Toukley, New South Wales

Toukley Central Coast, New South Wales
Population	4,142 (2001)
• Density
Postcode(s)	2263
Area	3 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Location	30 km (19 mi) from Gosford
LGA(s)	Wyong Shire
Suburbs around Toukley: Budgewoi Lake Budgewoi Gorokan Toukley Pacific Ocean Tuggerah Lake Canton Beach Noraville

Toukley is a town in the Central Coast region of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies approximately 107 km north of Sydney via the F3 freeway. It is located between Tuggerah Lake, Budgewoi Lake, and the Pacific Ocean. The town is within the area of the Wyong Shire. At the channel connecting Tuggerah Lake and Budgewoi Lake the new Toukley bridge was constructed between 1983 and 1985 linking Toukley on the eastern side of the Lakes system with Gorokan on the west, replacing the old two lane wooden bridge.

Toukley is also a popular holiday destination providing accommodation in motels, caravan parks, holiday houses and pet friendly accommodation in a lake cabin where dogs are welcome inside.

Surrounding Area

• Canton Beach is a popular place for families to gather, with children playing in the mostly shallow Tuggerah Lake and on the playground. A few pelicans can be found at Canton Beach begging for food from picnicers or from those enjoying fish and chips. The water at Canton Beach can be stagnant, as a result of both pollution of the lake itself and the significant amount of seaweed which rots in the water.

• Noraville The eastern end of Toukley bordering on the ocean is called Noraville, after Noraville House, built by Edward Hargraves, who made the first significant discovery of gold in Australia in 1851. Nearby, Cabbage Tree Bay provides boat ramp facilities for the ocean, and a saltwater rockpool provides a popular safe place to swim and for children to play.

• Norah Head lighthouse is a magnificent spot, with wonderful views and a walk down to the rock platform. The lighthouse was built in 1903 and is a very popular place these days for weddings with a celebrant. Past the lighthouse is Soldiers Beach which is a very good surfing beach. The former lighthouse keeper's cottages (Head Keeper's separate cottage and two assistants semi-detached quarters) are maintained, and are available for rent.

• Wyrrabalong National Park separates Toukley from The Entrance to the south.

History

• 1856 - Edward Hargraves, who purported to make the first significant discovery of gold in Australia in 1851, purchased Robert Henderson's holdings and built "Norahville" Wollombi Aboriginal Tribe members are known to have worked on the property. Some sources state that Hargraves "befriended" tribe members. Cattle were grazed as far as Buff Point and Elizabeth Bay.

• Late 1850s - Chinese fishermen worked the Tuggerah Lakes area, in particular, what is now known as Canton Beach. While not confirmed, it is believed this is where the name is derived from. It was a base for catching and curing fish that were then shipped to Queensland, the goldfields and back to China.

• 1903 - Lighthouse built at Norah Head after many vessels were wrecked in the area. It was the site of sea battles between the Japanese Navy and Merchant navy ships in World War 2: Two ships were sunk, Nimbin (1067 tonnes) by a mine on 5 December 1940 and BHP's Iron Chieftain (4877 tonnes) by a submarine on 3 June 1942. The Age (4775 tonnes) was also attacked on 3 June 1942.

References

Further reading

• Bruce Russell (1984). From Pudgeway to Budgewoi. Wyong District Museum and Historical Society. ISBN 0-7316-1128-4.
• Kathryn Pry and Joan Fenton (1998). A History of Wyong Shire: 1947-1997. Wyong Shire. ISBN 0-9587443-0-0.

External links

• Toukley and District Chamber of Commerce http://www.toukley.com/