melbal35

Anyone able to give any info on Hornsby? Considering it as a 'possible' area to move to - with a 7 and 4 year old in tow. What are the schools like? Do you have to be in a 'catchment' area to get into the school of your choice? Basically any info on what it's like as an area, both pros and cons welcomed. Thanks!

joho

Not sure what Hornsby is like to live in, but it has a lovely shopping mall. Its about 30-45 mins on the train to CBD depending which train you catch.

Jo

arkon

We stayed in hornsby for about a month, very nice, good shops with a westfield in the town. Nice town center, people freindly and the place is clean. A fair way from the coast still and very hot in summer. We used the maternity services there to start with and that experience was very poor with lost results and records, mis information etc. I don't think this is particular to Hornsby though. I would put Hornsby high on the places to live if you must live in or near Sydney.

jjonboy

we live there now and like it. for families with kids though i'd be looking at hornsby heights as well... more family orientated. but generally hornsby is a good safe spot with plenty of amenities.

try renting first but i doubt you'd hate it

arkon

Oh I need to add if you've got dogs it might not be such a good place. Its very dog unfriendly both from the perspective of where to take them and the little creatures that seem to really like Hornsby. Hornsby is a hot bed of activity for the Paralysis tick and if you've got dogs its a question of when they get them and not if they get them. Also there are a lot of leeches in that area too. Obviously I don't mean the CBD but the houses are all very much in and around the edge of the bush. We took 3 dogs for a walk, 2 were ours and when we got back our too were covered in lyches and it looked like a blood bath. The other dog had 2 paralysis ticks on its head! This was around december time.

melbal35

thanks for the info....

Any idea how long it would take to drive to the coast and also Hornsby Heights has been suggested, how far away is that from Hornsby train station into CBD?

As Hornsby is on the train line I take it it is easy to get home from CBD late at night... any views?

Banksia

http://www.cityrail.info/timetable/t...&day=wd&dir=up You can also catch inter-urbans from the central coast which go via the main northern line. These trains terminate at Central (fewer stops). Check out the Night Rider bus.
www.131500.com.au is another transport site.

base_sydney

We are living in Hornsby fo last 4 months. I'd whole heartedly recommend this place.

Good points:

1. Clean
2. mostly professional people
3. westfield is quite big
4. hornsby station is one of the big ones in North Shore Line
5. several national parks nearby
6. family friendly

hornsby heights is 5-8 mins drive from the station. on couple of occasions, my wife came back home quite late at night using the train, she never had any problem

Wahroonga Boy

Hornsby and the surrounding areas are great. 90 mins to get to the Hunter valley, 20 mins to get to Brooklyn and the nearest ocean beach is 35 mins. Bush is nearby, long walks down by Berowra waters and the national park. The only downside seems to be public secondary schools. They appear to be mostly fee paying with only a couple of good non fee paying schools.

Getting back late at night is fine. Just be prepared for a long journey. One night I was heading home and the trains had been replaced with busses. Took about 2 hours to get home.

It is a great place for families,

melbal35

It's all sounding good for Hornsby so far...can anyone offer any advice on (state) preschools/primary schools in the area? Are they any good? Any schools recommended in particular? Do you have to be in a 'catchment' zone to get into the school of your choice? And how did those with kids find they adjusted to the move/new school/home etc?
Think that's it for now - thanks for all the help!