Beecroft, New South Wales

Beecroft is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Beecroft is located 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire. Beecroft is considered to be in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney.

History
Beecroft was, before its suburban development, orchard country. The railway came through the area in 1886 and Sir Henry Copeland, Minister of Lands, conducted a survey of the area to determine its suitability as a residential area. He named the suburb after the maiden name of his two wives, Hannah and Mary Beecroft, (two sisters he married in succession). Their names are also remembered through the respective naming of the suburb's east/west streets; Hannah Street, Copeland Road and Mary Street. Due to the strength of the temperance movement in Beecroft a century ago, there have never been any hotels in Beecroft.The bushland and amenity of Beecroft has been largely preserved due to the efforts of the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust which has been very active since its inception in 1958.

Commercial area
The majority of commercial activity conducted in Beecroft is concentrated within a couple of blocks. Although not large by Sydney standards, it is nonetheless important in servicing the suburb and its immediate area, including parts of Cheltenham. The commercial area is located between Beecroft Road and Beecroft railway station. In keeping with the spirit of the traditional heritage, Old English is used throughout as the typeset of the Beecroft Village arcade. Hannah Street, the Suburb's main Commercial Street, underwent a significant beautification upgrade in 2005.

Transport


Beecroft railway station is on the Northern railway line of the CityRail network. In addition to the usual passenger railway traffic, the Main Northern Line also acts as an intercity and freight train thoroghfare passing through Beecroft. Beecroft is also serviced by various bus routes including route 623 from Sydney Buses and routes 651 and 635 from Hillsbus.

Prior to the construction of the M2 Hills Motorway, Beecroft's main road thoroughfare was commissioned as part of Sydney's Metroad system of major arterial roads and throughways. Beecroft Road was part of the Metroad 2 thoroughfare which took motorists between Sydney's Central Business District and Windsor via the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Epping and Castle Hill.

Churches
The Anglican church - formerly the Church of England - was especially prominent in Beecroft society. The suburb itself has three churches within its boundaries; St. John's Anglican (Church of England) Church and Beecroft Uniting Church on Beecroft Road, with Beecroft Presbyterian Church on Mary Street, opposite the school.

Education
Beecroft has three Primary Schools, an independent Anglican school and a high school on the border of Carlingford:
 * Beecroft Primary School - established in 1897
 * Roselea Public School
 * St. Gerard Majella Catholic Primary School
 * Arden Anglican School
 * Carlingford High School

Sport and recreation
Beecroft is also bestowed with a number of recreational facilities within its boundaries. Beecroft is home to Pennant Hills Golf Club, as well as a lawn bowls club near the school, a lawn tennis club, as well as general park space at the Village Green, walking trails through Chilworth Reserve and other forested areas.

Birdlife
The central bushlands are known for the presence of the Satin Bowerbird, and many blue objects such as milk bottle tops and clothes pegs from nearby homes can be found in their nests. Other bird species found in the local bush include the kookaburra, yellow-tailed black cockatoo, galah, corella, sulphur-crested cockatoos, rainbow lorikeet, whipbird, king parrot, Eastern and crimson rosella, bush turkey, butcher bird, crested pigeon, powerful owl, magpie and currawong.

Population
According to the 2006 Census, Beecroft has 8,614 permanent (human) residents.

Notable residents

 * Sir Garfield Barwick (Australian High Court Justice)
 * George Sargent of Australian meat pie fame
 * Ruth Cracknell (Australian actress of Mother and Son fame)
 * Allan Seale MBE (Australian horticulturalist and television personality)
 * Anh Do (comedian)
 * Peter Dick Beecroft Sportsman of the year 1985
 * Birthplace of the Beegees