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Mount Colah
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TypeSuburbDetailsThe origin of the suburb's name is interesting. New South Wales was divided into counties for land administration purposes and the local county, including Sydney, was the County of Cumberland. In 1835, the County of Cumberland was divided into fifty-seven parishes. One of these parishes was 'North Colah', which included areas to the west of Galston Gorge and another was 'South Colah', which included the modern site of Hornsby and areas to the north. These names appear to have been borrowed from the notes of Surveyor Meehan, who used the word 'Coola' to name the district.
The source of the name is controversial. Some more recent suggestions have linked the name with 'koala' or Aboriginal words of that meaning. C. A. Irish, writing in 1927, stated that the word meant 'anger' and this view was supported by other researchers. The late John Powell, an authority on local place names, agrees with this origin and suggests that the name could have been applied because of the volcanic activity that had once affected the area.
The present site of Mt Colah railway station was chosen as the only platform between Hornsby and Berowra when the railway opened in 1887. The area had no specific name, so the parish name was applied, and the station became known as 'Colah'. The railway station at Mt Colah opened on July 1 1887, just a few months after the line had become operational.
Several early local residents had their mail erroneously delivered to the NSW town of Coolah, so when Hornsby Council was formed in 1906 the suburb name was finally changed to Mount Colah.
Mt Colah Corner Shops by Gwen Martin (Local Colour 2008 Vol.7 No.7 p. 35)
On the corner of Colah Road and Gray Street, there was a shop attached to a house and known by all the locals as Colah Cottage. The original owner of the business was Mr Paul, then it changed hands to a Mr and Mrs Stevens, then to Nolene Peters and finally reverted back to a house in the late 1960s. The local children would visit for their supply of lollies and the lemonade ice blocks. The story was that you just might find a threepence frozen in one of these rare iceblocks. (Can't say this happened too often!)
'Rubber Duckies', near the corner of Amaroo Road and Pacific Highway, is a corner shop that supplies the truck drivers and passing motorists with take away food. They are especially known for their hamburgers and chips. At one time, a Mr Cox owned the shop and he would deliver the bread to local homes in the area.
The General Store, on the Pacific Highway opposite the Mt Colah Railway Station, has operated since the 1950s, supplying the local population with various goods. Today it is known as Jim and Harry's and is a very popular shop for locals and passing motorists. They also make hamburgers and supply some grocery lines.
At 499 Pacific Highway (two doors north of Rupert Street), the front room of the house was for a short time in the 1950s, trading as a small shop which sold haberdashery supplies and a small selection of groceries. The house still stands and on a close inspection you can still see the unusual shape of the front windows - the entrance to the shop area was from the north side wall.
CreatorOur Bushland Shire (2021) p.171
The source of the name is controversial. Some more recent suggestions have linked the name with 'koala' or Aboriginal words of that meaning. C. A. Irish, writing in 1927, stated that the word meant 'anger' and this view was supported by other researchers. The late John Powell, an authority on local place names, agrees with this origin and suggests that the name could have been applied because of the volcanic activity that had once affected the area.
The present site of Mt Colah railway station was chosen as the only platform between Hornsby and Berowra when the railway opened in 1887. The area had no specific name, so the parish name was applied, and the station became known as 'Colah'. The railway station at Mt Colah opened on July 1 1887, just a few months after the line had become operational.
Several early local residents had their mail erroneously delivered to the NSW town of Coolah, so when Hornsby Council was formed in 1906 the suburb name was finally changed to Mount Colah.
Mt Colah Corner Shops by Gwen Martin (Local Colour 2008 Vol.7 No.7 p. 35)
On the corner of Colah Road and Gray Street, there was a shop attached to a house and known by all the locals as Colah Cottage. The original owner of the business was Mr Paul, then it changed hands to a Mr and Mrs Stevens, then to Nolene Peters and finally reverted back to a house in the late 1960s. The local children would visit for their supply of lollies and the lemonade ice blocks. The story was that you just might find a threepence frozen in one of these rare iceblocks. (Can't say this happened too often!)
'Rubber Duckies', near the corner of Amaroo Road and Pacific Highway, is a corner shop that supplies the truck drivers and passing motorists with take away food. They are especially known for their hamburgers and chips. At one time, a Mr Cox owned the shop and he would deliver the bread to local homes in the area.
The General Store, on the Pacific Highway opposite the Mt Colah Railway Station, has operated since the 1950s, supplying the local population with various goods. Today it is known as Jim and Harry's and is a very popular shop for locals and passing motorists. They also make hamburgers and supply some grocery lines.
At 499 Pacific Highway (two doors north of Rupert Street), the front room of the house was for a short time in the 1950s, trading as a small shop which sold haberdashery supplies and a small selection of groceries. The house still stands and on a close inspection you can still see the unusual shape of the front windows - the entrance to the shop area was from the north side wall.
CreatorOur Bushland Shire (2021) p.171
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Street
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LocationMount ColahGeotag[1]
Our Bushland Shire (2021) p.171, Mount Colah. Hornsby Shire, accessed 12/10/2024, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/4349