Normanhurst

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = suburb | name = Normanhurst | city = Sydney | state = nsw | image = (1)Gilligaloola-3.jpg | caption = ''Gilligaloola'', family home of Norman Selfe, after which the suburb was named. | alternative_location_map = Australia NSW metro Sydney | pushpin_map_caption = Location in metropolitan Sydney | coordinates = {{Coord|-33.72521|151.10080|format=dms|type:city_region:AU-NSW|display=title}} | local_map = yes | zoom = 12 | lga = Hornsby Shire | postcode = 2076 | est = | pop = 5,387 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} | pop_footnotes =<ref name="ABS">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL12986|name=Normanhurst|accessdate=2 February 2024|quick=on}}</ref> | elevation = 169 | area = 2.17 | area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Normanhurst Community Profile|url=http://profile.id.com.au/hornsby/about/?WebID=250|publisher=profile.id|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408113824/http://profile.id.com.au/hornsby/about?WebID=250|archive-date=8 April 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | stategov = Wahroonga | fedgov = Berowra | fedgov2 = | near-nw = Hornsby | near-n = Hornsby | near-ne = Waitara | near-w = Thornleigh | near-e = Wahroonga | near-sw = Thornleigh | near-s = Thornleigh | near-se = Wahroonga | dist1 = 23 | dir1 = NW | location1 = Sydney CBD }}

thumb|right|Loreto College Normanhurst

'''Normanhurst''' is a suburb in the Upper North Shore region of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia, 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire.

==History== Normanhurst was originally known as Hornsby, with the suburb that is now known as Hornsby called Jack's Island. <ref name="Joan">{{cite web |url = http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/hornsby |title = Hornsby |first = Joan |last = Rowland |date = 2008 |work = Dictionary of Sydney |publisher = Dictionary of Sydney Trust |access-date = 3 November 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231219111905/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/hornsby |archive-date = 19 December 2023 |url-status = live }}</ref> The land on which Normanhurst stands was granted to Constable Horne, who along with Constable John Thorn, captured bushrangers Dalton and John MacNamara, leader of the North Rocks gang on 22 June 1830. Constable Horne's land became what is now known as Normanhurst and Constable Thorn's land became the neighbouring suburb of Thornleigh.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

The construction of the Main Northern and North Shore railway lines in the 1890s brought about a name change. The two lines were joined at a station called ''Hornsby Junction'', whereas the station one stop south on the Northern line kept the name ''Hornsby''. Due to confusion around the similarly named stops, the postmaster demanded that Hornsby station change its name.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pollon|first=Frances|title=The Book of Sydney Suburbs|year=1990|publisher=Angus & Robertson|location=Australia|isbn=0-207-14495-8}}</ref>

The railway station originally known as 'Hornsby', opened on 21 November 1895<ref name="Joan" /> and the name was changed by the local community to Normanhurst in 1900.

The first ''Hornsby'' Post Office opened on 1 August 1864 and was renamed ''South Hornsby'' in 1900 and ''Normanhurst'' in 1905.<ref name = "Post Office">{{Cite web | title = Post Office List | publisher = Phoenix Auctions | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=NSW&filter=*Normanhurst* | access-date = 21 January 2012}}</ref>

Normanhurst was derived from the name of a prominent resident, civil engineer Norman Selfe (1839–1911),<ref>{{cite book|last=Murray-Smith|first=S|title=Selfe, Norman (1839–1911)|chapter=Norman Selfe (1839–1911)|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/selfe-norman-4554/text7469 |orig-year=1976 |date=2006 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |via=Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106084516/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/selfe-norman-4554/text7469|archive-date=6 November 2013|url-status=live|df=dmy-all |volume=6}}</ref> with ''hurst'' being the English word for a ''wooded hill''. Selfe protested against the name change, preferring the name ''St Normans'', which he suggested would have been "more elegant and suggestive".<ref> Selfe, Norman (July 1910) Some account of St Paul's Church, Hornsby (now Normanhurst and Wahroonga): with a few reminiscences of the old village of Hornsby, printed for the subscribers, p. 14. Cited in Freyne (2009)</ref> The railway station was renamed in 1900 and was used for the suburb that developed around it.

Normanhurst continued to develop following the end of World War II, when many new homes were built during the 1950s and 1960s, as part of Sydney's post-war housing boom. It grew into a more distinct suburban character with tree-lined streets and family homes.

Normanhurst Boys High School was opened in 1958.

== Heritage listings == Normanhurst has one heritage-listed site: * 82-84 Pennant Hills Road: ''Gilligaloola''<ref name=nswshr-271>{{cite NSW SHR|5044999|Gilligaloola|hr=00271|fn=S90/05438 & HC 32785|accessdate=18 May 2018}}</ref>

==Geography== Normanhurst is divided by Pennant Hills Road, a major north-south road that leads north to the M1 Motorway, and south towards Parramatta. However, both the east and west sections have extensive bush access. On the east side, a small section of bush lies between Normanhurst and Fox Valley. This is land occupied by the SAN Hospital. On the western side, the suburb backs onto the southern reaches of the Berowra Valley, a continuous section of bush stretching all the way to Broken Bay. This gives Normanhurst a very "leafy" and rural look. In turn the rural quality is said to contribute to the abundance of bird life. The area is home to cockatoos, rainbow lorikeets, kookaburras, noisy miners, native brush turkeys, and powerful owls. Additionally, Normanhurst has several small waterfalls, which promote reptile and marsupial life, such as Eastern grey kangaroos, echidnas and red-bellied black snakes. It also has encouraged the growth of retirement residences in the suburb. The Hornsby Shire Historical Society and Museum is located on Kenley Road.

==Commercial area==

thumb|right|Strip of shops at Normanhurst railway station Normanhurst has a small number of shops close to Normanhurst railway station, which includes cafes, restaurants, a liquor store and an Australia Post office.

==Transport== Normanhurst is serviced by rail and buses. Normanhurst railway station is on the Northern Line of the Sydney Trains network. CDC NSW's Upper North Shore service provide bus services to the area.

At the 2021 census, only 4.4% of employed people travelled to work on public transport and 30.0% by car (either as driver or as passenger).<ref name="ABS"/> Pennant Hills Road is a major road in Sydney.

== Demographics ==

At the 2021 census, the suburb of Normanhurst recorded a population of 5,387.<ref name="ABS" />

;Age and sex distribution: Children aged 15 and under made up 20.2% of the population, slightly higher than the national average of 18.2%. Residents aged 65 and over made up 18.7% of the total population (the national average was 17.2%). 49.7% of residents were male and 50.3% were female.

; Ethnic and cultural diversity: Almost two-thirds of the population (63.0%) were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 7.1%, India 4.4%, and England 4.3%. Only 29.5% of the population identified their ancestry as Australian, 31.2% English, 14.0% Chinese, 9.3% Irish, and 8.8% Scottish. The most commonly spoken language at home other than English includes Mandarin 8.3%, Cantonese 2.6%, and Korean 2.0%, 68.2% of the population of Normanhurst used English only at home.

; Religion: The most common responses for religion in Normanhurst in the 2021 Census were No Religion 36.9%, Catholic 22.6%, Anglican 12.2%, Uniting Church 4.6%, and Hinduism 4.1%.

==Schools== thumb|230px|Loreto, 1897

Secondary Schools

* Loreto Normanhurst (Private, girls only)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.loretonh.nsw.edu.au/ |title=Loreto Normanhurst school |access-date=21 January 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204013735/http://www.loretonh.nsw.edu.au/ |archive-date=4 February 2005 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

* Normanhurst Boys High School (Public, selective, boys only)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.normanhurb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ |title=Normanhurst Boys High School |access-date=21 January 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305105611/http://www.normanhurb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ |archive-date=5 March 2005 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Primary Schools

*Normanhurst Public School (Public)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.normanhurs-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/home |title=Normanhurst Public School |access-date=23 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410075734/http://www.normanhurs-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/home |archive-date=10 April 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

*Normanhurst West Public School (which is actually in Thornleigh).

==Churches== *St. Stephen's Anglican Church<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ststephens-normanhurst.org.au/ |title=St. Stephen's Anglican Church Normanhurst |access-date=8 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829201455/http://ststephens-normanhurst.org.au/ |archive-date=29 August 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> *Queen of Peace Catholic Church<ref>{{cite web|title=Queen of Peace, Normanhurst Community COMMUNITY|url=http://www.dbb.org.au/parishes/hornsby/parish/Pages/History.aspx|work=Established The Parish began on the second Sunday in May viz. 9 May 1971, in Loreto Chapel Normanhurst and functioned there for more than six years, courtesy of the Loreto Sisters. In 1973 the Council approved the construction of a Church and Priests' residence. Construction of the Church commenced on 5 June 1976. The Parish Church and Presbytery were blessed and opened on 31 July 1977 by Cardinal Freeman.|access-date=23 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210164547/http://www.dbb.org.au/parishes/hornsby/parish/Pages/History.aspx|archive-date=10 February 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> *Normanhurst Uniting Church<ref>{{cite web|title=Normanhursh Uniting Church|url=http://www.normanhurstunitingchurch.org.au/|work=In 1977 with the advent of the "Unitng Church in Australia" these churches combined to form one Parish. At that time there were several churches/congregations in the Parish.|access-date=22 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408164643/http://normanhurstunitingchurch.org.au/|archive-date=8 April 2013|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> *The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

==Sport and recreation== *Normanhurst Sports Club<ref>{{cite web|title=Normanhurst Sports Club|url=http://www.normoeagles.com.au/|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115004814/http://www.normoeagles.com.au/|archive-date=15 January 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> * Normanhurst is home to the Normanhurst Eagles Football Club, their home ground is Normanhurst Oval. The club caters for both male and female football players in junior and senior divisions. The club's flagship team currently play in the Gladesville Hornsby Football Association's top-tier Premier League competition. * Normanhurst-Warrawee Cricket Club also plays in Normanhurst, and is one of the most successful clubs in the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Hills District Cricket Association, and has made several junior statewide twenty20 finals. The club's home ground is Normanhurst Park, as is its clubroom. * [https://normanhurst.group.scoutsnsw.com.au/ Normanhurst Scout Group] is one of the largest Scout Groups in NSW, providing fun youth development activities, building resilience and confidence in ages 5 to 18 in the Joey Scout, Cub Scout, Scout, and Venturer Scout sections. * [https://2nd-normanhurst.rovers.scoutsnsw.com.au/ 2nd Normanhurst Rover Scout Unit] is associated with Normanhurst Scout Group. Open to young people ages 18-25, Rover Scouts undertake a wide range of outdoor adventure, community service, and social activities.

==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{commonscat|Normanhurst, New South Wales}} ==External links== * {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/normanhurst | title = Normanhurst | access-date = 28 September 2015 | author = Joan Rowland | date = 2008 | work=Dictionary of Sydney}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>CC-By-SA<nowiki>]</nowiki>

{{Sydney Hornsby suburbs}}

Category:Suburbs of Sydney Category:Hornsby Shire