Many of the boys came from the training ship Sobraon, which had been in Sydney Harbour before being condemned, as did former officer Basil Topple.

The village of about fifteen families, mostly workers at the training school, was first called Kendall Heights, then Penang Mountain.

According to the Geographical Names Board, Kariong means "meeting place" in the local Aboriginal language.

[2] Kariong's boundaries include a considerable section of the Brisbane Water National Park to the south, and the Mount Penang Parklands, with its native gardens.

Kariong is considered the entry point to the Central Coast as it borders the Pacific Motorway M1.