Patonga at Ettalong: Where is Wahgunyah Street?
James Warwick Browne settled at Woy Woy in about 1894
He occupied 150 acres of land extending from Blackwall Mountain to the junction of present- day Picnic Parade and The Esplanade, Ettalong Beach.
Browne built a commodious residence at the foot of Blackwall Mountain, and named it "Patonga".
Two statues stood on either side of the front steps to the house, which had verandahs to the front and sides, and a matching pair of bay windows overlooked the family property.
James Browne was a businessman, and one of his main enterprises was as an exporter of the giant maiden hair ferns that grew prolifically around the district.
"Patonga House" was destroyed by the terrible bush fire that devastated the area in 1928.
However, during World War I, Browne joined the rush to subdivide land on the Peninsula.
His subdivision was called Patonga Park Estate, and consisted of over 700 blocks.
Examination of the estate plan reveals that Bourke Road was originally named Wahgunyah Street, an example of just one of the items of our heritage that has been lost.
Lurline Street was named after Browne's daughter.
The site of Patonga House eventually became the site of the Ettalong Caravan Park.
To advertise the Patonga Park subdivision, a glamorous brochure was produced, extolling the virtues of the area.
Here are some extracts: Woy Woy is undoubtedly the Playground of Sydney, and a very picturesque playground it is, and also the password to prosperity and good health.
It appears to have been specially created by Nature in one of her most kindly moods as a haven for weary toilers or the jaded business man.
It is a spot where bodily fatigue is replaced by robust energy, where brain fag quickly succumbs to the many and varied forms of joyful, healthy, bracing outdoor pleasures this beautiful district affords and abound with.
It is an ideal holiday resort, offering opportunities for sport and enjoyment within a couple of hours of Sydney, and for which many people travel hundreds of miles to experience.
Patonga Park Estate is right in the centre of this scenic district.
Two lines of up-ta-date Motor Ferries with several large Boats meet all trains and carry passengers to this Estate at very reasonable rates.
Also two lines of Motor Cars and Coaches meet all trains and convey passengers to this Estate in Seven Minutes.
There are also regular weekly services from Sydney by Steamer, the "SS Gosford" and the "SS Erina" carrying both passengers and all classes of goods, including building material, at very reasonable rates of freight, and return tickets are issued to passengers for the trip.
The trip from Sydney at the time took about three hours.
Joan Fenton