Stanwell Tops, New South Wales facts for kids

Stanwell Tops is a small community located between the big cities of Sydney and Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia. It's a beautiful spot right on the coastline. You can find it northwest of Stanwell Park and southwest of Otford.

People Living in Stanwell Tops

Stanwell Tops is a quiet place with less than 500 people living there. Most of the buildings are homes.

In 2016, the census showed that most people (86.3%) living in Stanwell Tops were born in Australia. Also, 90.7% of people spoke only English at home. When asked about religion, many people said they had no religion (29.6%). Others were Catholic (21.7%) or Anglican (19.9%).

Nearby towns like Helensburgh are important for Stanwell Tops. Helensburgh is the main town for Stanwell Tops, Coalcliff, Otford, and Stanwell Park because they all share the same postcode.

What People Do for Work

Stanwell Tops does not have any shops or factories. You can find grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels in towns nearby, usually less than a 10-minute drive away.

Most people who live in Stanwell Tops work in either Greater Sydney or the Wollongong area. Many families in Stanwell Tops earn a lot more money each week than the average Australian family.

Some businesses in Stanwell Tops include 'Tumbling Waters Retreat' and 'The Tops Conference Centre'. There are also some small farms, where you can sometimes stay overnight. You might also see people taking off for hang gliding from Bald Hill, which is part of Stanwell Tops.

The Land and Nature

Stanwell Tops sits on the Illawarra escarpment, which is a steep slope of land. From here, you can look out over the Pacific Ocean and the village of Stanwell Park.

The area around Stanwell Tops is surrounded by state forests and other wooded lands. These natural areas connect to the Royal National Park and the Garawarra State Conservation Area.

History of Stanwell Tops

Stanwell Tops started as a piece of land owned by a person named Henry Ferdinand Halloran. Since the 1930s, this area has been known for health retreats, fun activities, and popular walking trails.

The Stanwell Tops Pleasure Park was open in the 1930s and 1940s. It later became a caravan park but closed in 1951. After that, most of the land was divided up and sold. This is how the community we see today began.

The old dance hall from the Pleasure Park was empty for a while. In 1970, it was sold and became the 'Garden of Peace'. This was a place for meditation and a community center. Later, in 2003, it became a fancy hotel and event center called 'Tumbling Waters Retreat'.

Around the same time as the Pleasure Park, the Princess Marina Cliff Walk was created by Henry Halloran. This walking path goes through the bushlands and much of it is still there today. Another path, the Wodi Wodi trail, connects Stanwell Tops to the Stanwell Park railway station.

Indigenous History

Stanwell Tops is on the traditional land of the Tharawal people, especially the Wodi Wodi clan.

Recent Events

The 2001 Bushfires

On Christmas Day in 2001, Stanwell Tops and Helensburgh faced a very serious bushfire. It was one of the biggest fires the area had seen in a long time. The fire affected everyone living there. Twelve homes and two businesses were destroyed, and others were damaged. People in Helensburgh were told to leave their homes for safety.

The most dangerous part of the fire lasted from midday on Christmas Day until midnight. Helensburgh stayed closed for three more days because the fire had damaged the electricity, sewage, and water systems.

Local community groups praised how people helped each other during the fire, especially in protecting homes. An official investigation found that the fire started from power lines. The company that owned the power lines was responsible for paying for the damage to homes and businesses.

In 2008, five firefighters from Helensburgh received awards for their brave actions during the 2001 bushfires and another event, the Waterfall rail accident.