Is it possible that this leafy suburb owes its existence to two landholders? Terrey Hills in Northern Sydney indeed does. It is named after Samuel Hills and Obediah James Terrey.
Terrey Hills sits 25 kilometres north of Sydney’s central business district. It resides within the Northern Beaches Council. This area is part of both the Forest District and the Northern Beaches region. You will notice it is a semi-rural area. Many residents board their horses here.
Let’s step back in time. Long before European settlement, Indigenous people used this land. Rock carvings remain as evidence near Larool Road. These carvings depict hunting scenes. You can see kangaroos, human figures and footprints etched in stone. The Terrey Hills Post Office marked a new era opening on June 17, 1935.
Now, let’s dig into the geological history. Terrey Hills is known as the “laterite capital” of the Sydney Basin. Laterite is a rock type. It indicates past climate change. It signals hotter, wetter conditions. The laterite here was used for early road-making. It even reinforced the coast at Collaroy Beach as rock wall coastal defence. Interestingly, Terrey Hills is the only place in New South Wales with fossils in laterite. These fossils are meagre plant fibres. The main laterite quarry is now the Terrey Hills playing field. Another smaller one is at Tumbledown Dick. Both are on the National Estate a Commonwealth heritage listing.
During the Great Depression, the laterite became a crucial resource. One-third of Australia’s workforce was unemployed then. The Warringah Shire Quarry, also known as the ‘gravel pit’ at Terrey Hills, distributed government relief work funding. Married men worked two weeks on and one week off. Single men worked one week on and two weeks off at the ‘gravel pit’. Work was scarce. People in Terrey Hills were generally impoverished. A week’s work digging laterite gravel with pick and shovel paid just one pound. Workers walked to the ‘relief office’ at Narrabeen to get paid. Besides digging laterite, workers built or improved roads to Mona Vale, Cottage Point, and Coal and Candle Creek.
Did you know that Terrey Hills boasts a unique climate? Its elevation, proximity to the ocean, and extensive tree cover contribute to this. The weather station here records the mildest temperatures in Greater Sydney.
Terrey Hills has a vibrant community today. The shopping centre includes a supermarket, post office, and specialty shops. You will also find restaurants and plant suppliers.
Northern Beaches Council operates its Volunteer Services Centre here. Terrey Hills houses the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service and other emergency services. The NSW Government’s Bureau of Meteorology operates Australia’s weather radar for Sydney here as well. The radar is near Mona Vale Road and Forest Way.
For sports and recreation Terrey Hills offers golf courses, tennis centres, and BMX tracks. The Terrey Hills Wolves are the local Rugby Union Club. They play at Yulong Oval. The Belrose Terrey Hills Raiders are the local soccer team.
From its geological significance to its community spirit, Terrey Hills reveals layers of history. It has transformed from an Indigenous site and Depression-era quarry to a leafy suburb. It stands as a testament to time and transformation.