Oatley, New South Wales

Oatley Sydney, New South Wales
Oatley Clock Tower, Frederick Street
Coordinates	33°58′52″S 151°04′29″E / 33.98118°S 151.07479°E / -33.98118; 151.07479Coordinates: 33°58′52″S 151°04′29″E / 33.98118°S 151.07479°E / -33.98118; 151.07479
Population	10,098 (2011 census)
Established	1883
Postcode(s)	2223
Location	18 km (11 mi) south of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Georges River Council
State electorate(s)	Oatley
Federal Division(s)	Banks
Suburbs around Oatley: Mortdale Penshurst Hurstville Grove Peakhurst Heights Oatley Connells Point Lugarno Como Oyster Bay

Oatley is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Oatley is located 18 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area. Oatley lies across the local government area of Georges River Council.

This suburb's name can be traced to James Oatley Snr, watch-maker, who was transported to Botany Bay for life in 1814. Seven years later, in 1821, Governor Lachlan Macquarie granted Oatley a conditional pardon and appointed him overseer of the Town Clock for his work in installing the clock at Hyde Park Barracks.

The post office opened in 1903, thus giving the district its official suburban name of Oatley. Prior to this, the area west of the railway line was officially in the suburb of Hurstville and attached to the Hurstville Post Office with "Oatley's" in parenthesis at the end of the address. Likewise, the streets east of the railway line were officially in the suburb of Kogarah and attached to the Kogarah Post Office. In the late 1890s both Hurstville and Kogarah were much larger suburbs and were later divided up into separate suburbs.

Oatley is notable as the terminus of the first railway electrification project in Sydney, which reached this station from Sydney Central in 1926.

When a group gathered in Oatley Park in December 1959, to form a Bowling Club, it was inevitable that the founding members should choose a clock as the club emblem. The hands on the clock were set at 15 minutes after 10 - the precise time the first meeting of the Oatley Bowls Club was opened. The Club has since closed, though the greens and Club premises remain.