Thornleigh, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Thornleigh is a suburb
of Sydney
, in the state of New South Wales
, Australia
. Thornleigh is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district
in the local government area of Hornsby Shire
. Thornleigh is bounded to the north by Waitara Creek.
John Thorn, who, along with Constable Horne, captured bushranger
s Dalton and John MacNamara, leader of the North Rocks gang, on June 22, 1830, and were granted land as a reward (1838). Horne's land became Hornsby
, and Thorn's land Thornleigh. The railway line was built in the 1880s and development followed.
As part of the construction of the railway from Strathfield
to Hornsby
, a 1.2 km branch was constructed in 1884 by the contractors to a quarry in a gully west of Thornleigh. The tracks included a zig-zag section.
Unemployment was a problem during the Great Depression of the 1930s, so a local lady named Lorna Brand raised money for the construction of a walking track near the Lane Cove River
as a way of providing relief work. The track begins at Thornleigh Oval, at the bottom of Handley Avenue, and goes through the bush towards the Lane Cove River. It then goes parallel to the river for a short distance before looping back to arrive at Comenarra Parkway. An extension goes down to the river, through a spot called Conscript Pass. At this spot, there are rock carvings done by the men who worked on the track. One of the carvings is a caricature of Bertram Stevens, Premier of New South Wales from 1932 to 1939. The track is known as Lorna Pass in memory of Lorna Brand, and is now part of the Great North Walk
, a long-distance walking trail between Sydney and Newcastle
.
of the CityRail
network. Pennant Hills Road
is one of Sydney's major thoroughfares.
liquor supermarket and speciality stores. Several dozen shops and restaurants are located around Thornleigh railway station and nearby Pennant Hills Road
. Fast food restaurant chain McDonald's
and tax preparation firm H&R Block
have their Australian headquarters in Thornleigh.
Formerly there was a Thornleigh Public School (K-6) which was situated at 218 Pennant Hills Road. It closed at the end of 1989 with the widening of Pennant Hills Road
to six lanes. The site is now occupied by Bunnings.
Normanhurst West Public School (K-6) is also in Thornleigh, although only just. It is situated at the corner of Sefton and Dartford Roads, right on the boundary with Normanhurst.
, 2.2% from Lebanon
and 1.9% from New Zealand
. Hornsby Shire Council Community profile
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Sydney
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...
, in the state of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, 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...
. Thornleigh is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) north-west of 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...
in the local government area of Hornsby Shire
Hornsby Shire
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 to the north...
. Thornleigh is bounded to the north by Waitara Creek.
History
Thornleigh is named after ConstableConstable
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:...
John Thorn, who, along with Constable Horne, captured 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 John MacNamara, leader of the North Rocks gang, on June 22, 1830, and were granted land as a reward (1838). Horne's land became 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 Thorn's land Thornleigh. The railway line was built in the 1880s and development followed.
As part of the construction of the railway from Strathfield
Strathfield, New South Wales
Strathfield is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Strathfield is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield...
to 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:...
, a 1.2 km branch was constructed in 1884 by the contractors to a quarry in a gully west of Thornleigh. The tracks included a zig-zag section.
Unemployment was a problem during the Great Depression of the 1930s, so a local lady named Lorna Brand raised money for the construction of a walking track near the Lane Cove River
Lane Cove River
The Lane Cove River is a tributary of the Parramatta River, Sydney, Australia. Its lower reaches form an arm of Sydney Harbour.-Description:...
as a way of providing relief work. The track begins at Thornleigh Oval, at the bottom of Handley Avenue, and goes through the bush towards the Lane Cove River. It then goes parallel to the river for a short distance before looping back to arrive at Comenarra Parkway. An extension goes down to the river, through a spot called Conscript Pass. At this spot, there are rock carvings done by the men who worked on the track. One of the carvings is a caricature of Bertram Stevens, Premier of New South Wales from 1932 to 1939. The track is known as Lorna Pass in memory of Lorna Brand, and is now 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"...
, a long-distance walking trail between Sydney and 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...
.
Transport
Thornleigh railway station is on the Northern railway 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,...
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. 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:...
is one of Sydney's major thoroughfares.
Commercial Areas
Thornleigh is partly residential, partly industrial and commercial. Thornleigh Marketplace was completed in 2005 and contains a Woolworths supermarket, a Dan Murphy'sDan Murphy's
Dan Murphy's is an Australian big box liquor supermarket chain owned by Woolworths Limited, who also owns BWS, another liquor chain with smaller stores.-History:...
liquor supermarket and speciality stores. Several dozen shops and restaurants are located around Thornleigh railway station and nearby 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:...
. Fast food restaurant chain McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
and tax preparation firm H&R Block
H&R Block
H&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.Founded in 1955 by brothers...
have their Australian headquarters in Thornleigh.
Schools
Thornleigh West Public School is a primary school (K-6). It is situated in Giblett Avenue, opposite Oakleigh Oval.Formerly there was a Thornleigh Public School (K-6) which was situated at 218 Pennant Hills Road. It closed at the end of 1989 with the widening of 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:...
to six lanes. The site is now occupied by Bunnings.
Normanhurst West Public School (K-6) is also in Thornleigh, although only just. It is situated at the corner of Sefton and Dartford Roads, right on the boundary with Normanhurst.
Population
The population of Thornleigh in 2001 was 7,505, with 67% over the age of 18, 91% being Australian citizens and 71% born in Australia. Of the 25.7% of residents born overseas, 5.3% are from United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, 2.2% from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and 1.9% from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Hornsby Shire Council Community profile