Cowan, New South Wales

Cowan
New South Wales

Pacific Highway passing through Cowan
Coordinates 33°35′27″S 151°10′10″E / 33.59072°S 151.16956°ECoordinates: 33°35′27″S 151°10′10″E / 33.59072°S 151.16956°E[1]
Population 544 (2011)[2]
 • Density 62.5/km2 (161.9/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 2081
Area 8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Location 38 km (24 mi) north of Sydney CBD
LGA(s) Hornsby Shire
State electorate(s) Hornsby
Federal Division(s) Berowra
Suburbs around Cowan:
Berowra Heights Mooney Mooney Brooklyn
Berowra Heights Cowan Brooklyn
Berowra Berowra Berowra

Cowan is a small town near Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire. It is described by some as part of the loosely defined North Shore region. Cowan shares the postcode of 2081 with Berowra. Brooklyn, which lies 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the north-east of Cowan, is sometimes considered the northernmost suburb of the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area.

History

The town takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning big water.[3]

Transport

Access by road to Cowan is via the Pacific Highway which traverses Cowan north to south. The F3 Sydney-Newcastle Freeway runs beside it. The Main North Railway Line runs parallel to the Pacific Highway through most of Cowan. Cowan railway station is served by the Central Coast & Newcastle Line of the NSW TrainLink network. Electric overhead railway power facilities are located in the north of Cowan. Cowan station receives intercity services to Newcastle and Sydney Terminal. Cowan is also the location of the 1990 Cowan railway accident, in which there were 5 deaths.

Commercial area

There is a single General Store that serves the Cowan community, which is located on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Fraser Road. A notable landmark of the Cowan area is the "Pie In The Sky" pie shop located approximately one kilometre north of Cowan on the Pacific Highway.[4] Pie In The Sky featured in the Australian film Lantana, and is a frequent stop for day-trippers, bicycle riders and motorcycle/motor-scooter enthusiasts on weekends.

Facilities

Cowan Community Hall is a service provided by Hornsby Shire Council. Cowan Park and a small picnic area are adjacent to the Fire Station on View Street. Cowan is served by one public primary school, Cowan Public School.

Fire protection for the entire area of Cowan is provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service, through Cowan Rural Fire Brigade, however, a Mutual Aid Agreement with the NSW Fire Brigades ensures that NSW Fire Brigades will also respond to any urban fire incidents within Cowan.

Cowan Post Office opened on 14 December 1936 and closed in 1993, however, postal services are still available in the local General Store.[5]

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Cowan". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales.
  2. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Cowan (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "PLACE NAMES.". The Australian Women's Weekly (1932-1982) (1932-1982: National Library of Australia). 13 May 1964. p. 61. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  4. ↑ Not Quite Nigella
  5. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 1 June 2012.