Hornsby, New South Wales
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Hornsby is a city on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 23 kilometres (14 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district. It is the administrative centre of the local government area of Hornsby Shire.
History
The name Hornsby is derived from convict-turned-constable Samuel Henry Horne, who took part in the apprehension of bushrangers Dalton and MacNamara on 22 June 1830. In return he was granted land which he named Hornsby Place. The suburb of Hornsby was established on the traditional lands of the Darug and Kurringgai people. There are more than 200 known Aboriginal sites in the Hornsby Shire.[2]
The first European settler in the area was Thomas Higgins, who received a grant of land in Old Mans Valley. The Higgins family eventually established the private Old Man's Valley Cemetery, where family members were buried from 1879 to 1931. The cemetery still exists and is heritage-listed.[3]
A railway station named "Hornsby Junction" opened on 17 September 1886 to the north of the town of Hornsby, which had developed on the site of Horne's grant. It formed the junction of the
The first Hornsby Post Office opened on 1 August 1864, and was renamed South Hornsby on 1 May 1900, the same day Hornsby Junction office near the railway station (open since 1887) was renamed Hornsby. The latter office remains open; the South Hornsby office was renamed Normanhurst in 1905.[6]
Residential growth in the area was left to private developers, who acquired land both east and west of the railway station. Realizing that working class housing tended to be close to railway stations, the developers aimed at providing the middle classes with quality housing further from the station, in areas with views. One of the first purchasers of land in the area was Annie Roberts, wife of Oscar Garibaldi Roberts, who became one of the first councilors in the Hornsby Shire. Having acquired a property in Rosemead Road, the Roberts family built "Mount Errington", a spectacular mansion in the Arts and Crafts style, now heritage-listed.[7] The Roberts family later acquired twelve blocks of land, which were then sub-divided into twenty-three blocks and offered for sale as the Roberts Mount Errington Sub-division. The area proceeded to grow as a prestige housing estate, featuring a number of houses in the Federation style. One of them was Birklands, a heritage-listed, Federation house built in 1902 in Dural Street. The house was originally built for Louis Spier Roberts and his wife Elizabeth, and stayed with the Roberts family until 1938.[8]
The Hornsby Shire Council was established in 1906. In 1961, the Westfield Hornsby shopping mall opened, making it one of the first suburbs in Sydney with a modern-style shopping centre. A competing shopping centre, Northgate, opened in 1979 but was eventually bought by Westfield. In late 1999, the two sites were amalgamated when the original Westfield was demolished and Northgate was renovated to create the new Westfield Hornsby which opened in November 2001.
Landmarks
- Hornsby Water Clock
- Odeon Cinema, Pacific Highway
- Hookhams Corner is the junction between the Pacific Highway, Carrington Road, Galston Road (which goes to Galston) and Old Berowra Road. It is also the name of an unbounded locality encompassing the area, as well as the site of two large water storage tanks that supply the surrounding area. It is at 33°41′29″S 151°05′55″E / 33.691277°S 151.098747°E
- Hornsby RSL Club
- The Leonard House, former home of writer and advocate Geofferey Leonard
Heritage listings
Hornsby has a number of items listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register or the Local Government Heritage List:
- Edgeworth David's House and Grounds[9]
- Mount Wilga House[10]
- Old Man's Valley Cemetery[3]
- Hornsby Quarry[11]
- Hornsby Court House, Pacific Highway[12]
- Hornsby Shire Council Chambers, Pacific Highway[13]
- Hornsby War Memorial, Pacific Highway[14]
- Brinawa, William Street[15]
- Mount Errington, Rosemead Road, spectacular mansion in the Arts and Crafts style, associated with the Roberts family[7]
- Birklands, Dural Street, Federation home associated with the Roberts family[8]
- Kuranda, Rosemead Road[16]
Transport
Hornsby is 25 kilometres (16 mi) by train and about 24 kilometres (15 mi) by road from the Sydney central business district.
Bus services operate from Hornsby Station Interchange. Services are operated by
CDC NSW operates two cross regional services from the Hornsby Interchange with;
- Route 575 to Macquarie Park and Macquarie Centre
- 600 to Northmead
Hornsby Interchange is served by two NightRide bus routes with:
- Route N80 - to Town Hall via Strathfield operated by Busways
- Route N90 - to Town Hall via Chatswood operated by Busways
The
In October 2020, the northernmost section of the NorthConnex tunnel also located in close proximity to Hornsby in the neighbouring suburb of Wahroonga was opened.
The opening of the NorthConnex was a key missing link to the Sydney Motorway network and its opening provides direct connectivity from the M1 to the Sydney orbital motorway network through a direct underground connection to the M2 and M7 motorways and beyond. The tunnel also provides an alternate route to the Sydney CBD, Ryde area and Eastern and Inner West suburbs via the Lane Cove Tunnel, bypassing the congested Pennant Hills Road and Pacific Highway.
Commercial areas
Hornsby remains a busy commercial centre, just as it was a century ago. Over the years, the town centre has developed distinct characteristics on either side of the railway line.
The western side consists of a traditional
The eastern side is dominated by
The north-western side of the suburb is occupied by various industries and the northern end of Hornsby features a major railway workshop.
Residential areas
Residential areas, consisting of low-to-medium density housing, are located on both sides of the railway line. Many of the residential areas on the western side of the train line enjoy bushy surrounds and close proximity to Regional and National Parks, as well as the beautiful Lisgar Gardens.
In recent years, high-rise apartments have been constructed adjacent to the train line as part of the NSW state planning policies to allow medium to high density development along transport corridors.
Schools
Hornsby is home to a number of schools, including primary schools Hornsby North Public School], Hornsby South Public School, Hornsby Heights Public School and Clarke Road Special School and the secondary schools
Culture
Hornsby has long been associated with Ginger Meggs,[20] a cartoon by Jimmy Bancks who grew up in Hornsby, which has appeared in Australian newspapers since 1921.
The local newspaper that serves the area is the Hornsby and Upper North Shore Advocate, owned by the Cumberland Newspaper Group.
Hornsby Aquatic Centre
Hornsby Aquatic Centre, which was built in 1962, had reached the end of its safe working life, and was closed on Friday 24 December 2010. It had featured a fifty-metre pool with 8 lanes and a small twelve-metre pool, also with 8 lanes. A new pool was built and opened on 11 August 2014.[21]
Parks and gardens
Edgeworth David Garden
The scientist and explorer Edgeworth David lived in Hornsby towards the end of his life. His house, known as Coringah, was set well back from Burdett Street on a mixed bushland property that extended along Sherbrook Road between Burdett and Northcote Road, and included a large garden. This property had originally been obtained in 1901 by Edward Swain, who built the cottage that still stands. The property was purchased by Edward Lear in 1916 and then by Edgeworth David in 1920. David's wife continued to live there after his death in 1934.
After David's death, subsequent owners preserved the garden, until Hornsby Shire Council acquired the entire property in 1999, adding the grounds (as Neal Park) to its Bushcare program.[22] That same year, the entire property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register, listed as Edgeworth David's House and Grounds.[9] Since 2016, the Edgeworth David Community Garden is located on the grounds.[23]
Lisgar Gardens
Lisgar Gardens are located in Lisgar Road, west of the Pacific Highway. The gardens were created by Max Cotton, who lived in Lisgar Road. In 1920, Cotton purchased land from his brother Leo and began developing the gardens for his own interest and satisfaction. With these gardens, Cotton could indulge his interest in horticulture and genetics. Aided by friends and family, he created extensive gardens and fishponds on the natural bushland that sloped down from Lisgar Road.
Cotton became friends with Professor Eben Gowrie Waterhouse—owner of
Florence Cotton Park
This park consists of a stretch of natural bushland between Frederick Street and Lisgar Gardens. Jimmy Bancks Creek runs through the park. Birdlife is varied and includes currawongs and brushturkeys. Hornsby Council has constructed a walking track that goes from Frederick Street to Lisgar Gardens. The park is named after Florence Cotton, wife of Leo Cotton, and was part of their estate. Florence Street in Hornsby was also named after her.[25]
Ginger Meggs Park
This park is located in Valley Road and is named after Ginger Meggs, a comic-strip character created by the Australian cartoonist Jimmy Bancks. Bancks spent much time in the area around this park during his childhood, so Hornsby Council named it after his famous character Ginger Meggs. A nearby creek was named Jimmy Bancks Creek. The park was officially named Ginger Meggs Park during a formal naming ceremony by the Mayor of Hornsby, John Muirhead, on 26 July 1997.
Hornsby Quarry
The quarry, located at the end of Quarry Road Hornsby,[26] was partially filled, to make it safe, using excavated material from the NorthConnex tunnel which was built by the NSW Government and completed in 2020, to link the M1 and M2 motorways. For geological reasons the quarry has been nominated as State Heritage. The Quarry project was completed in the first quarter of 2019.[27] A$50 million state budget will be allocated to turn the quarry into a future recreational park.[28]
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Coringah, former home of Edgeworth David, adjacent to Edgeworth David Community Garden
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Fishponds in Lisgar Gardens
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Plaque in Ginger Meggs Park
Population
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1996 | 18,276 | — |
2001 | 18,702 | +2.3% |
2006 | 19,863 | +6.2% |
2011 | 22,168 | +11.6% |
2016 | 22,462 | +1.3% |
In the 2016 Census, there were 22,168 people in Hornsby. Of these, 49.0% were male and 51.0% were female. The median age of people in Hornsby was 36 years. The most common ancestries in Hornsby were Chinese 17.1%, English 16.8%, Australian 14.0%, Indian 5.9% and Irish 5.6%. 44.4% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were China 11.9%, India 5.7%, South Korea 3.7%, England 3.0% and Nepal 2.7%. 46.5% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 13.2%, Cantonese 5.1%, Korean 4.5%, Nepali 2.9% and Persian 2.4%. The most common responses for religion in the Census were No Religion 33.1%, Catholic 17.7% and Anglican 10.0%.[1]
Notable residents
- Bill Alley, cricketer
- Ted Ball, professional golfer
- Jimmy Bancks, creator of Ginger Meggs
- Liz Burch, actress
- Portuguese discovered Australiain the 1600s. A small reserve in Hornsby is named after him, and his former home is currently the chapel of Hornsby Hospital.
- William Henry "Billy" Cook, jockey
- Edgeworth David, geologist, explorer, lead the first expedition to reach the South Magnetic Pole, namesake of Hornsby's Edgeworth David Avenue and Edgeworth David Community Garden
- John Davies, archivist, writer
- Jordan De Goey, Australian rules footballer
- Peter Fowler, golfer
- Scott Gourley, rugby league player
- Ian Keith Harris, composer
- J J Hilder, watercolorist
- Ashton Irwin, drummer in pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer
- NSW police commissioner
- Australian Broadcasting Commissionfrom 1967 until 1973.
- Bede Morris (1927–1988), immunologist[29]
- Julian O'Neill, former rugby league fullback
- Dan Parks, rugby union player
- New South Wales, Australia
- Tim Slade, Professional Racecar Driver
- Fred Stolle, tennis player
- Rich Thompson, professional American baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels
- Nathan Tutt, rugby league player
- Ted White, cricketer
- Simon Whitlock, Professional darts player competing on the PDC circuit
- Danny Williams, rugby leagueplayer
Gallery
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Barker College
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Hornsby Girls High School
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Mount Errington
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Hornsby Park
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Hornsby Court House
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Odeon Cinema
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Hornsby (State Suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ISBN 0908272804.
- ^ .
- ^ "Hornsby Shire Council History". Archived from the original on 26 April 2007.
- ^ "Rail Page". Archived from the original on 19 September 2000.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ a b State Heritage Register
- ^ a b Hornsby Council Heritage List Archived 9 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ .
- .
- ^ "Diatreme, Hornsby Quarry and surrounding vegetation". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Hornsby Court House". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Hornsby Shire Council Chambers". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Hornsby War Memorial". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Brinawa". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ Hornsby Council Heritage List Archived 16 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ F3 Freeway Archived 21 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ court house
- ^ Gregory's Street Directory, 59th Edition 1995, Map 191 F16
- ^ Ginger Meggs Archived 3 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre Hornsby Shire Council Retrieved 13 January 2021
- ^ "Bushcare". Hornsby Shire Council. 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Edgeworth David Community Garden". Hornsby Shire Council. 17 May 2018. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ State Heritage Register
- ^ Hornsby Council
- ^ Hornsby Quarry Google Maps
- ^ April 2019, Hornsby Quarry Development Application and EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)
- ^ New plan for park at Hornsby Quarry and Old Man’s valley open to suggestions from residents Daily Telegraph 22 February 2017
- ^ "Morris, Beade". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 2012.
Further reading
- Ollif, Lorna (1975). There Must Be a River (A History of Hornsby Shire). Ollif Publishing Co. ISBN 0-9599183-1-0.
External links
- Hornsby Council heritage and conservation areas
- Rowland, Joan (2008). "Hornsby". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 27 September 2015. [CC-By-SA]
- Clugston, Niall (Hornsby Shire Library) (2008). "Mount Errington". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 28 September 2015. [CC-By-SA]
- Clugston, Niall (Hornsby Shire Library) (2008). "Old Mans Valley". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 28 September 2015. [CC-By-SA]
- Clugston, Niall (Hornsby Shire Library) (2008). "Pearces Corner". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 28 September 2015. [CC-By-SA]