Oatley was named after James Oatley, who arrived in the NSW Colony as a convict on January 7th, 1815. He was a renowned watchmaker and clockmaker in Warwickshire England. He subsequently made the clock for the building now known as Hyde Park Barracks. James Oatley’s first grand of land was 470 acres in Snugborough Park, now known as Beverly Hills, and the next 300 acres he was given was at Oatley.

Oatley boasts many magnificent waterfront homes – both older style and new – some with their own jetties. There are also homes set on a quarter acre block, with spectacular water views or adjoining the native bushland. In recent times, some elegant, architecturally designed townhouses and villas have been developed, in addition to contemporary apartment complexes. There is also a selection of original and renovated Californian bungalows and older apartment complexes.

Oatley has a range of great eateries, with seafood a popular choice! Some of the restaurants and eateries include the Clock & Oyster Gourmet Pizza & Restaurant, Garita’s Trattoria, Lee Hing, Café Oatley and Caffiend’s Café & Gallery. The Oatley Hotel is a great place to relax and have a drink or meal. The RSL Club also features a restaurant and bistro.

Oatley has a number of childcare centres, including the Arndu St Pauls Preschool, Edelweiss Childcare Centre, Minooka Preschool Centre and Oatley Preschool Kindergarten. Local schools are the Oatley Public School, Oatley West Public School, St Joseph’s Primary School, Georges River College, the nearby Marist College Penshurst and Danebank Anglican School for Girls in Hurstville.

A key landmark of the area is Oatley Park, dedicated as a park in 1888, which provides a link to the early subdivision of the suburb. The park contains two ‘Lone Pines’ from the World War I theatre at Gallipoli, in addition to a fine sandstone kiosk which was built prior to the Great Depression. The Oatley Park tidal pool has been listed on the National Trust of Australia’s register. Built circa 1919, the pool is one of only two suspended net enclosed pools within the Sydney region.

Oatley features a range of village-like stores, including supermarkets, fruit & vegetable stores, chemists, newsagent, butchers, delicatessens, video stores – and more. For department stores, homewares and specialty stores, there is Westfield Shoppingtown at Hurstville, the Hurstville Super Centre, Menai Marketplace and Riverwood Plaza.

Oatley Park, located on a peninsular jutting into the George’s River, is popular with locals and visitors alike. It is bounded by Lime Kiln Bay to the north west, Jewfish Bay to the south east and Oatley to the north east. The park covers an area of 45 hectares and features beautiful natural bushland and pretty coastal walks. It’s a favourite with picnickers and beach goers. The Oatley Park tidal pool, or Sandy Beach, Baths, is a popular swimming spot.

The suburb also boasts a number of other parks and reserves, playgrounds, playing fields, basketball courts and tennis courts. A favourite spot is the Oatley Memorial Gardens.

Oatley is located19.26km from the Sydney CBD and is well serviced by trains to the city. There are also regular buses (the 954), which travel to Hurstville.