The peaceful residential suburb of Loftus is situated in the southern Sydney shire of Sutherland. Bordered by the Prince Edward Park to the north and the Loftus Creek to the west, the suburb is enhanced by this natural setting. Nonetheless these attractions pale in comparison to the splendour of the Royal National Park, which forms the suburb's southern and western border. The National Park was dedicated in an unprecedented display of environmental foresight in 1879, to be only the second such national park in the world. The 30 kilometre stretch of rugged coastline that fringes the forests and heaths of the park has attracted admirers for well over 100 years. To commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1954, the reserve was renamed the Royal National Park.

For much of the nineteenth century the Sutherland Shire remained virtually uninhabited. Development was marred by the Georges and Woronora Rivers, which presented formidable barriers to overlanders. The hazardous sea journey from Sydney Cove offered little alternative. The dedication of the National Park exposed the isolation and inadequacies of transportation to this southern region; for the bequest of a public reserve to the people of New South Wales is of little use if those people cannot access it. Hence, in 1885 the Illawarra line from Sydney reached Sutherland. The following year when the next station south was opened it was named Loftus Junction, honouring the recently retired Governor of New South Wales, Lord Augustus Loftus. By the turn of the century, Loftus Junction was shortened to Loftus, and the surrounding region adopted this identity.

An unusual museum announces the main entrance to the Royal National Park at Loftus. The Sydney Tramway Museum recalls the hey day of the fondly remembered Sydney trams, the last of which journeyed in 1961. Visitors are invited to relive the journeys of yesteryear upon some of the more than 30 retired trams which hail from the streets of Sydney, Ballarat, Brisbane and Melbourne. Voluntarily staffed by tram enthusiasts, the Sydney Tramway Museum is opened to the public on Sundays and Public Holidays.

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