Hornsby Shire
Encyclopedia
Hornsby Shire is a Local Government Area in the Northern region of Sydney
, Australia
. The Shire stretches from the suburb of Eastwood in the south to the Hawkesbury River
town of Wisemans Ferry
, some 53 kilometres (33 mi) to the north. As at June 2010, it had an estimated population of 164,034.
Towns and rural localities in Hornsby Shire are:
. While the northern part of the Shire (via the Hawkesbury River
) was visited by the first European settlers in late 1788, due to the Shire's rugged landscape permanent European settlement did not begin until almost half a century later.
Hornsby Shire got its name from the town of Hornsby
at the eastern end of the Shire, is derived from Convict
-turned-Constable
Samuel Horne, who earned distinction by capturing bushranger
s Dalton and MacNamara on 22 June 1830. In return he was granted land in the locality known as "Hornsby Place".
Hornsby Shire has remained largely rural for many decades. The construction of the Northern Railway Line (see Cityrail
) in the 1880s opened up the Shire to the rest of Sydney and also to Newcastle
, but it was not until motor vehicles became commonplace in the 1950s that the southern part of the Shire truly became part of Sydney's suburbia.
on the eastern side and the Berowra Valley Regional Park
on the western side. These provide large areas of natural parkland that form a green belt
running from Sydney at the south to the Hawkesbury River
at the Shire's northern end. These parks are extremely popular with day-trippers from all areas of Sydney and provides diverse recreations such as bushwalking and boating.
The northern half of Hornsby Shire remains a semi-rural area, retaining a number of farmlands and market gardens. The village of Galston
is the centre of this rural area.
The southern half of the Shire is urban, forming part of Sydney's suburbia. Traditionally most of the Shire's residents live in free-standing houses, but in recent years a number of semi-detached housings as well as high-density apartments have appeared around Hornsby
's central district.
The Shire has two industrial areas, in Hornsby
and Thornleigh
. The major commercial centres of the Shire, apart from Hornsby's central district, are the suburbs of Pennant Hills
, Epping
and Carlingford
.
Local attractions in the Hornsby Shire include its easily accessible wilderness areas including part of the Great North Walk
, parkland recreational facilities such as Fagan Park at Galston, Pennant Hills Park, Koala Park Sanctuary
in West Pennant Hills, and the village of Brooklyn
on the Hawkesbury River
.
and the North Shore Line) of the CityRail
network.
The Northern Line forms an arc which begins at the Sydney central business district
(CBD), going through the Inner Western suburbs
, turns north and enters the Hornsby Shire at its south-western end, heading north-east to central Hornsby
, before proceeding northward to Newcastle
and beyond.
The North Shore Line begins at the central business district, crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge
and passing through North Sydney
, then proceeds northward until terminating at Hornsby
.
Because Hornsby Shire is somewhat deficient in bus transport, its residents rely heavily on cars. Being the northern gateway of Sydney means that thousands of heavy trucks pass through Hornsby Shire every day and night. The main roads within the Shire are the Sydney–Newcastle Freeway (F3) running from Pacific Highway
in Wahroonga
northward to Hexham
in Newcastle's northwestern suburbs; Pacific Highway, which joins Sydney with the Central Coast; Pennant Hills Road
(part of Cumberland Highway), running from Wahroonga to Parramatta
; and part of the M2 tollway.
, or non-denominational Christian groups. Single-sex schools are somewhat more common in Hornsby Shire than in other parts of Sydney. Regardless of the type of school, however, their academic results are generally above that of the state average.
The Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE
has a college in Hornsby
.
at the town of Hornsby
is the main public hospital for the Upper North Shore
. There are a number of private hospitals in the nearby area including the Sydney Adventist Hospital
which is a major hospital serving the North Shore Region, which is actually located in the adjacent Municipality of Ku-ring-gai.
(at Hornsby
, Pennant Hills
, Epping
, Berowra
and Galston
, three public swimming pools ("Aquatic Centres"), and a range of other sporting and community facilities.
The current mayor Nick Berman was first elected to Hornsby Shire Council as a B Ward Councillor in 1999. He became the first directly elected Mayor in 2004.
The shire is divided into three wards, each electing three councillors. The current makeup of the council, including the mayor, is as follows:
The current council, elected in 2008, is:
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Shire stretches from the suburb of Eastwood in the south to the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
town of Wisemans Ferry
Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales
Wisemans Ferry is a town north of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wisemans Ferry is located 75 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, The Hills Shire, City of Hawkesbury and City of Gosford.The town is a...
, some 53 kilometres (33 mi) to the north. As at June 2010, it had an estimated population of 164,034.
Towns and localities
Suburbs in Hornsby Shire are:- AsquithAsquith, New South WalesAsquith is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Asquith is located 26 km north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- BeecroftBeecroft, New South WalesBeecroft is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Beecroft is located 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire. Beecroft is considered to be in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney.- History :Beecroft...
- BerowraBerowra, New South WalesBerowra is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra is located 38 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- Berowra HeightsBerowra Heights, New South WalesBerowra Heights is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra Heights is located 39 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
- Berowra WatersBerowra Waters, New South WalesBerowra Waters is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra is located 40 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
- CarlingfordCarlingford, New South WalesCarlingford is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Carlingford is located 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the The Hills Shire, Hornsby Shire and the City of Parramatta...
(shared with The Hills Shire and City of ParramattaCity of ParramattaThe City of Parramatta is a Local Government Area in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.Initially in 1861 it was formed as Municipality of Parramatta...
) - Castle HillCastle Hill, New South WalesCastle Hill is a suburb in the north-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Castle Hill is located 31 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the Hills District of the Greater Western Sydney region...
(shared with The Hills Shire) - CheltenhamCheltenham, New South WalesCheltenham is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cheltenham is located 21 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- CherrybrookCherrybrook, New South WalesCherrybrook is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cherrybrook is located 27 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- EppingEpping, New South WalesEpping is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Epping is located 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Ryde, the City of Parramatta and Hornsby Shire and is located in the Northern...
(shared with City of ParramattaCity of ParramattaThe City of Parramatta is a Local Government Area in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.Initially in 1861 it was formed as Municipality of Parramatta...
and City of RydeCity of RydeThe City of Ryde is a Local Government Area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the Lower North Shore and Greater Western Sydney over West Ryde and Eastwood District....
) - HornsbyHornsby, New South Wales* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
- Hornsby HeightsHornsby Heights, New South WalesHornsby Heights is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hornsby Heights is located 27 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region.Hornsby Heights lies to the...
- Mount ColahMount Colah, New South WalesMount Colah is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mount Colah is located 29 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire....
- Mount Kuring-gai
- NormanhurstNormanhurst, New South WalesNormanhurst is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Normanhurst is located 23 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire.-History:...
- North EppingNorth Epping, New South WalesNorth Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Epping is located 19 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire. North Epping is in the Northern Suburbs region...
- Pennant HillsPennant Hills, New South WalesPennant Hills is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- ThornleighThornleigh, New South WalesThornleigh is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Thornleigh is located north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- WahroongaWahroonga, New South WalesWahroonga is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wahroonga is located 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council and Hornsby Shire....
(shared with Ku-ring-gai CouncilKu-ring-gai CouncilKu-ring-gai Council is a Local Government Area in the North Shore region of Sydney. It includes the suburbs of Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, St Ives, Turramurra, Warrawee, and parts of Roseville, and Wahroonga. The region is named after the Kuringgai tribe who once inhabited the area...
) - WaitaraWaitara, New South WalesWaitara is a suburb in the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Waitara is located 23 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire.-History:...
- WestleighWestleigh, New South WalesWestleigh is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Westleigh is located 27 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire.-History:...
- West Pennant HillsWest Pennant Hills, New South WalesWest Pennant Hills is a suburb located in the Hills District region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. West Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire and The Hills Shire...
(shared with The Hills Shire)
- Hookhams CornerHookhams Corner, New South WalesHookham's Corner is the junction between the Pacific Highway, Carrington Rd, Galston Road and Old Berowra Road, Hornsby, .It is also the name of a Locality encompassing the area....
- Roselea
- Round CornerRound Corner, New South WalesRound Corner is a locality of the suburb of Dural in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of Baulkham Hills Shire.-Round Corner Dural:...
- Thompsons Corner
Towns and rural localities in Hornsby Shire are:
- ArcadiaArcadia, New South WalesArcadia is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Arcadia is located 42 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- BerrileeBerrilee, New South WalesBerrilee is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berrilee is located 38 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region....
- Bobbin HeadBobbin Head, New South WalesBobbin Head is a locality in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.Bobbin Head is a scenic area that is a "near-urban" part of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park...
- BrooklynBrooklyn, New South WalesBrooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
- CanoelandsCanoelands, New South WalesCanoelands is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Canoelands is located 60 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and Baulkham Hills Shire...
- CowanCowan, New South WalesCowan is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cowan is located 40 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region. Cowan shares the postcode of 2081 with Berowra...
- Dangar IslandDangar IslandDangar Island is a small forested island in the Hawkesbury River, just north of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It has a permanent population of about 250, which swells dramatically during holiday seasons. The island is serviced regularly by the Dangar Island Ferry service that departs from...
- DuralDural, New South WalesDural is a semi-rural suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dural is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire and The Hills Shire. Dural is part of the Hills District, in Northern Sydney...
(shared with The Hills Shire) - FiddletownFiddletown, New South WalesFiddletown is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Fiddletown is located 39 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region.-Landmarks:...
- Fishermans Point
- Forest GlenForest Glen, New South WalesForest Glen is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Forest Glen is located 54 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region....
- GalstonGalston, New South WalesGalston is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Galston is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region....
- GlenhavenGlenhaven, New South WalesGlenhaven is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Glenhaven is located 32 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire, part of the Hills District region.-History:...
(shared with The Hills Shire) - GlenorieGlenorie, New South WalesGlenorie is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Glenorie is located 44 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of The Hills Shire and Hornsby Shire. Glenorie is part of the Hills District.-Aboriginal culture:The...
(shared with The Hills Shire) - LaughtondaleLaughtondale, New South WalesLaughtondale is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Hornsby Shire local government area.-See also:*Dangar Island*Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge*Hawkesbury River*Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park...
- MarootaMaroota, New South WalesMaroota is a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Maroota is located 83 kilometres northwest of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of The Hills Shire and Hornsby Shire....
- Middle DuralMiddle Dural, New South WalesMiddle Dural is a semi-rural suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dural is located 37 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire and The Hills Shire. Dural is in the Upper North Shore region...
- Milsons PassageMilsons Passage, New South WalesMilsons Passage is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Hornsby Shire local government area. According to the 2006 census, the population is 43.-See also:*Dangar Island*Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge...
- Singletons MillSingletons Mill, New South WalesSingletons Mill is a locality in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Hornsby Shire local government area.-External links:...
- Wisemans FerryWisemans Ferry, New South WalesWisemans Ferry is a town north of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wisemans Ferry is located 75 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, The Hills Shire, City of Hawkesbury and City of Gosford.The town is a...
(shared with City of Gosford and The Hills Shire)
History
Hornsby Shire was originally occupied by the Dharug and Gu-ring-gai tribes of Indigenous AustraliansIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. While the northern part of the Shire (via the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
) was visited by the first European settlers in late 1788, due to the Shire's rugged landscape permanent European settlement did not begin until almost half a century later.
Hornsby Shire got its name from the town of Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
at the eastern end of the Shire, is derived from Convict
Convict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
-turned-Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
Samuel Horne, who earned distinction by capturing bushranger
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
s Dalton and MacNamara on 22 June 1830. In return he was granted land in the locality known as "Hornsby Place".
Hornsby Shire has remained largely rural for many decades. The construction of the Northern Railway Line (see Cityrail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
) in the 1880s opened up the Shire to the rest of Sydney and also to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, but it was not until motor vehicles became commonplace in the 1950s that the southern part of the Shire truly became part of Sydney's suburbia.
Geography
Hornsby calls itself the 'Bushland Shire'. This is in reference to its location on a high ridge separating two expansive areas of natural bushland: The Ku-ring-gai Chase National ParkKu-ring-gai Chase National Park
Ku-ring-gai Chase is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 25 km north of Sydney located largely within the Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby, Warringah and Pittwater municipal areas. Ku-ring-gai Chase is also officially classed as a suburb by the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales...
on the eastern side and the Berowra Valley Regional Park
Berowra Valley Regional Park
The Berowra Valley Regional Park is in the Hornsby Shire in Sydney, Australia. Notable features include the Thornleigh Zig Zag Railway, an historic quarry and a bridge spanning Tunks Creek at Galston Gorge...
on the western side. These provide large areas of natural parkland that form a green belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
running from Sydney at the south to the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
at the Shire's northern end. These parks are extremely popular with day-trippers from all areas of Sydney and provides diverse recreations such as bushwalking and boating.
The northern half of Hornsby Shire remains a semi-rural area, retaining a number of farmlands and market gardens. The village of Galston
Galston, New South Wales
Galston is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Galston is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region....
is the centre of this rural area.
The southern half of the Shire is urban, forming part of Sydney's suburbia. Traditionally most of the Shire's residents live in free-standing houses, but in recent years a number of semi-detached housings as well as high-density apartments have appeared around Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
's central district.
The Shire has two industrial areas, in Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
and Thornleigh
Thornleigh, New South Wales
Thornleigh is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Thornleigh is located north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
. The major commercial centres of the Shire, apart from Hornsby's central district, are the suburbs of Pennant Hills
Pennant Hills, New South Wales
Pennant Hills is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
, Epping
Epping, New South Wales
Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Epping is located 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Ryde, the City of Parramatta and Hornsby Shire and is located in the Northern...
and Carlingford
Carlingford, New South Wales
Carlingford is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Carlingford is located 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the The Hills Shire, Hornsby Shire and the City of Parramatta...
.
Local attractions in the Hornsby Shire include its easily accessible wilderness areas including part of the Great North Walk
Great North Walk
The Great North Walk is a walking track which runs from Sydney to Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. The main track, in length, runs between the Obelisk in Macquarie Place in Sydney to Queens Wharf Tower in Bicentennial Park in Newcastle and is well sign-posted. There are many "side tracks"...
, parkland recreational facilities such as Fagan Park at Galston, Pennant Hills Park, Koala Park Sanctuary
Koala Park Sanctuary
The Koala Park Sanctuary is privately owned and run wildlife park located at West Pennant Hills in Sydney Australia. The park is most famous for its collection of Koalas.-History:...
in West Pennant Hills, and the village of Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
on the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
.
Transport
The urban areas of Hornsby are serviced by two railway lines (the Northern LineNorthern railway line, Sydney
The Northern Line is part of the metropolitan rail network in Sydney known as CityRail. It serves the northern suburbs of Sydney and the Lower North Shore, along with parts of the Inner West and the Hills District. The line utilises the Epping to Chatswood Line and parts of the Main Northern Line,...
and the North Shore Line) of the CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
network.
The Northern Line forms an arc which begins at the Sydney central business district
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
(CBD), going through the Inner Western suburbs
Inner West (Sydney)
The Inner West is a general term which is used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the west of the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia...
, turns north and enters the Hornsby Shire at its south-western end, heading north-east to central Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
, before proceeding northward to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
and beyond.
The North Shore Line begins at the central business district, crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
and passing through North Sydney
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
, then proceeds northward until terminating at Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
.
Because Hornsby Shire is somewhat deficient in bus transport, its residents rely heavily on cars. Being the northern gateway of Sydney means that thousands of heavy trucks pass through Hornsby Shire every day and night. The main roads within the Shire are the Sydney–Newcastle Freeway (F3) running from Pacific Highway
Pacific Highway (Australia)
The Pacific Highway is a major transport route along part of the east coast of Australia and is part of Australia's national route 1.It is 960 km long and links Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, along the coast, via Gosford, Newcastle, Taree, Port...
in Wahroonga
Wahroonga, New South Wales
Wahroonga is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wahroonga is located 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council and Hornsby Shire....
northward to Hexham
Hexham, New South Wales
Hexham is a suburb of the city of Newcastle, about inland from Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia on the bank of the Hunter River.Settlement occurred at Hexham in the 1820s when the land was granted to Edward Sparke...
in Newcastle's northwestern suburbs; Pacific Highway, which joins Sydney with the Central Coast; Pennant Hills Road
Pennant Hills Road
Pennant Hills Road is a major highway located in Sydney, New South Wales. It runs from the suburb of Wahroonga, in the north, to the major central business district of Parramatta, Australia.-History:...
(part of Cumberland Highway), running from Wahroonga to Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
; and part of the M2 tollway.
Education
Hornsby Shire contains a number of schools, both government and private. Government schools can either be selective or comprehensive; private schools are typically run by Catholic, AnglicanAnglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
, or non-denominational Christian groups. Single-sex schools are somewhat more common in Hornsby Shire than in other parts of Sydney. Regardless of the type of school, however, their academic results are generally above that of the state average.
The Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE
Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE
The Northern Sydney Institute is the TAFE NSW Institute servicing the northern suburbs of Sydney. The institute comprises seven colleges.-Colleges:*Bradfield Senior College*Crows Nest College*Hornsby College*Meadowbank College*North Sydney College...
has a college in Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
.
Hospitals
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai HospitalHornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital is a hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Palmerston Road in Hornsby. It is a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney....
at the town of Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
is the main public hospital for the Upper North Shore
North Shore (Sydney)
The North Shore is an informal term used to describe the primarily residential area of northern metropolitan Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The term usually refers to the suburbs located on the north shore of Sydney Harbour between Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove River, up to...
. There are a number of private hospitals in the nearby area including the Sydney Adventist Hospital
Sydney Adventist Hospital
Sydney Adventist Hospital, commonly known as the San, is a large private hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Fox Valley Road in Wahroonga. Established on January 1, 1903, as a not-for-profit organisation, it was originally named the Sydney Sanitarium from which its colloquial name was derived...
which is a major hospital serving the North Shore Region, which is actually located in the adjacent Municipality of Ku-ring-gai.
Other facilities
Hornsby Shire has five public librariesLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
(at Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
, Pennant Hills
Pennant Hills, New South Wales
Pennant Hills is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
, Epping
Epping, New South Wales
Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Epping is located 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Ryde, the City of Parramatta and Hornsby Shire and is located in the Northern...
, Berowra
Berowra, New South Wales
Berowra is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra is located 38 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
and Galston
Galston, New South Wales
Galston is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Galston is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region....
, three public swimming pools ("Aquatic Centres"), and a range of other sporting and community facilities.
Council
Hornsby Shire Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally, in addition to the mayor, who is directly elected.The current mayor Nick Berman was first elected to Hornsby Shire Council as a B Ward Councillor in 1999. He became the first directly elected Mayor in 2004.
The shire is divided into three wards, each electing three councillors. The current makeup of the council, including the mayor, is as follows:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Independents Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... and Unaffiliated |
7 | |
| The Greens Australian Greens The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which... |
2 | |
| Australian Labor Party Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
1 | |
| Total | 10 | |
The current council, elected in 2008, is:
| Ward | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Ward | Steve Russell | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
||
| Wendy McMurdo | Greens Australian Greens The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which... |
|||
| Mick Smart | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
|||
| B Ward | Steve Evans | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Elected on Nick Berman's ticket | |
| Dilip Chopra | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Elected on Nick Berman's ticket | ||
| Bruce Mills | Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
|||
| C Ward | Michael Hutchence | Unaffiliated | ||
| Andrew Martin | Greens Australian Greens The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which... |
|||
| Robert Browne | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |