Cowan, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CowanSydney, New South Wales |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific Highway passing through Cowan
|
|||||||||||||||
| Population | 631 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 72.5/km2 (188/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2081 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 207 m (679 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
|
||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Hornsby Shire | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hornsby | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Berowra | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Cowan is a small suburb located just outside of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. It's about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Sydney's city center. Cowan is part of the Hornsby Shire area. It shares its postcode, 2081, with the nearby suburb of Berowra. The town of Brooklyn, which is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) northeast of Cowan, is seen as the very northern edge of the greater Sydney area.
Contents
History of Cowan
The name "Cowan" might come from an Aboriginal word that means big water.
There are other ideas about where the name came from. Some think it was named after one of two convicts called Cowan who were listed in a census in 1828. Another idea is that it was named after a small town in Scotland.
The first Europeans to visit this area were timber-getters. They came after an English botanist named George Caley explored the area in 1805. The wood from Cowan was used to build coaches, which was one of the first businesses here.
Cowan and the Railway
The railway stop in Cowan started as a special track where trains could pass each other. It was also where extra steam engines, used to help trains climb the steep hill from Hawkesbury River station, were unhooked.
A proper train station and platform were built in 1901. When the railway arrived, Cowan became a popular place for holidays and a starting point for people who loved to go bushwalking.
In 1958, the train line was made electric. This made it even easier for people to visit Cowan. Many families also started moving to the suburb. They wanted to raise their children in a natural bushland setting, but still be close to the city.
Cowan's Development
Cowan Public School opened its doors in 1939, providing education for local children.
The village of Cowan hasn't changed much since it was first planned in 1910. The land lots were quite large, from 1,500 to 4,500 square meters.
Most homes in Cowan are three-bedroom houses with gardens. This gives the area an open feel and helps it blend nicely with the surrounding bushland.
People of Cowan (Demographics)
In the 2021 census, there were 631 people living in Cowan. Most people, about 81.9%, were born in Australia.
Other countries where people were born include:
- England (3.5%)
- Korea, Republic of (South) (1.6%)
- South Africa (1.6%)
- New Zealand (1.4%)
- the Philippines (1.3%)
Most people (91.3%) spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Korean (1.1%) and Persian (1.0%).
When it came to religion, many people (46.0%) said they had No Religion. Other common religions included Anglican (15.8%) and Catholic (13.5%).
Getting Around Cowan (Transport)
You can get to Cowan by road using the Pacific Highway, which goes through the suburb from north to south. The M1 Sydney to Newcastle Freeway also runs near Cowan.
The Main Northern railway line runs next to the Pacific Highway through most of Cowan. It goes down a steep hill called Cowan Bank north of the town. Cowan railway station is served by NSW TrainLink trains. These trains connect to places like Newcastle and Sydney Central.
There are also facilities in northern Cowan that provide electric power for the railway. Cowan Bank was the site of a railway incident in 1990.
CDC NSW operates one bus route through Cowan:
- 592: This bus goes from Hornsby to Brooklyn. It passes through areas like Asquith, Mount Colah, Mount Ku-ring-gai, and Berowra.
Shopping and Landmarks (Commercial Area)
Cowan has a single General Store. It serves the local community and is located on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Fraser Road.
A well-known spot near Cowan is the "Pie in the Sky" pie shop. It's about one kilometer north of Cowan on the Pacific Highway. This pie shop was even shown in the Australian movie Lantana. It's a popular stop for people on day trips, especially bicycle riders and motor-scooter fans on weekends.
Austral Watergardens is also located here. It is one of the few water gardens in Australia.
Exploring Cowan (Tourism)
Cowan is located in a valley with lots of bushland. It sits between the waterways of Berowra and Cowan Creek. This makes it a great place for outdoor adventures.
You can access many hiking trails from Cowan. The Great North Walk and the Jerusalem Bay Track start from the railway station. These walks can be long and have some steep parts, offering a good challenge for hikers.
Community Services (Facilities)
The Cowan Community Hall is a service provided by the Hornsby Shire Council. Next to the Fire Station on View Street, you'll find Cowan Park and a small picnic area.
Cowan has one public primary school, Cowan Public School.
Fire protection for Cowan is provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service through the Cowan Rural Fire Brigade. They also work with Fire and Rescue NSW to make sure urban fires are handled quickly.
The Cowan Post Office opened in 1936 but closed in 1993. However, you can still get postal services at the local General Store.
Cowan is the starting point for two walking trails that go into the nearby National Parks. One trail goes west, and the other goes east. The Jerusalem Bay trail is very famous and is part of the Great North Walk. The Bujwa Bay trail offers views to the west.
Jerusalem Bay Incident
On December 31, 2017, a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver seaplane had an accident on Jerusalem Bay (Cowan Creek), east of Cowan. It was a very sad event.
Famous People From Cowan (Notable Residents)
- Frank Duarte – a physicist and author who used to live here.
