Hillview, 1334 Pacific Highway, Turramurra, was once a leader in community health.

Community public health outreach centres linked to hospitals are vital because they bring preventive care, health education, early intervention and ongoing support closer to where people live, reducing pressure on hospitals and helping people stay healthier and out of hospital.

Hillview has many plaques and memorabilia highlighting the important role it played in community health.

An interesting article below:

Extract from Hillview Bushwalkers “TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND PLEASURE
THROUGH WALKING AS A GROUP” by Don Woolley:

Hillview” is a heritage building on the Pacific Highway in Turramurra, just east of Kissing Point Road. It was built in 1913 by Edmund Paul, on land that had originally been owned by Thomas Boyd. Boyd received a 100 acre grant in 1832 after service in the Napoleonic wars with the Royal Veteran’s Corp. After cutting timber for use in the colony, Boyd planted an orchard there in 1845 and for many years the area was known as Boyd’s Orchard. His name survives in Boyd Street, which forms the rear boundary of the current property. The name “Hillview” was first applied in 1902 to a health resort built on some of this land, and operated by Mrs E. Burton.

Edmund Paul who was a prominent Sydney businessman (Managing Director of Schweppes, Chairman of APA Insurance, Board Member of Ampol) purchased some of the Hillview land together with some surrounding land. He took advantage of the prominence of the site at the top of the ridge and its proximity to the railway station (then known as Eastern Road Station) by building a high class boarding house. It is described in the Heritage and Conservation Register maintained by the Department of Roads and Maritime Services.

“…Paul also built a large two-storey building behind the original cottage. The new building which was oriented away from the street and towards the view provided all the facilities necessary for a quality guesthouse. These included a library, dining room, drawing room, breakfast room, morning room (parlour) and conservatory. A viewing platform over the front porch afforded spectacular views of Sydney.

The building boasted high-quality materials and finishes throughout, including marble columns in the entrance hall, quality joinery, hardware, plaster work, leadlight, fireplaces, and verandahs with detailed timber balustrades.”

The building was converted to flats in about 1926, but flats were regarded with suspicion by Ku-ring-gai Council because they threatened “not only the environmental quality of the suburb, but also its moral tone”. Thus it seems that the building was no longer so grand. It was purchased by Ku-ring-gai Council, but by 1977 it had become a white elephant, was in a rundown condition and had an uncertain future. Dr Tom Acheson, who was at the time the president of the Kissing Point Road Progress Association and who was a capable and persuasive administrator, convinced the NSW Health Department that an excellent use for the building would be as an “out-station” for Hornsby Hospital. The building was refurbished with funds raised by the combined Rotary Clubs of Ku-ring-gai, and converted for use as a regional health centre operated by Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital (North Sydney Health Region). This was a great improvement on other possible outcomes, such as demolition and replacement with houses, an office tower, or apartments for example. It was officially opened in 1978, but some services had commenced before this.

The site quickly became established and was operated as an important and useful provider of supplementary health services for many years. It is still (2016) being used to provide health services as part of Hornsby Kur-ring-gai Hospital, and lifestyle programs are still being delivered from the property.

The character of the original buildings can still be appreciated, although they are showing signs of neglect. The remains of a low stone wall with a low column bearing the Hillview name, behind a pair of elegant wrought iron gates standing on the northern side of the site just inside the boundary with the Pacific Highway, are reminders of a gracious past.

October 2026