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Hills District, Sydney NSW


Riekie

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Hi all prospective Hillies! After living in the Hills for the past 17 months I'd like to share all I know (from my own experience & perspective) of life in the Hills:

In short, The Hills is a fast growing, family friendly area in the Northwest of Sydney, some 30 km's away form the CBD. It has everything you can think of to have a happy balanced, affordable life - schools (public, private, catholic, christian, grammer....), churches (Hillsong, Sydney Afrikaanse Kerk, Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Assembly of God, Latter-Day Saints, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist.....), hospitals (including the famous Westmead Children's hospital), medical centres, sports clubs, huge & modern shopping centres, bowling, ice skating, movies, restaurants, outdoor climbing centre, putt-putt, grass-carting, paintball, playland, parks, bushlands & reserves.... too much to mention!

These are the most popular suburbs in The Hills, with their postcode in brackets, followed by the distance & travel time - on a normal day - to the CBD:

Mid Dural (2158) 40km - 34 mins

Dural (2158) 33km - 29 mins

Baulkham Hills (2153) 33km - 27 mins

Annangrove (2156) 44km - 36 mins

Kenthurst (2156) 42km - 34 mins)

Glenhaven (2156) 33km - 29kms

Cherrybrook (2126) 30km - 26 mins (So many South Africans there, it was renamed: Kersiefontein!! :ph34r: )

Castle Hill (2154) 32km - 28 mins

Kellyville (2155) 38km - 34 mins

Bella Vista (2153) 39km - 31mins

West Pennant Hills (2125) 29km - 29 mins

Pennant Hills (2120) 26km - 23 mins

Westleigh (2120) 30km - 28mins

Thornleigh (2120) 28km - 25 mins

The Hills area's major means of access is on the M2 motorway which you'd travel on for most of your journey. (The M2 has toll of $3.80 one way).

There is a train system to the Eastern & Southern sides of the Hills, but not one IN the Hills (although it is planned). However, you'll be on average about 8 km's away from the nearest station which you can either reach by car (free parking at stations), taxi ($2.75 admin fee + $1.65 per km) or bus. A Train ticket to the CBD would cost you on average $4.30 one way (cheaper for pensioners & children, also cheaper if you buy a week/month ticket).

If you want to check out the property in The Hills (to buy or to rent) go to www.realestate.com.au or www.domain.com.au and enter the name or the postal code for the suburb. If you make use of the Domain website, you can get more details of a suburb profile once you've clicked on any listed property. The suburb profile will give you a breakdown of the make-up of that suburb i.e. age group, nationality, income, religion etc.

If I have to generalise, the suburbs could be grouped into older, new/modern and rural, although some suburbs have a mix. To knock down a house and build another one on a property is no strange affair and you'll find a street with older houses and suddenly one big modern house right in the middle of it! If you like a more rural property with larger plots of land, you'll find that in Annangrove, Kenthurst and Mid Dural. If you like new & modern, you'll find it in Cherrybrook, Kellyville, Dural, Bella Vista. Most part of Baulkham Hills & Caslte Hill is older and the rest is a mix of everything.

The Hills is an area where the kids walk to school, spend their afternoons at the local park, shopping centre or public pool and people taking their dogs for walks in the park at dusk. You'll find people jogging, cycling, skateboarding on the many pathways through the parks & suburbs and moms with prams power-walking late morning. There's always people in the streets and in the parks. On a Sunday, you'll find many families in the parks having their Sunday lunch or a barbie on one of the free to use gas BBQ's. One of the things that struck me most about this area is that you see so many families together - everyone: dad, mom, kids, grandparents. You see old people on the streets and in the shopping centres and many families with disabled children - all part of daily life in the local community.

Although we don't have a beach (just 30 minutes away from one..... :ilikeit: ) we appreciate the life we have in The Hills and are considering settling here permanently. Life is not as rushed and as expensive but you're still only a stone-throw away from all the action.

I hope this gives a bit of an insider's perspective and if anyone needs any info specific to the Hills area, give me a shout - if I don't know, I'll find out!! (Or someone else might jump in - seeing as there's so many of us here! :wacko: )

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Guest Seoul Sister

Hi Riekie,

:ilikeit::ph34r:

Thank you so much for all the effort you have gone to with the detailed and informative piece. Could you please tell me of the Private Elementary Schools (pref. Christian) in the area *I already know of Pacific Hills, which you were kind enough to tell me about, http://www.phcs.nsw.edu.au/ * I was wondering if you could please tell me what your closest beach is called. Are there also South African hairdressers/doctors/dentists or other specialists in the area (seeing as it is 'when we'- country ?) :huh:

Thanks for your fantastic help !

Love

Seoul Sister

:wacko:

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Hi again SS,

Other Christian Schools in or near The Hills:

www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au Anglican Christian School for Girls

www.barker.nsw.edu.au Anglican Christian School

www.roseville.nsw.edu.au Anglican Christian School for Girls

www.wahroongaprep.nsw.edu.au Uniting Church of Australia Christian School

Our nearest beach is Curl-Curl but all the Northern Beaches are almost equally away.

These are: Manly, Shelly Beach Freshwater, Dee-Why, Collaroy & Narabeen. We usually

go to either Curl-Curl or Freshwater. Shelly Beach is a protected cove with magnificent

snorkling - another favourite spot!

On the photo, you can see from the left: Manly Beach, Freshwater Beach & Curl Curl Beach. (The rest follow further down that same strip of beaches). The Photo was taken from the Northern side of Manly North Head.

I haven't come across any South African hairdressers, doctors or dentists, but I believe there is a South African Doctor in St Ives (got the detail somewhere, must just dig it out for you!) I'm sure there are quite a few, but that I just did not realise it in my dealings with them at the time. If they don't have an obvious Afrikaans Surname it is difficult to tell.

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There are a few SA doctors in St Ives 0 also have the detail somewhere. There's also an SA dentist in Parramatta. Hairdressers - haven't found anyone yet. Gimme time :ilikeit:

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Hi Riekie,

:D:D

Thank you so much for all the effort you have gone to with the detailed and informative piece. Could you please tell me of the Private Elementary Schools (pref. Christian) in the area *I already know of Pacific Hills, which you were kind enough to tell me about, http://www.phcs.nsw.edu.au/ * I was wondering if you could please tell me what your closest beach is called. Are there also South African hairdressers/doctors/dentists or other specialists in the area (seeing as it is 'when we'- country ?) ;)

Thanks for your fantastic help !

Love

Seoul Sister

:D

Hi there

In St Ives almost everyone is South African or married to a South African and there is a South African doctor in Stanley Street. The butcher in Stanley Street is also operated by South Africans and sells SA goodies, Nik Naks, Gem Squash etc. The bottle store in the St Ives Village Centre is run by a South African as is Franklins which is part of the Pick n Pay group. Ribs and Rump in Manly is also run by a South African.

As far as hairdressers go I have found a Aussie lady who works from home, shes really reasonable and she knows all the goings on in the area (as most hairdresses do I suppose). Shes filled me in on the schools, building regulations and the whos who, I can't wait for my next appointment. :D

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Guest Seoul Sister

Hi there,

Thanks for all the info ! St. Ives seems to be the place to be... It has popped-up on many a Hills discussion. How long is the drive from Kellyville or Cherrybrook to St Ives ? Your hairdresser sounds like an absolute winner !! :D INFO CENTRAL ! The way I like 'em. Might please need more specific info from you, if you don't mind, sa2auz, in the *maybe* not too distant future... :D

*phew* Look at the time ! I'm off to bed. ;)

Love from here

SS

:holy:

O koek !! Sorry about that. :D I must be more asleep than I realized.

Sorry gals !!

THANKS SO MUCH to everyone for the valuable input ! Thanks Riekie, the beaches look fab and I will have a look at the schools, thanks Ajay, thanks sa2auz !

I'm off, chat some more 2morrow.

Love

SS

:D

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I could def recommend St Ives General Medical Practice. :ilikeit: Most of the doctors are all female been with them since we arrive in the country. 0294495999

St Ives General Medical Practice

341 Mona Vale Road

St Ives

NSW 2075

Australia

Favourite female doctors:

Dr Been ( female) ex-South African

Dr Chee ( female) (Australian)

Dr Karabelnik ( female) ex-South African

Dr Lee (male)

etc.

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Sonnetjie, thanks for that! :ilikeit:

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Hi there,

Thanks for all the info ! St. Ives seems to be the place to be... It has popped-up on many a Hills discussion. How long is the drive from Kellyville or Cherrybrook to St Ives ? Your hairdresser sounds like an absolute winner !! :ilikeit: INFO CENTRAL ! The way I like 'em. Might please need more specific info from you, if you don't mind, sa2auz, in the *maybe* not too distant future... :whome:

*phew* Look at the time ! I'm off to bed. :yawn:

Love from here

SS

:)

O koek !! Sorry about that. :blush: I must be more asleep than I realized.

Sorry gals !!

THANKS SO MUCH to everyone for the valuable input ! Thanks Riekie, the beaches look fab and I will have a look at the schools, thanks Ajay, thanks sa2auz !

I'm off, chat some more 2morrow.

Love

SS

:sleep1:

Hi SS

St Ives is about 30 minutes from The Hills. I love the area, 20 minutes to the beach, 25 minutes on the train to the city, trains every 4 or 5 minutes at peak times, big trees, lots of hills, brilliant schools. The Hills is a newer area, less South Africans and bigger homes, well better value for money. But I still love St Ives. :ilikeit:

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Guest Seoul Sister

Hey there,

Thanks for all the answers. :ilikeit: How does it work in Oz ? If you have private medical cover, are you still zoned for seeing doctors ? *this is the way it worked in Holland* or can I travel from Kellyville/Cherrybrook/Bella Vista and go and see one of the doctors that sonnetjie mentioned ? Also want to know whether there is a good hospital in The Hills area with an ER.

It sure would be DANDY to see a SAffer doctor again !! :ilikeit:

Love

SS

:sleep1:

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Have a look at http://www.sah.org.au/default.asp

I personally prefer the SAN (Sydney Adventist Hospital) :ilikeit: it is a Private Hospital very popular maternity hospital on the North Shore. Probably about 20 min drive from St Ives depends where you living. A number of ex- South African doctors practice at the hospital. There are so many Ex –SA doctors in Australia if you only wanted to see ex-SA doctors you would easily be able to see one for all your different body parts and then still pick and choose amongst them.

As far as I know you can see any GP you like and you don’t have to stay in the area to be able to attend the doc you like. You do need a referral though from your GP if you want to see a specialist.

The public hospitals :ilikeit: are good, but I prefer the personal attention that you get at the private hospital.

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Guest Seoul Sister

Hi sonnetjie,

:(

Great. Thanks for the info ! Are there also nice areas (affordable, big houses, safe, family-friendly, good schools, etc) to the south of Sydney, or are the nice areas concentrated to the North ?

Love

SS

:)

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Hi Seoul Sis,

I personally won't look at Sydney's south. I'm saying this based on what I hear and see on the news. It seems like there is more crime there than in the northern and north western areas - my perception.

Cheers

SAS

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I agree - don't go South and don't go Inner-West

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Guest Seoul Sister

Oh ok, Thanks for the warning - :)

So North / North-West it will be. I was starting to wonder, since you never hear anybody saying anything about the South. I had a look at the schools Riekie was so kind to post and really liked the Waroonga Prep school (Christian school), does anyone have any personal experience with them, or know of other Saffers who have their kids there ? I also saw some really nice rental houses in a suburb called French Forest (something in that line). Is this a nice area and reasonably close to everything ? I looked on a map, and it looks far from the railway... Sorry for all of the questions... :( Will have to have a thank you braai if/when we arrive.

Love

SS

;)

Edited by Seoul Sister
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I have worked in various hospitals in Sydney.

The SAN: very good and recommended Lots of South African Doctors/nurses. Very good Intensive Care and Maternity unit. Very nice interior. Lots of parking.

St George Private Hospital: Highly recommended. Lots of specialist Care: maternity unit excellent. St George is in the Eastern Parts of Sydney - Kogurah. Also Kareena private hospital - more south. Parking very expensive - $20 per day.

Strathfield Private hospital and Baulkham Hills Private (The Hills Private): Same group of hospitals, Maternity and Pediatric Specialists very good. Interior a bit of disappointment, but the care is good. Lots of South-African Doctors and nursing staff. Parking a real problem.

South Western Private Hospital: Located in the heart of Liverpool: Excellent Maternity unit. Most of Mount Annan and Nerallen's Mums go there. Macarthur Private is located in Campbelltown (very small hospital, but the care excellent. Parking a real problem.

Neppean Private Hospital: Excellent Specialist Care. Lots of parking.

Westmead Private Hospital: Excellent Specialist Care and Maternity unit. Parking a real problem.

North Shore Private: Excellent Care, lots of parking but a bit pricy. Maternity and ICU excellent.

THEN COMES THE PUBLIC HOSPITALS:

Most of the public hospitals is overcrowded, big waiting lists. But, the care is excellent and most of the Specialist/pediatric care is fantastic. What you hear on the news usually is isolated cases, totally blown out of perportion. I prefer to work in the Public Sector, because the patient care ratio is less than in Private hospitals. You get more time to spend with your patients. Because it is usually training Hospitals, there is lots of Medical students and it gets annoying to be so overcrowded. Hospitals is not quite environment friendly and parking is expensive. But if you have Medicare, this is the best way to go. For Free. Long waiting lists for simple surgical invations, except if it's an emergency.

The Public Hospitals I can Recommend from better to worse is:

Northshore Public

St George Public

RPA (Royal Prince Alfred)

Campbelltown Hospital

Prince of Wales hospital

Neppean Public Hospital (Penrith)

Blacktown Hospital

Hornsby Hospital

Sydney Hospital

Mater Misericordiae Hospital

Bankstown Hospital

Fairfield Hospital

Westmead Hospital

Mount Druitt Hospital

Liverpool Hospital

Westmead Children's Hospital is the best if there is any problems with the kids and the care is excellent. Westmead Hospital and Liverpool Hospital is like a maze and it is hard to find your way around.

Kind Regards

Madelein

Edited by Madelein
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Frenchs Forest is a nice area much closer to the ocean! It's very close to St Ives and there are quite a number of South Africans there too. It's a bit more expensive (renting a house) and there is no railway line close. The traffic to the city is hectic in peak hour (from what I hear). We drive through Frenchs Forest every time we go to the beach and it does seem like a very nice area. ;)

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Guest Seoul Sister

Hi Madelein, (First had a quick check how to spell your name, so hope you don't mind me calling you Maddy next time ;) )

Thanks very much for the trouble you went to with this fantastic list and detailed explanation ! I think SAN is my first choice. :ilikeit: Do you perhaps know of any good internists (Saffer if possible) at any of the private hospitals ?

Thanks Riekie,

It does seem nice, just wonder how many goggas and snakes are housed in those BIG TREES !! :o I am already on the Gogga alert... ;):D:P

Love

SS

:ilikeit:

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Hi Seoul Sis,

Don't worry about the goggas and snakes - you'll get used to them and be able to recognise the dangerous ones. In Sydney there are lots and LOTS of bush and BIG trees all over!

..... lots of goggas, but I haven't come across lots of snakes. We live in the bush very close to the creek. Must admit, I don't go bush walking and I'm very cautious of walking where it is a bit over grown. I don't like snakes!

I've read that living in Australia means you are never more than 500 metres at any one point in time away from a snake! This is of course a generalisation.

Cheers

SAS

Edited by SASydneysider
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Last Sunday, after we did some gardening and sprayed all the weeds, the cat was running after a spider in the kitchen. We first thought nothing about it, but the cat eventually stayed back. Real aggressive spider and after spraying it with Mortein we''ve caught it. Next day I took it to the ED departement I had a shift with, looked up on the spider chart and we found it to be a male Funnel Web. Must have been wondering around in the house for a while without us noticing! Yuk! Quite an ugly one...

http://www.termite.com/spider-identification.html

As for Internists in the Sydney area that works privately, I cannot reccommend anyone. In Aus they are called Intensivists and most of them usually work in the Public sector before they start their own bussiness. I only know Dr Mark Herman - cardiologist that resides in the Strathfield area and he is excellent. Most of the Saffies goes to him. Strathfield Private has a good Cardiology and ICU department.

Most of the Private Hospitals has a 24/7 Intensivist on duty, should you have any problems that needs attention.

Pediatrist: Dr Des Cohen (in Aus now for 13 years) operates in the Hills, Blacktown and Westmead area.

I will keep you updated whenever I meet SA doctors that has their private practice.

Kind Regards

Madelein

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Madelein

Two SA doctors you can add to your list:

Dr Auriel Jamerson 51 Palmerston Rd Hornsby 2077 (02) 9477 6746 Auriel is an endocrinologist. Been to her a number of times think she is great. You always know where you stand with her.

Dr Norman Blumenthal 9621 5399 is an ex SA doc he is an obstetrician 4 of my girlfriends have had their babies with him and they rave about him. Have not tried his services personally.

Dr David Brian Jones ;) (he is Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist phone 02 9482 1862 fax 02 9476 4612 Suite 103, 10 Edgeworth David Avenue Hornsby 2077 not an SA doctor but an excellent Doc been very happy with him, would recommend him any day.

Edited by sonnetjie
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Guest Seoul Sister

Hi Sassy, Maddy and sonnetjie,

Thanks so much for the interesting and informative responses. :blink: 500 meters away from a snake... :o I have to be honest, a loft in the centre of the city, on the 3 or 4 floor with no garden is starting to sound better all the time !! :D I am not good around goggas, and snakes aren't much better. :ph34r: But if our forefathers could get on a ship to Dark Africa, an unknown continent teeming with all kinds of wild animals and survived it, then I suppose I will be ok. At least we have death in a can these days. :lol: *phew* Maddy, had a look at the picture of your Funnel web spider, SCARY stuff !!

I have a severe allergy to NSAIDS (Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and have found that if I can combine an Intensivist ( thanks for the correct Ozzie term) a good GP and a really savvy pharmacist I am safe. I prefer to have one specialist that understands the condition, not that I need to see them on a regular basis, just to have around for when the paw-paw and the fan collide. I have gone into anaphylactic shock twice, first time nearly ended up in a coma, what a scary experience ! :) I was lucky that I had a specialist on standby in ER and she was very quick to figure things out ! Do they perhaps have other doctors in Oz who treat severe chemical allergies or are they also handled by internists like in SA ? I do wear my medic alert bracelet and am registered with them, I have been advised to update my registration to Aus/US upon arrival.

Thanks again. By the looks of things, we could start a Saffer directory of all of the nurses, doctors and specialists in and around Northern Sydney. :)

Love

SS

:)

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  • 3 weeks later...

Another South African GP that is really popular is Dr Wilfred Millen 9477 1277 he is based in Hornsby. I have some family members that have been going to him for donkey’s of years. He is a great doc ,but I prefer a female.

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  • 1 month later...

HI guys.

I have arrived recently from England, but previously from Boksburg in Gauteng. Now living in Bella Vista in the hills.

Do you girls ever have get togethers or coffee mornings, as it's pretty lonley here not knowing anyone and leaving all my good friends behind?

Good informative info on the hills Riekie!

Take care

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Jip, we do get together every now & then - maybe not always by arranging it through the forum and not always everyone. I've PM'd you to arrange to meet up with you. Anyone else wants to join us?

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