the Pioneers Park at Griffith, New South Wales. The area was originally named "The Canoe Grounds" and is shown as such in a Gregory's Directory of 1946. Some time after that it became known as "Canoelands". This name was officially gazetted in the NSW Government Gazette dated 12 November 1993 and had its boundaries specified and officially designated as a suburb of Sydney in the NSW Government Gazette No.145, dated 1 December 1995. The first landholding in the Parish of Marramarra, which includes Canoelands, was of on the northern side of Marramarra Creek below Mount Blake. It was purchased by John Blake for one pound and ten shillings on 6 June 1835. The land had been advertised for sale by auction in an advertisement dated 13 December 1834. Transport Old Northern Road was convict-built and is a major connecting route stretching north for 34 km from Baulkham Hills to Wisemans Ferry. The suburb has two other roadways: Canoelands Road which is a 9 km long cul-de-sac, and Marra Avenue which is a 2.2 km long cul-de-sac. The former is bituminised for most of its length and the latter has a wholly bituminised surface. Picturesque rural, mountain and city views can be had from many locations along these roads. The first and still the only street light in the suburb was erected on the corner of Old Northern and Canoelands Roads on 6 June 1994. At first it was only activated by the headlights of approaching cars but this proved to be quite erratic. After a month or two this was abandoned and it was lit as at present, from sunset until sunrise. Rural areas Canoelands is at the far northern end of the Hornsby Shire Council's coverage and has the Local Government land usage classification of Rural Lands. Holdings must have a minimum area of 10 ha which cannot be subdivided and only one dwelling may be erected on each. However, the erection of necessary agricultural buildings is permitted. Industry in the area consists of four commercial plant nurseries and three large stonefruit orchards. The orchards are largely covered by synthetic netting to minimise the depredations of grey-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) which attack the fruit trees when carrying fruit. The fruit grown are peaches, nectarines and plums. There is also some cashcrop market gardening such as tomatoes, snowpeas and zucchini from time to time. Apiarists bring their beehives when