Wentworth Point, New South Wales

Wentworth Point is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 15 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of City of Parramatta. It is on the western shore of Homebush Bay on the southern side of the Parramatta River.

Wentworth Point Sydney, New South Wales
View of recently completed and under construction apartment buildings in February 2018
Population	6,994 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	11,700/km^2 (30,200/sq mi)
Established	2009
Postcode(s)	2127
Area	0.6 km^2 (0.2 sq mi)
Location	15 km (9 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Parramatta
State electorate(s)	Electoral district of Parramatta
Federal Division(s)	Reid
Suburbs around Wentworth Point: Melrose Park Meadowbank Rhodes Newington Wentworth Point Concord West Lidcombe Sydney Olympic Park Liberty Grove

History

This suburb was once part of the suburb of Homebush Bay, named after Homebush Bay, the bay with a natural and artificial shoreline on the southern side of the Parramatta River. Homebush Bay is itself named after the nearby estate and suburb of Homebush, established in the 1800s by the colonies assistant surgeon D'Arcy Wentworth.[2] According to local government historian Michael Jones, "Wentworth is popularly credited with having called the area after his 'home in the bush', although Homebush is also a place in Kent."[3]

The northern part of the peninsula had been named Wentworth Point and gazetted in 1976.[4]

Industrial and commercial usage

Much of the modern suburb is reclaimed claimed, created by draining and filling in the northwestern shore of Homebush Bay. After it was reclaimed from the bay, Wentworth Point was used for a variety of industrial uses.

Notable businesses include Ralph Symonds, a plywood manufacturer, which used the river as a transport route for large logs, which were then moored in Homebush Bay while awaiting processing. Other activities have included McPhee Transport depot, the former Head Office and warehouse space for Hyundai Australia and a transmission tower for Sydney radio station 2GB.

de Havilland Marine (Large Craft) was located on the waters edge at Homebush Bay. Due to a lack of new business it closed its doors in 1982. In the years prior it manufactured various large aluminium craft for both the local and international market. These included Carpentaria Class Patrol Boats for Burma & the Solomon Islands, Titan Work Boats for the New South Wales government, and the hulls of the Nepean Bell which still operates on the Nepean River in NSW.

Residential development

Prior to the move of the Royal Agricultural Society showgrounds from Moore Park to Homebush (as the area of Sydney Olympic Park was then known), much of Wentworth Point was bought by Payce Consolidated Limited.

The waterfront residential area was renamed as the suburb of Wentworth Point on 2 October 2009[4][5] after the former Auburn Council sought public comment on a proposal to rename the suburb of Homebush Bay, to remove confusion with its namesake (but separate) suburb of Homebush. The area encompassing Sydney Olympic Park was given autonomy as a suburb. The Carter Street industrial precinct was absorbed by the neighbouring suburb of Lidcombe, and therefore the suburb of Homebush Bay ceased to exist.

Most of Wentworth Point is now zoned for medium to high density residential development. The new Wentworth Point Public School opened in 2018 and already has around 300 students.[6]

Commercial areas

Wentworth Point has some small shops, cafes and restaurants. A new super-neighbourhood shopping centre opened on 21 November 2018. Built by Australian developers, Billbergia, Marina Square at Wentworth Point[7] the centre has over 40 shops including a Coles supermarket.

NSW Maritime owns about 18 hectares of land at the northern end of the point. This land has been subject to proposals for marine related development including boat storage.[8]

Population

Main street through the centre of Wentworth Point

In the 2016 Census, there were 6,994 people in Wentworth Point. 36.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 14.8%, South Korea 7.3%, Azerbaijan 3%, India 2.5%, England 2.0% and Iran 1.9%. 37.2% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 15.2%, Korean 9.0%, Azerbaijani 6.7%, Cantonese 4.0%, Arabic 2.7% and Spanish 2.0%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 33.7% and Catholic 19.1%.[1]

Recreation

Cycle paths extend through Sydney Olympic Parklands used by cyclists, runners and walkers. The Bennelong Bridge creates a bay run or cycle loop. A shorter 6 kilometre loop through Bicentennial Park or a longer 12 kilometre loop through to Silverwater Bridge are available.

Kayaking, rowing and dragon boating can be seen inside Homebush Bay, but water access and boat storage facilities are limited. There is a recreation club in Wentworth Point which has an indoor heated pool, an outdoor recreational pool, gym and tennis courts. A wide range of other recreation facilities are available at nearby Sydney Olympic Park.

Transport

Bennelong Bridge serves as a pedestrian and bus only connection to Rhodes station

Wentworth Point is served by bus and ferry services. A light rail line is also proposed to run through the suburb.

The 526 bus services Wentworth Point from Burwood to Rhodes in both directions. The 533 bus services Wentworth Point from Chatswood to Olympic Park in both directions. An additional local shuttle bus started on 22 May 2016.[9][10]

Sydney Olympic Park ferry wharf is at the northern end of Wentworth Point and is served by Parramatta River ferry services. Regular services run to Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Parramatta. The wharf was upgraded to have two docks and faster transitions in 2015.

The 300-metre (984 ft) Bennelong Bridge across Homebush Bay opened in May 2016, making it easier for residents to access shops and the railway station at Rhodes.[11][12] The bridge roadway can only be used by buses and emergency service vehicles. The bridge also includes a pathway for cyclists and pedestrians.

Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail is a proposed light rail link between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park via Parramatta. The project would include the construction of a bridge across the Parramatta River, between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park.[13][14]

There are no train services to Wentworth Point; the closest stations are Rhodes and Olympic Park.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wentworth Point (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
2. Pollon, Frances, ed. (1990). The Book of Sydney Suburbs'. Australia: Angus & Robertson Publishers. p. 124. ISBN 0-207-14495-8.
3. Jones, Michael (1985). Oasis in the West: Strathfield's first hundred years. North Sydney: Allen & Unwin Australia. p. 15. ISBN 0-86861-407-6.
4. "Wentworth Point". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales.
5. New names for Auburn Suburbs Auburn City Council
6. "Brand new school for Wentworth Point" (Press release). Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
7. "Marina Square | Wentworth Point Shopping and Restaurants". marinasquare.com.au. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
8. "Department of Planning and Environment - Wentworth Point". www.planning.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
9. Bennelong Bridge was officially opened 22 May 2016 Bennelong Bridge connecting committee
10. "The Planning Process". www.homebushbaybridge.com.au. Bennelong Bridge connecting committee. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
11. "About the Bridge". www.homebushbaybridge.com.au. Bennelong Bridge connecting committee. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
12. A Bridge to Belonging Billbergia 3 September 2013
13. "Parramatta Light Rail to Sydney Olympic Park". Transport for NSW. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
14. Constance, Andrew. "We're planning light rail extension to Sydney Olympic Park to improve public transport for 1000's[sic] of event goers". Twitter. Retrieved 19 October 2017.