News

Every month, Catherine Park Estate welcomes new residents who are part of our growing community, here we ask two new residents what they love about Catherine Park Estate

HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT CATHERINE PARK ESTATE? Shannan: We came for a drive and we were looking for land this way and we loved it out here. We loved Harrington Grove and Harrington Park and the size of the land was good. We were looking to buy a block of land and this one was quite nice, and we knew Catherine Park was being built by the same people as Harrington Grove, and we loved the way they did that development so we really like it here.

Catherine Park Estate - like its predecessors Harrington Park and Harrington Grove - is renowned for its leafy tree-lined streets and preserved green areas.

The vision for such a green community takes a great deal of planning and investment, from the initial research into the species that will thrive in the area, as well as the planned placement of trees.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO THIS FIELD? Ever since I was young, my parents were avid gardeners. I loved seeing the rewards in the growth of the flowers and vegetables and fruits. When I was 17, at school, I did work experience at a nursery and fell in love with the field. After this, I managed to score an apprenticeship, and the rest is history. It has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP TIP/S WHEN PLANTING A GARDEN? To keep it simple. Plan for the future. Always start with a good garden bed, as it is the base of a good garden – always think about the roots first. Then ensure you give the garden and trees enough water. It sounds obvious but not enough people realise how important a good soaking is.

Building a new home means knowing every intimate detail of the lot, the home, the orientation and the area. But for many, the meaning behind their street name can remain an unpondered mystery.

All streets in Catherine Park Estate have been named after either previous landowners in the area now known as Catherine Park Estate or eminent Australians (Companions of the Order of Australia). As residents begin moving into St James, we present some of the namesakes behind the addresses.

Catherine Park Estates newest resident is from Mangrove Mountain on the Central Coast; lively, welcoming and environmentally-minded. ‘Fifi’ – the 10-metre high Ficus Hillii Fig tree – will welcome residents from her central position on the second roundabout at Catherine Park Drive, adjacent the Kensington precinct and sports fields.

The new green addition to Catherine Park Estate was delivered before dawn on Friday 16 March. It arrived on a semi-trailer and was planted with the help of an entire team of people, along with two cranes.