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Why Is George Collingridge known as the Father of Berowra?
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DetailsGeorge Collingridge is, in many ways, the real founder or father of Berowra as a village. He did not live on the ridge where the village was to be established, but none the less was instrumental in campaigning for and establishing services and amenities which were vital for the growing community and its future as a tourist destination, including the railway and road to Berowra Waters.
George Collingridge was born in England in 1847 and spent many of his formative years in France before emigrating to Australia in 1879 to join his brother Arthur and work as illustrator and wood engraver for The Illustrated Sydney News. He was during his life a celebrated and respected author, artist, cartographer, geographer, linguist and historian. He made the Berowra area his home and by the 1880s was known as ‘The Hermit of Berowra’
We do not know exactly when George Collingridge arrived in Berowra to build his residence on Berowra Creek at what is now known as Collingridge Point. Although local tradition maintains that he took up a grant in Berowra in 1880, this was not the case. His grants were not formally given to him until 1893. We do however know that Collingridge was in Berowra much earlier than this. Newspaper reports show he was living at least semi-permanently at his home, Capo Di Monte at Collingridge Point by 1882 when ‘George Collingridge, of Berowra’ married Lucy Monica Makinson.
George Collingridge was possibly introduced to Berowra by his brother Arthur who was also an artist and displayed paintings of Berowra in 1881. It was almost certainly art which brought George Collingridge to the area. He felt Berowra Creek would be a perfect setting for an artist colony, but unfortunately was the only artist who appeared to feel permanent settlement on the creek was desirable. However, his assertion that Berowra was artistically inspiring has been born out with renowned artists including Margaret Preston and Jesse Jewhurst Hilder producing paintings of the area.
Berowra in the late 1800s and early to mid 1900s was mainly a tourist destination, providing work and income for many of the pioneering families of the area. In many ways, it was George Collingridge who made it possible for Berowra to successfully be marketed as a tourist destination.
He was a highly successful and respected artist of the time, who often displayed paintings of Berowra Creek and the wider Berowra area, paintings which may well have acted as the first advertisements for Berowra.
In addition, in 1886 George Collingridge successfully petitioned for one of the most significant services in the area, a railway platform at Berowra. In 1888 he petitioned the Department of Public Works for a road from this new railway station to what is now known as Berowra Waters, and reportedly plotted the route the road was to take. The railway was a vital service for Berowra as it brought tourists to the area and, combined with the road to the waters, allowed Berowra to establish itself as a tourist destination.
CreatorBerowra Living HistoryKeywordsBerowraGeorge Collingridge
DetailsGeorge Collingridge is, in many ways, the real founder or father of Berowra as a village. He did not live on the ridge where the village was to be established, but none the less was instrumental in campaigning for and establishing services and amenities which were vital for the growing community and its future as a tourist destination, including the railway and road to Berowra Waters.George Collingridge was born in England in 1847 and spent many of his formative years in France before emigrating to Australia in 1879 to join his brother Arthur and work as illustrator and wood engraver for The Illustrated Sydney News. He was during his life a celebrated and respected author, artist, cartographer, geographer, linguist and historian. He made the Berowra area his home and by the 1880s was known as ‘The Hermit of Berowra’
We do not know exactly when George Collingridge arrived in Berowra to build his residence on Berowra Creek at what is now known as Collingridge Point. Although local tradition maintains that he took up a grant in Berowra in 1880, this was not the case. His grants were not formally given to him until 1893. We do however know that Collingridge was in Berowra much earlier than this. Newspaper reports show he was living at least semi-permanently at his home, Capo Di Monte at Collingridge Point by 1882 when ‘George Collingridge, of Berowra’ married Lucy Monica Makinson.
George Collingridge was possibly introduced to Berowra by his brother Arthur who was also an artist and displayed paintings of Berowra in 1881. It was almost certainly art which brought George Collingridge to the area. He felt Berowra Creek would be a perfect setting for an artist colony, but unfortunately was the only artist who appeared to feel permanent settlement on the creek was desirable. However, his assertion that Berowra was artistically inspiring has been born out with renowned artists including Margaret Preston and Jesse Jewhurst Hilder producing paintings of the area.
Berowra in the late 1800s and early to mid 1900s was mainly a tourist destination, providing work and income for many of the pioneering families of the area. In many ways, it was George Collingridge who made it possible for Berowra to successfully be marketed as a tourist destination.
He was a highly successful and respected artist of the time, who often displayed paintings of Berowra Creek and the wider Berowra area, paintings which may well have acted as the first advertisements for Berowra.
In addition, in 1886 George Collingridge successfully petitioned for one of the most significant services in the area, a railway platform at Berowra. In 1888 he petitioned the Department of Public Works for a road from this new railway station to what is now known as Berowra Waters, and reportedly plotted the route the road was to take. The railway was a vital service for Berowra as it brought tourists to the area and, combined with the road to the waters, allowed Berowra to establish itself as a tourist destination.
CreatorBerowra Living HistoryKeywordsBerowraGeorge CollingridgeRelated
CollectionBerowra Living History
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Berowra Living History, Why Is George Collingridge known as the Father of Berowra?. Hornsby Shire, accessed 10/04/2026, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/3826