Avondale - Timeline
| 1820 | Bong Bong Pass was discovered by Charles Throsby |
| 1834 | 600 acres known as 'Avondale' was granted to Alfred Elyard, Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court. |
| 1840 | A grant of 1,280 acres was given to Charles Throsby Smith on 29 February 1840. This was known as 'Calderwood' |
| 1840's | Both 'Avondale' and 'Calderwood' became part of Henry Osborne's large holdings in the Illawarra. The total area of this estate was 4,440 acres. |
| 1842 | There was a proposed raod construction from Dapto to Bong Bong known as Alley's line. |
| 1843 | Alley's line was used as access to Bong Bong and the highlands |
| 1850 | 1850 Avondale Homestead was built by Henry Hill Osborne, Henry Osborne's son this property was part of the early agricultural development of Avondale |
| 1861 | Avondale National School was first opened |
| 1866 | Alpacas travelled down Bong Bong Pass and were pastured at Avondale |
| 1860 - 1890 | Avondale was primarily a dairying region part of Henry Osborne's large estate. |
| 1893 | Henry Hill Osborne's executors put up the Avondale farms for sale, most were sold at a pride of 14 pounds per acre. |
| 1898 | The Avondale School house was built and officially opened on January 1898 |
| 1898 | Bong Bong Pass was no longer used as a main road. |
| 1910 | Avondale Colliery was opened, it mined the Tongarra and Wongawilli coal seams |
| 1920 | Avondale Colliery Closed |
| 1939 | Avondale Colliery reopened as a privately owned mine and supplied coal to the Port Kembla Steel Works |
| 1952 | Huntley Colliery was a new colliery developed by the joint coal board to meet the requirements of the Tallawarra Coal Station. |
| 1982 | Avondale Colliery ceased operation |
| 1989 | Huntley Colliery ceased operation |
| 1990 - to date | Avondale remains primarily a rural area of Dapto despite a proposal for a residential subdivision in the 1970's. |
Last Modified: 13/08/2008
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