Mount Colah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount ColahSydney, New South Wales |
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View of Bobbin Head from the Kalkari Visitor Center
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| Population | 7,095 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2079 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 206 m (676 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 24 km (15 mi) north of Sydney | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Hornsby Shire | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hornsby | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Berowra | ||||||||||||||
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Mount Colah is a suburb in the northern part of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 24 kilometres north of the main city centre of Sydney. This area is managed by the Hornsby Shire local government.
Mount Colah is located about 5 kilometres north of Hornsby, which is a larger town nearby. It is one of the most northern suburbs in Sydney. You can even find the "Welcome to Sydney" sign here! Mount Colah is also one of the highest suburbs in Sydney. It's known for being very green, with many trees and plants. The streets are mostly found around the Pacific Highway. To the east, Mount Colah is next to the beautiful Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The land in Mount Colah ranges from about 68 metres to 217 metres above sea level.
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A Glimpse into Mount Colah's Past
Mount Colah was first called "Colah." This name was used by a naturalist named George Caley. He used it to describe a koala in a letter he wrote a long time ago. The Colah Post Office opened in 1905. It was renamed Mount Colah in 1906, after the Hornsby Shire area was officially created.
In 1988, the Pacific Motorway (Sydney–Newcastle) was built through Mount Colah. It opened in 1989. This road cut through an old airstrip that was used during World War II. It also separated two holes of the Asquith Golf Course. You can still see some old buildings from World War II nearby. In 2010, Mount Colah was even voted "Australia's Best Suburb" in an online poll!
Who Lives in Mount Colah?
According to the 2016 Census, there were 7,095 people living in Mount Colah. Most people, about 70.3%, were born in Australia. Other people came from countries like England (4.7%), India (2.2%), China (2.2%), and New Zealand (1.8%).
Most people in Mount Colah, about 79.9%, speak only English at home. Other languages spoken include Mandarin (2.9%) and Cantonese (1.4%). When it comes to religion, many people said they had no religion (30.8%). Others were Catholic (23.1%) or Anglican (17.4%).
Getting Around Mount Colah
The main roads in Mount Colah are the Pacific Highway and Ku-ring-gai Chase Road / Bobbin Head Road. The M1 Motorway, which used to be called the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, runs along the eastern side of the suburb. There's an exit for the M1 at Mount Colah if you're heading towards Sydney. Sometimes, this area can get busy with traffic jams, especially if there are accidents between Mount Colah and Berowra.
Mount Colah railway station is on the Main North railway line, making it easy to travel by train. There are also regular bus services that go to most parts of the suburb.
Mount Colah also includes the Bobbin Head area. This place has cafes, a tourist information centre, and a marina with a large boat ramp in Appletree Bay. You can get to Bobbin Head by road from Ku-ring-gai Chase Road or by boat. There is also road access from Turramurra.
Shops and Services
You'll find a small group of shops on the Pacific Highway. These shops include different small stores, restaurants, and food places. There's also a truck stop that has been serving locals and truck drivers since the 1950s. You can also find a doctor's clinic, a dental clinic, a newsagent, and a pharmacy that also offers postal services. East of the railway station, there's a community centre and the local primary school.
Schools in the Area
Mount Colah Public School is located on the eastern side of the railway line. This school was built in 1953, where an asparagus farm used to be. It's a primary school for students from Kindergarten to Year 6. The school hall is also used as a place for people to vote in local, state, and federal elections.
For high school, students in Mount Colah usually go to Asquith Boys High School or Asquith Girls High School, which are nearby.
Homes and Streets
The streets in the northern part of Mount Colah have names linked to the famous stories of King Arthur. You'll find names like Sprigg Place, Arthurs Circle, Merlin Close, Excelsior Road, Round Table Close, Excalibur Close, Gareth Close, Galahad Close, Lancelot Street, and Camelot Close. These streets usually branch off or are reached from Excelsior Road.
Other streets are named after plants and flowers. For example, Foxglove Road was named after the flowers that once grew in the area. Other similar street names include Red Cedar Drive, Acorn Place, and Chestnut Road. Foxglove Oval is a sports field that used to be a small landfill area. It's now used for various sports and community activities.
Another group of streets is named after famous explorers, such as Hume Place, Flinders Place, Bass Place, Burke Place, and Eyre Place.
On the east side of Mount Colah, the streets running east to west are named after nearby suburbs: Colah Road, Cowan Road, Berowra Road, and Kuring-gai Chase Road. The streets running north to south in this area have botanical names, like Neridah Avenue, Telopea Street, and Myall Avenue, which are all names of Australian plants.
On the south side of Mount Colah, you'll find streets like Jersey Street, Willarong Road, Lady Street, and Yirra Road.
Sports and Activities
Mount Colah has three main playing fields where many organised sports take place: Berry Park, Foxglove Oval, and Parklands Oval.
- Mount Colah Soccer Club started in 1958 and has over 500 soccer players. They play in the Ku-ring-gai and District Soccer Association.
- Mount Colah Cricket Club, known as The Mustangs, is the local cricket team. They play on the cricket pitches at all three playing fields.
- Athletics is popular at Foxglove Oval. It's the home base for the Northern Districts Little Athletics during the summer months.
- Cycling is a popular activity in Mount Colah. The suburb is part of a well-liked cycling route that includes Ku-ring-gai Chase Road and special cycle lanes on the Pacific Highway. The Bush to Bridge is a club for people who cycle from Mount Colah to the city for their commute.
- Golf can be played at the Asquith Golf Course, which you can enter through Lord Street in Mount Colah.
