Mortlake, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mortlake Sydney, New South Wales
Mortlake Punt
Population	1,954 (2021 census)
• Density	9,800/km2 (25,000/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2137
Elevation	14 m (46 ft)
Area	0.2 km2 (0.1 sq mi)
Location	10 km (6 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Canada Bay
State electorate(s)	Drummoyne
Federal Division(s)	Reid
Suburbs around Mortlake: Rhodes Putney Tennyson Point Concord West Mortlake Breakfast Point Concord Concord Cabarita

Mortlake is a suburb located in the Inner West area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 10 kilometres west of the main city centre. Mortlake is part of the City of Canada Bay, which is a local government area.

Getting Around Mortlake

Mortlake is on the southern side of the Parramatta River. It is famous for being the home of the southern end of the Mortlake Ferry. This ferry is also known as the Putney Punt. It is the last working cable ferry service left in Sydney!

You can also catch bus route 464 from Mortlake. This bus takes you to Ashfield railway station.

Mortlake's Past

Mortlake has a long and interesting history.

How Mortlake Got Its Name

Originally, this area was called Bottle Point. The name Mortlake comes from a place called Mortlake in London, England. That Mortlake is also by a river, the Thames. The Parramatta River in Sydney was often called the 'Thames of the Antipodes' (meaning the opposite side of the world). Because of this, other nearby suburbs were also named after places along the Thames, like Greenwich, Woolwich, and Putney.

The Gas Works Story

Mortlake was once known for a very large gas works. This was run by the Australian Gas Light Company (AGL). They bought land here in 1883. Big ships called colliers would bring coal from places like Newcastle to the gas works' wharf.

In 1964, a new Gladesville Bridge was opened. It replaced an older bridge that had a part that swung open. This swinging part had to open every time large ships needed to pass through.

The gas works eventually closed down. The land was then turned into a new housing area called Breakfast Point. Since 1993, Breakfast Point has been its own separate suburb.

Mortlake During World War II

During World War II, there was a place called the Green Point Naval Boatyard in Mortlake. Here, they put together special boats called Fairmile B motor launches. These boats were used by the navy.

Old Tram Lines

Until 1948, an electric tramway connected Mortlake to other suburbs. You could travel south to places like Burwood, Enfield, and Ashfield by tram.

People of Mortlake

In the 2016 Census, there were 1,063 people living in Mortlake. Most people, about 59.5%, were born in Australia. Also, 56.7% of people spoke only English at home. When it came to religion, the most common answers were Catholic (32.7%) and No Religion (24.2%).

Images for kids

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  Wangal Reserve

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  Hilly Street townhouses