Woronora
Main
HistoryWoronora is a suburb which is dissected by the Woronora River. Woronora River was charted by Surveyor Robert Dixon in 1827. The land was not part of Holt's Sutherland Estate and therefore was selected by various people none of whom became permanent settlers. The land was not economically sustainable and the attraction to the area was primarily for recreation. Access from Sutherland was made using walking tracks created by visitors to the river. In the early 1900s pleasure grounds were popular in Sydney. Robert Cook established a pleasure ground and boatshed on the river in about 1907 and it was not long before it became a popular landmark. In those days visitors would have looked for natural formations and features along the river such as Cathedral Rock described as a curious honey-combed cave. Organised water based activities saw the formation of the Woronora Weekenders Association who held regular carnivals and sports days. Carnival days would include races using all types of watercraft as well as a parade of decorated boats. The Price family were early settlers to the area from the early 1900s and lived on the western side of the river. They operated a ferry service before a bridge was built. Due to the geography of the area a crossing bridge was essential to the development of the both the immediate and wider community. After much agitation a road bridge was built in 1912. This has been upgraded over the years with the most recent being the bridge opened in 2001.
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Woronora. Local History - Sutherland Shire Libraries, accessed 03/12/2024, https://localhistory.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/6098