Hill Top

Hill Top is a Northern Village of the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. Previous names of the village include Hilltop and Jellore. It is a 17 km drive to Mittagong and around 10 km drive to the Hume Highway via Colo Vale. It is roughly 6–8 km to Yerrinbool as the crow flies. At the 2006 census, Hill Top had a population of 1,802 people.

History

It was formerly on the Main Southern Railway, until that line was deviated in 1919 to a less steep alignment with easier grades. The original line became the Picton Loop line, which closed in 1978. The remains of Hill Top station platform can still be seen.

Facilities

Hill Top has commercial facilities such as a bakery, chemist, general store, liquor store, real estate agent, fast food outlet and GP's surgery.

Community facilities include a post office, tennis courts, sporting fields, day-care centre, primary school, fire station, church and community hall.

It is home to the Southern Highlands Rifle Club's shooting range. In 2007, controversially, it was proposed that this range be extended 10 square kilometres on Crown Land near Hill Top into the Southern Highlands Regional Shooting Complex upon the government-proposed closure of the large ANZAC Rifle Range at Malabar Heads. However, it was met by strong opposition by local residents and councillors who were concerned about the noise, traffic and environmental effects it might have on the area due to the proposed complex being in close proximity to the residential area and water catchment area of Hill Top. The Southern Highlands News interviewed National Parks Association Chairman, Tony Hill who said that the range would create 'a toxic legacy that will go on for hundreds of years.'