Hills District, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hills DistrictNew South Wales |
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Eastern
Suburbs Penrith
Northern
Suburbs Canterbury
Bankstown Forest
District South-western
Sydney Sutherland Shire
Macarthur
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The Hills District (also known as the Hills Shire or The Hills) is a special area in the northern part of Greater Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It stretches from the M2 Hills Motorway in the south to the Hawkesbury River in the north. To the west is Old Windsor Road, and to the east is Pennant Hills Road.
This area includes suburbs mainly in The Hills Shire. It also has parts of Hornsby Shire and the City of Parramatta.
Contents
Exploring the Hills District's Geography
The Hills District isn't a formally defined area. This means its exact borders can change depending on who you ask.
For example, the Hills District Historical Society says it only includes the suburbs within the Hills Shire local government area. But many people use a wider definition. This includes areas generally west of New Line Road, Old Northern Road, and Pennant Hills Road. It goes north of Kissing Point Road and James Ruse Drive. To the east, it's bordered by Sunnyholt Road, Old Windsor Road, and Windsor Road. It reaches all the way north to the Hawkesbury River.
Sometimes, suburbs like Seven Hills, Kings Langley, and Glenwood are also included. This is because they have historical links to the district. However, these suburbs are usually seen as part of the wider Greater Western Sydney region.
The area gets its name from its many hills. It's where the flat Cumberland Plain starts to rise up. This area then joins the Hornsby Plateau. The Hawkesbury Plain also rises to meet this plateau. Many suburbs here even have "Hills" in their names. Examples include Baulkham Hills, Beaumont Hills, Seven Hills, Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Box Hill and Winston Hills.
A Look at the Hills District's History
First People: Aboriginal Settlement
For about 40,000 years, the Dharug people lived in the Hills District. They especially settled near rivers and creeks. Rock shelters found near the Darling Mills Creek are almost 12,000 years old. The Dharug people would trade with nearby groups, like the Boorooberongal clan. Sadly, in 1789, a smallpox sickness caused many of them to die.
European Settlers Arrive
Early Days of Settlement
Governor Arthur Phillip explored this area in April 1791. His group was looking for new land for farms. They wanted to grow food to help the struggling colony in Sydney. In 1794, Hawkesbury Road was built. This road later became Windsor Road. It went from the Toongabbie Government Farm to the Hawkesbury River.
In the same year, William Joyce, a former convict, received the first land grant. His land was east of Hawkesbury Road, in what is now Baulkham Hills. He opened an inn on the road. Today, William Joyce Reserve reminds us of his property.
More Early Settlers
In 1799, Joseph Foveaux was given 300 acres of land. This land is now part of the Bella Vista area. He sold this land to John Macarthur and his wife, Elizabeth Macarthur. They were pioneers in making wool. They are known for starting Australia's wool industry.
Later, Matthew Pearce bought part of this land. His farm was called 'Bella Vista Farm'. Streets like Foveaux Terrace and Elizabeth Macarthur Drive in Bella Vista are named after these early settlers. Elizabeth Macarthur Creek, which starts in Kellyville, is also named after Elizabeth. Matthew Pearce Public School, a very large school, is named after Matthew Pearce.
The Battle of Vinegar Hill
The Battle of Vinegar Hill was Australia's first convict rebellion. It happened on March 4, 1804, in Rouse Hill. Over 200 convicts escaped from a prison farm. They wanted to "capture ships to sail to Ireland." The government declared martial law, which is when the military takes control. The rebels were hunted down until a truce was made.
Historic Roads: Windsor and Old Windsor Roads
Windsor and Old Windsor Roads are very old and important roads in Australia. They were the second and third roads built in the colony. They connect Parramatta with Windsor. Today, they are main roads for people living in the Hills District.
The original Windsor Road started at Prospect Road. It went through the Government Farm at Toongabbie. In 1797, it was made wider, about 6 meters across. In 1802, Howe's Bridge was built over South Creek in Windsor.
In 1805, James Meehan planned a new route for the road. This new route went from Parramatta to Kellyville. This became the basis for the new Windsor Road. Governor Lachlan Macquarie wanted a new toll road. It would follow Church Street across the Parramatta River. Then it would follow Meehan's route to Kellyville. This new route avoided many hills near Old Windsor Road.
The new Windsor Road was finished in 1812. It had 70 bridges and was about 10 meters wide. In 1833, Windsor Road became a main road, paid for by public money. Old Windsor Road also became a local road. In 1835, the Windsor Toll House was built near South Creek. In 1925, bitumen was laid for cars. Upgrades for cars continued through the 1930s. Today, these roads have many bus services. The North-West T-way runs along all of Old Windsor Road. It also runs along Windsor Road to Rouse Hill Town Centre.
Who Lives Here? Population
In 2016, the Hills Shire had 157,243 people living there. About 49.3% were male and 50.7% were female.
Nature and Weather: Environment & Climate
As its name suggests, the Hills District is higher up than most of the Sydney Basin. This means it gets more rain. Winds from the Pacific Ocean bring moisture, and when they hit the hills, the air rises and cools. This causes more rain to fall. This is called orographic rainfall. This also creates a rain shadow for some areas in the Blacktown district.
The climate here was great for growing fruit like peaches and oranges. The deep, rich soil helped these farms grow well.
Most suburbs in the Hills District have a climate that is almost oceanic climate (Cfb). This means their warmest month might barely reach 22 °C (71.6 °F) in some years. But they are still safely in the humid subtropical climate (Cfa) zone.
Beliefs and Community: Religion
This area was once known for having the highest rate of church attendance in Australia. It was even called "Sydney’s Bible Belt." The Hills Shire often showed higher religious belief in the Australian Census. It still has a large Christian population, making up 64.8% of religious people.
However, it's no longer the most religious area in Sydney. In the 2016 Census, 21.2% of people in the Hills Shire said they had no religion. The most religious area in Sydney in 2016 was Liverpool, where only 11.3% reported no religion.
The strong Christian influence in the Hills District has made the region quite conservative. This trend can be seen in local, state, and national politics. The federal area of Division of Mitchell, which covers most of the Hills District, is a very safe area for the conservative Liberal Party of Australia. All the Hills District seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly are also held by the NSW Liberals.
Getting Around: Public Transport
The Hills District has many bus routes. These are run by companies like Busways and Hillsbus. The North-West T-way helps connect the Hills District to Blacktown, Parramatta, and Rouse Hill.
The Carlingford railway line used to be the only train line. It had trains from Carlingford to Clyde. You had to change trains at Clyde to go to the city. This railway line is now being changed into a light rail as part of the Parramatta Light Rail project.
A newer train line, the Metro North West Line, opened in May 2019. During busy times, trains come every 4 minutes. This line goes to Chatswood railway station, where you can change to other trains that go to the city.
Suburbs in the Hills District
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Some suburbs in Greater Western Sydney are sometimes considered part of the Hills District. These include:
News and Media in the Hills District
The Hills District has several local printed newspapers. These include The Hills to Hawkesbury Community News, The Hills Independent, The Galston Glenorie & Hills Rural News, and the Dooral Roundup.
News Local newspapers no longer print physical copies. They can only be found online now. The only remaining title is the Hills Shire Times.
The local community radio station for the district is Alive 90.5. It is based in Baulkham Hills. It also broadcasts to Parramatta and Cumberland.
