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Profile created by: whereinsydney, F, 27.
How I know the area: Lived there for 12 years until 2009, and I regularly visit family in the area.
Good area for: Families, retirees.
Not so good for: Teenagers without a driver’s licence, young people.
What I like most about this suburb: The trees and bushland - it is so leafy you almost don’t feel as if you are in Sydney. Also very safe.
What I like least about this suburb: Not a lot of activities for teenagers aside from sport and hard to get around without a car.
Region: North-west.
Local Government Area: Hornsby Shire, visit their website at www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au.
Best parts: East of station, west of station, west of Beecroft Road, west of M2 - in that order.
Character of development: Predominantly low density residential, one and two storeys, mainly brick homes but some fibro/weatherboard. Blocks vary widely in size, though they tend to be larger nearer to the station. Many gorgeous heritage-listed properties, but also plenty of 1960s red brick. Seeing gradual renewal of older homes – either rendering and painting, or rebuilding new designer mansions or average project homes. A few old and new apartments (2-3 storeys) on Beecroft Road near the station. Some new mixed use recently built in the Village and under development.
Development Prospects: Rezoning proposed for area around the station to allow up to 5 storeys mixed use and residential development. Otherwise limited development potential unless you get a large block; the minimum lot size for subdivision is 500-600sqm. Plenty of heritage items and heritage conservation areas. Watch out for Nimbyism. It can be hard to get approval to remove native trees (keep in mind that the greenery and low density character is what makes Beecroft so special!).
Traffic/Accessibility: In close proximity to Pennant Hills Road, Epping Road and the M2 motorway. Access the M2 from Epping Road (eastbound) or Pennant Hills Road (eastbound and westbound). M2 eastbound is a car park in the mornings, as can be Pennant Hills Road in both directions (north to Hornsby or south to Parramatta). Would recommend catching the train to the city (see Public transport below), however travel west to Castle Hill or Blacktown is generally fine. It’s hard to get onto Beecroft Road from Kirkham Street; or Pennant Hills Road from Beecroft Road, Copeland Road or North Rocks Road in the evenings, especially Fridays.
There are no parking meters in the Village, however parking is time limited Monday-Saturday.
Public Transport: Beecroft is situated on the Northern Rail Line, where you can catch trains to the City from Hornsby via Strathfield or Chatswood. Minimal private and public buses to and from Beecroft station via Castle Hill/Cherrybrook/West Pennant Hills as well as along Pennant Hills Road to Parramatta. Don’t count on getting a spot in the free CityRail car parks near the station much after 6:45am, luckily there is plenty of free on-street parking in residential streets nearby.
Schools and Universities: Two primary schools (both public and private), no high school. Closest high schools are Cheltenham Girls at Cheltenham (girls only, private), Pennant Hills High and Carlingford High (both co-ed and public) or Mount St Benedicts at Pennant Hills (girls only, private).
Macquarie University at North Ryde is a 20 minute drive (traffic permitting) or catch the train or bus from Beecroft Station. There is a TAFE at Hornsby and another at Ryde.
Shops: Beecroft Village Shops are located along Hannah Street and Wongala Crescent near Beecroft Station and off Beecroft Road. Here you will find two small supermarkets (Franklins and Friendly Grocer), two fruit shops, butchers, a post office, newsagent, two delis, bakeries, two pharmacies, optometrists, travel agent, a florist or two, shoe repair, clothes shops (multiple womens and kids, and a surf shop), two shoe shops, four beauty salons, restaurants, take aways and cafes, a video shop, a bottle shop, two jewellers, gift shops, doctors, dentist, chiro and specialists (ear/throat), a book shop, wool/craft shop, and a million hair dressers (Beecroft women like to have their hair done, can recommend Zalm Hair) and real estate agents (people who live in Beecroft like to talk about property). Vintage Cellars bottle shop opposite the Village Green on Beecroft Road.
No service station – need to go to Carlingford Car Care on North Rocks Road, Carlingford, the Shell on Pennant Hills Road (northbound) or BP on Pennant Hills Road (northbound). Also a Caltex (southbound) and a Shell (northbound) on Pennant Hills Road near Carlingford Court, Carlingford.
Also, small strip shops at North Rocks Road, (North) Carlingford with service station, pool shop, bakery, florist, butcher, small supermarket, newsagent with post office, bottle shop, doctors and dentists.
The closest shopping centre is Carlingford Court, Carlingford located off Pennant Hills Road. Carlingford Court has a Target, Coles and Woolworths, Bing Lee, Go-Lo, a bunch of specialty shops (clothes, shoes, books, handbags, electricals), food court (Maccas, KFC, Oporto, sushi, kebabs etc) a few restaurants open after hours (must try Wok N Roll Noodle Bar).
Parking at any of these places can be a nightmare on Thursday nights and Saturdays.
Other large shopping centres nearby - Macquarie Centre, Castle Towers, Hornsby Westfield
Other large shopping centres nearby - Macquarie Centre, Castle Towers, Hornsby Westfield
Cinemas/Theatres: Cinemas at Hornsby, Macquarie Centre and Castle Hill.
Other Services: Fire station, community hall on Beecroft Road. Public libraries at Pennant Hills and Epping (both near the station).
Churches: A number of them, not sure which denominations.
Best Cafe: Michel's Patisserie, Beecroft Arcade in Hannah Street.
Best Pub/Bar: None in Beecroft unfortunately, so it has to be the Epping Hotel at 58 Beecroft Road, Epping. Nice food, night club downstairs. If you desperately have to go somewhere in Beecroft proper go to Beecroft Bowling Club on Copeland Road. Avoid Patricks at Pennant Hills. I think you can have a drink at the golf club also.
Best Pub/Bar: None in Beecroft unfortunately, so it has to be the Epping Hotel at 58 Beecroft Road, Epping. Nice food, night club downstairs. If you desperately have to go somewhere in Beecroft proper go to Beecroft Bowling Club on Copeland Road. Avoid Patricks at Pennant Hills. I think you can have a drink at the golf club also.
Best Takeaway: Carlingford Char Grill Chicken at 492 North Rocks Road, Carlingford; Beecroft Gourmet Chicken & Salad on Hannah Street, Beecroft
Best Pizza: Positano on Hannah Street, Beecroft (BYO)
Best Restaurant: Zenya Noodle Bar, 217 Rowe Street, Eastwood; Wok N Roll Noodle Bar, Carlingford Court; Eat Thai, Shop 9 Beecroft Arcade, Hannah Street, Beecroft (BYO)
Gyms: None, Fitness First at Carlingford Court or Pennant Hills, there is a Curves at Epping.
Parks and Recreation: Playgrounds next to the station, and in the Village Green on Beecroft Road. Pennant Hills Park off Brittania Street Pennant Hills has hockey, soccer, netball, tennis and archery fields. Smaller oval/playing fields in Cheltenham. Scattered pocket parks. Bushland abounds. Pennant Hills Golf Course off Copeland Road, Beecroft
Walking/Cycling: Bushland everywhere with both formal and informal paths suitable for walking and mountain biking. I can recommend the fire trails which start at the end of Day Road, Cheltenham and take you into the Lane Cove National Park. From here you can walk or ride to Pennant Hills (including Pennant Hills Park), Epping, Thornleigh and Wahroonga.
