Subdivision Began In 1880

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday July 15, 2003

By ANNE HOWELL

In 1827 D'Arcy Wentworth died having procured acreage in Oak Flats. In 1850 Robert Wentworth, son of the huge landowner D'Arcy, inherited his father's estate.

He then passed it on to Mrs Terry Hughes.

In 1861 Oak Flats passed on to Robert Towns. In 1880 George Worburton Fuller acquired land at Oak Flats, the land was auctioned in 1921 with lots 9, 10 and 11 later becoming the Oak Flats subdivision.

In 1926 Oak Flats was one of the areas in the Illawarra to be subdivided, and holiday homes were constructed.

The Oak Flats subdivision was designed on the concept of Walter Burley Griffin's architectural work for Canberra.

Canberra was being laid out at the same time and this is reflected in the use of Federal leaders as the theme for street names in the area.

Oak Flats was a haven for people who were vastly disadvantaged by the Depression.

In postwar years shops were built in the township and the Church of England denomination developed. Its first service was held in 1938 and later in the public hall, but services lapsed when the hall was demolished. HAyes was leading member of the public at the time. In 1947, services were held in Mrs T Kerr's post office store and later in the new pubic hall.

In 1950 the foundation stone for a new brick church was laid. Soon after, the weatherboard Presbyterian church was dedicated by the Reverend W Pollock. The Roman Catholic Church secured a site in 1949.

It is interesting to note that water was officially turned on at Oak Flats by the Minister for Local Government on April 19, 1955.

OAK FLATS

First settled: 1820s

Population: 6674

How it got its name: The name, dating back to the 1860s when it was the cattle run of John Terry Hughes, is descriptive of the place - relatively flat land with many she-oak trees (casuarinas).