Naremburn Historic Street Listing
- ADOLPHUS Street – 1882
Unusual because it contains a right angle, the street derived its name from Frederick Alfred Adolphus Wilson.
Previously it formed part of the northern boundary of the original James Danes grant of 1853. Ownership passed to
Frederick Wilson on 6 June 1875 for development.
- ALBERT Street.
See Dawson Street.
- APEX Street – 1906
This street formed a triangular block with the junction of Central Street and Garland Road and Claire Street.
- BERRY Avenue – 1982
Named after the estate of Alexander Berry
- BONGALONG Street – 1906
Named by the Thomas Broughton Estate, land developers, possibly after an associate's station property (see Quiamong
and Moonbria Streets nearby). 'Bong' is an Aboriginal term referring to a creek that is dry in summer.
- BROOK Street – 1888
Originally Brook Street ran from Chandos Street to Donnelly Road. Named after the brook or creek which crossed it
near Donnelly Road. The creek started from Lane Cove Road (Pacific Highway), passed near Oxley Street and Chandos
Street, across Brook Street and into the South Arm of Flat Rock Creek above the cascades. Later, most of the stream
was covered and a concrete pipe now carries the water to the creek. Brook Street later incorporated Wilson Street.
- CENTRAL Street – 1892
The origin is uncertain but the name Central Street was assumed on records about 1892. Central Street was originally
regarded as part of Garland Road when the western end of Garland Road from Central Street to Flat Rock Road
(Willoughby Road) was undeveloped. In those days, Garland Road turned a right angle south to meet Flat Rock Road at
Slade Street and was sometimes referred to as Garland Road South. In Central Street is The Temperance Hall built by
John Taylor Jnr in 1888. Early owners were Messrs Asher and Wear who sold it to George Leafe (a grocer and mail
contractor) in 1899. The Congregational Church occupied it from 1903 until the Glenmore Street church was built in
1907. The Naremburn Progress Association held its first meetings in the hall in 1901. Later it became known as
Central Hall and was a popular venue for social occasions. In 1924 Messrs Edwards & Co., Tea Merchants purchased the
hall for £375 and restored it for the Church of Christ who occupied it until the church closed down in 1985. It is
now occupied as a private residence.
- CHANDOS Street 1893
Possibly named after a street in England - it was common practice to name localities after place names in England.
In a register of London streets the name 'Chandos' appears fourteen times.
- CHELMSFORD Avenue – 1913
After Lord Chelmsford, Governor of New South Wales 1909 13. Before the railway was built it was part of Punch
Street.
- CHRISTIE Street – 1884
Origin of name not known.
- CLAIRE Street
Earlier known as Claire Lane. Origin of name not known.
- DALLEYS Road – 1899
Probably after William Bede Dalley, poli¬tician and Solicitor General 1858. Attorney General for N.S.W. 1875 77.
- DARGAN Street – 1915
Named after one of the earliest grants in the area, to Peter Dargan in 1794.
- DARVALL Street – 1904
After John Bayley Darvall, M.A., Edu¬cationist and Member of the first Senate of Sydney University. He was
Solicitor General 1857 and Attorney General 1863. A close friend of Thomas Broughton.
- DAWSON Street – 1892
After Henry Dawson who lived in the street at Lot 28 near West Street. Prior to 1892 it was known as Albert Street
from Albert Park Estate which then comprised this area.
- DODDS Street – 1889
Named after Alexander Dodds. The street was the northern boundary of his estate. Early references regarded it as an
extension of Marks Street.
- DONNELLY Road – 1889
Originally known as Donnelly's Road as this road led to land on the south side owned by E. and P. Donnelly.
- FLAT ROCK Drive – 1969
Named by Willoughby Council when this roadway, the continuation of Brook Street and joining Alpha Road, was built by
the Department of Main Roads as a temporary traffic carrier across Flat Rock Gully until the Warringah Freeway was
completed.
- FLAT ROCK Road – 1873
See Willoughby Road and North Sydney Road.
- FRANCIS STREET – 1922
Named after Francis Punch, an early landholder in the vicinity and whose surname gave Punch Street its name.
-
GARLAND Road – 1883
W. A. Garland owned Lot 11. Originally Garland Road was accessible only from the present Central Street and extended
to Wilson Street (later Brook Street and now Flat Rock Drive). Garland Road was regarded as extending at a right
angle along Central Street to Flat Rock Road (now Willoughby Road) at Slade Street. This section was also referred
to as Garland Road South; the name Central Street was assumed in 1892. The Progress Association petitioned Council
in 1902 to develop the western end of Garland Road. At one time it had been known as Government Road. Flat Rock Road
(now Willoughby Road), the original road from Crows Nest, initially went straight ahead at Naremburn along what
later became Central Street, to feed the streets that led off it. Later, by the 1870s, Flat Rock Road veered off to
the left at Slade Street to the creek crossing at The Flat Rock. There was no direct vehicular access to this
crossing from Garland Road. This prompted the Naremburn Progress Associ¬ation, at the meeting of 9 April 1902, to
seek development of Garland Road in the following motion:That the Association begs to bring to the notice of the
Borough Councilof Willoughby the necessity for forming and taking charge of Garland Road from Central Street to
Willoughby Road, as the opening ofthat end of the road will be a great convenience to ratepayers and the public.
There is no record to indicate when this work was done.
- GAZA Road – 1921
After a Way in the Middle East well known to soldiers in World War I as the Gaza Road.. When the street name
required repainting the name that appeared was 'Gazard Street'. It was soon corrected.
- GLENMORE Street – 1906
Named after Glenmore Road, Paddington where Thomas Broughton (of Broughton Estate) lived for 53 years.
- GRAFTON Avenue – 1926
The origin of this name is not known but it replaced the earlier name of WHARF ROAD which continued across West
Street to a wharf on Flat Rock Creek, just upstream from the junction with the south arm stream. Wharf Road (or
Street) was previously named LONG BAY ROAD.
- GRAND VIEW Street – 1899
Named for its elevated position.
- HAMILTON Avenue
Probably after Edward William Terrick Hamilton (1809 1891), first Agent General to London 1863, M.L.C. 1843 49.
First Provost, University of Sydney 1851 54.
- KAPA Street
Origin of name not known. Later renamed NOLAN CRESCENT.
- KING Street – 1884
Origin of name not known.
- LAMBS Road
This road was the eastern boundary of Henry Lamb’s 25 acre holding. The railway later bisected this road at its
junction with Park Road. Henry Lamb was a volun¬teer in the N.S.W. Corps in 1789 and arrived in 1791. He was
granted 25 acres in the district of Hunters Hill in 1794, just north of where The Royal North Shore Hospital is now
located. He had it cancelled in exchange for 25 acres on the Hawkesbury River in 1798. For some time the original
grant was known as Lamb's Farm. A portion was proposed as a site for a cemetery, but was rejected as unsuitable by
Licensed Surveyor John Armstrong.
- LONG BAY Road 1873
See also GRAFTON AVENUE, It was the first name of this thoroughfare and was so named as it led to the upper reaches
of Long Bay where Flat Rock Creek, then known as Long Bay Creek, entered the Bay.
- McBURNEY Street – 1907
After Harold McBurney, Foundation President of Naremburn Progress Association, 27 November 1901. Later elected to
Willoughby Council. Previous to 1907 it was known as RYAN ROAD as it traversed the grant held by T. Ryan for the
Misses Ryan (Wilson Street to Parkes Street).
- MARKET Street – 1882
This street had several shops and also a market site, hence the name. The shops were the first in Central Township.
- MARKET Street East – 1969
Since Flat Rock Drive divided Market Street, the eastern portion was appropriately renamed by Council.
- MARKS Street – 1888
After Jacob Marks who owned seven acres on the south side. Originally it was regarded as extending to Willoughby
Road.
- MARTIN Street – 1904
After Mr (later Sir) James Martin, Premier in the 1860s. A close friend of Thomas Broughton.
- MERRENBURN Avenue – 1911
Alexander Dodds, a land holder of that area, named his home 'Merrenburn' which was later adopted as the name of the
adjacent street. The origin of the name is not known. The composition of the first part indicates a possible local
Aboriginal influence. Dodds was a devoted and generous member of the Anglican Church in Market Street. He was also
Sunday School Superintendent.
- MITCHELL Street – 1904
After Major (later Sir) Thomas Mitchell, the explorer and Surveyor General (following John Oxley). He served in the
Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington and arrived in Australia in 1827.
- MOONBRIA Street – 1906
Named after Moonbria Station near Jerilderie in the Riverina District. Thomas Broughton of Broughton Estate had
grazing interests in that area.
- NOLAN Crescent – 1938
After Denis Nolan and Margaret Nolan who each owned land adjacent. A street directory of the 1920s shows the street
as being called KAPA STREET.
- NORTH SYDNEY Road
So named when Chatswood was called North Sydney. Later named FLAT ROCK ROAD and ultimately WILLOUGHBY ROAD in 1890.
- NORTHCOTE Street – 1904
Probably after Henry StaffordNorthcote, Baron, Governor General 1904 08.
- OLYMPIA Road – 1913
After Olympia Estate (subdivided 1911) of which it was a part.
- OXLEY Street – 1894
Named after John Oxley, the explorer and Surveyor General. He was mainly concerned with the Western Rivers system.
- PARK Road – 1892
Leading to Naremburn Park, the name is appropriate. Originally named GORE'S ROAD, leading to William Gore's Estate
from Flat Rock Road.
- PARKES Street – 1895
At one time it extended from Wharf Street (now Grafton Avenue) to Marks Street. Much of the land in the vicinity
comprised Albert Park Estate. Originally the street was envisaged to continue through to Market Street (Lots 14 15).
Early references indicate that the street was to be known as Albert Park Street. The present spelling may be a
variation which refers to Sir Henry Parkes.
- PLUNKETT Street – 1904
After John Hubert Plunkett, Q.C., early Solicitor General and later Attorney General (1865). He made great
contributions to ensure responsible government in N.S.W. and later was a leading figure in an effective education
system. A member of the first Senate of Sydney University. He was also Vice President of the Executive Council.
- PROBATE Street – 1904
It was originally referred to as THE PROBATE STREET, referring to probate difficulties con¬nected with several
properties along this street.
- PUNCH Street – 1904
After Francis Punch a land holder in the area. It led to one of the Punch properties. The section east of the
railway became CHELMSFORD AVENUE after the railway was built. Francis Punch was Mayor of North Sydney 1890 92.
- QUARRY Street – 1932
This street led to the sandstone quarry off West Street.
- QUIAMONG Street – 1906
After a station property in the Riverina near Conargo. Thomas Broughton, of the Broughton Estate had grazing
interests in that area. This street was part of the Estate.
- RHODES Avenue – 1899
Commemorating Cecil Rhodes (d. 1902), Premier of South Africa who left the bulk of his fortune to found the Rhodes
Scholarships at Oxford.
- ROHAN Street – 1908
After Joseph Rohan, active in local Affairs. Foundation Secretary of Naremburn Progress Association (27 November
1901).
- ROSS Street – 1904
After John Ross, explorer, whose main explor¬ation purpose was to find suitable trees for poles for the Overland
Telegraph Line.
- RUTH Street – 1915
Named after Ruth Bucknall (1895 1976) a Naremburn girl who became a very talented singer.
- RYAN Road – 1901
See McBURNEY STREET.
- SLADE Street – 1889
After George Penkivil Slade, a Sydney solicitor who obtained title to land of various grants in the area and
else¬where.
- STATION Street – 1899
So named as it was originally intended to lead to St Leonards Station.
- TALUS Street – 1917
Talus is a term describing the sloping part of earthworks.
- WATERS Road – 1908
(unnamed road 1900). Origin of name unknown.
- WEST Street – 1888
It extended from Pacific Highway (then Lane Cove Road) in the south to Flat Rock Creek in the north. It was regarded
as the boundary on the west of Cammeray, hence the name.
- WHARF Road – 1891
See LONG BAY ROAD and GRAFTON AVENUE.
- WHEATLEIGH Street – 1923
After 'Wheatleigh' Estate owned by Thomas Dalton, M.P.
- WILLOUGHBY Road – 1890
Originally terminated at Flat Rock Creek and was known as FLAT ROCK ROAD or NORTH SYDNEY ROAD. It was named by the
council in June 1890 after Sir James Willoughby Gordon. In 1866 records refer to the continuation of the road from
Slade Street, along Central Street, across Flat Rock Gully to Chatswood then Pacific Highway. In 1879 records show a
deviation at Slade Street. It seems that unofficially, it was quicker for traffic to head to Chatswood by the most
direct track that crossed Flat Rock Creek using an established track. The earliest reference to this road shows it
as “New Line of Road�?
- WILSON Street – 1884
Oiginally extended from Donnelly Road to Flat Rock Creek. Named after Frederick Alfred Adolphus Wilson who, from 6
June 1875, owned land on the west side (originally Danes Grant). It was later named BROOK STREET as it became an
extension of the original Brook Street (1913).