Blakehurst occupies a spectacular portion of Sydney’s waterways: the eastern border of the suburb runs along Kogarah Bay and the western border abuts Kyle Bay. The first European to hold land in the area was Robert Townson, who received a grant of 75 acres in 1808. However the person who gave their name to the suburb was William Blake, who was appointed post master for the Cooks River in 1863.

Blakehurst offers well-proportioned bungalows with large gardens. Most homes in the suburb were constructed in the middle of the twentieth century. As a result, Blakehurst offers solidly constructed brick and tile dwellings which have been consistently maintained. Blakehurst has always been attractive to families and the homes reflect this: many have three or more bedrooms and spacious living areas. Increasingly, homes in the suburb have been sympathetically updated and enlarged, particularly those which offer district and water views. Indeed, Blakehurst offers some of southern Sydney’s most spectacular home sites, which provide direct waterfrontage and the views that come with it.

No visit to Blakehurst would be complete without a stop at Smith’s Seafood, which was recently voted the best provider of take-away fish and chips in Sydney. Of course, there are more formal places to dine in Blakehurst, including a number of seafood restaurants, including Bayblu Seafood Restaurant and Shipwrights on the Marina. Blakehurst offers an abundance of casual dining options – both Spicy House Thai and the Imperial Peking Chinese Restaurant enjoy good reputations.

A significant proportion of Blakehurst’s population is made up of families with children. As you would expect, there is an excellent range of childcare and preschool services for children in the under five age-range. Older children are well served by local schools. There are two government primary schools: Bald Face Primary School and Blakehurst Primary School, which enjoys a tranquil bushland setting. A Catholic primary school – Mater Dei – is also situated in Blakehurst. Secondary students are served by Blakehurst High School. Nearby suburbs offer a wide range of government and non-government secondary schools.

The St George Institute of TAFE is located in nearby Kogarah. Given its good transport links, the University of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney and University of NSW are all within reach by train or bus.

Tom Ugly’s Bridge helps to position Blakehurst in the mind of many Sydneysiders, not least because of the folklore associated with the bridge’s name. For years there has been speculation that the bridge - built in 1864 - was named after local man Tom Huxley. Many claim that his name was subsequently translated by local Aboriginals as Tom Ugly. More recently historians have suggested that the name comes from an aboriginal man called Towwaa or Toweiry, whose nickname was Tom Ugly.

Residents of Blakehurst are served by a small shopping precinct situated at the intersection of King Georges Road and the Princess Highway. All the essentials are here, including a bakery, butcher, grocer and newsagency. A short drive across the bridge in Sylvania is the Southgate Shopping Centre. Conveniently located on Port Hacking Road, its home to two large supermarkets, a department store, speciality boutiques as well as a number of services, such as a post office and public library. Nearby, Hurstville Central gives locals access to a large shopping mall, conveniently located above Hurstville Station. A Coles supermarket is located in the centre.

Many of the recreational activities in Blakehurst centre on the local waterways. Kogarah Bay provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and sailing – the local marina is home to the Kogarah Bay Sailing Club. Swimmers can access the historic Carss Park Bush Baths, located on the bay in neighbouring Carss Park.

Although Blakehurst occupies only three square kilometres, the suburb boasts a number of parks. Bald Face Point Reserve, Kyle Williams Reserve, The Green and Todd Park all provide opportunities for walking, running and cycling. Todd Park boasts a playing field for soccer and football, as well as a cricket pitch. Residents of Blakehurst also enjoy proximity to the 18 hole golf course at Beverley Park, which offers views over Kogarah Bay.

There are many opportunities for Blakehurst residents to participate in team sports and local competitions. A gymnasium is located in Blakehurst, and there are several offers situated in neighbouring suburbs. Dick Caine’s swimming and sporting complex in neighbouring Carss Park is a short drive away.

Blakehurst is located 18 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD following the Princes Highway. The International Airport is also accessed via the Princess Highway. The 13 kilometre journey takes approximately 30 minutes by car.

A number of stations on the Eastern Suburbs-Illawarra rail line are within easy reach of Blakehurst. Hurstville, Allawah and Carlton stations are approximately five kilometres from Blakehurst. A privately operated bus service also operates between Hurstville and Miranda via Blakehurst and Sylvania.