Pennant Hills

The area was first explored by Governor Arthur Phillip shortly after 15 April 1788. It was noted that the party saw 'fine views of the mountains inland' (the Blue Mountains). Governor Phillip 'did not doubt that a large river would be found' nearby.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}

The first white settlement occurred in the area with the establishment of convict timber camps in the time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Permanent white settlement of Pennant Hills began only in the 1840s and took off with the arrival of the Northern railway line in the 1880s. In August 1912 the federal government opened a Wireless Telegraphy Station, the first of its kind on a national level.Frank Crowley (1974), A New History of Australia, William Heinemann, Melbourne, Victoria, p. 301. The suburb has grown considerably since the 1950s, when the motor car became commonplace.

There are two distinct theories about the origin of the name Pennant Hills. One suggests the area was used as a site for raising flags, or pennants, for signalling purposes. However, the only recorded evidence of such a signalling system in the vicinity was one operating from 1824 to 1829 in the present suburb of Ermington and the use of the term 'Pennant Hills' is found in much earlier documents.Trevor Patrick (2011), 'In Search of the Pennant Hills', Placenames Australia (September 2011), Australian National Placenames Survey, pages 1 & 6-7; extracted from In Search of the Pennant Hills (2007), by Trevor Patrick, James Symes & Andrew Tink. In an 1801 muster list, 'Pennant Hills' is recorded as the place of residence of Ann Fay, wife of William Bellamy.{{cite journal |author=R. Hawkins |date=1989 |title=On the origin of the name of Pennant Hills |journal=Local Colour |volume=4 |issue=13 |page=13 }} In 1802 correspondence from Governor King to Joseph Banks, King refers to "the range of Pennant Hills".Philip Gidley King to Sir Joseph Banks, Mitchell Library reel FM4/1748, page 156. In 1920 the historian James Jervis suggested that the locality had been named after the naturalist Thomas Pennant, a prominent British ornithologist and zoologist and prolific author of the eighteenth century.{{cite journal |author=James Jervis |date=1921 |title=The origin and history of the place names of the Parramatta and adjoining districts |journal= Journal and Proceedings Parramatta Historical Society |volume=2 |page=50| others=(as read before the Parramatta and District Historical Society, 7 September 1920) }} Although Pennant never visited Australia his friends and acquaintances included Sir Joseph Banks, Captain James Cook and Francis Grose (whose son Francis administered the colony of New South Wales when Arthur Phillip returned to England in 1792). Under the patronage system of the time, colonial administrators and explorers often acknowledged their English supporters by naming geographical features in their honour.

The name Pennant Hills originally applied to the area now known as West Pennant Hills, located in the Hills District. However, when the northern railway line was built it passed through what is now Pennant Hills, so a suburb grew around the station and took on the name. The area around Thompsons Corner was renamed West Pennant Hills. Pennant Hills is hilly and the highest altitude is at Observatory Park on Pennant Hills Road, which once was the site of the old astronomical observatory.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

During the 1960s and 1970s, Pennant Hills was the site of Chelmsford Private Hospital, where the unorthodox psychiatric Deep Sleep Therapy conducted by Dr Harry Bailey resulted in the deaths of dozens of patients.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

Pennant Hills is one of the major commercial centres of Hornsby Shire. Several dozen shops are located at the north-west of the railway line, along with the local Pennant Hills Library. Several restaurants and cafes are located around Yarrara Road. Pennant Hills Marketplace, a local shopping centre, is located along Hillcrest Road.

Residential houses are found in all areas in Pennant Hills, with recent modern apartments and office towers found along Pennant Hills Road. A significant commercial/industrial area can be found along Pennant Hills Road.

Pennant Hills is home to several entertainment venues including the Pennant Hills Hotel.

File:Pennant Hills station 2015-12-10.JPG.]]

Pennant Hills railway station is on the Northern Line of the Sydney Trains network.

Pennant Hills Road is one of Sydney's major thoroughfares. Bus services by CDC NSW have their terminus in Pennant Hills and run to West Pennant Hills, Castle Hill and Cherrybrook.

Pennant Hills has two public schools: Pennant Hills Public School established in 1925{{cite web|title=Pennant Hills Public School|url=http://www.pennanthil-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/|work=Pennant Hills Public School, established in 1925 and situated on two sites 500 metres apart|access-date=23 March 2013}} and Pennant Hills High School established in 1966,{{cite web|title=Pennant Hills High School|url=http://www.pennanthil-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/our-school|work=Pennant Hills High School is set in large grounds and situated in a well-established residential area in the north-west of Sydney. The school was established in 1966.|access-date=23 March 2013}} and two Catholic schools, Mount St Benedict College a girls secondary school{{cite web|title=Mount St Benedict College|url=http://www.msben.nsw.edu.au/|access-date=23 March 2013}} and St. Agatha's Catholic Primary School.{{cite web|title=St Agatha's Catholic Primary School|url=http://www.dbb.org.au/schools/stagathas/Pages/Default.aspx|access-date=23 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515202615/http://www.dbb.org.au/schools/stagathas/Pages/Default.aspx|archive-date=15 May 2013}}

File:Lilian Fraser Garden 009a.jpg

Pennant Hills is surrounded on two sides by large swathes of bushland. To the east, the suburb is bordered by the upper reaches of the Lane Cove River and its associated national park, whilst in the north-west, Pennant Hills borders Berowra Valley National Park. Both of these reserves contain extensive walking tracks within the boundaries of the suburb, with some linking to the Great North Walk.{{cite web|title=Berowra Valley National Park|url=http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/berowra-valley-national-park|website=NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service|access-date=26 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=Pennant Hills West Pymble Fire Trail|url=http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/Cycling-trails/Pennant-Hills-West-Pymble-fire-trail|website=NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service|access-date=26 December 2016}}

Pennant Hills also contains many public parks, the largest being the Pennant Hills Park sportsground. This complex hosts many sporting facilities consisting of the Ern Holmes Oval for Australian Football and cricket, tennis and netball courts, a rugby union field, a football pitch, two hockey fields and an archery range.{{cite web|title=Sportsgrounds and Ovals|url=http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/my-lifestyle/sports-and-recreation/sportsgrounds-and-ovals|website=Hornsby Shire Council|access-date=26 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.etdta.com/ETDTA-Home.aspx|website=Eastwood Thornleigh District Tennis Association|access-date=26 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=Welcome to Northern Archers of Sydney|url=http://www.northernarchers.com/|website=Northern Archers|access-date=26 December 2016}} The Ern Holmes Oval was the home ground of the Pennant Hills Demons Australian Football Club until 2011.{{cite web|title=History|url=https://www.phafl.com.au/club/pennant-hills-demons/history/|website=Pennant Hills Demons|access-date=26 December 2016}}

Lilian Fraser Garden is also located in Pennant Hills. Originally maintained for many years by the noted government biologist Dr Lilian Fraser, after her death in 1987 her collection of rare and exotic plants was passed on to Hornsby Shire Council.{{cite web|title=Lilian Fraser Garden|url=http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/my-lifestyle/sports-and-recreation/parks-and-playgrounds/pennant-hills/lilian-fraser-garden|website=Hornsby Shire Council|access-date=26 December 2016}} Open free of charge to the public for viewing, the garden can also be hired for special events for a fee.{{cite web|title=Lilian Fraser Garden (fees)|url=http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/51869/LilianFraser-F-And-C-2016-17.pdf|website=Hornsby Shire Council|access-date=26 December 2016}}

Pennant Hills, due to its wide array of sporting facilities, plays home to a large number of sporting organisations. These organisations include the Pennant Hills Football Club, which was established in 1957, and the Pennant Hills Demons AFC, which has seen nine players go on to compete in the AFL.{{cite web|title=Player Development History|url=https://www.phafl.com.au/development/pennant-hills-players-development/|website=Pennant Hills Demons|access-date=26 December 2016}} Although the Ern Holmes Oval is no longer the home ground of the Demons premiership team due to its size, many of the club's junior teams still compete in Pennant Hills.

Pennant Hills is also home to the Baden Powell Scout Centre, which borders the Lane Cove National Park. Opened in 1929, it initially served as a permanent camp for the unemployed during the Great Depression, and was visited by the Lord Baden-Powell himself in 1931.{{cite web|title=A Brief History of Baden-Powell Scout Centre|url=http://www.nsw.scouts.com.au/bpsc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=5|website=Scouts Australia NSW|access-date=26 December 2016}} Situated on 36 acres of bushland, the centre is now home to the John Hill training centre and provides accommodation, catering and conference facilities for large groups, as well as activities such as high-ropes and rock climbing for camps.

The Pennant Hills area is home to the Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Rugby League Club affectionately known as the Stags. Whilst originally based at Pennant Hills Park, the club now plays out of Greenway Oval at Cherrybrook. The club competes with distinction in the North Sydney District Junior Rugby League competition.

The Pennant Hills Park Tennis Centre is now part of Northwest Sydney Tennis.{{Cite web |title=NWST Court Hire |url=https://northwestsydneytennis.com.au/NWST-Association.aspx |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=northwestsydneytennis.com.au}} It has 16 floodlit courts and a number of social tennis groups,[https://etdta.com/Files/December%20Newsletter%202019.pdf] including the Soldiers Point Tennis Club.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-27 |title=Fun and free family tennis days return to Soldiers Point |url=https://www.portstephensexaminer.com.au/story/7067371/fun-and-free-family-tennis-days-return-to-soldiers-point/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Port Stephens Examiner |language=en-AU}}

Pennant Hills was established as a Catholic parish in 1928 and a number of Catholic churches have been built since then. The parish's current church, St. Agatha's, was built in 1979.

Pennant Hills is also home to the first Danish Church in Australia. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark made an official visit there on 6 March 2005.{{cite web|title=The Danish Church in Australia|url=http://www.danishchurch.org.au/|work=Church in Sydney has been the setting for several major events, from the Olympics in 2000, the inauguration of the church in Pennant Hills in 2002 and the visit of the royal couple in 2005, to 'Frederik's Church' was named by the Crown Prince in 2009.|access-date=23 March 2013}}

Other churches located in Pennant Hills include:

• St Mark's Anglican Church,{{cite web|title=St Mark's Anglican Church Pennant Hills|url=http://www.stmarks.com.au/|access-date=23 March 2013}}

• Pennant Hills Baptist Church{{cite web|title=Pennant Hills Baptist Church|url=http://www.pennanthillsbaptist.org.au/|access-date=23 March 2013}}

• Pennant Hills Uniting Church{{cite web|title=Pennant Hills Uniting Church|url=http://www.pennanthillsuniting.org.au/|access-date=23 March 2013}}

• Thornleigh Seventh-day Adventist Church located in Pennant Hills

The population according to the 2021 census was 7,588. Of these:

• The median age was 43 years, compared to the national median of 38 years. Children aged 0–14 years made up 17.1% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 18.7% of the population.
• 57.0% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were China 8.4%, India 4.4%, England 3.1%, Korea 2.9% and Hong Kong 2.8%.
• 60.6% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 9.3%, Cantonese 5.8%, Korean 3.6%, Hindi 1.9% and Arabic 1.4%.
• The most common responses for religion were No Religion 36.1%, Catholic 20.0% and Anglican 11.6%.

• Early North Shore settler James Milson.
• Former Attorney General of Australia and former mayor of Hornsby Shire Philip Ruddock.
• Former St Kilda midfielder and 2010 Norm Smith Medallist Lenny Hayes, who played for the Pennant Hills Demons in the NSW Football League.
• Former {{AFL Ess}} tagger and current {{AFL GWS}} caretaker senior coach Mark McVeigh, who also played for the Demons in the NSW Football League.
• Former Sydney Swans premiership co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, who also played for Pennant Hills Demons in the NSW Football League.
• John and Ilsa Konrads, siblings and world record-breaking swimmers.
• Michaela Baranov, a contestant on the seventh season of The X Factor Australia
• Geraint F. Lewis, astrophysicist at the University of Sydney.

Because of its elevation, Pennant Hills has a mean of {{convert|21.8|C|F}} in the warmest month, which is just below the subtropical isotherm of {{convert|22|C|F}}. As such, Pennant Hills has an Oceanic climate (Cfb). Its highs are around two degrees warmer than Sydney CBD in the summer, and a degree cooler in the winter. Whilst the rainfall is evenly distributed, the wettest month is March and the driest is September.

{{Weather box

|location = Pennant Hills

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan high C = 27.6

|Feb high C = 27.3

|Mar high C = 25.5

|Apr high C = 22.2

|May high C = 19.1

|Jun high C = 16.3

|Jul high C = 15.8

|Aug high C = 17.9

|Sep high C = 20.9

|Oct high C = 23.4

|Nov high C = 25.1

|Dec high C = 27.0

|year high C = 22.3

|Jan mean C = 21.8

|Feb mean C = 21.7

|Mar mean C = 20.1

|Apr mean C = 17.0

|May mean C = 13.8

|Jun mean C = 11.3

|Jul mean C = 10.5

|Aug mean C = 10.9

|Sep mean C = 14.5

|Oct mean C = 17.1

|Nov mean C = 19.1

|Dec mean C = 21.0

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 16.1

|Feb low C = 16.1

|Mar low C = 14.8

|Apr low C = 11.8

|May low C = 8.6

|Jun low C = 6.3

|Jul low C = 5.2

|Aug low C = 6.1

|Sep low C = 8.1

|Oct low C = 10.8

|Nov low C = 13.1

|Dec low C = 15.0

|year low C = 11.0

|Jan precipitation mm = 100.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 115.8

|Mar precipitation mm = 121.7

|Apr precipitation mm = 104.5

|May precipitation mm = 81.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 111.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 80.6

|Aug precipitation mm = 63.5

|Sep precipitation mm = 56.3

|Oct precipitation mm = 69.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 78.0

|Dec precipitation mm = 92.1

|year precipitation mm = 1074.7

|Jan precipitation days = 10.6

|Feb precipitation days = 11.4

|Mar precipitation days = 12.1

|Apr precipitation days = 11.3

|May precipitation days = 9.5

|Jun precipitation days = 10.9

|Jul precipitation days = 9.2

|Aug precipitation days = 8.5

|Sep precipitation days = 8.8

|Oct precipitation days = 9.5

|Nov precipitation days = 9.9

|Dec precipitation days = 10.6

|year precipitation days = 122.3

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology (temperatures, 1907–1943){{cite web

| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066047_All.shtml

| publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |title = Climate statistics for Pennant Hills |access-date = 19 November 2013}}

|date=November 2013

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book | author = Patrick, T.G. | year = 1994 | title = Street Names of Pennant Hills | publisher = Silicon Quill | location = Australia | isbn = 0-646-21003-3}}

{{commons category|Pennant Hills, New South Wales}}

• {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/pennant_hills | title = Pennant Hills | access-date = 28 September 2015 | author = Joan Rowland | date = 2008 | work=Dictionary of Sydney}} [CC-By-SA]

{{Coord|-33.74236|151.06643|format=dms|type:city_region:AU-NSW|display=title}}

{{Sydney Hornsby suburbs}}

Category:Suburbs of Sydney

Category:Hornsby Shire