History of Galston

Shire of Hornsby Location: 36 kilometres north-west of Sydney on Galston Road

A delightful semi-rural suburb at the northern edge of Sydney, Galston was originally known as Upper Dural. It was first settled in the early years of the last century, when it was an area of orchards. In 1886, when the local school (pictured above) was built, Alex Hutchinson suggested that the small hamlet, about 3 kilometres north of Dural, should have a change of name to give it an identity of its own. He named it Galston, after a Scottish town near Kilmamock, an area famous for its coal output.

In spite of some building development, Galston has managed to retain its serenity and peaceful atmosphere. Rumours disturbing this peace circulated in 1973 when a government proposal to put Sydney's second international airport in the area became public. Fortunately from the residents' point of view - nothing came of it. A road that winds its way through the steep Galston Gorge (see Homsby) connects the suburb with Homsby to the cast.

Reference: The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled & Edited by Frances Pollon, published by Angus & Robertson Publishers 1988