Neutral Bay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neutral Bay Sydney, New South Wales
View from Bent Street
Neutral Bay Location in New South Wales
Population	10,090 (2021 census)
• Density	6,310/km2 (16,300/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 lovely suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 1.5 kilometers north of Sydney's city center. This area is part of the local government area of North Sydney Council.

Neutral Bay gets its name from the beautiful bay on Sydney Harbour. Kurraba Point, a nearby area, used to be part of Neutral Bay. It became its own suburb in 2010, but they both share the same postcode, 2089. Other suburbs nearby include North Sydney, Cammeray, and Cremorne. <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>

Neutral Bay's Past: A Look at Its History

The name "Neutral Bay" comes from the early days of Australia's settlement. Back then, different bays in Sydney Harbour were used for different ships. This particular bay was where all foreign ships could dock. This is why it was called "neutral."

The Aboriginal people called this area 'Wirra-birra'. In 1789, soon after the First Fleet arrived, Governor Arthur Phillip made this bay a "neutral harbour." This meant foreign ships could anchor here and get water and supplies. It was far enough from Sydney Cove to keep convicts from escaping and to keep any possible enemy ships away from the main settlement.

By the early 1900s, Neutral Bay and Cremorne became popular for people who liked the Arts and Crafts style of architecture. This style focused on handmade details instead of mass production. Many beautiful homes in this style were built here.

One famous resident was May Gibbs, an English-born children's author and painter. She lived for a while in a home called Derry on Phillips Street. Later, she moved to her famous home, Nutcote, in nearby Kurraba Point.

Neutral Bay was also home to a Royal Australian Navy base for submarines called HMAS Platypus (naval base). It operated from 1967 to 1999. During World War 2, the site was used for maintaining torpedoes.

Important Places: Heritage Listings

Neutral Bay has some special places that are protected because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites:

• 2 Hayes Street: Hastings (Neutral Bay)
• Yeo Street: St John's Uniting Church and Pipe Organ

Shopping and Fun: Commercial Area

The main shopping area in Neutral Bay is called Neutral Bay Junction. It's located along Military Road, which is a big road that goes through Neutral Bay, Cremorne, and Mosman. You'll find many shops, restaurants, and cafes here.

The Big Bear shopping center is a shopping mall with a supermarket and grocery stores. The local bus depot is also located behind the Big Bear.

The Oaks Hotel is a very well-known and popular spot. It's been a favorite meeting place in Sydney since 1885. The Oaks Hotel has several restaurants, bars, and a large beer garden with a huge, old oak tree as its main feature.

Getting Around: Transport in Neutral Bay

Many people in Neutral Bay use public transport to get to work. In 2016, about 39% of working people used public transport, while 36% drove a car.

The Neutral Bay ferry wharf is at the end of Hayes Street. You can catch public Neutral Bay ferry services and private ferries from here.

The Warringah Freeway runs along the western side of Neutral Bay. It connects the suburb to the Sydney CBD in the south and Chatswood in the north. Military Road can get very busy with traffic, which is a big topic for local discussions.

Famous Faces: Notable Residents

Neutral Bay has been home to several well-known people:

• Benjamin Boyd (1801–1851) – An entrepreneur and politician.
• Peter Fitzsimons – A journalist, TV and radio presenter, and former rugby player.
• May Gibbs (1877–1969) – A famous author and illustrator of children's books.
• Sir John McLaren (1871–1958) – A public servant.
• John Meillon (1934–1989) - A well-known actor.
• Lisa Wilkinson – A popular television presenter.

Who Lives Here? Demographics

At the 2016 census, Neutral Bay had a population of 10,488 people. Here's a quick look at who lives there:

• Age: Neutral Bay has a lot of young adults aged 25-34 (about 25.8% of the population). The average age of residents is 36 years. Children under 15 make up about 12.5% of the population.
• Where people are from: About 54.4% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include England (6.7%), New Zealand (3.1%), and China (2.6%).
• Languages: Most people (69.8%) speak only English at home. Other languages spoken include Mandarin, Japanese, Cantonese, Spanish, and French.
• Homes: Most homes in Neutral Bay (81%) are flats or apartments. The average household has 2 people.
• Work: About 72.1% of residents work full-time.

Learning and Education: Schools

• Neutral Bay Public School

Places of Worship

Neutral Bay has several places where people can worship:

• Cremorne Synagogue (Orthodox Jewish)
• St Augustine's Anglican Church
• St John's Uniting Church
• St Joseph's Catholic Church
• Spiritualist Church

Fun and Games: Parks and Recreation

The Norths Pirates Junior Rugby Union Club is the local rugby club for kids. They play their home games at Tunks Park in Cammeray and train at Primrose Park in Cremorne and Anderson Park.

The Neutral Bay Club is a tennis and bowls club. It's one of the oldest licensed clubs in New South Wales, operating since 1882! The club has tennis courts, a bowling green, function rooms, a bistro, and a sports bar. They have teams that play in Sydney's 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