Northbridge, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northbridge Sydney, New South Wales
Long Gully Bridge as viewed from Northbridge
Population	6,347 (2016 census)
• Density	2,270/km2 (5,900/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2063
Elevation	91 m (299 ft)
Area	2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi)
Location	6 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

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 the City of Willoughby.

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

European settlement

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

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.

Transport

Bus routes 202, 203, 207, 208 and 209 from Bridge Street, in the Sydney CBD, travel through Northbridge via North Sydney. Peak hour bus routes 204, 205 and 206 operates to city via freeway instead. Forest Coach lines also operates bus route 194 to Wynyard and Town Hall via Warringah Freeway. 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.

Parks

Northbridge boasts a fine 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)
• Roche Playground (Roche Lane): 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 Bonds Corner bike track was designed and created by the 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.

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 mainland and Hong Kong 4.9%, 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%.
• 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.

Notable residents

Several notable Australians live in Northbridge including former 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 lived there. Former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke purchased a waterfront property in Northbridge shortly before the end of his tenure and resided there until his death in 2019.

Images for kids

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  Northbridge Map

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  Clock Dedication