Otford - Timeline

1824	1000 acres was promised to Matthew John Gibbons for grazing
1838	Property purchased by William Bucknell
1840	326 arces located north of Bald Hill were granted to John Dwyer and G. W Newcombe
1842	Bulgo appears to have been first marked on Robert Dixon's "Map of the Colony of New South Wales"
1872	Land purchased by John Fletcher Hargrave from Sir Thomas Mitchell
1875	First timber mill in Otford established by Thomas James
1881	Construction of the Illawarra Railway line announced
1884	John Hargrave's son Gilbert inherits the southern end of Otford.
1885	Name of village changed to Otford from Bulgo
1885	Otford School opens
1885	Post office opens
1888	The Illawarra railway line opens from Sydney to North Kiama
1893	Otford School closes
1893	Eugene Nicholls takes possession of Gilbert Hargrave's estate
1895	Otford School reopens
1905	Otford road opens to provide a direct road to Helensburgh
1916	Otford road closes due to unsafe conditions
1917	Decision made to move Illawarra railway line and construct a new tunnel
1920	New railway line completed
1937	Construction of Lady Wakehurst Drive begins
1939	Lady Wakehurst Drive completed
1945	Electricity installed to Otford Progess Hall
1946	Otford Fire briagde formed
1952	Lilyvale Mushrooms Pty Ltd begins in disused railway tunnel
1956	Sydney Metropolitan Water Board supplies water to Otford.
1970	Otford road reopens
1979	Post office closes
1985	Otford School celebrates centenary
2005	Sydney Metropolitan Water Board connects sewerage system to Otford.

Last Modified: 7/11/2008

Return to Top

Local History Librarian

Phone:

4227 7418

Email:

/email/

Fax:

4227 7553

Visit us:

Level 1, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong

Mail:

Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong, NSW 2500