Beacon Hill, New South Wales
| Beacon Hill Sydney, New South Wales | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The outlook from the summit of Governor Phillip Lookout | |||||||||||||
| Population | 6,900 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2100 | ||||||||||||
| Location | 17 km (11 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Warringah Council | ||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Wakehurst | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Mackellar, Warringah | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Beacon Hill is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council. It is part of the Northern Beaches region.
History
Beacon Hill was given the title when the Department of Lands built a trigometric beacon there in 1881.[2]
Aboriginal culture
Little is known of local aboriginal culture in the Beacon Hill area but other local areas towards the sea have a rich and diverse aboriginal background. There are some aboriginal carvings in rocks to the north of Red Hill.
European settlement
Daniel Egan, a member of the NSW Parliament, purchased two 40-acre (16 ha) parcels of land on 5 October 1857.
Most of the houses in the suburb were built in the boom days after World War II, in the 1950s and 1960s.[3] Many of the streets in Beacon Hill are named after notable battles, military men or places where Australian troops served in World War II. These include Owen Stanley Avenue, Kokoda Crescent, Goroka Place and Lae Place.
Beacon Hill Post Office opened on 1 August 1949 and closed in 1986.[4] Beacon Hill High School was established in 1964 and closed in 2002.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census of Population, there were 6,900 residents in Beacon Hill. 69.2% of residents were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 6.3%, Italy 2.6% and New Zealand 2.3%. 79.2% of residents spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Italian 4.1%, Mandarin 2.0% and Cantonese 1.8%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic 33.4%, Anglican 21.1% and No Religion 20.2%.[1]
Transport
Beacon Hill is serviced by Sydney Buses. For many years there have been plans put forward, then withdrawn again for a heavy rail line to be constructed to service the Northern Beaches. Most residents therefore drive motor vehicles to get around.
Since 1980 traffic congestion has steadily increased on the roads around Beacon Hill. Some road closures have been implemented, notably the closures of Tristram Road and Boyer Road, to prevent through traffic. Traffic calming devices were installed and remain an issue for local transportation reliant primarily on private motor vehicles.
Landmarks
Governor Phillip Lookout
This lookout is located atop Beacon Hill itself. Views of almost the entire eastern half of the Sydney region may be had from the summit which is approximately 152 metres (500 ft) above sea level.
Views extend from the southern outskirts of Sydney, west to the Blue Mountains and north to Gosford and the Central Coast. The skyline of the city is to the south. Ships, pleasure craft and occasional migratory whales can be seen out to sea in the east.
The lookout is popular with locals on New Year's Eve when the firework displays across Sydney Harbour are clearly visible, approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi) to the south.
The lookout may be reached via Warringah Road. There is a small parking area adjacent to the road with stairs leading to a pathway and the summit.
Red Hill
Red Hill, not to be confused with Beacon Hill, is located at the northern end of the suburb behind the former Beacon Hill High School site. From here there are views across to the Governor Phillip Lookout, and onwards to the city. The views to the north are over the eastern sections of the Garigal National Park, to Cromer and beyond into the Pittwater Council areas of Elanora, Narrabeen and Ingleside.
Community services and organisations
The Governor Phillip Lookout Trust was gazetted on 9 December 1966 and was charged with the responsibility not only of protecting and developing the area as an historical feature of the district, but also for the preservation and propagation of the native flora and fauna that surrounds the lookout. The first meeting took place on 10 April 1966.[5]
References
- 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Beacon Hill (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ↑ The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8
- ↑ A History of Beacon Hill and its schools - Bruce, Jill B. 1943 - ISBN 0-7316-2170-0 (Copyright to Jill B Bruce and the Parents and Citizens Association of Beacon Hill Public School, Beacon Hill, Sydney, Australia. Contact school for permission to reprint any article or photograph.)
- ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ↑ The Beacon Hill Story - a Memorial to Governor Phillip - C.E.McDonald & Governor Phillip Lookout Trust (no copyright)
Coordinates: 33°45′08″S 151°15′22″E / 33.7522°S 151.2560°E