A history of the St George district which covers the local Government areas of Rockdale, Kogarah and Hurstville, and includes these suburbs as well Allawah, Arncliffe, Banksia, Bardwell Park, Beverly Hills, Bexley, Brighton-le-Sands, Carlton, Carrs Park, Dolls Point, Kingsgrove, Lugarno, Mortdale, Oatley, Peakhurst, Penshurst, Ramsgate, Sans Souci, Sandringham and Turrella. The Aboriginal history around Georges River and Botany Bay, White settlement, early land division, speculating and subdivision, commercial growth, trams to Sans Souci and Sandringham and the delights of pleasure grounds and swimming baths. Tom Uglys, Kogarah Bay and the oyster industry are covered. The growth of Rockdale, Hurstville and Kogarah as service centres before and after the world wars and the post-war building booms make the shape of these suburbs today clearer to those who are too young to remember.