Northbridge, New South Wales

Northbridge is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located 6 kilometres north of the Sydney Central Business District, in the local government area of Willoughby.

Northbridge
Sydney, New South Wales
Suspension Bridge as viewed from Northbridge
Population6,347 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density2,270/km2 (5,870/sq mi)
Postcode(s)2063
Area2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi)
Location6 km (4 mi) north of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)City of Willoughby
State electorate(s)Willoughby
Federal Division(s)North Sydney
Suburbs around Northbridge:
Willoughby Castlecrag Seaforth
Naremburn Northbridge Mosman
Crows Nest Cammeray Cremorne

The Suspension Bridge, linking the suburb to Cammeray, has become a recognised symbol of Northbridge, completed in January 1892 and purchased by the state government in 1912.

The suburb celebrated its centenary in 2013.

History

Northbridge took its name from its location, north of a sandstone suspension bridge built in 1892. The bridge was constructed by a team of land developers at a cost of A£42,000 and originally known as North Sydney Bridge.[2] The engineer responsible for the construction was J. E. Coyle and the style was Federation Gothic, with medieval motifs as "unexpected embellishments".[3] It has been known as the Northbridge and Cammeray Suspension Bridge but is now called the Long Gully Bridge.[4]

The land where the suspension bridge was built belonged to William Twemlow, a Sydney jeweller. In 1868 he purchased the land extending from Fig Tree Point to the head of Long Bay, (now Northbridge). He initially regarded the land as valueless but changed his mind when he made a handsome profit by selling some of it to an English syndicate who built the suspension bridge. Twemlow decided to build a two storey home called The Hermitage, on Fig Tree Point, from sandstone quarried on the estate, which took a year to cut. As this was the first house built in this locality, transport was a problem and Twemlow had to sail through The Spit and around Middle Head to Circular Quay, from where he walked to his shop at Sydney Arcade.

Northbridge Post Office opened on 25 November 1920.[5]

Commercial area
Northbridge Map
Clock Dedication

Northbridge Plaza is a shopping centre owned by AMP Capital. It is located on the corner of Eastern Valley Way and Sailors Bay Road, and it features a Woolworths supermarket, banks, groceries, a butchery, a bakery, a chemist, and a range of specialty shops.

Northbridge is also home to several cafes and wine stores, including those at Bond's Corner (voted Australia's best wine store 2013 and 2014). Bond's Corner is a heritage listed building.

Transport

Bus routes 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208 and 209 from Wynyard, in the Sydney CBD, travel through Northbridge. A bus stop is located at the major intersection between Strathallen Avenue and Sailors Bay Road.

At the 2011 census, 22% of employed people travelled to work on public transport and 52% by car (either as driver or as passenger).

Community

The Northbridge Progress Association Incorporated (NPA) is a non-profit community organisation that has been representing the residents of Northbridge since November 1919. Today, the NPA’s activities remain focused on preserving our open space and family-friendly facilities. The newsletter of the NPA is named The 202 (after the local bus route) and is published quarterly and delivered free to all residents, by a voluntary team.

Churches

Schools
  • Northbridge Public School: Northbridge's government primary school, 'committed to the provision of the highest quality education'.[6] Founded in 1923, the school has a population of over 500, and has hosted events of national significance including the launch of the "Australian of the Year Awards" 2003 and a helicopter visit from the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan in 2005.
  • St Philip Neri School: the suburb's Catholic school, part of the Broken Bay Diocese. The school is on the same site as the Catholic Church.
  • Sydney Church of England Grammar School (SHORE): the school's playing fields and preparatory school are located at the westernmost end of Northbridge.

Parks

Northbridge has a vantage point over Middle Harbour with the harbourside parks (Clive, Elizabeth And Hallstrom Parks) all offering great views.

  • Elizabeth Park (Coolawin Road)
  • Clive Park (Minimbah Road): with tables, harbour views, barbecue facilities, swings, and bathroom facilities.
  • Hallstrom Point Park (Hallstrom Close)
  • John Roche Playground (Roche Lane, off Woonona Road): playground, junior bike track
  • Tunks Park (Brothers Avenue): barbecues, playing fields, boat ramp, gym equipment, playground, bush tracks, extensive parking.
  • Warners Park (Jack McLure Place): shelters, playground, bowling club, parking
  • Northbridge Bike Skills Track (Sailors Bay Road): A small bike track with two jump lines and a large berm.
War Memorial Clock.

Northbridge features an 18-hole harbour view golf course, soccer club, sailing club, marina, salt water baths, scout hall, girl guides, tennis courts, parks, ovals, local reserves and bike track. The Bond's Corner bike track was designed and created by a group of friends who believed Northbridge needed an area that appealed to the increasing bike riding population of the town. The nearby Willoughby Leisure Centre is easily accessible through Small Street or a nearby track.

Clubs and societies
  • Norths Pirates Junior Rugby Union Club is the local village Rugby Club, the former Club being known as Cambridge Bay. This Club taking its name from Northbridge, Cammeray and Neutral Bay. The Pirates home ground is located at Tunks Park which is below the famous bridge.
  • Northbridge Sailing Club (NSC) faces Middle Harbour and can be accessed through Minimbah Road. Partnered with Seaforth Sailing Club, races are held on Sundays. The club offers boat storage, a canteen and a launching pontoon.
  • Northbridge Cricket Club (NCC) founded in 1919, is the oldest surviving cricket club in the Northern Suburbs Cricket Association (NCSA). Fielding 6 teams in 2017-18 across a number of grades and caters for players of various abilities, with the emphasis on competition, participation and enjoyment. NCC has raised a potential player base of 150 people who regularly play cricket for the club. Off the field the club has an active social calendar and regularly hold social events for all the family. In 2018/19 the club celebrated its centenary season.
  • Northbridge Football Club
  • Northbridge Netball Club

Demographics

As of the 2016 census, the suburb of Northbridge recorded a population of 6,347. Of these:

  • The median age was 42 years, compared to the national median of 38 years, children aged under 15 years made up 22.4% of the population (national average is 18.7%) and people aged 65 years and over made up 18.4% of the population (national average is 15.8%).
  • More than two-thirds (67.8%) were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 5.3%, China 3.0%, Hong Kong 1.9%, Japan 1.9% and New Zealand 1.8%.
  • 78.1% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 3.6%, Cantonese 3.4% and Japanese 2.2%.
  • The most common responses for religion were No Religion 29.4%, Catholic 28.3% and Anglican 19.2%.
  • The median household weekly income was $3,344, more than double the national median of $1,486.
  • Of occupied private dwellings in Northbridge 76.6% were separate houses, 14.2% were flats or apartments and 8.3% were semi-detached. The average household size was 3 people.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 0.1% of the population of Northbridge.[1]

Notable residents

Several notable Australians live in Northbridge including NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, former rugby league champions Laurie Daley and Jason Taylor, former Wallabies player Phil Waugh, Seven News presenter and journalist Chris Reason and Australian journalist Kathryn Robinson.

The composer Dulcie Holland[7] and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke both lived in Northbridge.

gollark: I want pmOS on my ancient Android 4 tablet, but alas.
gollark: It's 24/7, by the way.
gollark: It can also analyze what you *watch*, obviously.
gollark: Well, perhaps you should.
gollark: YAY FAST TYPING

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Northbridge (NSW) (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  2. Pollon, Frances, ed. (1990). The Book of Sydney Suburbs. Australia: Angus & Robertson. p. 188. ISBN 0-207-14495-8.
  3. Apperly (1994). A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture. Angus and Robertson. p. 120.
  4. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectssydney/long_gully/index.html
  5. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  6. "Northbridge Public School | Home". www.northbridg-p.schools.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  7. "BELLHOUSE, Dulcie Sybil". itsanhonour.gov.au. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
Tunks Park
  • , Local council website
  • Northbidge Sailing Club Website
  • North Pirates Rugby
  • Northbridge Cricket Club

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