Crows Nest, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crows Nest Sydney, New South Wales
Crows Nest Centre
Population	4,974 (2021 census)
• Density	6,540/km2 (16,900/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2065
Elevation	93 m (305 ft)
Area	0.76 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Location	5 km (3 mi) N of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	North Sydney Council
State electorate(s)	Willoughby
Federal Division(s)	North Sydney
Suburbs around Crows Nest: Willoughby Naremburn Cammeray St Leonards Crows Nest Cammeray Wollstonecraft Waverton North Sydney

Crows Nest is a busy suburb located on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the North Sydney area. Crows Nest is about 5 kilometres north of the main Sydney central business district. It is managed by the North Sydney Council.

History of Crows Nest

Crows Nest was once part of a very large piece of land. This land was given to Edward Wollstonecraft in 1821. It was a huge area, about 212 hectares (524 acres).

Edward Wollstonecraft built a small house called 'Crow's Nest'. His business partner, Alexander Berry, said the name was chosen because the house was high up. It had a great view of the area.

Later, in 1850, Alexander Berry built a bigger house. He also called it Crow's Nest House. Today, this spot is where North Sydney Demonstration School stands. You can still see the old gates of Crow's Nest House. They are at the entrance to the school on the Pacific Highway. Alexander Berry passed away at Crow's Nest House in 1873.

Special Places in Crows Nest

Crows Nest has some places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites.

• 23 Albany Street: This is the old Electricity Power House.

St Thomas Rest Park

St Thomas Rest Park is a peaceful place in West Street. It used to be a cemetery for St Thomas's Church. It was the first burial ground on Sydney's north shore.

A well-known landowner, Alexander Berry, gave the land for the cemetery in 1845. Many important people are buried here. This includes Alexander Berry himself and George Barney.

Alexander Berry was buried here in 1873 when he was 92 years old. He is buried with his wife in a unique pyramid-shaped tomb. His wife's brother, Edward Wollstonecraft, is also buried there. Edward Wollstonecraft used to own the Crows Nest Farm.

George Barney was a high-ranking army officer. He was born in London in 1792. He arrived in Sydney in 1835. He had many important jobs. He was in charge of the Royal Engineers. He also designed Victoria Barracks. He helped finish building Fort Denison, Circular Quay, Cockatoo Dock and Darlinghurst Gaol.

The park also has the original Sexton's Cottage. This small house is now a museum about local history. It is also a heritage-listed building.

People in Crows Nest

In 2021, there were 4,798 people living in Crows Nest. Most people, about 57%, were born in Australia. Other people came from countries like England, New Zealand, China, India, and Japan.

Most people in Crows Nest speak English at home. But many other languages are also spoken. These include Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Spanish, and French.

When asked about their religion, almost half of the people said they had no religion. Others were Catholic or Anglican.

The average age of people in Crows Nest was 36 years old. Many people, about 36%, were between 25 and 39 years old. This is a bit higher than the national average. The most common backgrounds were English, Australian, Irish, Chinese, and Scottish.

Shopping and Food

Crows Nest is a busy area for shops and restaurants. It is known for having many different kinds of places to eat and buy things. The main part of Crows Nest is where five important roads meet. This is about 1 kilometre north of where the original Crows Nest House was.

Getting Around

The Warringah Freeway runs along the northern edge of Crows Nest. The Pacific Highway is a big road on the western side.

A new train line is being built called the Sydney Metro City & Southwest. It will have a station in Crows Nest. This station is planned to open in 2024.

Gallery

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  Crows Nest Hotel, Willoughby Road

• 

  Greek Orthodox Church

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  Willoughby Road, looking north towards Naremburn

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  The old gates of Crow's Nest House

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  Sexton's Cottage Museum, St Thomas Rest Park

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  The tomb of Alexander and Elizabeth Berry and Edward Wollstonecraft, St Thomas Rest Park

Schools in Crows Nest

Crows Nest and nearby areas have some great schools:

• North Sydney Girls High School (This school has been on the site of the old Crows Nest Boys High School since 1994.)
• North Sydney Boys High School
• Cammeraygal High School

Churches in Crows Nest

There are several churches in Crows Nest:

• Northside Community Church
• Crows Nest Uniting Church
• Northside Baptist Church
• The Lighthouse Church
• St Michael Greek Orthodox Church