WOY WOY Woy Woy is the first major community north of Sydney (as the crow flies) in a roundabout way. Woy Woy is a very old town, but very little physical evidence of that fact remains today. Being close to Sydney and with waterways everywhere the area called the ‘central coast’ that includes Woy Woy has exploded. All new and pretty much built out. That said Woy Woy has retained its individualistic character. People from Woy Woy are from Woy Woy. Woy Woy was originally known as Webb's Flat, named for James Webb, the first European settler of the Brisbane Water region in 1823. The change to Woy Woy is not dated. Woy Woy’s relative proximity to the state capital combined with its small-town isolation led to it developing a reputation in the middle years of the 20th century as a convenient "lover's retreat" for couples conducting affairs. Electrification of the Main Northern rail line running through Woy Woy to Gosford in 1960 prompted rapid residential development in and around Woy Woy in the 1960s and 1970s. The opening of the Rip Bridge in the 60’s also opened up the eastern peninsula to rapid growth. After their retirement, the parents and younger brother of comedian Spike Milligan (1918–2002) moved to Woy Woy; as a result, Spike spent some time in the town and was occasionally jocularly referred to as "the boy from Woy Woy". The Milligan factor is considered a proud heritage. The Bay View Hotel is one of the few vestiges to the past. The Woy Woy Hotel is a modern building. The Woy Woy churches are modern. There is no museum in Woy Woy, or in the area as far as can be ascertained. The Woy Woy War Memorial is a delightful garden presentation. Be sure to study the walls of the fences and the huge number of acknowledgments. This is a really nice place. Try and find a way to stay a day or two. Late summer would be best.