Heritage Plaques

33 Laurel Street, North Willoughby

The North Shore Workshop Arts Centre was officially opened on 16 August 1963 by Hal Missingham, Director of the Art Gallery of NSW in a leased building (formerly a furrier factory belonging to J.E. Gillis). The centre evolved from the Joy Ewart Studio in Chatswood which gave art classes in all aspects of the visual arts. When evicted from her derelict premises in 1961 she held a meeting with fellow artists, students and parents and formed a committee to raise money, find premises and run the programmes for a non-profit arts centre. When the lease ran out after 12 months, members raised funds to buy the factory. Joy Ewart died in July 1964. In 1965 the words North Shore were deleted from the title.

Cnr Penshurst Street & Victoria Avenue, North Willoughby

On 25 April 1898, the Willoughby tram service was officially opened as an extension of the North Sydney network that had operated since 1886. The new route ran from Falcon Street, Crows Nest, along Willoughby Road, Mowbray Road and up Penshurst Street to the Terminus near Victoria Avenue. Public demand was great, and in 1908 the line was extended to Chatswood Railway Station, with trams travelling down Victoria Avenue every 20 minutes. The line was duplicated from Crows Nest to the Terminus in 1911.The final stage of line duplication to Chatswood Railway Station was completed in 1934. In the 1950s Sydney’s tram network was gradually wound down, and the Terminus was closed on 28 June 1958.

53 Laurel Street, North Willoughby

The East Willoughby Fire Station (which became Willoughby Fire Station in 1917) was established in October 1905. A cottage was leased in Laurel Street, west of the present brick station to house six volunteer firemen. The cottage, with various additions, was bought by Council in 1908 and a new brick single storey station was constructed on an adjoining block of land. The fire station was officially opened in December 1915 and marked the first time in the brigade’s history that permanent staff were employed. The second storey addition was added in 1930 to 1931.

Hampden Road, Artarmon

Artarmon Station opened on 6/7/1898 with a single platform on the down side of a single line from St Leonards to Hornsby, 624 metres north of its present position. It was replaced with a new island platform in the current location on 7/10/1900 as the trains had difficulty starting on the 1 in 52 grade at the old station. The original timber building was re-erected on the platform. In 1908 the building was improved and signals were installed. On 15/7/1916 the standard type brick station building that we see today was opened. The electrification of the line started in 1927 and took five years to complete.

Corner The Barricade & The Scarp, Castlecrag

Constructed in the 1930s with community help the Amphitheatre was planned by Walter Burley Griffin. The site was said to be chosen by Marion Mahony Griffin for its natural acoustics. The Sydney University Dramatic Society and the Anthroposophical Society staged many performances here.