Figtree, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Figtree is an inner western suburb of Wollongong
, New South Wales
, Australia
. It is southwest of West Wollongong
and connected to Wollongong by the Princes Highway
and The Avenue.
At the junction of the highway and The Avenue is Westfield Figtree
, a two storey indoor shopping centre with a Woolworths
, Coles
and Kmart
. The shopping centre was opened in 1965. The second story is used by a couple of businesses and a second storey to its carpark facilities. Adjacent to the centre is a park which contains sports facilities, a baby health centre and a small sculpture garden.
There is a small commercial district near this junction and another connected area of mainly food stores further north on the highway near the freeway entrance. There is also another commercial area with a chicken food shop, liquor store and video rental store at on the east side of the highway at the O'Briens Road junction.
Figtree has a hotel, an oval, many specialty stores, a dog park, a private hospital and several schools.
A smaller area of residences in Figtree is Figtree Heights, a neighbourhood which is slightly raised above the general level of Figtree. To the suburb's south between Figtree and Unanderra
is Cobbler's Hill, where houses have been built on its side.
road. In 1861 Figtree Bridge was built by Moore and Vaughan.
In 1867 Figtree Inn was built, a small weatherboard building built at the site of the turnoff to O'Brien's Road, later its name changed to Figtree Hotel and it still stands. In the 1880s farming was the main industry in the area. In 1888 the Figtree Sunday School began in a cottage.
On the 25th of November 1903 Figtree Park was opened. The public school opened in 1956, followed by Figtree High School
in 1969, Figtree Heights Public School in 1972 and Nareena Hills Public School in the foothills of Mount Nebo
in 1977.
On the 23rd of September 1965 Westfield Figtree was opened. It was expanded in 1974, and further expansions were completed in 2009, with another 15 specialty stores being added, and a "mini-department store" (The Reject Shop
) making it one of the largest centres in the region. It now ranks in the top 5. On the 15th of October 1979 the Illawarra Private Hospital was opened.
The famous figtree was cut down in 1996 and only a small portion of its trunk is left. In 1998 Fig Tree Park was renovated with an aboriginal mosaic as a result of a community project. The name has been changed to Moreton Bay Fig
tree Park. During the 1998 Wollongong floods, Figtree was one of the worst suburbs hit with flood waters going through the Westfield shopping centre and residents being rescued by the SES
from Figtree Caravan Park.
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is southwest of West Wollongong
West Wollongong, New South Wales
West Wollongong is the innermost western suburb of the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It is mainly a residential area, serviced by a small commercial strip with a music store, chicken shop, electric goods store and carpet store along the Princes Highway with several petrol...
and connected to Wollongong by the Princes Highway
Princes Highway
The Princes Highway extends from Sydney to Port Augusta via the coast through the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, a distance of 1941 km or 1898 km via the former alignments of the highway ....
and The Avenue.
At the junction of the highway and The Avenue is Westfield Figtree
Westfield Figtree
Westfield Figtree is a major shopping centre, located in Figtree, a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.-History and development:Westfield Figtree was opened on 23 September 1965 and started life as a neighbourhood shopping centre....
, a two storey indoor shopping centre with a Woolworths
Woolworths (supermarkets)
Woolworths is the largest supermarket chain in Australia, owned by Woolworths Limited.-History:Woolworths Limited was founded in 1924, with the first store opening up in Sydney's Imperial Arcade.-2008 rebranding:...
, Coles
Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
and Kmart
Kmart Australia
Kmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
. The shopping centre was opened in 1965. The second story is used by a couple of businesses and a second storey to its carpark facilities. Adjacent to the centre is a park which contains sports facilities, a baby health centre and a small sculpture garden.
There is a small commercial district near this junction and another connected area of mainly food stores further north on the highway near the freeway entrance. There is also another commercial area with a chicken food shop, liquor store and video rental store at on the east side of the highway at the O'Briens Road junction.
Figtree has a hotel, an oval, many specialty stores, a dog park, a private hospital and several schools.
A smaller area of residences in Figtree is Figtree Heights, a neighbourhood which is slightly raised above the general level of Figtree. To the suburb's south between Figtree and Unanderra
Unanderra, New South Wales
Unanderra is a suburb of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 10 km south-west of the Wollongong CBD. It is bordered to the west by Farmborough, Cordeaux Heights and Farmborough Heights in the Mount Kembla foothills, the north by Figtree, the east by Berkeley...
is Cobbler's Hill, where houses have been built on its side.
History
The suburb is named after a giant fig tree that once stood on the eastern side of the highway at the junction with O'Brien's Road, a mountain pass used in early days of settlement built by subscription in 1821 before completion by convict labour of Mount KeiraMount Keira
Mount Keira is a 464 metre high mountain lying 4 kilometres northwest of the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Its distinctive shape and proximity to Wollongong make it a major local landmark. It is noted for the views of the city from the popular summit lookout and its history of...
road. In 1861 Figtree Bridge was built by Moore and Vaughan.
In 1867 Figtree Inn was built, a small weatherboard building built at the site of the turnoff to O'Brien's Road, later its name changed to Figtree Hotel and it still stands. In the 1880s farming was the main industry in the area. In 1888 the Figtree Sunday School began in a cottage.
On the 25th of November 1903 Figtree Park was opened. The public school opened in 1956, followed by Figtree High School
Figtree High School
Figtree High School is a comprehensive public high school located on Gibsons Road in Figtree, a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
in 1969, Figtree Heights Public School in 1972 and Nareena Hills Public School in the foothills of Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo (New South Wales)
Mount Nebo is a tall hill, part of the Illawarra escarpment foothills on the edge of the suburban fringe of the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. Its summit , is reached by a steep road from the suburb of Figtree...
in 1977.
On the 23rd of September 1965 Westfield Figtree was opened. It was expanded in 1974, and further expansions were completed in 2009, with another 15 specialty stores being added, and a "mini-department store" (The Reject Shop
The Reject Shop
The Reject Shop is an Australian discount variety store chain. Founded in 1981 as a "seconds" store in South Yarra, Victoria, the company currently operates over 190 stores in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory...
) making it one of the largest centres in the region. It now ranks in the top 5. On the 15th of October 1979 the Illawarra Private Hospital was opened.
The famous figtree was cut down in 1996 and only a small portion of its trunk is left. In 1998 Fig Tree Park was renovated with an aboriginal mosaic as a result of a community project. The name has been changed to Moreton Bay Fig
Moreton Bay Fig
Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay Fig, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the Moraceae family that is a native of most of the eastern coast of Australia, from the Atherton Tableland in the north to the Illawarra in New South Wales, and Lord Howe Island. Its common name is...
tree Park. During the 1998 Wollongong floods, Figtree was one of the worst suburbs hit with flood waters going through the Westfield shopping centre and residents being rescued by the SES
State Emergency Service
A State Emergency Service is an Australian volunteer organisation that provides emergency help during and after declared disasters. The SES is also the primary or secondary agency for emergencies, such as storm damage,flood damage, building damage, traffic hazards and road crash rescue...
from Figtree Caravan Park.