The Weekend Agenda: Oatley Memorial Gardens

Location: Oatley Ave, Oatley

Features: cottage different ye, water featufamiliesacilities: picnic, toilets, playground, parking, walking track

Oatley Memorial Gardens offers a pleasant outdoor area for residents and visitors near the centre of Oatley Village. Located between Oatley Parade and Oatley Avenue, south of Hurstville Road, the Gardens are a green gateway into the centre of Oatley Village.

The Gardens is approximately four hectares in size and is home to a large number of heritage trees and shrubbery. The Oatley Gardens War Memorial is a commemorative element within the Gardens.

The Gardens are an integral part of the history of the Oatley Township. The site was once home to the original Illawarra train line which ran between Oatley Avenue to Oatley Parade from 1884 to 1905. With the removal of the railway, the vacant green space was developed into Oatley Memorial Gardens.

In 1941, Kogarah Municipal Council engineer, Mr Brewer drew up plans for the parkland. In 1983, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of when James Oatley, convict clockmaker, received his land grant, the Oatley community raised funds for the construction of the Oatley clock which today stands in Frederick Street, Oatley.

Oatley Memorial Gardens is available for a range of passive informal recreation activities and offers seating, shelter, picnic tables and two playgrounds for children. There is a large open space area for ball games including provision for netball, athletics and an area for fitness groups and informal play. Open space is also available for weddings.

The southern section of Oatley Memorial Gardens contains the aboveground section of the Woinora water pipeline which is predominantly bushland. This bushland area is part of Sydney’s ‘Green Web’ that is zoned for the protection and enhancement of the existing vegetation and also maintains an important green corridor for native birds. On the southern edge of Neville Street within Oatley Memorial Gardens are the premises of both the 1st Oatley Scouts and the Oatley Girl Guides which are primarily used for conducting training activities.

Oatley Memorial Gardens is an attractive Village gateway park that is used extensively by both local residents and visitors for both active and passive recreational uses.

Oatley Town Village has a lot of local stores which accomkodate for locals. They do have nice cafed and moutheatering pastries, bread and cakes frim various bakery shops.