Killarney Heights
| Killarney Heights Sydney, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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| Population | 4,502 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1960s | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2087 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 109 m (358 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 12 km (7 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Northern Beaches Council | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Wakehurst | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Mackellar | ||||||||||||||
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Killarney Heights is a suburb of Northern Sydney, situated on Middle Harbour, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Killarney Heights is 12 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council. Killarney Heights is part of the Forest District, colloquially known as The Forest.
Killarney Heights has panoramic views of Middle Harbour from a few locations. The suburb is located on a peninsula bound by the waters of Middle Harbour to the south-west towards Roseville Chase and Bantry Bay to the east. Garigal National Park is on the eastern border.
Schools
[edit]There are two schools in Killarney Heights and many more around the area. Killarney Heights Primary School is situated across the road from Killarney Heights Oval.[2] This primary school is noted as having an extensive English – French bilingual program[3] which has led to many French-speaking parents moving to the area.[citation needed] A preschool is also nearby.[4] Killarney Heights High School is situated next to the oval, and also has a strong French presence.[5][6] The High School is a coeducational, comprehensive high school located on Starkey Street, the school has a strong tradition of high academic achievement, catering for individual student needs and providing a broad co-curricular program.[5]
Transport
[edit]Killarney Heights is accessible by road, via Warringah Road. Access to Warringah Road is via Roseville Bridge, via Spit Bridge and Wakehurst Parkway or via Forest Way. Killarney Heights is about a 20-minute drive from the city during non-peak hours. The only public transport around this area is provided by bus company CDC NSW. Routes that go through Killarney Heights include services to and from the City and Chatswood.
History
[edit]Prior to the arrival of the First Fleet, the area was inhabited by the Aboriginal Cadigal peoples. It also got its name from a town in the County Kerry region of southwest Ireland.
The suburb was originally part of Forestville and the area was developed from the 1950s as South Forestville and Heidelberg. The suburb east of Starkey Street became the site of considerable development by LJ Hooker in the early 1960s prior to the completion of the second Roseville Bridge in 1966. West of Starkey Street was Crown land.
Killarney Heights Post Office opened on 1 December 1965 and closed in 1987.[7]
In February 1979, a Lithuanian couple who believed they were being chased by Soviet agents were discovered in bushland adjacent to the suburb. Stepan Petrosys (81) and his 68-year-old wife were discovered after having lived in a cave for 28 years.[8] Local children who frequented the bush knew of these people as early as 1960.
A guide book called "Killarney Heights – Secrets of a Sleepy suburb" was published in November 2022. The book is an A-Z of fascinating facts, interesting insights and hyper-local heritage.[9][promotion?]
Heritage listings
[edit]Killarney Heights has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:[10]
- Bantry Bay Explosives Depot
- Killarney Picnic Grounds
- Flat Rock Landing
- Soldiers Rock Landing
- Bantry Bay Reservoir[citation needed]
- Timber Getters Picnic Spot[citation needed]
- Old Bullock Track
Population
[edit]In the 2021 Census, there were 4,502 people in Killarney Heights. 63.8% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were England 6.3%, China 3.5%, France 2.7%, Hong Kong 2.1% and New Zealand 2.0%. 72.2% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included French 6.1%, Mandarin 3.9%, Cantonese 3.8%, Armenian 2.7% and Japanese 1.2%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 42.8%, Catholic 21.3% and Anglican 14.3%.[1]
References
[edit]- Pollon, Frances, ed. (1990). The Book of Sydney Suburbs. Angus & Robertson Publishers. p. 137. ISBN 0-207-14495-8.
- Haigh, Dan (2022). A Knowhere Guide to Killarney Heights – Secrets of a Sleepy Suburb. ISBN 978-1-922629-74-6.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Killarney Heights (State Suburb)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Killarney Heights Public School". Google Maps. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ "French Bilingual Program". Killarney Heights Public School. Archived from the original on 26 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Yump (10 March 2019). "Child Care Centre Killarney Heights". KU Children's Services. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ a b "About our school". Killarney Heights High School. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ Marks, Alison (16 November 2015). "French expats reeling but steadfast". Manly Daily. Additional reporting Beverley Hudec, Steven Deare, Sarah Swain and Rod Bennett. Sydney: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. pp. 1 (preview), 5 (full report). Factiva MANLYD0020151116ebbh0000e. NewsBank 159343EACCFCB118. Retrieved 10 March 2019 – via The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "View Post Office Details: Killarney Heights". Phoenix Auctions. Melbourne, Vic.: eAgency Vietnam. Archived from the original on 26 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ "Couple lived in cave for 28 years". The Straits Times. 14 February 1979. p. 3. Microfilm: NL9993. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015 – via National Library Board.
- ^ "Killarney Heights". killarneyheights.org. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "State Heritage Inventory". NSW Environment and Heritage. Search for "KILLARNEY HEIGHTS NSW 2087" as "Suburb/Town". Retrieved 12 January 2023.
