Beacon Hill, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beacon Hill Sydney, New South Wales
The outlook from the summit of Governor Phillip Lookout
Population	7,457 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2100
Elevation	123 m (404 ft)
Location	17 km (11 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Northern Beaches Council
State electorate(s)	Wakehurst
Federal Division(s)	Mackellar Warringah
Suburbs around Beacon Hill: Oxford Falls Oxford Falls Cromer Frenchs Forest Beacon Hill Narraweena Allambie Heights Allambie Heights Brookvale

Beacon Hill is a suburb located in northern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district. This area is part of the Northern Beaches region, which is governed by the Northern Beaches Council.

History of Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill got its name in 1881. This was when the Department of Lands built a special trigonometric beacon there. A trigonometric beacon is like a tall marker used by surveyors. It helps them measure distances and angles across the land.

Ancient History and First Peoples

Not much is known about the local Aboriginal culture right in Beacon Hill. However, areas closer to the sea have a rich history of Indigenous Australians. You can find some ancient Aboriginal rock carvings north of Red Hill. These carvings show the long history of Australia's First Peoples in this land.

European Settlement and Growth

The first European land purchase here was on October 5, 1857. Daniel Egan, a member of the NSW Parliament, bought two large pieces of land.

Most of the houses in Beacon Hill were built after World War II. This building boom happened in the 1950s and 1960s. Many streets in Beacon Hill are named after important battles or military figures from World War II. For example, you'll find Owen Stanley Avenue, Kokoda Crescent, Goroka Place, and Lae Place. These names remember places where Australian troops served.

Beacon Hill Post Office opened in 1949 but closed in 1986. Beacon Hill High School was established in 1964 and closed in 2002.

Who Lives in Beacon Hill?

According to the 2016 Australian census, there were 7,457 people living in Beacon Hill.

• About 67.5% of residents were born in Australia.
• Other common birthplaces included England (6.2%), China (3.3%), Italy (2.3%), and New Zealand (2.3%).
• Most people (76.5%) spoke only English at home.
• Other languages spoken included Italian (3.6%), Mandarin (3.0%), and Cantonese (1.5%).
• The most common religions were Catholic (29.9%), No Religion (28.3%), and Anglican (16.6%).

Getting Around Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is served by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches bus services. These buses help people travel around the suburb and to other areas. Warringah Road (A38) runs through Beacon Hill from east to west. This road connects the suburb to Dee Why in the east and Roseville in the west.

Famous Spots and Views

Governor Phillip Lookout

This lookout is located at the very top of Beacon Hill. From here, you can see amazing views of almost the entire eastern half of Sydney. The summit is about 152 metres (500 feet) above sea level.

The views stretch far and wide:

• South: You can see the southern parts of Sydney and the city skyline.
• West: The Blue Mountains are visible in the distance.
• North: You can see as far as Gosford and the Central Coast.
• East: Out to sea, you might spot ships, boats, and even whales migrating!

The lookout is very popular on New Year's Eve. People gather there to watch the firework displays over Sydney Harbour. The harbour is about 11 kilometres (7 miles) to the south, so the fireworks are clearly visible.

You can reach the lookout via Warringah Road. There's a small parking area nearby with stairs leading up to the summit.

Red Hill

Red Hill is another spot with great views, located at the northern end of Beacon Hill. It's behind the old Beacon Hill High School site. From Red Hill, you can look across to the Governor Phillip Lookout and towards the city. To the north, you'll see parts of the Garigal National Park. You can also see suburbs like Cromer, Elanora, Narrabeen, and Ingleside.

In the early 1990s, a group called the Red Hill Preservation Society worked to protect Red Hill. They tried to stop a state government development project there.

Community and Local Groups

The Governor Phillip Lookout Trust was created in 1966. Its job was to protect and develop the lookout area. They also worked to preserve the native plants and animals around the lookout. The first meeting of the Trust was in April 1966.

In 2017, the responsibility for the Trust was given to the Northern Beaches Council. This means the local council now looks after this important historical and natural area.

Well-Known People from Beacon Hill

Some famous people have lived in Beacon Hill, including:

• Angry Anderson - a rock singer
• Brian Carlton - a radio announcer
• Ivan Cleary - a rugby league coach
• Gerry Duggan - an actor
• Bill Leak - a cartoonist
• Freddy Lussick - a rugby league player