Hillsdale is located 9 kilometers south east of the Sydney central business district; it is in the local government area of the City of Botany Bay. Hillsdale was a part of the suburb of Matraville until the 1960′s. Matraville had originally been reserved for the Church and Schools Corporation with any income generated intended to support the teachers and clergy. In 1917 it reverted back to crown land and was allocated as a settlement for the soldiers returning from world war one. The suburb was split between Botany and Randwick councils.
In 1961 Botany Council decided to rename its portion Hillsdale in honour of Patrick Darcy Hills who was the New South Wales minister for local government. Hillsdale is a low-density residential suburb with no high rise buildings. There is a small shopping complex with commercial and residential space called Southpoint. Hillsdale is surrounded by the suburbs of Maroubra, Banksmeadow, Matraville and Eastgardens.