Figtree, New South Wales
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Figtree Wollongong, New South Wales |
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 Figtree
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| Coordinates | 34°26′S 150°51′E / 34.433°S 150.850°ECoordinates: 34°26′S 150°51′E / 34.433°S 150.850°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 10,631 (2011 census) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2525 | ||||||||||||
| Location | 4 km (2 mi) from Wollongong | ||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Wollongong | ||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Cunningham | ||||||||||||
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Figtree is an inner western suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It is southwest of West Wollongong and connected to Wollongong by the Princes Highway and The Avenue.
At the junction of the highway and The Avenue is Westfield Figtree, a two storey indoor shopping centre with a Woolworths, Coles and Kmart. The shopping centre was opened in 1965. The second story is used by a couple of businesses and a second storey to its carpark facilities. Adjacent to the centre is a park which contains sports facilities, a baby health centre and a small sculpture garden.
There is a small commercial district near this junction and another connected area of mainly food stores further north on the highway near the freeway entrance. There is also another commercial area with a chicken food shop, liquor store and video rental store at on the east side of the highway at the O'Briens Road junction.
Figtree has a hotel, an oval, many specialty stores, a dog park, a private hospital and several schools.
A smaller area of residences in Figtree is Figtree Heights, a neighbourhood which is slightly raised above the general level of Figtree. To the suburb's south between Figtree and Unanderra is Cobbler's Hill, where houses have been built on its side.
The suburb is named after a giant fig tree that once stood on the eastern side of the highway at the junction with O'Brien's Road, a mountain pass used in early days of settlement built by subscription in 1821 before completion by convict labour of Mount Keira road. In 1861 Figtree Bridge was built by Moore and Vaughan.
In 1867 Figtree Inn was built, a small weatherboard building built at the site of the turnoff to O'Brien's Road, later its name changed to Figtree Hotel and it still stands. In the 1880s farming was the main industry in the area. In 1888 the Figtree Sunday School began in a cottage.
On 25 November 1903 Figtree Park was opened by senator Hugh Vaughan-Floyd, 12 years before his tragic death in World War 1. The public school opened in 1956, followed by Figtree High School in 1969, Figtree Heights Public School in 1972 and Nareena Hills Public School in the foothills of Mount Nebo in 1977.
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Wikipedia