Berowra () is an outer suburb of Northern Sydney located in the state of

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

, Australia. It is located 36 kilometres north of the

Sydney central business district The Sydney central business district (CBD) is the historical and main Central business district, commercial centre of Sydney. The CBD is Sydney's city centre, or Sydney City, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Colloquially, the CBD or ...

, in the

local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...

of Hornsby Shire. Berowra is south-east of the suburbs of Berowra Heights and east of Berowra Waters. The name ''Berowra'' means ''place of many shells'', referring to the many shell middens on Berowra Creek.

Geography

Berowra is located 36 kilometres north of the

and lies at an altitude of 215 metres. Surrounded by bushland within rugged terrain, it borders the national parks of both the Berowra Valley and Ku-ring-gai Chase.

Commercial area

Berowra is largely residential with a small retail precinct lining the Pacific Highway near the

railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...

. In May 2007, a new shopping complex opened on Turner Road in Berowra Heights; this was a landmark development for the future prospects of the area. Berowra station

Transport

Berowra is located off the Pacific Highway. The Pacific Motorway runs to the east, between Berowra and the

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a national park on the northern side of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The park is north of the Sydney central business district and generally comprises the land east of the Highway 1 (New South Wales ...

. In January 1960 a heavy vehicle checking station opened. In December 1968 the Pacific Motorway opened from Berowra to the

Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River (Dharug language, Dharug: Dyarubbin) is a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle ...

. As it was a

toll road A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private road for which a fee (or ''Toll (fee), toll'') is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implemented to help recoup the costs of road construction and ...

, toll booths were installed at Berowra adjacent to the heavy vehicle checking station. This closed when the Pacific Motorway was extended south to Wahroonga in March 1989. Berowra railway station is located on the Main Northern line. It is served by Sydney Trains

North Shore & Western Line The North Shore & Western Line (numbered T1, coloured orange) is a commuter rail service operated by Sydney Trains, serving the North Shore, parts of the Inner West and Western Suburbs of Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the State ...

and

NSW TrainLink NSW TrainLink is a regional train and coach operator in Australia, providing services throughout New South Wales and into Australian Capital Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria (state), Victoria, Queensland and South Australia ...

Central Coast & Newcastle Line The Central Coast & Newcastle Line (CCN) is an regional rail, intercity rail service that services the Upper North Shore, Central Coast (New South Wales), Central Coast and Newcastle, New South Wales, Newcastle regions. It connects the two large ...

services to

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, Hornsby, and Newcastle.

History

Berowra is an Aboriginal word that means ''place of many shells''. The Berowra area has many Aboriginal carvings.

British settlement

One of the early land grants in the Berowra area was to John Crumpton in 1867. George Collingridge was granted in 1880 and played a part in having the Main Northern railway line extended, so that a station was opened at Berowra in 1887. He also supported the building of a post office in 1900 and a road to Berowra Waters which opened in 1902. Berowra Post Office opened on 1 April 1897. Mary Wall was granted of land near Goodwyn Road off the Pacific Highway in 1887.''The Book of Sydney Suburbs'', Compiled by Frances Pollon,

Angus & Robertson Angus & Robertson (A&R) is a major Australian bookseller, publisher and printer. As book publishers, A&R has contributed substantially to the promotion and development of Australian literature.Alison, Jennifer (2001). "Publishers and editors: A ...

1990 , page 27 The area grew when the Pacific Highway and railway were built and settlers loved the fishing and surrounding bush. Mainly living in tents, the original settlers lived a tough existence and helped everyone. The first school was set up in Mary Wall's house before it was moved to what is now the Berowra District Hall on the corner of Berowra Waters Road and Crowley Road roundabout.

Post-Federation

Berowra was gazetted as a single suburb in 1949, consolidating the separate areas of Berowra Heights and Berowra Creek. Electrification of the North Shore railway line reached Berowra on 4 June 1958. Image:Berowra0001.jpg, Remains of a bush hut, Berowra area Image:Berowra Creek Sydney-1.jpg, Berowra Creek Image:Berowra0003.jpg, Aboriginal rock carving, Berowra area Image:Berowra Creek Sydney.jpg, Junction of Berowra and Calna Creeks

Primary schools

Berowra and Berowra Heights share four primary schools: * Berowra Public School (Berowra). * Pacific Berowra Christian School (Berowra). * Wideview Public School (Berowra Heights). * St Bernard's Catholic Primary School (Berowra Heights)

Churches

Berowra and Berowra Heights share four churches: * St Mark's Anglican Church (Berowra) * Berowra Baptist Church (Berowra) * St Bernard's Catholic Church (Berowra Heights) * Berowra Uniting Church (Berowra Heights)

Clubs and Community Groups

* Apex * Berowra Musical Society * Berowra Toastmasters * Berowra Rotary Club * Lions Club * Scouts * Girl Guides * The Probus club of Berowra * Netball Club * Soccer Club * Football Club * Cricket Club

Demographics

At the time the 2021 census was conducted, the population of Berowra was 4,762, consisting of 2,363 (49.7%) males and 2,396 (50.3%) females. 72.2% of residents were born in Australia, while the next most common country of birth was England at 7.1%. 84.0% of residents only spoke English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion (38.7%), Catholic (20.8%) and Anglican (16.9%). Of the 1,493 occupied dwellings in Berowra, 93.9% were separate houses. The median weekly household income is A$2,781 and the mean household size consists of 3.0 individuals.

Notable residents

Margaret Preston Margaret Rose Preston (29 April 1875 – 28 May 1963) was an Australian painter, printmaker and writer on art who is regarded as one of Australia's leading modernists of the early 20th century. In her quest to foster an Australian "national ...

- painter

Events

Every year on the 2nd Sunday of August Berowra hosts th
Annual Woodchop Festival
Running since 1995, this festival attracts thousands of people every year.

References

External links

Berowra Community Home Page and Directory

The Bush Telegraph: Local newsletter for Berowra and surrounding areas

Berowra Apex: An active community service club
* * C-By-SA {{DEFAULTSORT:Berowra Suburbs of Sydney Hornsby Shire