Brooklyn, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BrooklynSydney, New South Wales |
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Main street of Brooklyn in 2007
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 Brooklyn
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 737 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 85.5/km2 (221/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2083 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Hornsby Shire | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Sydney | ||||||||||||||
| County | Cumberland | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Cowan | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hornsby | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Berowra | ||||||||||||||
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Brooklyn is a small town located on the northern edge of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. It sits right on the Hawkesbury River and is surrounded by the beautiful Muogamarra Nature Reserve.
Even though it's close to a big city, Brooklyn feels like a quiet village. It's a great place for people from Sydney's North Shore and day-trippers to enjoy the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater waterways. You can go boating, swimming, or fishing here. It's also near Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Muogamarra Nature Reserve, which are perfect for bushwalking and enjoying amazing views.
Brooklyn is easy to reach! The Hawkesbury River railway station connects it to Sydney, the Central Coast, and the Hunter. Major roads like the Pacific Highway and the M1 Motorway are also nearby. Long Island is just across the water, connected by a railway bridge. Dangar Island is also close by.
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Fun Things to Do in Brooklyn
Brooklyn offers many exciting activities for visitors. You can find several cafes, some right on the waterfront, that serve delicious local seafood. There are also other places to eat, like the Angler's Rest Hotel. A famous restaurant called 'Peat's Bite' is just a short boat ride away on the Hawkesbury River.
Boating and Fishing Adventures
Boating and fishing are super popular here! Brooklyn has several marinas where you can rent boats, get supplies, or even rent a houseboat for a few days on the river. The Hawkesbury River is also home to the 'Hawkesbury River Dragons' dragon boat racing club, where teams race long, narrow boats.
McKell Park: A Great Spot to Relax
McKell Park is a favorite place for picnics. It has fantastic river views and lots of things to do. The park includes a public swimming pool with a net, a playground for kids, and a picnic area at Flatrock lookout. There's also Parsley Bay, which has a large boat ramp, places to tie up boats, and a park with barbecue facilities. You can even rent kayaks in Parsley Bay to explore the waterways. A short, beautiful walk goes around McKell Park.
Art and Local Events
Brooklyn has a lively art scene. You can see and buy artworks from local artists at the Edge Art Space and the Redfish Cafe Gallery. Every September, Brooklyn hosts its annual Spring Fair and Markets at the Brooklyn Soccer Oval.
Exploring Nature Trails
Brooklyn is surrounded by nature reserves, perfect for bushwalking. The town is part of the famous Great North Walk, a 250-kilometer trail from Sydney to Newcastle. You can walk a short distance from town to find amazing views. The annual Oxfam 100-kilometer Trailwalker charity event also starts from Parsley Bay in Brooklyn.
The Muogamarra Nature Reserve is open for a few weeks each spring when the wildflowers bloom. You might see ancient Aboriginal rock carvings and parts of the old Peats Ferry Road there.
Riverboat Postman and Ferries
The Riverboat Postman started in 1910 and still delivers mail to homes only reachable by boat along the Hawkesbury River. It leaves from Brooklyn Public Wharf on weekdays. This trip is a fun way to see the river's scenery up close. You can also catch a ferry to Dangar Island for a walk, a picnic, or a meal at the island cafe.
Schools in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Public School is the local primary (junior) school. For high school, students usually travel by train to schools in nearby areas like Hornsby or Asquith.
Who Lives in Brooklyn?
According to the 2021 census, 737 people live in Brooklyn. Most people (76.7%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include England, the United States, New Zealand, and South Africa. Most people (90.0%) speak English at home. Many people in Brooklyn (50.2%) say they have no religion.
Brooklyn's Past
The area was known as Peat's Ferry crossing for a long time. In 1884, a plan for new land was registered, and the name Brooklyn was chosen. A hotel with the same name opened later that year. The town grew because of the main northern railway line, which reached Brooklyn in 1887.
The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge
In 1886, a company from New York called the Union Bridge Company was hired to build a railway bridge across the Hawkesbury River. The construction camp was named Brooklyn, after the famous Brooklyn Bridge in New York. This is how the town got its name! The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge was a huge engineering achievement when it was built. It was the final link in the railway network along Australia's east coast.
The railway station's name changed a few times, from "Hawkesbury River" to "Flat Rock" and "Brooklyn," before finally becoming Hawkesbury River in 1906. The Peat's Ferry Post Office also changed its name to Brooklyn in 1888.
Railway History
Brooklyn is at the northern end of the Cowan Bank, a very steep part of the railway track. Before electric and diesel trains, steam trains needed extra help climbing this hill. Special "push up" engines would be attached to the back of trains at Brooklyn to help them climb the 8-kilometer slope to Cowan.
There have been some serious railway accidents in Brooklyn's history. In 1887, a runaway train was safely diverted by a quick-thinking station master, preventing a much bigger disaster. In 1944, a bus stalled on the tracks and was hit by a train. In 1990, a modern train ran into a stalled heritage steam train. These events led to important safety improvements over the years.
Road Bridges
Before the first road bridge, cars crossed the river using ferries. Long lines of cars would form on holidays. Work on the first road bridge began in 1938 and it opened in 1945. Building it was very difficult because the river was so wide and deep. One of the bridge's foundations had to be sunk 233 feet (about 71 meters) below the water to reach solid rock!
Later, a second, larger road bridge was built in 1973. This six-lane concrete bridge is part of the Sydney to Newcastle freeway.
Royal Visit and Historical Obelisk
In 1901, the Duke and Duchess of York (who later became King George V and Queen Mary) visited the Hawkesbury River. They took a tour on a paddle wheel steamboat.
Near the railway station in McKell Park, there is a small stone monument (obelisk) that was put up in 1939. It remembers when Governor Phillip discovered and named the Hawkesbury River in 1789.
Special Places in Brooklyn
Brooklyn has some important historical sites:
- Hawkesbury River railway station
- Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge
Local Businesses
For a long time, Brooklyn was known for farming Sydney rock oysters. You can still see oyster beds along the river. After a disease affected the oysters in 2004, the industry is now growing again and even exporting oysters!
Getting Around Brooklyn
Hawkesbury River railway station is on the Main Northern railway line, with trains connecting to the Central Coast and Newcastle. The Pacific Highway and the Pacific Motorway are also major roads nearby.
Brooklyn is the starting point for Hawkesbury Cruises, which runs The Riverboat Postman every weekday. The Brooklyn Ferry Service also runs ferries to Dangar Island every day.
A local bus route (592) operated by CDC NSW goes through Brooklyn, connecting it to Hornsby and other nearby towns.
Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point is where the big bridges of the Pacific Motorway and Pacific Highway cross the Hawkesbury River. Many people call it "the entrance to Sydney" when they are driving from the north. The first Australian five-pound note even had a picture of Kangaroo Point! In 2012, new viewing platforms and recreation areas were built there.
See also
In Spanish: Brooklyn (Nueva Gales del Sur) para niños
