Location
Toronto is located 153 km or 90 mins north of Sydney, less than 20 minutes from Newcastle (the regions capital) and 40 minutes from the Hunter Wine Country and Central Coast. Toronto sidles on the western shores of the spectacular Lake Macquarie, surrounded by beautiful beaches, mountains and the ocean.
Toronto provides both a relaxed or energetic lifestyle set within a village atmosphere against a natural backdrop with surrounding landscapes, offering spectacular views and allowing bushwalking, picnicking, camping, abseiling in the Watagan Mountains; surfing, waterskiing, boating, sailing and fishing on the lake.
Lake Macquarie is one of the most spectacular and largest coastal saltwater lakes in Australia and is about four times the area and volume of Sydney Harbour with 174 kilometres of foreshore providing sandy beaches, hidden coves, and secluded bays. The Nearby Watagan Mountains incorporates 13 forests, and numerous lookouts, picnic spots, camping areas, and magnificent waterfalls.
Whether you choose from beachside living, mountain hideaways, lakeside homes, historic houses, new estates, medium density villas, or apartment living. The town centre offers a relaxed atmosphere whilst offering modern shopping facilities, waterfront restaurants and cafes, an 18-hole Golf Course, clubs and markets each month. Nearby are two major retail centres and world-class sporting facilities.
Toronto has a European history that dates back to 1829 when Governor Darling granted just over 500 hectares to Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld to found an Aboriginal mission.
The name Toronto was chosen by the Excelsior Co., which owned land there, in honour of Edward Hanlan, world champion sculler who came from Toronto in Canada and who arrived in NSW at the time of the subdivision. The aborigines called Toronto foreshore "Derah-bambah" meaning rising ground. Toronto was "Pondee" meaning overlooking view. Toronto West was "Toompoah" meaning place of clay.
Visitors Centre
Lake Macquarie Visitor Information Centre - Swansea (02) 4921 0740
Attractions
Toronto Railway Station Heritage Centre (Lake Macquarie & District Historical Society).
Historic Toronto Hotel provides regular entertainment
Catalina Boats, Royal Air Force Base - Rathmines
Royal Motor Yacht Club offers fine-dining menus.
Lakeside restaurants provide fine dining facilities close to the foreshore
Scenic Cruises are operated by a Cruise Cat and Lake Macquarie Cruises ‘Macquarie Star’ on Lake Macquarie.
Hire & Charter boats
Wangi Queen Showboat - Cruising Lake Macquarie - sails from Toronto, Speers Point, Booragul and Belmont
Regatta Walk is home to 'Music in the Park'.
The historic mining village at Catherine Hill Bay is open every day.
Eraring Power Station has tours by appointment.
The Swansea Museum is on Lake Road Swansea, opposite the Post Office.
Dobell House - Wangi Wangi (Former resident and studio of artist Sir William Dobell, his house is now a museum)
Awaba House Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery - Booragul
Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre.
The Hunter Valley Vineyards
Nelson Bay/Port Stephens
Scenic Newcastle
Beautiful beaches
Historic Morpeth and Maitland
The Central Coast
Spotlight Walks in the Watagan Mountains - State Forests 4927 2900
Facilities
Boat Ramp facilities
Royal Motor Yacht Club - a large, modern marina at Toronto (02) 4959 2051
Walking trails and cycleways around Lake Macquarie - Rathmines, Toronto, Fassifern, Toronto, Wangi Wangi
Toronto main street and town centre features local shops, supermarkets and cafes and nearby Rathmines has specialty shops.
Cinema - Stockland Super Centre - Glendale (02) 4956 9331, 1902 263456
Lake Cinema - Boolaroo (02) 4958 5810
Toronto Indoor Swim Centre (02) 4959 9229
Speers Point Swim Centre
Toronto Library
Rathmines Skate Park and boat launching ramp and jetty
Croudace Bay Park - (Thomas H Halton Park) offers a boat ramp, skate park, wetlands, pedestrian/cycleway)
Larger supermarkets are nearby at Glendale Supa Centre and Warners Bay.
Brighton Apartments - Conference and short term apartment stays
Toronto Polyclinic (02) 49594455
Toronto Private Hospital (02) 4950 4477
John Hunter Hospital (02) 49213000
Westlakes Medical Centre (02) 4975 1500
Speers Point Park
Wangi Wangi Public Jetty & Baths - Timber jetty and buoyed area.
Wangi Wangi Boat Ramp
Little Wangi Public Jetty
Wangi Tourist Park Jetty
Wangi Wangi Dobell Park Jetty - Timber jetty
Rathmines Park Boat Ramp - There is a very large concrete ramp in good condition.
Toronto Boat Ramp - Concrete launching ramp 8m wide with apron walls each side, water is shallow. Pump out facilities.
Toronto Public Wharf - Marine sewerage pumpout facility
Rathmines Fuel/Bomb Wharf
Kilaben Bay Public Jetty & Baths -Timber jetty structure.
Arcadia Vale Public Jetty & Baths - Timber jetty and buoyed area.
Brightwaters Public Jetty & Baths - Timber jetty and buoyed area
Transport
Toronto Bus Services run a range of services to outlying suburbs, shopping centres, the University and John Hunter Hospital.
Toronto Bus Services (02) 4959 1233
Toronto Hire Cars/Limousines - 1408 430 120
By Rail - Alight at Fassifern Train station and take the shuttle bus (3 km) to Toronto. Fassifern is a major stop for local trains to Newcastle as well as the XPT to Sydney and Brisbane. (180 mins Syd to Toronto). Fassifern (02) 4955 1209.
By Air - Newcastle Airport is located at Williamtown, a 50 minute drive north of Lake Macquarie. Six airlines operate from the terminal including Virgin Blue, Qantas Link, Jetstar, Brindabella, Aeropelican and Newcastle Helicopters. Daily services operate to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. (30 min flight Syd to Newcastle). Care hire depots are located at the airport.
By Water - Lake Macquarie Water Taxis
(02) 4945 2106, 0413 315 266
Community
Nearby medical facilities include:
Wangi District Workers Club Ltd (02) 4975 1451
Wangi Wangi R.S.L. Club (02) 4975 1433
Wangi Wangi Bowling Club Lawn Bowls (02) 4975 1177
Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club (Lawn Bowls (02) 4975 1955
Royal Motor Yacht Club - a large, modern marina at Toronto (02) 4959 2051
Toronto R S L Memorial Club (02) 4959 2411
Toronto Workers' Club (02) 4959 2011
Toronto Multi-Purpose Centre
Rathmines Community Hall (02) 4975 4166
Argenton Community Hall (02) 4921 0333
Bayswater Community Hall - Rathmines (02) 4975 1808
Bolton Point Community Hall (02) 4921 0333
Bonnells Bay Community & Youth Centre (02) 4970 5125
Coal Point Community Hall (Private) (02) 4959 1477
Cooranbong Community Services Centre (02) 4977 2096
Dora Creek Community Hall (02) 4973 4463
Fennell Bay Community Hall (02) 4958 7257
Filipino Multi Purpose Centre Boolaroo (02) 4966 4286
Rathmines in Business
Rathmines/Wangi Probus Club Inc
Rotary Clubs -Toronto, Toronto Sunrise, Warners Bay.
Lake Macquarie Pack & Trail Horse Riders Club
Lake Macquarie Bushwalking Club Inc
Toronto West Youth Group
Toronto Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc.
Rotary Club of Toronto Sunrise
Toronto Ladies Probus Club Inc
Toronto Bridge Club
Lake Macquarie Live Steam Locomotive Society Ltd - Edgeworth
Lake Macquarie City Petanque Club
Lake Macquarie Disabled Tenpin Bowlers
Toronto Croquet Club - Ron Hill Oval.
Toronto & Districts Garden Club Inc.
Westlakes Seniors Computer Club
Woodrising Neighbourhood Centre
Catalina Players Inc. - A community based amateur theatre group.
Wangi Rathmines Combined Pensioners Association
Westlakes Music Centre Rathmines (02) 4975 2717
Toronto Macquarie Ladies Probus Inc
Pre-Schools
Local pre-schools include:
Arcadia Vale Pre School
(02) 4975 5833
Wangi Peter Pan Kindergarten Inc.
Wangi Wangi
(02) 4975 1279
Bolton Point Child Care Centre
(02) 4959 3410
Macquarie Pre-School Co-op
(02) 4959 4063
Toronto Community Child Care Centre
(02) 4959 4946
Macquarie Pre-Schools Co-op Ltd
Toronto (02) 4959 3195
Macquarie Pre-Schools Co-op Ltd
Blackalls Park
(02) 4959 4063
Arcadia Vale Care & Early Education Centre
Arcadia Vale NSW 2283
(02) 4975 5833
Bolton Point Child Care Centre Inc
(02) 4959 3410
My kindy Early Learning Centre
Toronto
(02) 4950 5220
Toronto Community Child Care Centre Inc.
(02) 4959 4946
Lake Macquarie Family Day Care
Boolaroo
(02) 4958 8299
Primary Schools
There are a number of primary schools servicing the area, such as:
Rathmines Primary School
(02) 4975 1229
Arcadia Vale Primary School
(02) 4975 1181
Wangi Primary School
(02) 4975 1312
St Joseph’s Primary School, Kilaben Bay
(02) 4959 1355
Awaba Public
(02) 4959 2502
Biraban Public School
(02) 4959 1902
Blackalls Public School
(02) 4959 1213
Fassifern Public
(02) 4959 2708
Rathmines Public School
(02) 4975 1229
Toronto Primary
(02) 4959 1571
Coal Point Public
(02) 4959 1374
Fennells Bay Public
(02) 4959 2264
Secondary Schools
Toronto High School
(02) 4959 1788
Tertiary Schools
The nearest university is in Newcastle:
University of Newcastle
(02) 4921 5000
TAFE NSW - Tighes Hill
13 1225
Sport
Wangi RSL Amateur Sailing Club
South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club -host of the 1994/95 Moth World Championships which were a great success with entrants from around the world.
Hunter Rowing Club - Booragul, 0422 082 885
Toronto Country Club - 18 Hole Golf course (02) 4959 1584
Tennis Club, Bolton Point Tennis Courts & Rathmines Tennis Courts
Toronto provides easy bush walking access to Awaba and Heaton State Forests.
YMCA - Toronto
Hunter Sports Centre, recognised for Olympic standard training and competition at Glendale.
BMX track which stages National Titles and provides training for Olympic teams at Argenton.
Sporting Events staged throughout the year include:
‘Loop the Lake’ Bicycle Challenge.
Lake Macquarie Games.
Lake Macquarie is also home to many world sailing events.
Sports Teams are:
Sport in the Toronto area is played at Finnan Oval, Waterboard Oval and Lyall Peacock Oval - Rugby League, Cricket, Soccer, Baseball
Ron Hill Oval - Rathmines, Netball, Cricket, Croquet, Soccer
Blacksmiths Oval - Pelican, Soccer
Croft & Todd Ovals - Toronto, Soccer, Cricket
Westlakes United Soccer Club 4975
Warners Bay Netball Club Warners
Westlakes District Netball 4975 2368
Wangi Oval -Rugby League, Athletics Track, long jump, discus and shot put facilities
Westlakes Basketball - Toronto
Lakelands Oval - Warners Bay, Cricket
Northern NSW Football - Macquarie District Association 4953 0800
Macquarie Field - Football
Keith Barry Ovals - Rugby League
Toronto Junior Baseball Club
Westlakes Athletics Club