enrolments at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales were discussed in the early 1960s due to Thornleigh being "Central to the Northern Line and the North Shore", however, the university was eventually established in the suburb of Macquarie Park and is now known as Macquarie University. Transport Thornleigh railway station is on the Northern Line of the Sydney Trains network. Pennant Hills Road is part of the National Highway, and is one of Sydney's major thoroughfares. The Esplanade from Pennant Hills is a main road accessing Thornleigh to Normanhurst. The Comenarra Parkway is an arterial road that stretches from Thornleigh through to West Pymble via Wahroonga, Turramurra and South Turramurra. Bus services from the Transdev NSW Upper North Shore service include: 587 - Hornsby to Westleigh via Waitara and Normanhurst 588 - Hornsby to Normanhurst West via Normanhurst service 589 - Hornsby to Sydney Adventist Hospital via Waitara, Normanhurst, Woodlands Estate and Thornleigh. Commercial areas Thornleigh contains industrial and commercial areas. Thornleigh Marketplace containing a supermarket and speciality stores was constructed in 2005 and includes: Australia Post Office, bakeries, butchers, hair and nail salons, pharmacy, newsagency, gym, sushi bar, cafes, optometrist and Woolworths. Shops and restaurants are located around Thornleigh railway station and nearby Pennant Hills. The household hardware chain Bunnings Warehouse have a store located next to Pennant Hills Road. American multinational fast food restaurant chain McDonald's have their Australian headquarters and flagship store in Thornleigh. Churches St George Maronite Catholic Church Thornleigh Community Baptist Church Thornleigh Hillcrest Uniting Church Chinese Australian Baptist Church Thornleigh Seventh-day Adventist Church (Pennant Hills) Northridge Vineyard Church Schools Thornleigh West Public School is a primary school (K-6, Public). Normanhurst West Public School (K-6, Public) at the corner of Sefton and Dartford Road. Thornleigh Public and Infants Schools were demolished in the 1980s and a Bunnings hardware now sits in its place. Population and demographics At the , the population of Thornleigh in 2016 was 8,464 people. Of these: Age distribution The distribution of ages in Thornleigh was very similar to the country as a whole. Thornleigh residents' median age was 39 years, compared to the national median of 38. Children aged under 15 years made up 21% of the population, national average was 19% and people aged 65 years and over made up 14% of the population, national average was 14%. Ethnic diversity 63.5% of Thornleigh residents were