Article supplied by Mr. G. Blewett - Hurstville Historical Society

The area presently known as Lugarno was originally known as George's River.

The location of the ferry was referred to as the "Old crossing place on George's River." The farm where Evatt Park is now was described as being at Soily Bottom.

Later the area was considered to be part of Peakhurst, until in the 1920's the name Lugarno began to be used for the suburb. Lugarno is named after Lugano in the Ticino region of Switzerland. Orginally the spelling of the two places was the same. The later difference in spelling may be due to an error, or it may be a reflection of the Australian accent.

Lugano is not a typical Swiss town. it is in the Italian speaking area of Switzerland, the weather is warm, and palm trees are scattered among villas reminiscent of the French Riviera. Lugano is beside Lake Lugano, and a short distance from the town. The Italian border passes through the lake. Looking across the lake, steep mountains rise out of the water. There is a similarity with the view across the broad expanse of the George's River to the steep rocky hillsides - only the smaller scale and the distinctive vegetation of Australia distinguishes the two scenes.

James Murphy, the principal assistant to Thomas Holt worked at various times as the secretary, manager, or director of the Holt-Sutherland Estate company. He held a large amount of land at Como, where he ran the Murphy's Pleasure Grounds from the 1880's to World War I. He built a Swiss style chalet at Como, overlooking the George's and Woronora Rivers, but chose to live in a one roomed tin shed, and had a caretaker occupy the house, which was later burnt down.

It is not known if James Murphy travelled overseas, or if he was inspired by accounts of the travels of Thomas Holt, but he is thought to be responsible for many Swiss and Italian names in the district, including that of Lugarno.

The earliest recorded use of the name Lugarno is in the Government Gazette of the 10th June, 1887, announcing the re-establishment of the ferry at "a point on the George's River known as the Old George's River crossing, now known as Lugano".

The name Lugano appears to have originally been applied to that stretch of the river, and to the land on both sides of the river where the ferry crossed. Indeed the area now known as Illawong had the stronger claim to the name Lugarno. In the 1890's a paddle steamer operated by the Sanbrook Brothers, running from Como to the Parkesvale Pleasure Grounds opposite Picnic Point, called at the Lugarno wharf at what is now known as Illawong.

Sands Directory refers to Griffin Parade, Lugarno, George's River (from 1902), and the Lugarno Pleasure Grounds in Griffin Parade (from 1907), however nearby Fowler Road and Bignell Street were classified as being in Como. A subdivision known as the Lugano Ferry Estate on the western side of Illawarra Road near the ferry produced a series of L shaped blocks with river frontages, and access from Illawarra Road in 1913.

The name Lugarno was used in the names of estates in the area presently known as Lugarno, firstly in the Lugarno Bay estate (just west of the ferry) in 1919. The subdivision of the Matthei land around Boronia Parade as the Lugarno Estate followed in 1920. This led to the name Lugarno being transferred to the north side of the river.

The formation of the Lugarno and District Progress Association in 1922 further established the name Lugarno, and the efforts of the Progress Association led to the establishment of the Lugarno Post Office in 1926, and Lugarno Public School in 1933. The existence of the Post Office meant that Lugarno was now a postal address, and that important public institution - the school - set the final seal on the name. The area served by the Post Office and school helped to define the area known as Lugarno as being from the bottom of Chivers Hill to the Ferry.

The use of the name Lugarno for the other side of the river correspondingly declined. It was usually referred to as being part of Menai until the name Illawong was introduced in 1967.