed.

Lot 10 was developed in 1925 as the Lake Illawarra Township estate incorporating the 'City Beautiful' philosophy. The wide and scenic Central Avenue has deliberate and purposeful alignment with views north over Lake Illawarra to Mt Kembla, and south to historic ‘Dunster’s Hill’. The otherwise grid layout streets commemorate first Commonwealth ministers.

About half of Lot 11 was also subdivided by C.R. Staples & Co into the Kembla Vista estate.

Shellharbour Council’s Rate and Valuation records show first land purchases were by Sydney and country people as far away as Walgett for prospective holiday homes. Simple holiday shacks and boatsheds appeared along the lake coastline. Visitors frequented Oak Flats for fishing and prawning holidays, or to ‘take of the waters’ - as the salty warm water was known to have therapeutic qualities. Oak Flats was seen as an alternative to the spas at Medlow Bath Hydro Majestic in the Blue Mountains.

The first general store to cater for holiday makers was erected at 33 Fisher Street in 1931 and the first post office in 1937.

Although sales interest ensued mainly holiday cottages were constructed prior to World War Two, the 1930s Depression and then the War slowed land uptake or building until c1950s when European migrants came to Shellharbour to take advantage of the affordable housing.

Earliest extant buildings on the southern side of Fisher Street include now scarce buildings from the early 20th century such as 39 Horsley Road, those adjacent to former Nimrod house site, early holiday places such as 141, 151 and 155 The Boulevarde, and representative examples of the first phase of post World War Two immigration.

Public services:
1871 The Illawarra Light Horse formed at Albion Park with a training camp at Oak Flats.
1928 Electricity connected to Shellharbour Municipality.
1943 World War Two a searchlight battery was located near Moore Street Oak Flats with the generators hidden in the bush at Knob Hill.
1953 Oak Flats Primary School opens in Central Avenue with 156 enrollments.
1956 Town Water Supply connected.
1963 Oak Flats High School opens in The Boulevarde with 213 enrollments.External LinkImportant Subdivision 1920https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104782310?searchTerm=oak%20flats%20subdivisionOak Flats Subdivision 1921Dairy Farm Land Sir George Fuller's Estate1921Sir George Fuller's land Blocks Bring Good Prices 1921

Oak Flats, 1948.

Heritage Information

Heritage NSW LinkShellharbour Heritage Inventory Sheet Last edited by: Erin Tierney

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPlacesLocalityOak FlatsRelated ItemKembla Vista EstateLake Illawarra Township Estate A (Oak Flats)Panorama Estate

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Oak Flats Subdivision and Road Layout