About Chatswood, NSW

Chatswood is a major business and residential district in the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district. It is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Willoughby. It is often colloquially referred to as "Chatty". == History == Chatswood was named after Charlotte Harnett, wife of then Mayor of Willoughby and a pioneer of the district, Richard Harnett, and the original "wooded" nature of the area. The moniker derives from her nickname "Chattie" and was shortened from Chattie's Wood to Chatswood in the mid-1800's. Residential settlement of Chatswood began in 1876 and grew with the opening of the North Shore railway line in 1890 and also increased with the opening of the Harbour Bridge in 1932.Chatswood Post Office opened on 1 August 1879, closed in 1886 and reopened in 1887.By 1900, Chatswood was easily accessible by public transport. In 1898, the electric tram line, running along Willoughby Road and Penshurst Street, had reached Victoria Avenue, and in 1908, it was extended to Chatswood railway station. In 1903 the council chambers moved from Mowbray Road to Victoria Avenue. At this time Chatswood's history contained orchards and dairy farms on the west side of the train station as well as factories, such as Dairy Farmers Inc and Three Threes Pickle Factory on what was then Gordon Road (now the Pacific Highway). Although now predominantly a commercial and residential area, Chatswood has an industrial past.