Past History
Blakehurst occupies a spectacular portion of Sydney’s waterways: the eastern border of the suburb runs along Kogarah Bay and the western border abuts Kyle Bay. The first European to hold land in the area was Robert Townson, who received a grant of 75 acres in 1808. However the person who gave their name to the suburb was William Blake, who was appointed post master for the Cooks River in 1863.

Property
Blakehurst offers beautiful homes with large gardens. Most homes in the suburb were constructed in the middle of the twentieth century. As a result, Blakehurst offers solidly constructed brick and tile dwellings which have been consistently maintained. Blakehurst has always been attractive to families and the homes have three or more bedrooms and spacious living areas. Many homes in the suburb have been updated and enlarged, particularly those which offer district and water views. This suburb offers some of southern Sydney’s most spectacular home sites, which provide direct waterfrontage and substantial views.

Shopping
Blakehurst is served by a small shopping precinct situated at the intersection of King Georges Road and the Princess Highway. Shops including a bakery, butcher, grocer and newsagency. A short drive across Tom Ugly’s bridge in Sylvania is the Southgate Shopping Centre. Home to two large supermarkets, a department store, speciality boutiques as well as a number of services, such as a post office and public library.
Not far away Hurstville town centre gives locals access to a larger shopping mall, conveniently located above Hurstville Station. A large Coles supermarket is located in the centre.

Schools
A large proportion of Blakehurst’s population is made up of families with children. There is an excellent range of childcare and preschool services for children in the under five age-range. Older children are well served by local schools. There are two government primary schools: Bald Face Primary School and Blakehurst Primary School. A Catholic primary school – Mater Dei – is also situated in Blakehurst. Secondary students are served by Blakehurst High School. Nearby suburbs offer a wide range of government and non-government secondary schools.

The St George TAFE Institute is located in nearby Kogarah. Given its good transport links, the University of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney and University of NSW are all reached by train or bus.

Transport
Blakehurst is located 18 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD following the Princes Highway. The International Airport is also accessed via the Princess Highway. The 13 kilometre journey takes approximately 30 minutes by car.

A number of stations on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line are within easy reach of Blakehurst. Hurstville, Allawah and Carlton stations are approximately five kilometres from Blakehurst. A privately operated bus service also operates between Hurstville and Miranda via Blakehurst and Sylvania

Dining Out
Blakehurst is famous for Smith’s Seafood, which was recently voted the best provider of take-away fish and chips in Sydney. There are more formal places to dine in Blakehurst, including a number of seafood restaurants, including Bayblu Seafood Restaurant and Shipwrights on the Blakehurst Marina. Blakehurst offers an abundance of casual dining options.

Sports
Many sports activities in Blakehurst centre on the Georges River. Neighbouring Kogarah Bay provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and sailing – the local marina is home to the Kogarah Bay Sailing Club. Swimmers can access the historic Carss Park Bush Baths home of Dick Caine’s swimming and sporting complex.

Blakehurst boasts a number of parks. Bald Face Point Reserve, Kyle Williams Reserve, The Green and Todd Park all provide opportunities for walking, running and cycling. Todd Park boasts a playing field for soccer and football, as well as a cricket pitch. Residents of Blakehurst also enjoy the 18 hole golf course at Beverley Park.

Past History
Bonnet Bay occupies a stretch of land on the eastern bank of the Woronora River. Although it was encompassed by the estates of some of Sydney’s early European settlers, suburban development did not occur until much later and large stretches of bushland were retained in numerous reserves. The largest of these - Burnum Burnum Reserve - is named after one of the district’s most prominent indigenous residents. Formerly known as Jannali Reserve, in 2005 it was renamed after Burnum Burnum and a small plaque in the reserve describes his famous Bicentenary speech. Burnum Burnum Reserve surrounds much of Bonnet Bay, separating it from its neighbours.

Property
Bonnet Bay is a desirable residential suburb in a bush setting. The suburb offers a wide range of large, freestanding brick homes dating from the 1960s. Homes range in size, from modest family cottages to large executive homes. Many of these boast large living areas and many have three or more bedrooms. Many homes in the suburb offer ambient views, and some provide access to the Woronora River.

Shopping
The Bonnet Bay Shopping Village is situated in Kennedy Crescent and includes a small supermarket. Three kilometres away, neighbouring Sutherland has one of southern Sydney’s most vibrant shopping centres. Sutherland’s shopping district centres on the railway station and offers a post office, newsagencies, pharmacies, grocery stores, video stores, supermarkets, butchers and bakeries. Retail centres are located nearby including Westfield Miranda, the Parkside Plaza Miranda and Caringbah Marketplace.

Schools
Bonnet Bay is an attractive suburb for families and the local childcare and educational services reflect this. There are a number of preschools in the area that serve children from two to five. Bonnet Bay Public School on Tudar Road caters to children from kindergarten to year six. Neighbouring suburbs are home to a number of public high schools. Independent primary and secondary schools are located throughout neighbouring suburbs. The Sutherland Institute of TAFE offers a wide range of courses at post secondary level. Two campuses are located nearby, one at Gymea and one at Loftus.

Transport
Bonnet Bay is located 33 kilometres south of Sydney’s central business district. The drive to the city takes about 45 minutes following the Eastern Distributor and Princes Highway. Sydney airport is also only 30 minutes’ drive away. Residents of Bonnet Bay also have great access to public transport. Como, Jannali and Sutherland stations are all within easy reach. There are regular bus services from Bonnet Bay to Jannali and other nearby suburbs, and some routes provide direct access to Sutherland Station.

Dining Out
Residents of Bonnet Bay have excellent dining options close to home. Jannali is home to a number of Italian, Chinese, Thai and Indian restaurants. Lots of other surrounding suburbs offer great dining options.

Sports
On the Woronora river a boat ramp provides public access for sailing, canoeing, kayaking. The riverside area around the boat ramp is also equipped with well-maintained areas for picnicking. Lovely areas for walking, running or cycling. The adjacent recreation area houses a cricket pitch, soccer oval, two baseball fields and two netball courts. Al residents have access to local competitions across a wide range of sporting codes.

Past History
Caringbah is a highly recommended suburb ideal for young families. Similar to Miranda with a commercial hub of business, transport and shopping Caringbah can be segmented into Caringbah and Caringbah South. Both offer lovely environments of bay peninsulas and tall trees. Although situated to the north of the Port Hacking river Caringbah is surrounded by pleasant waterways.

Property
Caringbah is a highly sought after residential suburb in a beautiful leafy setting. Caringbah offers a wide range of large, freestanding brick family homes. Most homes boast large living areas and many have four or more bedrooms. Large renovated homes provide big terraces and paved and tiled swimming pool and BBQ areas.

Shopping
Caringbah has two groups of shops within easy reach of residents. A small group of shops near the Caringbah Soccer Oval consist of a general store, butchery, liquor shop and hair-stylist. Close by in Caringbah residents can shop on Port Hacking Road, where there is a supermarket and a few other shops. A number of large retail centres are located nearby including Caringbah Marketplace and Westfield Miranda.  These shopping centres provide everything from large department stores to specialty shops.

Schools
Caringbah and neighbouring suburbs offer excellent childcare and school services. Caringbah kindergarten located in neighbouring Caringbah. Caringbah Primary School educates children from kindergarten to year six and there are several public high schools in the locality. A range of independent schools in the area also provide primary and secondary education, with a number of religious schools located in nearby Woolooware. Residents can also access The Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland which has campuses at Gymea and Loftus.

Transport
Caringbah is located 25 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD about a 40 minute drive. The suburb has very good public transport where many locals commute to the CBD via train, accessing from nearby Caringbah Station. Caringbah is also served by bus transport to all surrounding suburbs.

Dining Out
Caringbah has number of places to dine out. There are take-away eateries located in both the small shopping areas, and there’s a patisserie/café and pizzeria at the group of shops on Port Hacking Road. Caringbah and Cronulla are close by and offer a  range of dining experiences, including seafood, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Lebanese, Greek, French and modern Australian.

Sport
Caringbah offers many ovals and parks for sport. The Caringbah Point Reserve is a beautiful place to walk and run and a great place for picnicking. A big feature is the deep saltwater baths at the Caringbah spit where its relaxing to fish or swim.  Caringbah Oval is the home ground of the Caringbah Football Club. In addition, residents of Caringbah have access to competitions in a range of sports organised within the Sutherland Shire, including hockey, tennis, soccer, rugby union, rugby league, netball and softball

Past History
Carlton, named after a suburb in England, nevertheless has a history that is closely tied up with the development of Sydney. Although a train line passed through the suburb by the mid-1800s, there was no platform in Carlton itself. An unusual scheme was devised to fund the construction of a platform: individuals would be given a block of land in Carlton if they contributed 400 pounds towards the construction of a station and station buildings. In this way Carlton gained its station, which was ceremoniously opened in 1889.

Property
Carlton is a suburb with a mix of older housing types and styles. Victorian terraces and free-standing dwellings are in the suburb, federation homes and semi-detached dwellings are also well-represented, The commercial precinct near the station features a number of Victorian shopfronts.

Shopping
Carlton’s shopping area is located on both sides of Carlton railway station on Railway and Carlton Parades. This area provides a grocery store, bakery, butchery as well as a newsagency and video store. The larger shopping centre at Hurstville is situated a short drive away.

Schools
At Carlton there are a range of childcare services catering for the under-fives, including the Carlton Childcare Centre. Two primary schools offer education from kindergarten to grade six: Carlton Public School and Carlton South Public School. Sydney Technical High School – a government secondary school with a specialist curriculum - is located in nearby Bexley. A range of religious and independent schools in the area serves primary and secondary students.

Within easy reach is the St George Institute of TAFE located in neighbouring Kogarah. Carlton offers direct access by train to a number of universities. Both the University of Sydney and University of Technology, Sydney.

Transport
Carlton is located 15 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The journey by car between Carlton and the city takes less than 30 minutes. Carlton station is on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line provides residents with excellent links to the city. The journey takes approximately 25 minutes. Bus services run throughout Carlton, including those provided by the Veolia private bus company

Dining Out
There are many local options for dining. Along the rail line Antonia’s Restaurant has recently been opened in the Carlton Royal Hotel, and Fiesta Mexicana provides a relaxed choice for dinner. More casual dining and a new Chinese restaurant is available at the St George Leagues Club, located down the road on the Princes Highway.

Sport
The sports activity in Carlton centres on three local parks - Kogarah Park, Tinsdale Reserve and Jubilee Oval. Theses provide locals with relaxed spaces for walking, running and cycling. Jubilee Oval is home to the St George Illawarra Dragons National Rugby League team. A ‘Walk of Fame’ celebrating previous league players is located on Park Street. Carlton offers a wide range of local sporting competitions, including netball, basketball, tennis, soccer, AFL, rugby, rugby league and athletics.

Kogarah Bay is a short drive from Carlton for sailing, kayaking and canoeing. Swimmers use nearby Carss Park swimming baths. For Golf Beverley Park is a short drive from Carlton, and provides locals with a superb 18 hole golf course.

Past History
Carss Park is a small leafy suburb overlooking Kogarah Bay. The area was first settled by Europeans in 1854 when Jonathon Croft purchased land here. He later sold his land to William Carr, after whom the suburb is named. In 1923 a newly elected local council acquired much of this land for a public park. As a result, one third of the total area of the suburb is spectacular parkland.

Property
Carss Park is defined by its beautiful open bushy parklands. Its streets are well proportioned and tress lined. The suburb has two distinct sections. Typically, housing in the low-lying area of Carss Park is comprised of older brick homes. Housing in the upper areas offer more expansive views of the local waterways and Kogarah Bay, and it’s here that more extensive redevelopment is still taking place.

Shopping
A small shopping area is located on Carwar Avenue near the intersection with the Princess Highway. Shops include a newsagent, pharmacy, butchery, bottle shop and grocery store. South Hurstville Shopping Centre, Hurstville Town Centre and Westfield are a short drive from Carss Park.

Schools
There are a number of local childcare and preschool services in Carss Park. Blakehurst Public School nearby provides education from kindergarten to grade six. There are numerous government high schools in the locality, including Blakehurst High, along with a variety of independent institutions. The St George Institute of TAFE is located in nearby Kogarah.

Transport
Carss Park is 17 kilometres from the Sydney CBD along the Princes Highway. Sydney Airport is a 12 kilometre drive taking approximately 30 minutes. Residents of Carss Park are close to a number of stations on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line. Hurstville, Allawah and Carlton stations are all within five kilometres of Carss Park. Veolia private bus company provides a local link.

Dining Out
Neighbouring suburbs offer a range of cafés and restaurants. Bayblu Seafood Restaurant and Shipwrights both offer great menue’s at the Blakehurst Marina. Sans Souci is also a short drive away offering excellent dining options across a wide range of food choices.

Sports
Carss Park has many different parks to use for playing, walking, running and cycling. Dick Caines famous swimming pool complex and the local salt water baths is a hive of swimming activity on any day. Kogarah Bay provides locals with opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, sailing and fishing. Carss Park Field is the home ground of the St George Rugby Club and the Carss Park Soccer Club. Carss Park Field provides a cricket wicket and practice net, as well as soccer and football field. There is also the 18 hole golf course at Beverley Park close by.

Past History
Located on the southern shores of the Georges River, Como is named after the magnificent lake at the base of the Italian Alps. While the landscape around Como isn’t very alpine, this leafy bayside suburb is extremely picturesque. In the late 1800s the area – which encompasses Bonnet Bay, Scylla Bay and Carona Bay - was a popular destination for honeymooners and holiday-makers. Last century a major landholder, John Murphy, undertook a number of developments designed to cater to the steady stream of pleasure-seekers to the area. After renaming the area Como, he built the impressive Como House. He was also responsible for the Como Pleasure Grounds, situated in an area now known by locals as ‘the Point.’

Property
Como property has always been about families homes. Properties have three or more bedrooms and spacious living areas. Homes have been constantly updated and enlarged using cladding and timber decks. Some homes offer district and water views on some spectacular home sites. Como also offers a small number of new townhouse developments, which offer excellent value for money.

Shopping
Como locals have the convenience of the shops located on Wolger Street for all the essentials. Sutherland – with its big shopping district – is only three kilometres away, and provides access to supermarkets and numerous specialty stores.

Schools
Como is a very attractive destination for families. Como has excellent childcare and educational services. There are a number of childcare centres in the area, along with a range of preschools. Two schools serve local children: Como Public and Como West Public. Both offer the schooling from kindergarten to year six. There are numerous independent schools in the region offering primary and secondary education. Sutherland TAFE provides post-secondary education locally, with campuses in nearby Loftus and Gymea.

Transport
Como is about 30 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD about a 35 minute drive. Como also has good public transport services. Como Station sits on the Eastern Suburbs – Illawarra rail line and provides a frequent service to the centre of Sydney. Private buses also operate in the suburb supplying Como with connections to its neighbouring suburbs.

Dining Out
Como has some great dining options. The Como Hotel is popular for local and out of area diners. There are lots of good dining options in nearby suburbs. Jannali is only a short drive away and is home to a range of restaurants serving Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian cuisine.

Sport
Como is home to the St George Rowing Club. The waterways are the location for many other recreational activities. The Como marina provides access to yachts, motor launches, canoeists and kayakers . The parks along the bayside are great for those interested in walking, running or cycling. Its well worth a walk across the Como railway bridge. It’s has been converted for pedestrian use, and offers lovely views of Como’s waterways.

Past History
Connells Point, a tranquil suburb on the northern bank of the Georges River. Named after an early local landholder the area was thickly wooded and referred to as Connells Bush. Today the suburb retains the bushland that first characterised it, with many luxury homes in the area with flowing landscaped gardens, and some properties open river views.

Property
Connells Point real estate offer spacious brick homes on large blocks. The suburb has always attracted families, and many homes boast three or four bedroom homes. Landowners of Connells Point have opted to rejuvenate their homes to take advantage of the beautiful quiet enviroment the suburb offers.

Shopping
Connells Point offers a village shopping centre. A group of shops at King Georges Road provides all the essentials with a grocery shop, bakery, newsagency, pharmacy, and video store. Hurstville shopping centre is a short drive from Connells Point. It has a large Coles supermarket and a number of additional speciality shops.

Schools
Connells Point is a good family suburb. There are a number of childcare centres and preschools in the area that cater for young children. Connells Point Primary school provides education for children from kindergarten to year six. There area a number of high schools close by including Blakehurst High School. Other academically selective schools are St George Girls High School , Sydney Technical High School for Boys. These schools are accessible from Connells Point.

The St George Institute of TAFE is located in nearby Kogarah. The University of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney and University of NSW are all within reach by train or bus transport.

Transport
Connells Point is 20 kilometres from the Sydney CBD. Sydney Airport is approximately a 15 kilometre journey and takes about 30 minutes. A number of stations on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line are a short drive from Connells Point, including Hurstville, Allawah and Carlton stations.

Dining Out
Encore Café is a regular place for Connells Point residents. Full of Beans Café in nearby Carss Park is a lovely destination; the cafe offers views of the local parkland. Nearby Blakehurst offers some well-regarded seafood restaurants such as Bayblu Seafood Restaurant and Shipwrights on the Marina. Both are situated right on the bay. Sans Souci is also a short drive away and it offers an enormous range of dining options, with some particularly strong Italian restaurants among them.

Sport
Connells Point water sports centre on the Georges River. Nearby Carss Park offers an abundance of playing fields and reserves, along with the swimming and sporting complex operated by Mr. Dick Caine. Connells Point Sailing Club is located in Donnelly Park on the shores of Connells Bay. Tennis courts are available nearby. Three netball courts are located at Poulton Park. The Beverly Park 18 hole golf course is a short drive away. Connells Point offers a number of local sporting competitions for children and adults.

Past History
'Cronulla Beaches' was the name given in 1827 to the Cronulla beaches by Surveyor Dixon. After the railway reached Sutherland in 1885, the area become popular as a holiday location and picnic spot. The Oriental Hotel was built by Captain Spingall in 1888. With the popularity of motor cars in the 1920s, Cronulla developed rapidly and many of the buildings in Cronulla Street date from the 1930s including the St.Andrews Church (1934) and the railway station (1939). In the 1950s and 1960s, most of the holiday guest houses were replaced by high rise apartments. The area is now one of most popular beach peninsulas on the east coast.  

Property
Cronulla has a large range of property styles. From original and renovated apartments, resort-style complexes, townhouses and luxury apartments, magnificent waterfront homes, trendy beachfront properties, modern contemporary designed homes. Cronulla is considered a great place to retire and the area is filling with modern luxury apartments.    

Shopping
Cronulla offers an array of neighbourhood stores, such as newsagents, chemists, grocery stores, video stores, supermarkets, book stores, delicatessens, butchers and bakeries. The main shopping location is Cronulla Mall developed in 1988 as part of the Bicentenary celebrations. Today the ‘Mall’ is home to more than 260 retail and commercial businesses. The shopping strip has an extensive range of fashion boutiques, homeware stores, gift stores, supermarkets and specialty food stores. The big attraction is kerbside eating and the many outdoor restaurants and cafés.  

Schools
Cronulla schools include Cronulla Public School, Cronulla High school, Cronulla South Public School, De La Salle College, Cronulla Preschool, and several kindergartens.

Transport
Cronulla is approximately 20km from Sydney CBD. Cronulla is serviced by trains from Cronulla Railway Station to the city circle and south coast train link, in addition to local buses that cover the area. The famous Bundeena ferry operates from the Cronulla marina.  

Dining Out
Cronulla is full of fantastic restaurants and cafes, many with views of the beach. The choice of cuisines is equally large and ranges from seafood, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, Greek, French, modern Australian, Thai and Indian. Trendy kerbside eating is enjoyed along the Mall strip and there are plenty of nice places for a casual meal. 

Sports
Cronulla is surrounded by magnificent waterwaysof the tranquil Port Hacking river.
There is a strong focus on sport in the area. The many clubs cater for netball, tennis, soccer, AFL, rugby league, rugby union, sailing, water polo, basketball, baseball and athletics. For golf members there is the Cronulla Golf Club. For rugby league supporters, the Cronulla ‘Sharks’ is the local team.

The Shire has been the home of many famous sports people with a number of Olympic athletes on its books. Stars including cricketers Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, tennis-player Todd Woodbridge, Basketballer Shane Heal, rugby league legends include Andrew Ettingshausen, Johnny Raper and Jack Gibson, Swimmers Ian Thorpe, Craig Stevens and Suzie Maroney, Tri-athletes Greg Welch and Chris McCormack just to names few from a long list.

Past History
Dolans Bay bears the name of the suburb’s earliest colonial owner, Dominick Dolan. He bought the land now occupied by Dolans Bay in 1863. Dolans Bay is one of Sydney’s most picturesque bayside suburbs and has long been a favourite spot for local boat owners. With a small boutique marina on offer there are many yachts and pleasure craft moored in around the bay. Dolans Bay is a highly sought after suburb due to its pleasant scenery, bay views and stunning properties.

Property
Dolans Bay shows off an impressive array of beautiful homes. Given its geography, most properties in the suburb offer great views some with a lovely north facing ascpect. Many homes sit right on the bay and offer the perfect water front lifestyle. Many homes have either been designed or updated by architects. The prestige homes of Dolans Bay have usually been designed with entertaining in mind and offer spacious indoor and outdoor living areas and terraced balconies.

Shopping
Residents shop in neighbouring Caringbah. Just over one kilometre from Dolans Bay. Caringbah offers the Caringbah Marketplace, a newsagent, chemist, grocery stores, video stores, a Woolworths and Coles supermarket, butcheries and bakeries. Westfield Miranda and the Parkside Plaza Miranda which house a range of department stores, boutiques and speciality stores are a short drive away.

Schools
Fron Dolans Bay there’s a range of childcare and educational services catering for the needs of children up to five year of age. Several public schools are located close to Dolans Bay including Caringbah Public and Lilli Pilli Public. A range of independent schools in the area provide primary and secondary education. Our Lady of Mercy College is a short distance from Dolans Bay, as is De La Salle College.

Transport
Dolans Bay is 26 kilometres from Sydney’s central business district about 30 minutes by car. Residents of Dolans Bay also enjoy great public transport links. Caringbah Station is a short distance away. The station is located on the Eastern Suburbs – Illawarra line. Public buses also operate in the area, with routes through Caringbah and nearby Taren Point. A private bus company also operates locally, providing connections between Dolans Bay and neighbouring suburbs.

Dining Out
Close by Caringbah offers a great range of cafés and restaurants. Many choices including Chinese, Thai, Indian and several pizzerias. Then there is Cronulla only two kilometres away. Cronulla offers a huge range of dining experiences, including seafood, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Lebanese, Greek, French and modern Australian. Visit the Cronulla mall for restaurants and Café’s and kerbside dining or the restaurants along the beach for fantastic ocean views.

Sport
Dolans Bay offers an excellent range of sports activities. For water sports you can start at the Dolans Bay marina with excellent boating facilities. The local bays are constantly used by boaters, kayakers and canoeists. Swimmers have surf beaches within easy reach. Wally’s Wharf the local boat ramp is a nice spot for a sit or stroll. Dolans Bay is also close to two golf courses, Woolooware and Cronulla Golf Clubs. Residents of Dolans Bay also have access to competitions in a range of sports, including baseball, softball, rugby union, league and soccer.

Past History
The picturesque bayside community of Grays Point is set on the tranquil shores of the Port Hacking River and bordered on two sides by the Royal National Park.
Historians believed Grays Point was coined after the early landowner Samuel William Gray who owned 50 acres of land on the point, or after a national park resident in the late 1800s, John Edward Gray, who lived across the river at Gundamaian and became a popular local identity. Land at Grays Point was first granted in 1910, but like most suburbs in the Shire it was slow to develop, showing its most rapid division into residential blocks during the 1950s baby-boomer period and into the 1960s.

Property
A large percent of residents live in freestanding houses along the leafy streets and cul de sacs of Grays Point. The suburb’s prime waterfront position means many homes boast impressive views across the Port Hacking River into Mansion Bay, the North West Arm inlet and unobstructed bushland outlooks over the national park. There are a mixture of brick and timber homes and cottages. Many homes continue to be renovated by the young families that call Grays Point home. 

Shopping
A group of local shops are located on Grays Point Road, including a post office, butcher, liquor store and café. More extensive shopping options are available at Gymea, Kirrawee and Miranda where shoppers have on hand approximately 600 specialty and boutique stores at Westfield Miranda.

Schools
Grays Point Public School is nestled on the western border of the Royal National Park adjoining Grays Point Oval running from kindergarten to Year 6. The school is at the forefront of technology with every student using a personal laptop, as part of a University of Wollongong study to create an Australian model for the use of computers in primary schools.

Transport
Grays Point is located 30 km south of the Sydney CBD. A bus services runs to Gymea railway station every 30 minutes during peak periods and hourly otherwise including weekends, and then on to Miranda Westfield. City trains depart Gymea station every 20 minutes during peak hour and run along the Waterfall to Bondi Junction line.
The original rail line is now being duplicated for additional services from Cronulla to the city and south coast.

Dining Out
For dining out the Slice Bar is located on Grays Point Road and offers Mediterranean cuisine. There are a number of village cafes and food shops along Gymea Bay Road at Gymea, with a more extensive selection available at Westfield Miranda. A short drive away Kirrawee and Sutherland have a good selection of Thai, Chinese and Italian restaurants and take away food stores. Worth the trip.

Sports
Boating is a popular activity from the Swallow Rock boat ramp at Grays Point with a dual lane launch ramp for large boats. Called Swallow Rock Reserve there is a beautiful sandy beach, grassed areas for lazy picnics and good fishing spots. A favourite is rowing your boat, canoe or kayak up stream along the narrow winding river into the Royal National Park. Its is a spectacular trip. 

Past History
Gymea takes gets its name from the Gymea Lily, a striking and nearly indestructible native plant that features a thick cluster of deep red flowers on a stem that can grow up to 7 metres high. Government Surveyor WAB Greaves termed the name Gymea in 1855, which is the Aboriginal word for ‘giant lily’.

Gymea today offers local residents and those living in adjoining waterside suburbs a family friendly shopping strip developed around Gymea railway station and Gymea Hotel on Gymea Bay Road. Gymea town centre is a fabulous village atmosphere.

Property
Gymea property is a mix of freestanding brick and tile, and clad homes that is typical in the Shires south. Located in and around the railway station are cluster developments of new home units, townhouses and some duplexes. Properties are typically three to four bedrooms with nice yards, some with swimming pools. Gymea  is a great family suburb. 
Shopping
Gymea’s shopping centre is based around the railway station and newly renovated Gymea Hotel on Gymea Bay Road. Shopping consists of rows of shops on either side of the street. Shops include supermarkets, boutique clothing stores, bakeries, butchers, newsagents and fruit and veg stores. Shoppers are only five minutes in the car from nearby Westfield Miranda with over 600 specialty and boutique stores.

Schools
Gymea TAFE on Hotham Road is the Sutherland area’s regional TAFE facility. Local schools include Gymea North Primary and Gymea Technology High on the Princes Highway. Gymea is serviced with secondary education schooling including Port Hacking High and Kirrawee High. 

Transport
Gymea is 25 km south of the Sydney CBD. Main arterial roads are the Kingsway to Taren Point road  and Port Hacking Road onto Princes Highway. Trains run from Gymea railway every 15-20 minutes during peak hours. Gymea station is also part of the dual carriageway rail line upgrade by Sydney Rail.

Dining Out
Gymea village has a good choice of alfresco cafés and Thai, Chinese, Italian and Mexican restaurants. There is also a selection of take away food stores. Gymea has a local Bowling club but the main club entertainment is at the Trade Union club known as The Tradies on the Kingsway. The Tradies has its own multi-car car park station for members and guests.

Sport
Gymea is a sporting hub with many local clubs across all sports either in the area or very close by. For Rugby League the local club is the Gymea Gorillas. There are two local gyms and many scattered reserves hosting all sports. Down the road is the Miranda Soccer stadium which has a full synthetic turf playing field. Gymea is only a few minutes drive to the Port Hacking River and the local boat ramp is at the Swallow Rock reserve. There is a two lane boat ramp and plenty of trailer parking. Gymea is approximately a fifteen minute drive to the many surf beaches of the Cronulla coastline.

Past History
Gymea Bay is named after the Aboriginal word for the area’s hardy giant native lily. The bay area encompasses the southern most tip of Gymea right down to the shoreline looking directly over the North West Arm and Gymea Bay, offering views across the Royal National Park. The first residential subdivision was made in 1917. It stayed a secluded suburb until a new phase of development started back in the 1950s. Gymea Bay baths are a big part of the suburbs history consisting of a small sandy beach, a 50 x 30 metre enclosed tidal swimming pool and grassed reserves. A scenic bush track runs through tranquil Coonong Creek and its lush surrounding bushland.

Property
Gymea Bay has a mixture of brick and timber clad homes that offer three to four bedrooms, outdoor decks and nice yards for children to play. This is a great suburb for young families with pets and surrounded by trees and birds. There are a number of exceptional waterfront homes that capture the area’s spectacular water and national park views.

Shopping
There is a post office and a handful of shops in Gymea Bay. More extensive shopping options can be found in Gymea, Kirrawee and over 60 shops at Westfield in Miranda.

Schools
Gymea Bay Primary school caters for kids from kindergarten to Year 6. The suburb is surrounded with and well services with high schools and selective schools. 

Transport
Gymea Bay is set 27.5 km south of the CBD. Access is via Gymea Bay Road with the closest railway located station located at Gymea. Local buses also service the area.

Dining Out
Al Dining options can be found in Gymea on Gymea Bay Road. The shopping area offers a range of food options including take away meals. There are great restaurants inside the Gymea Trade Union club (Tradies) on the Kingsway at Gymea. 

Sports
Gymea Bay offers all sports activities. Boating, a swim in the baths, and fishing from the end of the baths jetty is relaxing fun. The favourite sport of many young locals is Wakeboarding around Gymea Bay. Some conditions are just perfect for the sports keenest riders and the bay is well recognised amongst overseas visitors from the sport. Amber Wing an Australian wakeboard champion is a local.

Past History
Jannali’s name; it means ‘the place of the moon’. It seems that this name originates with an Aboriginal tribes from the Northern Territory rather than the southern suburbs. Although a railway line passed through Jannali in 1884, there was no station in the suburb itself until 1931. As a consequence, the area remained relatively undeveloped until the 1940s land was offered to ex-service men who’d returned from World War Two.

Property
Jannali is scattered by freestanding homes which can date from the 1930s. Homes vary in age, construction  and size. You can still purchase modest post-war cottages in the suburb, although there are now many large contemporary brick homes here and a new era of modern untis, townhouses and duplexes. Jannali’s homes sit on pleasant, tree-lined streets, and those in the suburb’s east can offer pleasant views across the bush to a distant Botany Bay and the city skyline. Jannali is another great family community.

Shopping
Jannali residents are served by a small but convenient and compact shopping precinct located near Jannali’s railway station. All the essentials are here, including supermarket, a baker, a video shop, the post office, newsagency, pharmacy and service station. Miranda Westfield is also less than two kilometres away and this is the major shopping hub for the entire shire.

Schools
Jannali offers a range of childcare services and preschools. There are two public schools serving young children from kindergarten to six class. Jannali High School provides secondary education to students from years seven to 12. There are a number of additional schools in the Shire that provide primary and secondary education. Within easy reach is The Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland which has campuses at Gymea and Loftus.

Transport
Jannali is located approximately 30 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD and about a 40 minutes drive bycar. Jannali has good access to public transport with the Jannali railway station on City, Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra railway line. There are regular services to the CBD. Many locals also access this line from Como Station, which lies close to Jannali’s border. The Veolia private bus company also provides locals with regular connections to all neighbouring suburbs including Miranda Westfield Shopping centre.

Dining Out
Jannali has a number of local restaurants including a local Indian restaurant and two good Italian restaurants, one of which specialises in pizza. Jannali locals also have decent take-away options, including a number of Chinese and Thai restaurants. Jannali is also close by to many other dining options at Sutherland. Close by the Como Hotel is a landmark establishment. 

Sport
Jannali is sprinkled with parks and reserves. Jannali is great place if you want to run, walk, cycle or simply relax. There are numerous ovals and sporting fields located in the suburb and locals have access to a wide range of local sporting competitions. Within the Shire everyone can participate in a range of sporting competitions including athletics, hockey, netball, softball, baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, AFL, rugby, rugby league, waterpolo, kayaking and boating.

Past History
Kangaroo Point is a desirable residential peninsula. Kangaroo Point occupy’s a slim, elevated peninsula on the southern bank of the Georges River and is nearly surrounded by water. Kangaroo Point has a distinct charm of its own and provides residents with exceptional views across southern Sydney’s waterways, while also offering a closeness to commute to the City and airport.

Property
Kangaroo Point offers an impressive array of large modern free-standing luxury homes. Given its geography, many properties offer waterfront access or outstanding views. The eastern view off Kangaroo Point road looking out over the Tom Ugly’s bridge is a standout view. As you would anticipate form a luxury suburb many homes have either been built or updated by architects and some have attracted architectural prizes. The prestige homes of Kangaroo Point have usually been designed with entertaining in mind and offer special indoor and outdoor living combinations mainly centred around pools and terraces. Beattie Moore Property recently sold a waterfront home in Kangaroo Point Road for over 6 million dollars.

Shopping
Just up the road Sylvania provides residents of Kangaroo Point with shopping. The Southgate Shopping Centre on Port Hacking Road, offers great shopping. It houses both a Coles and Woolworth’s supermarket, along with a department store, a bakery, butchery and fish shop. Southgate also provides a number of essential services, including a pharmacy, banks, and post office and a First Choice bottle mart. Residents of Kangaroo Point also have easy access to the cluster of shops situated on the Princes Highway near Tom Uglys Bridge. Westfield Miranda is only ten  minutes away.

Schools
Kangaroo Point locals enjoy access to childcare and educational services with a choice of long-day childcare centres and preschools situated in the area. Two public primary schools serve the suburb - Sylvania Public School and Sylvania Heights Public School. Secondary education is provided by Sylvania High School. Sylvania is also in the catchment area for a local selective school, St George Girls High. Other primary and secondary schools are well-represented in the area. The St George Institute of TAFE is located nearby at Kogarah and the suburb’s proximity to the city means that the University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney are readily accessible

Transport
Kangaroo Point is Located approximately 22 km from Sydney’s CBD with the drive taking about 35 minutes along the Eastern Distributor or the Princes Highway. Kangaroo Point is also close to Sydney airport with the drive to the airport taking approximately 15 minutes. A number of rail way stations on the Eastern Suburbs – Illawarra rail line are a short drive away or you can easily access Hurstville station by bus. The Veolia private bus company provides locals with connecting services most local areas.

Dining Out
Kangaroo Point is all about lifestyle. You can get great coffee, a quick take-away at Pauls’ Hamburgers, or great cuisine served by local restaurateurs, Try Mike Grill at the bridge. Sylvania is home to a long list of excellent eateries with a range of take-away providers serving quality Indian, Chinese, Thai and Japanese food. Across the bridge, Blakehurst offers some well-regarded seafood restaurants such as Bayblu Seafood Restaurant and Shipwrights both on the Marina. 

Sports
Kangaroo Point is about boating. While many boat owners have their own moorings for launches and yachts out in front of their homes, there are a number of sailing and motor boat clubs and marina’s locally. Sylvania marina is home to Bertram boats and provides moorings and service. Sutherland Shire is home to a range of competitions in all sporting codes, including rugby, rugby league, soccer, netball and softball. Several gyms are located in surrounding suburbs, including Fitness First and an exclusive ladies gym. Local golfers or members also have the 18 hole Kareela Golf Course on their doorstep for a casual round of golf.  

Past History
Kareela is defined by its bayside location. Kareela sits on the southern side of Oyster Bay with views across the Georges River to Connells Point and Kyle bay. The name Kareela is taken from ‘kari kari, an Aboriginal term for fast. Today, Kareela’s connection to southern Sydney’s expansive waterways is reflected in the names of a number of its streets., Many street names are taken from past winners of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.

Property
Kareela is a highly-sought after residential suburb for growing familes. Kareela offers a mixed bag of freestanding homes dating from back in the 1960s. Homes range in size, from modest brick and tile family homes to some larger modern executive mansions. Houses typically provide large living areas and three or more bedrooms, with timber deck extensions for desirable weekend entertaining. Located in bayside location many homes offer spectacular views especially the ones that look over the golf course.

Shopping
Residents are served by a village style shopping centre located between Bates Drive and Freya Street. Shops include a Coles supermarket, bakery, butchery and delicatessen, newsagency and video store. Locals also have a family medical practice located in the centre. Miranda Westfield shopping complex is only 10 minutes’ drive away.

Schools
Kareela and its neighbouring suburbs offer a range services. There are a number of long-day care providers for young children and some well-regarded preschools. Kareela Primary School educates children from kindergarten to year six. There are two public high schools, Sylvania High and Gymea Technology High to provide a secondary curriculum. The area is also serviced by a range of independent schools also providing primary and secondary schooling. Kareela is within easy reach of The Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland which has two campuses close by in Gymea and Loftus.

Transport
Kareela is located approximately 24 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD with the drive taking about 40 minutes. Many local residents also access the CBD via train, accessing the Eastern Suburbs or Illawarra rail line at Loftus train Station. The station is about 15 minutes’ drive from Kareela. The Veolia private bus company provides services to neighbouring suburbs, including Bonnet Bay, Como West, Jannali, Miranda and Oyster Bay.

Dining Out
Kareela has many options for dining out especially in the surrounding suburbs. Neighbouring Jannali or Sylvania offers an Indian restaurant and two Italian eateries. Both areas offer some popular take-away choices, including a number of Chinese and Thai restaurants. Café’ lovers can enjoy as much coffee as your heart desires with a  range of trendy local cafés on offer.

Sports
Kareela’s bayside location allows you to soak up  water activities including kayaking, canoeing or sailing. There are a number of parks and reserves scattered through Kareela. Parks like the Joseph Banks Native Plant reserve and the Kareela Golf course, a there to enjoy. Kareela’s parklands make great places for walking, running or cycling. The golf course is a pleasant round of golf as it offers views into Oyster Bay and across the Georges River. Kareela also has access to a range of competitions around the shire including rugby, rugby league, soccer, netball and softball. There are a few well known gyms in the area, including Fitness First and a ladies only gym in Sylvania on Port Hacking Road.

Past History
Lilli Pilli is a beautiful suburb that oozes charm and tranquillity amongst the tall trees and blue waters that surround. Lilli Pilli is perched on the north shore of the Port Hacking river looking across the water to dense bush in the Royal National Park.  Much of the beautiful bushland that once covered the entirety of Lilli Pilli Point remains and the suburb is named after the lilly pilly / native myrtle trees that grow in abundance locally. Lilli Pilli is a great spot with glorious views from almost any angle over local waterways including Gannons Bay, Little Turriel Bay and Great Turriel Bay.

Property
Lilli Pilli is a highly sought after residential suburb in a beautiful leafy setting. Lilli Pilli offers a wide range of large, freestanding brick family homes. Most homes boast large living areas and many have four or more bedrooms. Large renovated homes provide big terraces and paved and tiled swimming pool and BBQ areas. Offering large parcels of land, home sites in Lilli Pilli often provide postcard views, and some offer direct access to the water.

Shopping
Lilli Pilli has two groups of shops within easy reach of residents. A small group of shops near the Lilli Pilli Soccer Oval consist of a general store, butchery, liquor shop and hair-stylist. Close by in Caringbah residents can shop on Port Hacking Road, where there is a supermarket and a few other shops. A number of large retail centres are located nearby including Caringbah Marketplace and Westfield Miranda.  These shopping centres provide everything from large department stores to specialty shops.

Schools
Lilli Pilli and neighbouring suburbs offer excellent childcare and school services. Lilli Pilli kindergarten located in neighbouring Caringbah. Lilli Pilli Primary School educates children from kindergarten to year six and there are several public high schools in the locality. A range of independent schools in the area also provide primary and secondary education, with a number of religious schools located in nearby Woolooware. Residents can also access The Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland which has campuses at Gymea and Loftus.

Transport
Lilli Pilli is located 25 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD about a 40 minute drive. The suburb has very good public transport where many locals commute to the CBD via train, accessing from nearby Caringbah Station. Caringbah is also served by bus transport to all surrounding suburbs.

Dining Out
Lilli Pilli has number of places to dine out. There are take-away eateries located in both the small shopping areas, and there’s a patisserie/café and pizzeria at the group of shops on Port Hacking Road. Caringbah and Cronulla are close by and offer a  range of dining experiences, including seafood, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Lebanese, Greek, French and modern Australian.

Sport
Lilli Pilli offers many ovals and parks for sport. The Lilli Pilli Point Reserve is a beautiful place to walk and run and a great place for picnicking. A big feature is the deep saltwater baths at the Lilli Pilli spit where its relaxing to fish or swim.  Lilli Pilli Oval is the home ground of the Lilli Pilli Football Club. In addition, residents of Lilli Pilli have access to competitions in a range of sports organised within the Sutherland Shire, including hockey, tennis, soccer, rugby union, rugby league, netball and softball

Past History
Miranda was once part of the huge estate owned by Thomas Holt in the 1800s. James Murphy managed Holt’s estate and he took particular note of the area that’s now Miranda. Regarding it as particularly picturesque, Murphy wrote that “the name Miranda was given to the locality by me . . . I thought it a soft, musical and appropriate name for a beautiful place.”  In the 1920s, Miranda was connected to Sutherland by steam-tram. From this point on, the pace of development quickened and by 1923 a cluster of shops had grown up around Miranda’s post office. Those returning from World War Two were drawn to the area’s tranquillity, and they led the development of the suburb. Today, Miranda’s is a bustling part of southern Sydney and is the business hub of the Shire.

Property
Miranda offers a mix of fibro, brick and timber clad freestanding homes. Being the central hub for business, shopping and transport Miranda offers a range of cluster developments. Value properties are not limited to the suburb’s vast quantity of home units in and around the railway station, Miranda also offers villas, townhouses and over 55 retirement homes. There has been many new developments of high rise apartments delivering great views to the north and east.

Shopping
Miranda is the commercial hub of southern Sydney. In addition to the huge variety of department and specialty stores in Westfield Miranda, a large shopping strip is situated on The Kingsway and Kiora Road which spills over into nearby streets. Locals also have the convenience of a smaller shopping centres and the Park Side Plaza shops located at Wandella Road provide a range of liquor and grocery stores and a large supermarket.

Schools
Miranda provides a wide range of childcare and educational services. There are a number of day care centres and preschools including Miranda Kindergarten. Miranda has two well regarded public schools serving children from kindergarten to year six: Miranda Primary and Miranda North Primary. Miranda is home to Port Hacking High School and a variety of independents. Miranda is close by to The Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland, which has two campuses, one at Gymea and one at Loftus.

Transport
Miranda is located 24 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD about a 35 minute trip by car. Miranda enjoys good public transport links. A train station is located in Miranda on the Cronulla to Sutherland line connecting to the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line. The train trip to the CBD from Miranda takes around 50 minutes. State Transit buses serve Miranda and a number of private bus companies also operate in the suburb providing Bus services to all neighbouring suburbs.

Dining Out
Miranda offers a great range of places to eat and dine out. There’s a huge variety of cafés many of which are located in the Westfield Miranda shopping complex. More formal dining is also on offer here, as is reliable take-away food from the food courts. Outside of Westfield restaurants include Thai Riffic, Gourmet Pizza Kitchen, Miranda Chinese, and a host of others.

Sports
Miranda is surrounded by many sports fields and parks providing easy options for sport and recreation. Residents of Miranda also have ready access to the many sporting competitions run within the Sutherland Shire. Within the area there are competitions for adults and children in netball, softball, tennis, rugby league, rugby union, athletics and swimming. Miranda locals are also in the enviable position of being close to bays and beaches, offering great opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and sailing, while the beaches of Cronulla are only five minutes’ drive away.

Past History
Oatley was named after James Oatley, who arrived in the NSW Colony as a convict on January 7th, 1815. He was a renowned clockmaker in Warwickshire England. He subsequently made the clock for the building now known as Hyde Park Barracks. James Oatley’s first grand of land was 470 acres in Snugborough Park, now known as Beverly Hills, and the next 300 acres he was given was at Oatley.

Property
Oatley offers a good mix of residential property. Oatley has many large waterfront homes in both older style and new. Oatley waterfronts are deep water and some tidal with jetties and pontoons. In Oatley there are many homes on big parcels of land and some offer spectacular water and bush views. In recent times elegant architecturally designed four bedroom homes, townhouses and villas have been developed in addition to the contemporary apartment complexes. Modern finishes include external cement render and stainless steel railings.
 
Shopping
Oatley features a range of local boutique stores, including supermarkets, fruit & vegetable stores, chemists, newsagent, butchers, delicatessens, video stores. For department, homewares and specialty stores, there is the large Westfield Shoppingtown at Hurstville.

Schools
Oatley has a number of childcare centres for young families. Local schools are the Oatley Public School, Oatley West Public School, St Joseph’s Primary School, Georges River College, the nearby Marist Brothers College Penshurst and Danebank Anglican School for Girls in Hurstville.

Transport
Oatley is located19.26km from the Sydney CBD about a 35 minute drive. Oatley is well serviced by trains to the city from Oatley station. Oatley station is on the city/ eastern suburbs rail line, and the south coast Illawarra line. There are also regular bus services which provide transport to Hurstville and surrounding areas.

Dining Out
Oatley has a range of eateries. Some of the cafés restaurants and eateries include the Clock & Oyster Gourmet Pizza & Restaurant, Garita’s Trattoria, Lee Hing, Café Oatley and Caffiend’s Café & Gallery. The Oatley Hotel is a great place to relax and have a drink or meal. The RSL Club also features a restaurant and bistro.

Sport
Oatley Park, located on a peninsular jutting into the George’s River, is popular with locals and visitors alike. Oatley park covers an area of 45 hectares and features natural bushland and pretty bush walks. It’s a favourite with picnickers and beach goers. The Oatley Park tidal pool, or Sandy Beach, Baths, is a popular swimming spot. The suburb also boasts a number of other parks and reserves, playgrounds, playing fields, basketball courts and tennis courts.

Past History
In the 1840, locals knew about the growing of oysters in this lovely bay on the Georges River and it had acquired its current name. One of the things that makes contemporary Oyster Bay so remarkable is that much of the flora and fauna found in the colonial era remains intact. Between Green Point and Caravan Head is known as Coronation Bay and is home to areas of mangroves along the foreshore which are a haven for fish and birds. Oyster Bay with its beautiful bushland and bay views is great community in which to live.

Property
Oyster Bay is a lovely residential area offering an impressive assortment of large free-standing homes with spacious living areas and three or more bedrooms. Most home sites in the suburb offer picturesque views from the undulating and rolling landscape. A number of homes are waterfront homes with lovely open north and north west views and provide both deep water and tidal access to the Georges River.

Shopping
Oyster bay has a cluster of shops that are conveniently located at the intersection of Como Road and Oyster Bay Road. Shops include a pharmacy, newsagency and the local post office. More shops including a range of supermarkets and cafés are easily accessible in the neighbouring suburbs of Kareela and Como. Sutherland’s range of shops are around five minutes’ drive away, and Westfield Miranda is nearby.

Schools
Oyster Bay provides a wide range of childcare and educational services for a large family demographic. A number of day care centres and preschools operate in the suburb. Oyster Bay Public School has been serving the suburb since 1944. The school now has two locations on Phillips Street and groups Infants and Primary students separately. There are a number of secondary schools in the locality, along with a range of independent institutions that cater to primary and secondary students. Oyster Bay is also within easy reach of The Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland, which has two campuses, one at Gymea and one at Loftus.

Transport
Oyster Bay is located 30 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD about a 40 minutes drive in the car. Many residents access the CBD via train, using either of the nearby train stations at Como or Jannali. Both are on the City / Eastern Suburbs – Illawarra line. A bus service also provides locals with regular connections to neighbouring suburbs, including Bonnet Bay, Como West, Jannali, Kareela and Miranda.

Dining Out
Oyster Bay’s attraction is its beauty and tranquillity around the waterways of the Georges River. Just a moment away is the Como Marina offering a café style eatery for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Neighbouring Sylvania offers a huge range of options for eateries and coffee lovers. Sylvania also offers a big range of restaurants for those who want a nice prepared restaurant meal.

Sports
With Oyster Bay’s location and strong family community, this is a real sports mad suburb. There are wonderful opportunities to kayak, canoe, sail or swim on the river. There are number of parks and reserves throughout suburb which make great spots for walking, running or cycling. Oyster Bay Oval sits right on the bay. Oyster Bay locals have access to plenty of local sports competitions that include soccer, rugby, rugby league, hockey, netball and softball that are organised within the Sutherland Shire.  For keen golfers on Bates Drive Kareela there is the 18 hole Kareela Golf course right on the doorstep of Oyster Bay.

Past History
In 1853 a local merchant, Thomas Holt, acquired land around Rocky Point Road in order to build a stately home for his German wife. Holt erected a grand house and called it Sans Souci, copied from a much-admired palace built by the Prussian noble Frederick the Great. Home, Sans Souci - French for ‘without a care’  did not live up to its name and Holt’s wife regarded the home as too isolated from everywhere and refused to live in the property.

Property
Property in Sans Souci offers a mixture of brick and tile, and clad homes on varying sized blocks. The peninsular suburb has always attracted families due to its closeness to the water and many parks. Homes in Sans Souci boast three or four bedrooms and spacious living areas. Locals have been keen to capitalise on their proximity to the water and many homes in and around the waterfront streets with access to views have been enlarged and upgraded. Being a popular suburb close to the city and airport we are seeing more development of brand new trendy homes. 

Schools
Sans Souci offers a range of childcare and educational services. A public library is located in Russell avenue. Locally, there are a number of childcare providers and preschools. There are two primary schools, Sans Souci Public School and St Finbars, Catholic school on the Promenade. Secondary education is provided by a range of government schools throughout the St. George area. Sans Souci is in the catchment area for a local selective school, St George Girls High. There are numerous independent high schools serving the area. The St George Institute of TAFE is located in nearby Kogarah.

Shopping
Residents of Sans Souci are well-served by the suburb’s good shopping precinct. Along Rocky Point Road near the intersection of Sandringham Street and Rock Point road, the shopping area includes a grocery store, bakery, delicatessen, fruit shop, butchery and pharmacy. The suburb’s post office is located here too, along with a newsagency, car wash and day spa. This area is also home to many fast food outlets. Close to the suburb’s border with Dolls Point are a second cluster of shops. The shops located at Clareville Avenue and Russell Avenue includes a grocery store, a well-being centre and café, as well as a doctor’s surgery. Both a Coles and Franklins supermarket are located nearby at Ramsgate Beach. Westfield Hurstville or Miranda are located about 10 minutes’ drive away.

Transport
Sans Souci is 17 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD, about a 30 minute drive using the general Holmes Drive and the Eastern Distributor or the Princes Highway. Residents of Sans Souci can access a number of stations on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line. Carlton station is only three kilometres away, and the drive from Sans Souci takes approximately five minutes. Private buses also operate in the area and link neighbouring suburbs. State Transit buses run between Sans Souci, Dolls Point, Ramsgate, Monterey, Brighton Le Sands, Kyeemagh, Mascot, Eastlakes, Kensington, Waterloo, Surry Hills and the CBD. Other services go to Rockdale station and Miranda’s Westfield shopping centre.

Dining Out
San Souci offers a range of cafés and restaurants and is a serious destination for restaurant lovers in the southern suburbs. Sans Souci offers several local restaurants with excellent reputations, including two great Italians, an Australian, a reputable French, Steakhouse, Chinese, Thai  and a great option for beachfront dining or Coffee in the Park (Le Beach Hut) at Dolls Point. Sans Souci also has a number of local clubs for a great night out, these include the St.George and Georges River sailing clubs and the St. George Motor Boat club. The local hotel is the Intersection at Ramsgate. 

Sport
Sans Souci has an excellent range of recreational opportunities at its door. There are four clubs catering to water sports including the St George and Georges River Sailing Clubs, the St George Motor Boat Club and the Botany Bay Yacht Club. An Olympic Swimming Pool is located at Water Street off Rocky Point Road.

The many parks in the area also provide great open spaces to walk, run and cycle along the beachfront. Lady Robinson Beach and Cook Park are particularly scenic. Close by Beverley Park provides locals with a flat 18 hole golf course. Residents of Sans Souci also have access to competitions in a range of football codes, including soccer and rugby league with several clubs in the St George area. Public tennis courts are readily available, including council-operated courts in the neighbouring suburbs of Ramsgate and Blakehurst. There are a number of fitness gyms in the area.

Past History
Sylvania was part of the large property estate owned by Mr.Thomas Holt in the 1800s. Holt’s estate from Sutherland to Cronulla took in dense woodland, secluded bays and the ocean front. The land now occupied by Sylvania was chosen by Holt for the location of Sutherland House a mansion he built near the end of his life. Holt positioned Sutherland House on the foreshore of Gwawley Bay to take in the spectacular views. Sutherland House has long disappeared but the views that Holt sought out are still there. A more modern Sylvania which takes in the locality of Sylvania Heights is a lovely residential suburb attracting families and retirees.

Property
A lot of Sylvania’s development occurred in the 1950s and 60s. As a result, the suburb offers a large mix of brick homes on good sized blocks. Local residents have sought to stay in the area and upgrade and enlarge their properties with many new homes of modern architecture being constructed. Sylvania also has a large mix of prestige properties waterfront homes in and around the foreshore areas. Recently we have seen a boom in developments offering luxury apartment some with spectacular Georges River views.

Schools
Sylvania provides good educational services for children. Locally there are a number of childcare and preschool providers catering to the children under five years of age. Sylvania has two primary schools, Sylvania Public and Sylvania Heights Public. Secondary education is provided by Sylvania High School. Sylvania is also in the catchment area for a local selective school, St George Girls High and there are excellent independent schools in the region serving children from kindergarten to year 12. The St George Institute of TAFE is located in nearby Kogarah.

Shopping
Sylvania has excellent access to shopping. The Southgate Shopping Centre is conveniently situated on Port Hacking Road offering two supermarkets, a department store, a bakery, butchery and fish shop along with a newsagency, pharmacy, post office and public library. A small group of shops are also located on the Princes Highway near Tom Ugly’s Bridge. Westfield Miranda, one of Sydney’s largest shopping malls is only a five minute drive away.

Transport
Sylvania is located 22 km from Sydney’s CBD about a 35 minute drive by car taking either General Holmes Drive and the Eastern Distributor or along Princes Highway. Sydney airport is only 15 minute drive away. Sylvania is connected to the city by public transport. A choice number of stations, Miranda, Hurstville or Kogarah on the Eastern Suburbs – Illawarra rail line are a short drive away. The Veolia private bus company provides locals with connecting services to Miranda and Hurstville Stations. Local buses also link Sylvania to neighbouring suburbs.

Dining Out
Sylvania has a great range of cafés and restaurants on the door step. In Southgate shopping centre there are a number of cafés offering both indoor and outdoor dining. There are many restaurant choices in the area including Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Lebanese, Italian, Swiss and Australian restaurants. Relaxing dining options are in Sylvania Heights and great restaurants near the water around the Tom Ugly’s Bridge shopping strip.

Sport
Lots of Sylvania’s recreational activities are boating as the local waterways are great places for runabouts, waterskiing, wakeboarding, canoeists and kayakers. Residents have access to sporting competitions in a range of sports , including rugby, rugby league, soccer, netball and softball and fitness gyms. For golfers Sylvania is close to the 18 hole Kareela Golf Course, only a few minutes drive away.

Past History
Sylvania Water’s has an early history. The word ‘sylvan’ means ‘inhabiting the woodland’ . Many of southern Sydney’s early settlers were drawn to the region so they could participate in the logging industry. However, Sylvania Water’s later history has been highly unusual. In the 1960s the suburb’s location on Gwawley Bay caught the eye of James Goyen, a property developer who wanted to provide home sites with unsurpassed access to the water. Drawing on the example of the canal-side developments in Florida Keys, Goyen embarked on a project to reclaim land from Gwawley Bay. This task involved some major feats of engineering, including the construction of an eight kilometre retaining wall to hold back the sea. Three artificial islands were also made: Murray, Barcoo and James Cook. Sydneysiders and keen boaters were quick to purchase homes in this unique part of Sydney when the development was finalised. Today, homes in Sylvania Waters continue to be highly sought after with properties offering unrivalled boat access on a private waterway.

Property
Sylvania Waters is a prestige residential development and properties in the suburb reflect this. The large homes are mainly modern brick dwellings on large level blocks, offering four or more bedrooms and spacious living and outdoor areas. Residents have been keen to capitalise on the use of a private waterway and many homes have been enlarged and upgraded to maximise their views across the water. Sylvania Waters is a boating enthusiasts’ paradise.

Schools
Sylvania Waters is well served with education. A child day care centre caters to children up to five years of age, and a pre-school offering a ‘school readiness’ program is located in Sylvania Waters. The local Sylvania Heights Public School enjoys an excellent reputation and provides an education for children from kindergarten to grade six. There are a number of high schools within easy reach including Sylvania High School and Port Hacking High both offering full secondary curriculums. The St George Institute of TAFE is located in nearby Kogarah and the Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland, has two readily accessible campuses at Gymea and Loftus.

Shopping
Three local shopping centres give residents of Sylvania Waters easy access to newsagencies, pharmacies, grocery stores, video stores, supermarkets, butchers and bakeries. The main Sylvania Waters Shopping Village is in Murrumbidgee Avenue; Sylvania Shopping Centre is in Box Road and the recently renovated Richmond Centre is near Richmond Avenue. The Southgate Shopping Centre is located in neighbouring Sylvania with large supermarkets, Bottle shop, department store, along with a range of specialty shopss and boutiques. A number of large retail centres are located nearby, along Taren Point Road there are the Harvey Norman and Domain centres and then onto Westfield Miranda and Parkside Plaza at Miranda.
For gardening needs Flower Power has one of the companies largest stores right on your doorstep. 

Transport
Sylvania Waters is 21km south of the Sydney central business district about a 35 minute drive taking General Holmes Drive and the Eastern Distributor or the Princes Highway. Sydney airport is only a 20 minute drive away. Residents of Sylvania Waters are close to Miranda station on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line. Hurstville station is also only about 15 minutes drive away.Veolia private bus company provides a local link between Sylvania Waters and neighbouring suburbs.

Dining Out
Sylvania Waters has a small selection of take away foods. For those occasions when event dining is called for neighbouring Sylvania or Sans Souci offers a big range of cafés and restaurants. For club entertainment the locals visit the Taren Point Bowling club or the Taren Point Hotel. Both offer great food and entertainment.

Sport
Most sports activities in Sylvania Waters centre on waterways. There are exceptional opportunities for fishing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking. Hawkesbury Reserve provides the boat ramp and a park for those who want picnic. There are great roads to walk, run or cycle up onto and over the Captain Cook Bridge. A number of excellent sporting facilities have been built in Sylvania Waters. There is Sylvania Waters Athletics Track now a state-of-the-art athletic facility, the Sylvania Waters Tennis Court Complex, Foreshore Rugby Oval located next door, the Sylvania waters par 3 golf course, and a base ball field. A wide range of local sporting clubs and competitions are also run within Sutherland Shire, including netball, basketball, tennis, soccer, AFL, rugby, rugby league, baseball, swimming, water polo, motor boat racing and sailing.

Past History
Taren Point is a little suburb with strong past history. Taren Point is a slender peninsula jutting out into Botany Bay. Taren Point can lay claim to being the birthplace of colonial Australia, as it’s where Captain James Cook first pulled ashore. Taren Point was once a little sleepy waterside area mostly known for its excellent fishing and was only accessible by the old car ferry. Today linked to the city with the building of Captain Cook bridge, Taren Point is a fast paced desirable suburb to live. Taren Point is also home to a large commercial and industrial area constantly growing with retail shopping activity. 

Property
Taren Point offers an interesting mix of homes. There are older style fibro and clad homes to large luxury waterfront homes located on the bank of the Georges River at the mouth of Botany Bay. Holt road, Taren Point is well know for waterfront homes with boat mooring facilities and lovely views out to a perfect north facing aspect.    

Schools
Taren Point offers good educational services for children. There are a number of childcare services and preschools catering for the under-fives. Taren Point Public School offers education from kindergarten to grade six and there are public high schools in the neighbouring suburbs of Sylvania and Caringbah. There are a range of high schools in the area to serve primary and secondary students. Local TAFE campuses are easily accessible. To the south, the Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland has campuses at Gymea and Loftus and to the north, the St George Institute of TAFE provides a campus at Kogarah.

Shopping
Residents of Taren Point are within easy reach of the large shopping centres. Retail supa-centres a located along Taren Point Road shopping strip and in neighboring Caringbah or Miranda which provide access to a range of big supermarkets and department stores and specialty shops. Westfield Miranda is only a short drive away.

Transport
Taren Point is located 20 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD about a 25 minute drive by car following General Holmes Drive and the Eastern Distributor. Sydney Airport is only a 15 minutes drive along the same route. Taren Point has good public transport links and residents can access a number of stations on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line including Miranda, Caringbah or even Carlton railway station. Veolia private bus company provides a range of services that link Taren Point to neighbouring suburbs.

Dining Out
Taren Point has plenty of eating out choices. There are a number of fast-food outlets in the suburb and the Taren Point Bowling Club and Taren Point Hotel both offer popular bistros. Caringbah, Sylvania and Sans Souci on the other side of the bridge have great eating places with many different restaurants including Chinese, Thai, Indian, Japanese, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.

Sport
Taren Point offers it all. It sits right on Botany Bay and with a local boat ramp residents are spoilt with water sport options including swimming, sailing, canoeing or kayaking, water skiing and wakeboarding. Plenty of the locals are passionate about sailing and there are three clubs nearby. Neighbouring San Souci is home to the St George and Georges River Sailing Clubs, the St George Motor Boat Club and the Botany Bay Yacht Club. The surf beaches of Wanda and Cronulla are within easy reach. The Taren Point playing fields cater for Rugby, Rugby League, Australian Rules, Touch football and Oztag. Close by in Sylvania Waters is a state of the art athletics track, and local baseball fields. Golfers are well catered for with the Wooloware Golf course, Cronulla Golf Club, Kareela Golf Club and even the Beverley Park golf course just short distances away.

Past History
Occupying a slight peninsula with Yowie Bay inlet to the east and Gymea Bay to the west, Yowie Bay is mostly surrounded by water. There are a number of personal opinions about the origin of the suburb’s name. Some say that it’s derived from an aboriginal word that means ‘place of echoes’. Others point to the fact that the suburb was once known as Ewey Bay and argue that the name refers to sheep that may have once grazed in the area, however no historians are prepared to suggest that the “yowie” has ever lived in local bushland. Whatever his reasons, the government Surveyor Robert Dixon gave Yowie Bay its name in 1827. Yowie Bay is a beautiful residential suburb. Most homes in Yowie Bay offer spectacular views, and many also boast deep waterfrontages and clear blue water.

Property
Yowie Bay offers large building blocks and an excellent range of residential properties. Around the area you’ll find large, well-appointed waterfront homes with exceptional views and in the suburb you can find attractive, spacious two-storey brick homes, most with swimming pools. Yowie Bay still offers more modest older style cottages suitable for renovation or rebuilding. In fact, there are still a few level building blocks available here. Yowie Bay has a luxury retirement village – Waterbrook offering a number of options for the over-55s. 

Shopping
Being a small suburb locals need not leave Yowie Bay to buy essential items. The Yowie Bay Grocer known as the Yowie Bay General Store is located on Forest Road and is your one stop shop. A heritage listed bottle shop is situated at the boat ramp and marina at the end of Wonga Road. Local supermarkets are Coles and  Woolworths just a short drive from Yowie Bay in Caringbah. Miranda the cosest suburb is home to Westfield Miranda. Westfield’s is home to a huge range of specialty and department stores.

Schools
Yowie Bay is a lovely family suburb and there are good childcare and educational services in the area. Day care centres and preschools cater to the nought to fives. Yowie Bay has its own public school. Yowie Bay Primary educates children from kindergarten to year six. Neighbouring Miranda is home to Port Hacking High, a public school, along with a variety of independent institutions. Residents are also within easy reach of The Sydney Institute of TAFE Sutherland, which has campuses at Gymea and Loftus and the St George Institute of TAFE at Kogarah.

Transport
Yowie Bay is located about 25 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD and the drive takes about 35 minutes following the Eastern Distributor via Princes Highway or General Holmes Drive past Brighton and the airport. Residents of Yowie Bay enjoy good access to public transport with a train station just a few minutes away at Miranda and a number of bus companies use Miranda as the central hub for local bus routes. Miranda station is on the Cronulla, City and Eastern Suburbs line connecting through to the Illawarra line. Yowie Bay has a bus service which provides transport to all neighbouring suburbs.

Dining Out
Yowie Bay has a boutique eatery called the Post Box café which is very popular with the locals for breakfast, lunch and catching up for coffee.  Miranda, Gymea and Caringbah offer great dining choices for the residents of Yowie Bay. These suburbs offer numerous cafés and restaurants offering a range of cuisines, including Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Lebanese, Greek, French and Australian. For take away choices Miranda offers the lot and is the best thing is its only a few minutes drive to pick up. 

Sport
The water around Yowie Bay is the best. With its’ own popular boat ramp facilities there are abundant opportunities for water sports including wakeboarding, skiing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing with the Port Hacking Open Sailing Club on the shores. The quiet streets are great for walking, running or cycling. Yowie Bay offers a number local parks, many which have playgrounds and swing sets for children. Residents have easy access to the wide range of sporting competitions that are offered in the Sutherland Shire including netball, basketball, tennis, AFL, rugby, baseball, waterpolo and athletics. Golfers have good golf courses just a short drive way with both Wooloware and Kareela Golf courses easily accessible.