Northbridge, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northbridge Sydney, New South Wales
Long Gully Bridge as viewed from Northbridge
Population	6,493 (2021 census)
• Density	2,320/km2 (6,000/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 located on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 6 kilometres north of the main Sydney city centre. This leafy suburb is part of the City of Willoughby local government area. It's surrounded by bushland and sits near the northwestern banks of The Outpost, close to Middle Harbour.

Northbridge is known as a well-off suburb. Houses here can be quite expensive, with the average house price around $5.2 million as of April 2024. It's even home to one of Australia's most expensive streets, Hallstrom Close.

The famous Long Gully Bridge, which connects Northbridge to Cammeray, is a recognised symbol of the area. It was finished in January 1892. The suburb celebrated its 100th birthday in 2013!

History of Northbridge

Northbridge got its name from its location, which is north of a special sandstone bridge built in 1892. This bridge was built by a group of land developers and cost a lot of money back then – about A£42,000. It was first called the North Sydney Bridge.

The engineer who designed it was J. E. Coyle. The bridge has a unique style called Federation Gothic, with cool medieval designs. Today, it's known as the Long Gully Bridge.

The land where the bridge was built used to belong to William Twemlow, a jeweler from Sydney. He bought the land in 1868, thinking it wasn't worth much. But he changed his mind when he sold some of it to an English group who built the bridge.

Twemlow decided to build a two-storey house called The Hermitage on Fig Tree Point. It was made from sandstone from his own land. Since it was the first house in the area, getting around was tricky. Twemlow had to sail all the way around Middle Head to Circular Quay and then walk to his shop!

The Northbridge Post Office opened on 25 November 1920. After World War I, Northbridge grew a lot. Many new houses, roads, schools, and shops were built during the 1920s. Today, you can still see many beautiful Federation-style houses in the suburb.

Shopping and Food

Northbridge Map

Clock Dedication

Northbridge Plaza is the main shopping centre. It's located at the corner of Eastern Valley Way and Sailors Bay Road. Here, you'll find a Woolworths supermarket, grocery stores, a butcher, a bakery, a chemist, and other clothing and specialty shops.

Outside the plaza, along Sailors Bay Road, there are many cafes. You can grab breakfast, lunch, or a coffee there. There are also restaurants offering different types of food, like Indian, Thai, Japanese, and pizza. You can choose to eat in or take your food away.

Getting Around Northbridge

Several Busways bus routes connect Northbridge to the Sydney city centre. Routes 202, 203, 207, 208, and 209 travel through Northbridge via North Sydney. During busy times, routes 204, 205, and 206 also go to the city. CDC NSW also runs bus route 194 to Wynyard and Town Hall. A main bus stop is at the intersection of Strathallen Avenue and Sailors Bay Road.

In 2021, about 2% of people living in Northbridge used public transport for work. About 25% drove a car. Interestingly, a large number, 60% of employed people, worked from home!

Schools in Northbridge

Northbridge has several great schools for students:

• Northbridge Public School: This is the government primary school. It was founded in 1923 and has over 500 students. The school aims to provide the best education. It has even hosted important events, like the launch of the "Australian of the Year Awards" in 2003. The Crown Prince and Princess of Japan even visited by helicopter in 2005!
• St Philip Neri School: This is the suburb's Catholic school. It's located on the same site as the Catholic Church.
• Sydney Church of England Grammar School (SHORE): The playing fields and junior school for SHORE are located at the western end of Northbridge.

Parks and Recreation

Northbridge offers amazing views over Middle Harbour. Many parks along the harbour, like Clive, Elizabeth, and Hallstrom Parks, provide beautiful scenery.

• Elizabeth Park (Coolawin Road)
• Clive Park (Minimbah Road): This park has tables, harbour views, barbecue facilities, swings, and bathrooms.
• Hallstrom Point Park (Hallstrom Close)
• John Roche Playground (Roche Lane, off Woonona Road): This park has a playground and a junior bike track.
• Tunks Park (Brothers Avenue): Here you'll find barbecues, playing fields, a boat ramp, gym equipment, a playground, and bush tracks.
• Warners Park (The Outpost): This park has a playground, parking, barbecue, and a community garden.
• Northbridge Bike Skills Track (Sailors Bay Road): A fun bike track with two jump lines and a large berm.

War Memorial Clock.

Northbridge also has an 18-hole golf course with harbour views. There's a soccer club, a sailing club, a marina, and salt water baths. You can also find a scout hall, girl guides, tennis courts, and various local reserves. The Bond's Corner bike track was created by friends who wanted a good place for bike riders in the town. The nearby Willoughby Leisure Centre is also easy to reach.

Clubs and Societies

Northbridge has many clubs for different interests:

• Norths Pirates Junior Rugby Union Club is the local Rugby club for kids. Their home ground is Tunks Park, right below the famous bridge.
• Northbridge Sailing Club (NSC) is located on Middle Harbour. They hold races on Sundays and offer boat storage and a canteen.
• Northbridge Cricket Club (NCC) was founded in 1919, making it the oldest cricket club in the Northern Suburbs Cricket Association. They have many teams for different skill levels, focusing on fun and competition. The club also has social events for families.
• Northbridge Football Club
• Northbridge Netball Club
• The 1st Northbridge Scout Troop is located near the Northbridge oval.

Who Lives in Northbridge?

As of the 2021 census, Northbridge had a population of 6,493 people.

• The average age was 44 years. About 20.5% of the population were children under 15.
• Most people (67.4%) were born in Australia. Other common countries of birth included England, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Japan.
• English was the main language spoken at home by 76.5% of people. Other languages included Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Greek, and Armenian.
• Most homes (74.1%) were separate houses.
• About 0.3% of the population identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Famous People from Northbridge

Several well-known Australians have lived in Northbridge:

• Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian
• Federal politician Kylea Tink
• Former rugby league stars Laurie Daley and Jason Taylor
• Former Wallabies rugby player Phil Waugh
• News presenter and journalist Chris Reason
• Australian journalist Kathryn Robinson
• The composer Dulcie Holland and her husband, conductor Alan Bellhouse, lived in Kameruka Road.
• The businessman and generous helper, Edward Hallstrom, lived in a large house called 'Figtree House'.
• Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke lived in Northbridge until he passed away in 2019.