Henley, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henley Sydney, New South Wales
Henley, view from Chiswick
Population	469 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2111
Location	9 km (6 mi) from CBD
LGA(s)	Municipality of Hunter's Hill
State electorate(s)	Lane Cove
Federal Division(s)	North Sydney
Suburbs around Henley: Gladesville Huntleys Cove Huntleys Point Gladesville Henley Huntleys Point Abbotsford Chiswick Drummoyne

Henley is a lovely suburb located on Sydney's Lower North Shore in New South Wales, Australia. It's about 9 kilometres west of the main city centre of Sydney. Henley is part of the Municipality of Hunter's Hill and sits right on the northern side of the beautiful Parramatta River.

History of Henley

First Peoples: The Wallumettagal

Before European settlers arrived, the land where Henley now stands was home to the Indigenous Wallumettagal people. They were part of the larger Eora nation. Their name comes from words meaning 'snapper fish' and 'way of water'. An early settler, Jules Joubert, noted that they called this area Moco Boula.

The Wallumettagal people first met European settlers in 1788. Sadly, by the late 1700s, many Indigenous people were no longer able to live in the area. This was due to a smallpox outbreak in 1789 and the arrival of more settlers.

In 1988, to honour the original inhabitants, a small bay in Henley was renamed 'Wallumatta Bay'. A special plaque was also placed there in 2002 to remember the Wallumettagal people.

European Settlement and the 19th Century

After European settlement, the land was given to Dr William Bland. He was a surgeon who had been sent to New South Wales. The area was first called 'Blandville' in his honour. Later, a colonist named John Williams used the land to grow fruits and vegetables.

In 1861, the Municipality of Hunter's Hill was created, and Blandville became part of it. The land was divided into smaller plots in 1866. Over the next few decades, it grew into a small community known as the 'Village of Blandville'.

A 1920 map of the World Sculling Championship course along the Parramatta River, showing the finish line at Blandville.

From the mid-1800s, the Parramatta River became a popular place for rowing races. The first race was held in 1858. A group of three rocks, known as the “Three Brothers”, became a common finish line for these events. The local Mercantile Rowing Club even set up training facilities here in 1874.

In 1888, an Australian rower named Henry Ernest Searle won the title of World Sculling Champion. He won against Peter Kemp at one of the Parramatta River races. When Henry Searle passed away a year later, a memorial was placed on the “Three Brothers” Rocks to remember him.

To help people travel, the first Gladesville Bridge was built across the Parramatta River. It opened in 1881, connecting Blandville and nearby areas to Drummoyne.

Because of its strong connection to rowing, local people asked the Council to rename the suburb. They wanted it named after Henley-on-Thames in England, which is famous for rowing. So, in 1895, 'Blandville' became 'Henley'. It was one of several suburbs along the Parramatta River named after places on the River Thames.

20th Century Development

The 20th century brought more changes to Henley. From 1908 to 1949, trams connected Henley to Sydney's tram network. These trams ran along Victoria Road. In 1920, a large public park called Gladesville Reserve was created. The Council set aside a big area of land in Henley for public fun.

In 1964, a new Gladesville Bridge opened in nearby Huntleys Point. The old bridge was then taken down.

People Living in Henley

According to the 2016 Census, there were 469 people living in Henley. Most people (70.1%) were born in Australia. Also, 66.6% of people spoke only English at home. The most common religions were Catholic (29.4%) and No Religion (25.6%).

Fun Places to Visit in Henley

Henley has several interesting places to check out:

• Gladesville Reserve: This is a big public park. It has playing fields, a basketball court, a skate park, and natural bushland.
• Henley Community Centre: This is a building run by the Council for events. It used to be a bowling club.
• Henley Green Community Garden: This is a community garden project. It's looked after by a local volunteer group called 'Happy Hens'.
• Henley Baths: This is a small park and was once a local swimming spot on the Parramatta River. However, the water quality isn't good enough for swimming anymore.
• The “Three Brothers” Rocks: These are three natural rocks in the Parramatta River. They disappear under the water at high tide. There's a memorial on them for Henry Ernest Searle, a famous 19th-century World Sculling Champion.
• Wallumatta Bay: This is a small bay off Gladesville Reserve. It's named after the local Indigenous Wallumettagal people.

You can also find some cool landmarks in nearby suburbs:

• Gladesville Hospital: This is an old mental hospital with a lot of history.
• Gladesville Bridge: This is a large concrete bridge that goes over the Parramatta River.

Learning in Henley

Henley has two early learning centres for younger children. These are Papilio Early Learning and Riverside Preschool.

For older students, nearby schools include Riverside Girls’ High School in Huntleys Point. There's also the Giant Steps Sydney special education school located at Gladesville Hospital.

Getting Around Henley

Henley is served by bus services that run along Victoria Road. These buses can take you to Sydney's city centre, as well as to West Ryde and Parramatta.

You can also catch a ferry from the nearby Huntley's Point ferry wharf. Ferries are a great way to travel along the Parramatta River ferry services.