Heathcote, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heathcote Sydney, New South Wales
Heathcote Bottle Forest Cottage (west heathcote)
Population	6,013 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2233
Elevation	188 m (617 ft)
Location	36 km (22 mi) S of Sydney CBD 46 km (29 mi) N of Wollongong
LGA(s)	Sutherland Shire
State electorate(s)	Heathcote
Federal Division(s)	Hughes
Suburbs around Heathcote: Lucas Heights Engadine Audley Heathcote National Park Heathcote Royal National Park Waterfall

Heathcote is a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 36 kilometers south of the center of Sydney. Heathcote is part of the Sutherland Shire area.

The suburb is surrounded by nature. To the east, you'll find the Royal National Park. To the west, there is Heathcote National Park. Engadine is to the north, and Waterfall is to the south.

A railway line divides Heathcote into two parts. On the western side, near the train station, there are some shops. The Sutherland Shire Emergency Services Centre is on the eastern side. This area is also known as Heathcote East or Heathcote Heights.

Many people enjoy bushwalking in the nearby national parks. You can start these walks from the Engadine railway station or Heathcote East. The South Metropolitan Scouts Association also has a camping and training center here.

A Look Back: Heathcote's History

Heathcote was first known as Bottle Forest. In 1835, a surveyor named Sir Thomas Mitchell explored the area. He named it Heathcote to honor an officer who fought with him in a war.

Heathcote Hall: A Grand Old House

Shops on Princes Highway

Heathcote Hall was built in Heathcote East in 1887. A brick maker named Abel Harber built this large Victorian house. It even had a tall tower, which showed how wealthy he was.

However, Harber had money problems after building another project in Sydney. He tried to sell Heathcote Hall, but it was hard during a tough economic time in 1892. A financial company took over the house. They worked with George Adams to give the house away as a prize in a lottery. A builder from Sydney, Mr. S. Gillett, won it! The house was sold again in 1901. It still stands today, though it needs some repairs. A movie called The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas was filmed at Heathcote Hall.

Early Radio Experiments

In 1910, something very important happened in Heathcote. Lieutenant George Augustine Taylor organized the first military wireless (radio) transmissions in Australia. This happened during a military training camp.

He wanted to show how useful radio could be for watching enemy movements. Since the military didn't have radio equipment, three civilian experts helped. They brought all their own gear. They set up two radio stations: one near Heathcote Station and another in a cave two miles south. The experiments worked, proving how important radio would become.

Bushwalking and Scouts

Bushwalking from Heathcote to Waterfall became a popular day trip in the 1930s. Many trails in Heathcote National Park and Royal National Park are used by Scouts Australia. There's even a scout camping area called Camp Coutts.

Recent Events and People

In 2000, the Olympic Torch was carried through Heathcote's shopping area. In 2019, Russell Chambers, a famous English singer-songwriter, moved to Heathcote East. He is known for his song Sausage Rolls, Meat Pie, Aye!.

A book about Heathcote's history, called From Bottle Forest to Heathcote - the Sutherland Shire's First Settlement, was written by Patrick Kennedy in 1999.

Important Places: Heritage Listings

Heathcote has some places that are listed as important heritage sites. This means they are special and protected.

• 1-21 Dillwynnia Grove: Heathcote Hall

Who Lives in Heathcote?

In 2016, there were 6,013 people living in Heathcote. Most people (86.6%) were born in Australia. The next largest group came from England (3.9%). Almost everyone (93.3%) spoke only English at home.

Many people in Heathcote own their homes. About 40.5% owned their home completely, and 42.2% were still paying off a home loan.

Getting Around Heathcote

Heathcote Public School

Emergency Services Centre

Heathcote railway station is on the Illawarra railway line. This train line connects Heathcote to other parts of Sydney. A U-Go Mobility bus service also runs between Engadine and Heathcote.

Heathcote Road meets the Princes Highway in Heathcote. Heathcote Road is a main link to Liverpool. The Princes Highway connects Sydney and Wollongong.

For many years, people were sadly hit by cars while crossing the Princes Highway. This was especially a problem for train commuters and high school students. In 2006, a 13-year-old boy was killed. After this, the speed limit was lowered. Later, a pedestrian overpass was built near Oliver Street. This overpass opened in late 2014, making it much safer to cross the highway.

Learning in Heathcote: Schools

Heathcote has three public schools run by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training.

• Heathcote Public School is the oldest school in the Sutherland Shire. It opened on November 15, 1886.
• Heathcote East Public School
• Heathcote High School

Heathcote High School serves students from Heathcote and nearby suburbs. These include Engadine, Helensburgh, Waterfall, Woronora Heights, and Stanwell Park. The high school is known for its good teachers and high marks for the HSC (Higher School Certificate). In 2015, a student achieved the highest possible ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) of 99.95. The school also has a very strict policy against bullying.

Famous People from Heathcote

• John Meredith: An Australian folklorist and musician. He lived in Heathcote from 1952 to 1954. He started the original Australian Bush band, The Heathcote Bushwhackers, in 1952.
• April Letton: A NSW Netball player.
• Ella Nelson: An Australian sprinter and Olympian. She has won many national titles in athletics.

Images for kids

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  Heathcote Bottle Forest Cottage (west heathcote)

See also

In Spanish: Heathcote para niños