Killara

For the river in Victoria known as Killara, see Darlot Creek.

Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Killara
Sydney, New South Wales

Residential home, Springdale Road, Killara

Population| 10,620 (2021 census)[1]
• Density| 2,181/km2 (5,648/sq mi)
Established| 1821
Postcode(s)| 2071
Elevation| 120 m (394 ft)
Area| 4.87 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Time zone| AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)| AEDT (UTC+11)
Location| 14 km (9 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)| Ku-ring-gai Council
State electorate(s)| Davidson
Federal division(s)| Bradfield
| Suburbs around Killara:

Gordon | Gordon | East Killara
West Pymble | Killara | East Lindfield
Macquarie Park | Lindfield | Lindfield

Killara (/kɪlɑːrə/) is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Killara is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Killara is a separate suburb and West Killara is a locality within Killara.

## History

[edit]

Killara is an Aboriginal word meaning permanent or always there.[2] The name of the suburb was chosen when the railway line opened in 1899. James George Edwards was a representative of the people who requested a station be built here. The suburb was established as a "Gentlemen's suburb", designed so that there would be no commercial ventures in the area. For this reason, the suburb has very few shops in the original development.[2]

Killara Post Office opened on 7 November 1904.[3]

Following World War I, Sydney experienced significant suburban expansion. Killara, previously a semi-rural area, began to develop more as a residential suburb during the interwar years. The suburb became gradually popular with middle and upper-middle-class families seeking a peaceful environment away from the bustling city. In the 1920s and 1930s, property development increased, as did the construction of grand homes in styles of Federation and California Bungalow, reflecting the growing affluence of the period. Killara's picturesque setting, for its proximity to national parks and relatively large plots of land, made it a pleasant location for those seeking an affluent, suburban lifestyle.[citation needed]

Killara later became the home of the architect Harry Seidler, whose home—designed by him and his wife Penelope in the 1960s—can still be seen in Kalang Avenue. It is sometimes known as Killara House and sometimes as Harry and Penelope Seidler House. The couple moved into the house on Harry Seidler's birthday in 1967. The garden contains a sculpture by the Los Angeles sculptor Eric Orr. The house is heritage-listed.[4]

Marian Street Theatre played a significant role in the cultural life of the North Shore. The theatre is temporarily closed for renovation works since 2013, and a proposal was passed by the local council to redevelop the site into a multipurpose arts and cultural facility.[5][6]

## Heritage listings

[edit]

Killara has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

* 13 Kalang Avenue: Harry and Penelope Seidler House[7]
* 1 Werona Avenue: Woodlands, Killara[8]

## Transport

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Killara is home to a train station that connects to the T1 and T9 lines for routes to Berowra via Gordon, City via Gordon on the T1 or routes through North Shore via City on the T9.[9]

The Pacific Highway is the main road thoroughfare through Killara.

CDC NSW operates two bus routes through Killara:

* 556: Lindfield to East Killara[10]

* 565: Chatswood to Macquarie University via Roseville, Lindfield and Macquarie Park[11]

## Development

[edit]

The Swain Gardens were donated to Ku-ring-gai Council by Mr Swain, a Sydney bookseller, in the 1920s, and are today maintained by the council and volunteers. The gardens have been listed by the National Trust of Australia.[citation needed]

### Schools

[edit]

Killara is served by two public primary schools, Killara Public School and Beaumont Road Public School.[12] The suburb is also home to Killara High School, one of the highest performing non-selective government secondary school in New South Wales.[13][14] A short-lived private school in Killara, Abbotsholme College, counted two future prime ministers[which?] among its pupils.[15][16]

* Greengate Hotel, Pacific Highway

* Killara Uniting Church designed by Carlyle Greenwell

* St Martin's Anglican Church

Killara is also home to some child care centres, including Handprints Pre School and Child Care.[17]

### Churches

[edit]

Churches in the suburb include St Martin's Anglican Church and Killara Uniting Church (formerly Killara Congregational Church) on Karranga Avenue.[citation needed]

### Clubs

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Killara has recreational sport centres including Killara lawn tennis club[18] and Killara golf club,[19] which is ranked in the top 100 golf courses in Australia and picturesque views to the Blue Mountains has attracted golfers.

### Commercial

[edit]

Commercial developments are located along the Pacific Highway, including the Greengate Hotel,[20] Beacon Lighting, Poolwerx, and Killara hotel. Residents usually travel to nearby suburbs of Gordon, Macquarie Park and Chatswood for regular shopping.

## Residential style

[edit]

The majority of residential properties are built in the Federation and Californian Bungalow styles, although the suburb includes many other styles.

The Harry and Penelope Seidler House at 13 Kalang Avenue was designed by Harry and Penelope Seidler. The 1960s-era modern-design home, constructed with reinforced masonry walls, concrete floors and roof, rubble-stone retaining walls and fireplace, won the Wilkinson Award in 1967.

* Federation house, Arnold Street

* Federation bungalow, Northcote Avenue

* Arts and crafts house, Arnold Street

* Tudor revival house, Arnold Street

* Tudor revival house, Stanhope Road

* Neoclassical (post-war) house, Stanhope Road

* Federation revival house, Springdale Road

* Contemporary home, Kylie Avenue

* Modern house (c. 2005), Arnold Street

* Old English house common within the area

* The home of architect Harry Seidler in Kalang Avenue

## Politics

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For federal elections, Killara lies in the electorate of Bradfield, currently represented by Nicolette Boele. For state elections, Killara falls under the state electoral district of Davidson. The member for Davidson is Matt Cross. In terms of local government, Killara is part of the Ku-ring-gai municipal council.

## Demographics

[edit]

Rosetta Avenue

In the 2021 Australian census, the total population of Killara was 10,620 people; 48.1 percent were male and 51.9 percent were female. 50.6% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were China 13.8%, England 4.3%, Hong Kong 4.0%, South Korea 2.7% and India 2.2%. 56.1% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 17.3%, Cantonese 7.8%, Korean 3.4%, Hindi 1.1%, and Japanese 1.0%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 43.4%, Catholic 15.4% and Anglican 12.5%, Of persons aged 15 years and over, 57.4% were married, 29.0% never married, 5.5% widowed, 6.2% divorced, and 1.8% separated.[1]

The median weekly personal income was $1,117, compared with $805 nationally. The median weekly household income was $2,802, compared with $1,746 nationally. The median weekly family income was $3,294, compared with $2,120 nationally.[1]

At the 2021 census, 54.7% of occupied private dwellings were separate houses and 42.6% were flat or apartments. The average household size was 2.8 people.[1]

## Notable residents

[edit]

* John Alexander OAM MP\- Tennis champion and former Federal Member for Bennelong
* Robert Alan Crook – electrical engineer, owner of Alan Crook Electrical manufacturers
* Kim Gamble – children's book illustrator and artist
* Carlyle Greenwell – Architect, philanthropist and designer of Killara Uniting Church and many, now heritage listed, houses[21][22][23][24]
* Peter Jackson – boxer, British Commonwealth and Heavyweight champion
* David Koch, an Australian financial analyst, television presenter and host of Sunrise on the Seven Network
* Elle Macpherson – grew up in Killara and also attended the local high school, Killara High School
* Harry Messel – head of the School of Physics at Sydney University, Australian Atomic Energy Commission (1975-1981), Chancellor of Bond University (1992-1997)
* Charles Scrivener – surveyor
* Penelope Seidler – architect
* Ethel Turner – author of Seven Little Australians, lived on a large property now known as Kiamala Crescent

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Killara (NSW)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
2. ^ a b The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 136
3. ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
4. ^ "Heritage". NSW Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
5. ^ "Marian Street Theatre ". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
6. ^ "Curtain Set To Rise Again At Marian Street Theatre". Ku-ring-gai Living. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
7. ^ "Harry and Penelope Seidler House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01793. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
8. ^ "Woodlands". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01762. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
9. ^ "Killara Station". transportnsw.info. Culworth Ave, Killara. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
10. ^ "Lindfield to East Killara (Loop Service)". moovitapp.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
11. ^ "Chatswood to Macquarie University". moovitapp.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
12. ^ "You live and learn". Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
13. ^ "Outstanding HSC Results for Killara High School Students".
14. ^ "Literacy push sends results through roof". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 December 2010.
15. ^ Tom Frame (2005). The Life and Death of Harold Holt. Allen & Unwin. p. 4.
16. ^ Don Whitington (1972). Twelfth Man?. The Jacaranda Press. p. 144.
17. ^ "Childcare & Preschool in Killara 2071". Handprints Early Learning Centres & Preschool. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
18. ^ "Killara Lawn Tennis Club | Tennis North Shore Sydney". Retrieved 9 June 2023.
19. ^ "Home".
20. ^ "Greengate Hotel – Heart of the North Shore". Greengate Hotel. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
21. ^ 21 Lorne Avenue, Killara State Heritage Register
22. ^ 5 Locksley Avenue, Killara State Heritage Register
23. ^ 8 Nyora Street, Killara State Heritage Register
24. ^ 7.4 Woodlands 1 Werona Avenue Killara Heritage Council of NSW Meeting 7 June 2006 page 6

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Killara, New South Wales.

* Zeny Edwards and Joan Rowland (2008). "Killara". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 27 September 2015. [CC-By-SA]
* Ailsa McPherson (2012). "Marian Street Theatre, Community Theatre and Northside Theatre". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 10 October 2015.

33°46′07″S 151°09′48″E﻿ / ﻿33.76864°S 151.16347°E﻿ / -33.76864; 151.16347

* v
* t
* e

Suburbs and localities of Ku-ring-gai Council, North Shore, Sydney

Suburbs|

* East Killara
* East Lindfield
* Gordon
* Killara
* Lindfield
* North Turramurra
* North Wahroonga
* Pymble
* Roseville
* Roseville Chase
* South Turramurra
* St Ives
* St Ives Chase
* Turramurra
* Wahroonga
* Warrawee
* West Pymble

Localities|

* East Gordon
* East Turramurra
* West Killara

Former suburbs|

* Bradfield

List of Sydney suburbs
*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template