Baulkham Hills (/bɔːlkʌm/;) is a suburb in the Hills District of Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-west of the Sydney CBD. Most of Baulkham Hills is in The Hills Shire. It used to be the main administrative centre for this area. A small part of the suburb is also in the City of Parramatta.

Exploring Baulkham Hills' Location

Baulkham Hills is mostly a residential area. This means it has many homes where people live. It's known for a busy intersection called Baulkham Hills Junction. Here, three main roads meet: Windsor Road, Old Northern Road, and Seven Hills Road. The suburb's edges are marked by roads like Old Windsor Road and the North-West T-way to the west. The M2 Hills Motorway is also nearby, which is part of Australia's national highway system.

A Glimpse into Baulkham Hills' Past

Early Aboriginal History

The land of Baulkham Hills was originally home to the Bidjigal people. They were a clan of the Darug people, who lived across the land west of Sydney. A famous Aboriginal leader from this time was Pemulwuy. He led the Indigenous resistance against the British settlers. He attacked farms in areas like Castle Hill. The Bidjigal Reserve today remembers these people. It covers parts of Baulkham Hills and nearby suburbs.

European Settlement and Naming

The first European settler in this area was William Joyce. He arrived in Australia in 1791. In 1794, he received a land grant of 30 acres (about 121,000 square metres) in what became Baulkham Hills. He built a farmhouse, which still stands today.

Over time, more land grants were given out. In the mid-1800s, these large properties began to be divided into smaller farms. This process sped up when the Rogans Hill railway line was built. More modern urban developments started happening from the 1960s.

The name "Baulkham Hills" was given by Andrew McDougall. He was a settler from Buckholm Hills in Scotland. The name reminded him of his home country. It became the official name in 1802. The Baulkham Hills Post Office opened on April 1, 1856.

Changes to the Suburb

In 2018, some northern parts of Baulkham Hills became new suburbs. These new areas are now called Norwest and Bella Vista. This change meant that the commercial area known as Norwest Business Park is no longer part of Baulkham Hills.

Historic Places in Baulkham Hills

Baulkham Hills has a few places listed for their historical importance. One of these is the Pearce Family Cemetery on Seven Hills Road, near Bella Vista.

Who Lives in Baulkham Hills?

According to the 2021 census, 37,415 people live in Baulkham Hills. Most residents, about 56.8%, were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include China (8.2%), India (7.5%), and England (2.3%).

About 55.6% of residents speak only English at home. Other languages spoken include Mandarin (10.2%), Cantonese (4.2%), and Hindi (3.2%).

When it comes to religion, many residents identify as having no religion (29.7%). Other common religions include Catholic (23.4%), Anglican (10.8%), and Hinduism (8.9%).

Getting Around Baulkham Hills

Baulkham Hills has good transport options. There are express bus services and the Sydney Metro Northwest train line nearby.

Major Roads

The Baulkham Hills Junction is a key meeting point for major roads. These include Seven Hills Road, Old Northern Road, and Windsor Road. If you're coming from the Sydney CBD, the fastest way is via the M2 Hills Motorway.

Bus Services

Buses in the area are run by CDC NSW. They connect Baulkham Hills to nearby shopping centres and train stations. You can get to Castle Hill, Parramatta, and the Sydney CBD easily. Some express bus routes, like 610X, 614X, and 615X, use special bus lanes on the M2 motorway to get to the City quickly. There are also routes to North Sydney and Macquarie Park. Route 600 offers frequent services to areas like Parramatta, Pennant Hills, and Hornsby.

Past Railway Line

In the past, the Rogans Hill railway line connected Baulkham Hills to Parramatta. You can still see a reminder of this in the name "Railway Street" near Baulkham Hills Junction. The railway closed in 1930 because of traffic problems and financial losses.

Shopping and Services

Grove Square

Shopping Centre

Grove Square is a large shopping centre in Baulkham Hills. It's located between Windsor Road and Old Northern Road. The centre has major supermarkets like Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi. It also has about 70 other specialty shops. The centre was expanded in 2008 to make it much bigger.

Hospital Services

The Hills Private Hospital is on Windsor Road. It has been redeveloped into a hospital focusing on rehabilitation and mental health. This means it helps people recover from injuries or illnesses and provides support for mental well-being. It has units for both inpatient stays and day programs.

Nature and Green Spaces

Baulkham Hills has several parks and nature reserves. The Bidjigal Reserve is a large one, known for its native animals. You might spot koalas, swamp wallabies, echidnas, and eastern water dragons there. Smaller reserves like Sophia Doyle Reserve and Crestwood Reserve are home to possums, birds, and lizards.

A group of volunteers called the Baulkham Hills Shire Bushland Conservation Committee helps manage the bushland in the area.

Schools in Baulkham Hills

Baulkham Hills has many schools for students of all ages:

Matthew Pearce Public School
Crestwood High School
Crestwood Public School
Baulkham Hills High School
Model Farms High School
Baulkham Hills North Public School
Jasper Road Public School
St. Michael's Primary School
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School

Baulkham Hills High School also has an Army Cadet Unit. This unit is only for students attending that high school.

Places of Worship

Baulkham Hills is home to about 15 places of worship for different Christian groups. These include:

St. Michaels Catholic Church
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Crossway Anglican Church
St Matthews Uniting Church
The headquarters of Hillsong
Norwest Anglican Church (Chapel Lane is the evening congregation)
Africa Inland Mission International

A Baha'i Spiritual Assembly also has a location in the suburb.

Local Culture and Events

Baulkham Hills has a public library where you can find books and resources. While it doesn't have its own theatre or cinema, many residents visit those in the nearby suburb of Castle Hill. The local community radio station, Alive 90.5, broadcasts from studios in the suburb.

Festivals and Events

The annual Orange Blossom Festival is a big event held in the Baulkham Hills Shire every September. Another popular event is the HYPE Festival. It happens every April during National Youth Week and again in September. This festival attracts many young people and has featured well-known Australian music acts.

Famous People from Baulkham Hills

Several notable people have lived in Baulkham Hills, including:

Doug Bollinger, a cricketer
Tom Burton, an Olympic Gold Medalist in sailing
Delta Goodrem, a pop singer and actress
Joshua Katz, an Olympic judoka
Nick Phipps, a rugby union player
Jana Pittman, an Olympic athlete
Mitchell Starc, a cricketer
Ray Warren, a TV personality and football commentator

Images for kids

Old Northern Road at Baulkham Hills
Old Northern Road at Baulkham Hills
Windsor Road at Baulkham Hills
Norwest Lake

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