It is located 16 kilometres (10 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council.

More than 100 years ago remnants of a tribe of aboriginal people periodically travelled from the Lane Cove River to Cowan Creek and always broke their journey at what came to be called Wright's Hill, near Pymble Reservoir, or just north of it.

[citation needed] The traditional owners called this place Turramurra or Turraburra (not to be confused with Turramburra, the native name for the Lane Cove River).

One of the early local landmarks was Ingleholme, a two-storey Federation Queen Anne home in Boomerang Street.

[8] St Andrew's in Kissing Point Road is an example of the Federation Carpenter Gothic style.

Later, the owner realised the commercial potential of the site, with its sweeping views, and built a grand, two-storey Federation home at the rear, to be used as a guesthouse, circa 1913.

The estate was later leased out to Ku Ring Gai Hospital, Hornsby, to be used as the Hillview Community Health Centre.

[12] The world-famous guest house, "Cooinoo" was situated on Kissing Point Road, only 300m from the Turramurra train station.

It was 6 acres with a two story Edwardian-style brick house and exterior cottages to accommodate about 60 guests and a large live-in staff.

CDC NSW buses run services from the railway station to local residential areas and schools.

This shopping precinct includes real-estate agents, fruit-markets, banks, bakeries, a musical instrument store, petrol station, Turramurra Arcade.

Street renovations were completed in late 2013 and opened by Ku Ring Gai Mayor Jennifer Anderson during the annual community fair.

There are shops at South Turramurra on Kissing Point Road including a hairdresser, IGA supermarket, cafe, pizza restaurant, chemist, bakery, post office, BP petrol station and other services.

There is also a shopping village in North Turramurra on Bobbin Head Road which has an IGA supermarket, bakery, post office, newsagent and other facilities.

There is a proposal currently underway for a Harris Farm market to be constructed at 105 Eastern Road (the site of GDR automotives) and part of the adjoining nursery.

South Turramurra is bordered by Lane Cove National Park start of the Great North Walk.