Beacon Hill, New South Wales
Beacon Hill is the name of a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in the Warringah council area of the Northern Beaches region. Its postcode is 2100.
History
Red Hill
Red Hill played a part in many childhood adventures of the locals over the years. The hill was latticed with many tracks, caves and "hideouts". On the southern side of the hill between Reynolds Crescent, Spilstead Place and a point approximately half way up the hill stood an old house. The house burnt down in the 1970's and (from all accounts) was uninhabited. Known locally as "the house", it was ringed by a small dirt track that had worn away in the river sand lining the banks of South Creek. During the period of the early 1970's this track had become popular with local mini bike enthusiasts.
Children also played many other games during the school holiday periods including "playing soldiers" in and out of the washaways across the top of the hill. Adjacent bushland (which still survives today on the northern side of the hill) provided local children with many adventures over the years. There are several bush tracks which connect the Cromer Valley with the hill and back over the other side to the residential area of Beacon Hill itself.
One of the first meetings of the Beacon Hill Bushfire Brigade took place in a cave on Red Hill.
Characteristics
Beacon Hill is predominantly a bedroom community. Most of the houses were built in the boom days after the Second World War in the 1950's and 1960's.
Aboriginal culture
Little is known of local aboriginal culture in the Beacon Hill area itself. Other local areas surrounding the hill, towards the sea have a rich and diverse aboriginal background.
There are some aboriginal carvings in rocks to the north of Red Hill.
Notable citizens
Daniel Egan
Amongst the more prominent people who have played a part in Beacon Hill's history is Daniel Egan. On the 5th October 1857, Egan purchased two 40 acre parcels of land. He was also a member of the NSW Parliament.
Pioneering Families
By 1932 the following families were living in Beacon Hill.
Adams, Blackford, Brightwell, Brooker, Brown, Carney, Clarke, Cornish, Daines, Graham, Hayles, Hood, Hopkins, Jack, Kemp, Keys, King, Lornham, McConnell, Murphy, Newling, Pope, Prescott, Reynolds, Rose, Silverthorne, Sims, Smith, Spilstead, Thew, Wheatley, White, Wilson and Woolfe.
Of these names, the Brooker, Cornish, Daines, Reynolds, and Spilstead families have local streets named after them.
Population statistics
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 added to the CityRail network to service the northern beaches. Most residents therefore drive motor vehicles to get around.
Bus Services
Train Services
Cycling
Road Network
Air Travel
Related Issues
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 rat running traffic. Traffic calming devices were installed and remain an issue for local transportation reliant primarily on private motor vehicles.
In recent years, with the opening of new schools and facilities in the Oxford Falls valley area (to the west and north west of Beacon Hill), traffic volume has increased on the very narrow and dangerous Oxford Falls Road. This has become an increasing concern for local residents of the area as the population has increased and medium density housing policies deployed.
Services
Police
Nearest Police : Frenchs Forest
Ambulance
Nearest Ambulance : Belrose
Fire
Nearest Fire Station : Dee Why (69) or Beacon Hill (RFS)
Local 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 approx. 152 metres (500 feet) 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, approx. 11 kilometres (7 miles) to the south.
The lookout is 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 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.
Local events
Community organisations
Governor Phillip Lookout Trust
The trust was gazetted on 9th 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 propogation of the native flora and fauna that surrounds the lookout. The first meeting took place on 10th April, 1966.
Members of the trust were;
- Mr R.O. Healey, M.L.A. Patron
- Mrs M Smith
- Mrs D. Wilson
- Mr K.M. Rabbidge
- Mr K. Watts
- Mr M. Thornley
- Mr C.E. McDonald
- Mr N.R. Wilson
the Save Beacon Hill High School Committee
This committee was established by locals who were unhappy with the closure of Beacon Hill Technology High School in 2002, due to the re-strusturing of the local high school systems to create the Northern Beaches Secondary College. Many of the members believe that the closure of Beacon Hill was illegal, and that the site should remain an education centre in the public domain and not developed into housing.
Beacon Hill Bushfire Brigade
The first meeting of what was to become the Beacon Hill Bushfire Brigade took place in October 1948. In 1998 the Brigade celebrated it's 50th year of continuous service to the community.
Images
References
A History of Beacon Hill and its schools - Bruce, Jill B. 1943 - ISBN 0-7316-2170-0 (no copyright)
The Beacon Hill Story - a Memorial to Governor Phillip - C.E.McDonald & Governor Phillip Lookut Trust (Undated) (no copyright)
Development Application for Beacon Hill High School http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/documents/2006041152_000.pdf