Neutral Bay, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neutral Bay Sydney, New South Wales
View from Bent Street
Population	10,488 (2016 census)
• Density	6,560/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2089
Area	1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi)
Location	1.5 km (1 mi) N of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	North Sydney Council
State electorate(s)	North Shore
Federal Division(s)	North Sydney, Warringah
Suburbs around Neutral Bay: Crows Nest Cammeray Cremorne North Sydney Neutral Bay Mosman Milsons Point Kirribilli Cremorne Point

Neutral Bay is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Neutral Bay is around 1.5 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council.

Neutral Bay takes its name from the bay on Sydney Harbour. Kurraba Point, formerly a locality in Neutral Bay, was declared a separate suburb in 2010, sharing the postcode 2089. Surrounding suburbs include North Sydney, Cammeray, Milsons Point, Cremorne and Cremorne Point.<mapframe latitude="-33.825364" longitude="151.180801" zoom="12" width="300" height="300" align="right"> { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ 151.21880507482277, -33.84184736960578 ] } } ] } </mapframe>

History

The name "Neutral Bay" originates from the time of the early colonial period of Australia, where different bays of Sydney harbour were zoned for different incoming vessels. This bay was where all foreign vessels would dock, hence the name neutral.

The Aboriginal name for the area was 'Wirra-birra'. In 1789, soon after the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney, Governor Arthur Phillip declared this bay a neutral harbour where foreign ships could anchor and take on water and supplies.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Neutral Bay and Cremorne were developing as "alternative society suburbs", populated by the kind of people who were attracted to the Arts and Crafts architectural style that was in vogue at the time. This style was an attempt to get away from mass production and give homes the "human touch". Notable examples soon appeared in the area. Brent Knowle, in Shellcove Road (now part of Kurraba Point), was designed by Bertrand James Waterhouse and built in 1914. It influenced home design in the area for at least the next fifteen years and has a state heritage listing.

A different style was used for The Cobbles (now in Kurraba Point), also in Shellcove Road. Designed by Peddle and Thorp and built in 1918, it made great use of natural stones and pebbles to achieve the desired look. It is an Australian interpretation of the California Bungalow style and has a state heritage listing. The Gables, in Spruson Street, was another Waterhouse design and was built in 1920. It was influenced by the "shingle style" which was brought to Sydney by Horbury Hunt, and featured prominent gables and extensive use of shingles. More Waterhouse designs appeared in Shellcove Road in the vicinity of The Cobbles and Brent Knowle (now in Kurraba Point). An outstanding example is Ailsa (now in Kurraba Point), which was designed by Waterhouse for Captain Robert Craig and built in 1908. It has a state heritage listing. Along with Keynsham (now in Kurraba Point), St Anne's (now in Kurraba Point), and Gundimaine House (now in Kurraba Point), these homes form a significant heritage group and have a state heritage listing.

Neutral Bay was also the home of the English-born children's author and painter May Gibbs, who lived for a time in Derry, a two-storey Federation home in Phillips Street. Afterwards, she moved to the home Nutcote in nearby Kurraba Point.

Transport

At the 2016 census, 39.2% of employed people travelled to work on public transport and 36.4% by car (either as driver or as passenger).

The Neutral Bay wharf sits at the end of Hayes Street and it is serviced by both public Neutral Bay ferry services and private ferries.

The Warringah Freeway runs along the western border of Neutral Bay, providing links south to the Sydney CBD and north to Chatswood. Military Road has been a prominent local electoral issue, due to issues relating to the heavy traffic congestion on the road.

Demographics

At the 2016 census, the suburb of Neutral Bay recorded a population of 10,488. Of these:

Parks and recreation

The Norths Pirates Junior Rugby Union Club is the local village Rugby Club, the former Club being known as Cambridge Bay Junior Rugby Union Club. This Club taking its name from Northbridge, Cammeray and Neutral Bay. The Pirates play home games at Tunks Park Cammeray and train at Primrose Park in Cremorne and Anderson Park.

The Neutral Bay Club is a tennis and bowls club, bistro and sports bar situated next to Ilbery Reserve in the centre of Neutral Bay. In continuous operation since 1882, it is one of the oldest licensed clubs in New South Wales. The club features four floodlit tennis courts, a floodlit bowling green surrounded by a heated deck, two function rooms and a members lounge. It runs teams of various levels in the Sydney tennis and bowls leagues.

Gallery

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  The Cobbles

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  Military Road shopping centre

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  Derry, home of May Gibbs before she lived at Nutcote

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  The Oaks Hotel

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  Brent Knowle

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  Ailsa

Notable residents

• Peter Fitzsimons-Journalist, TV and Radio presenter, former Rugby player
• Lisa Wilkinson (born 1959) – The Project co-host on the Ten Network