the streets after running amok in his absence. In 1850, at a time when the combined population of Field of Mars Common and Castle Hill numbered fewer than 3,000 people, Henry Parkes approved, on behalf of the Board of National Education in New South Wales, the appointment of local patrons for the commencement of Pennant Hills Public School. Botany, Fort Street, Smithfield and Pennant Hills were the first metropolitan schools under the control of the newly constituted Board. The school first opened under the name of Pennant Hills Public School when the township of Pennant Hills was centred on the ridge at the intersection of Pennant Hills and Castle Hill Roads, which was a trading point on the way north. When the railway station line came through the area, a new school was built in 1925 closer to the railway station, to be known as 'Pennant Hills East'. West was added to the name of the original school and it became 'Pennant Hills West' and eventually the area around Thompsons Corner became known as West Pennant Hills. Pennant Hills Post Office opened on 1 January 1867 and was renamed West Pennant Hills on 1 August 1898, due to the Pennant Hills Railway Station office (opened two months earlier) being given the name Pennant Hills. West Pennant Hills was split off from Pennant Hills as a separate suburb on 23 August 1986. Parks and recreation Tourist attractions include the Cumberland State Forest and the Koala Park Sanctuary. Population At the , West Pennant Hills recorded a population of 16,374. Of these: The median age was 41 years. Children aged 0–14 years made up 18.5% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 15.4% of the population. 59.7% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were China 6.7%, India 3.6%, Hong Kong 3.5%, England 3.5% and Sri Lanka 1.9%. 63.0% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 8.5%, Cantonese 7.4%, Korean 2.2%, Hindi 2.2% and Arabic 1.4%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 25.0%, No Religion 24.2% and Anglican 15.8%. Notable people Len Beadell - explorer Dominic Perrottet - Premier of New South Wales Damien Tudehope - politician References External links Suburbs of Sydney The Hills Shire Hornsby Shire Populated places established in 1796