Chatswood West is located between the bigger suburbs of Chatswood and North Ryde. It straddles the Lane Cove River, occupying the valley flats and ridges leading down to the river.
History
Chatswood is believed to be named after the pet name "Chat" of the second wife of Richard Harnett (a pioneer of the district) and the original "wooded" nature of the area.[3]
Chatswood West split off from Chatswood to become a separate suburb on 20 January 2006.[5]Chislehurst was a large historic house on Centennial Avenue.
Commercial area
Chatswood West is mainly residential, with small commercial areas on Fullers Road.
Houses
The residential buildings are overwhelmingly detached houses. The average house price in Chatswood West is $1,740,000 in 2016, and the average rental price is $700 per week.[6] Many houses within Chatswood West, especially those in Greville Street, Colwell Crescent and Mooney Street look onto Chatswood Golf Club.
Facilities within Chatswood West includes Chatswood Golf Club.
Transport
There are very limited buses that connect the area with the Chatswood CBD, and other suburbs such as North Ryde.[7] The main bus routes that connect Chatswood to Chatswood West are routes 255 and 256, operated by Busways.[8][9]
Population
Demographics
According to the 2021 census, there were 1,521 residents in Chatswood West. 55.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was China at 11.2%. 60.9% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin at 13.3%. The most common responses for religion in Chatswood West were No Religion 46.1%, Catholic 20.6% and Anglican 10.8%.[1]
Notable residents
Kenneth Slessor - poet, lived on the west side of the Pacific Highway
Tony Abbott - former prime minister of Australia, lived on West Parade
Parks
There are a number of parks and forest reserves such as Ferndale Park. There are walking tracks and a golf course. There are two entrances to Lane Cove National Park from Chatswood West, one on Lady Game Drive, and one on Delhi Road, next to Fullers Bridge.