“A pastoral retreat.” That’s what Arcadia means. We are standing in Arcadia, a semi-rural suburb of Sydney. It is a place whose name evokes images of idyllic landscapes. The name Arcadia comes from a region in Greece. In Greek mythology, Arcadia was a peaceful, pastoral place.
This Arcadia is about 42 kilometers northwest of Sydney’s central business district. It is part of the Hornsby Shire local government area. The Darug people were the original inhabitants of this area. Surveyor James Meehan’s map of April 1817 used the name Dooral. It covered the whole area including today’s Arcadia, Dural, Glenorie, and Galston.
Timber cutters started opening up the area around 1817. The early settlements were known as Upper, Middle, Lower, North, and Little Dural. In 1895, a public school opened here. It was called Arcadia. Later, the suburb adopted the same name. John B Shearston had traveled to Arcadia in Southern Greece. He felt the local area was equally idyllic. The name Arcadia was accepted at a public meeting on October 28, 1895.
Let’s talk about the Arcadia Post Office. It opened on December 1, 1895. Before that, it was the Upper Galston office. The Arcadia Post Office closed in 1974.
Arcadia Public School is the local primary school here. It teaches children from Kindergarten to Year 6. The school celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2014. As part of the celebrations, a website and a book were created about the history of Arcadia and the school. The 120th Anniversary committee won the 2015 Owen Nannelli Memorial Award. Hornsby Shire Council presented the award.
Arcadia offers a tranquil rural setting. You can see a wide variety of plants and animals. There are wonderful views. Fagan Park is well known in the area. It is a large landscaped park with an historic house and picnic areas. You can enjoy walks there. The Garden of Many Nations is popular. It showcases themed gardens. You can see a Japanese garden, a Meditation garden, and a Traditional English garden.
According to the 2021 census, 1,475 people live in Arcadia. Most residents were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England, New Zealand, and South Africa. Most residents speak only English at home.
Arcadia Road is the main road through the suburb. It provides access from Galston. It leads north into Bay Road to Berrilee and Berowra Waters. Arcadia Road also connects to Cobah Road. Cobah Road leads north to Fiddletown.
Arcadia Road and some houses on Roscommon Road appeared in the Australian movie “Tomorrow, When The War Began”. So Arcadia is not just a peaceful retreat. It’s also been a film set. This blend of tranquility and a touch of cinematic fame makes Arcadia a unique place. A place where the past and present blend seamlessly.