West Ryde, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids West Ryde Sydney, New South Wales
West Ryde Marketplace
Population	13,171 (2021 census)
• Density	3,689/km2 (9,550/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2114
Elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Area	3.57 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Location	15 km (9 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Ryde
Region	Northern Sydney
State electorate(s)	Ryde
Federal Division(s)	Bennelong
Suburbs around West Ryde: Eastwood Denistone West Denistone Ermington West Ryde Denistone East Melrose Park Meadowbank Ryde

West Ryde pumping station, Victoria Road (1890)

Pumping station manager's home, Victoria Road

West Ryde is a busy suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's located about 16 kilometres north-west of the Sydney city centre. West Ryde is part of the City of Ryde area and is in the Northern Sydney region.

Even though they sound similar, Ryde, North Ryde, and East Ryde are all separate suburbs. West Ryde shares its postcode (2114) with nearby suburbs like Denistone, Denistone West, Meadowbank, and Melrose Park.

West Ryde: A Glimpse into its Past

West Ryde grew out of the older suburb of Ryde. Ryde got its name from a store owned by G.M. Pope, who named it after his hometown of Ryde on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom.

The City of Ryde is about 12 kilometres from the centre of Sydney. It sits between the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers. Two major roads, Victoria Road and Lane Cove Road, cross through it. Long ago, before Europeans arrived in 1788, the Wallumedegal people lived here. They were the traditional owners of the land and called it Wallumetta.

Early Land Owners

For much of the 1800s, most of the land in West Ryde was owned by a few important families. One of the first landowners was Dr William Balmain. He was a surgeon who came to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. He was given land in the 1790s.

Later, a family named Darvall bought a large amount of land. Major Edward Darvall and his family arrived in 1840. They bought land that stretched from Shaftsbury Road to Victoria Road, covering about 360 acres. They built a large house called Ryedale House in the 1850s. This house was later moved, stone by stone, to a new location far away!

The Railway Arrives

A big change came in the 1880s when the Main North railway line was built. This railway connected Strathfield to Hornsby. Landowners sold parts of their estates for the railway.

The Meadowbank Railway Bridge over the Parramatta River was finished in 1886. Soon after, a single railway line opened. Ryde (which is now called West Ryde) was one of the first stations on this new line. At first, these new stations were mainly for carrying goods, not for people travelling to work.

Over time, the Darvall family started selling off parts of their large estate. This led to new areas being developed for homes.

Naming West Ryde

For many years, the railway station in West Ryde was still called "Ryde Railway Station." This caused confusion because it was far from the original Ryde village. People wanted the name to change.

In 1926, the area was officially called a postal area, and it was named West Ryde. The local public school, which was called Meadowbank, also changed its name to West Ryde Public School in 1930. Finally, in October 1945, the railway station officially became West Ryde Station.

West Ryde grew into a busy shopping area around Victoria Road and the railway station. Shops started appearing after the railway opened in 1886. In the 1950s, a developer named Bill Graf helped build more than 40 new shops, banks, and restaurants, making West Ryde a major shopping hub.

The Big Water Pump

The Ryde Pumping Station is a very important building in West Ryde. It helps supply water to many suburbs in Northern Sydney. The first pumping station was built here in 1892.

In 1908, it started using steam turbines, which was a very new technology at the time for Australia! The current Ryde Pumping Station opened in 1921. Today, it runs on electricity and is the largest water pumping station in all of Australia. It makes sure many homes have fresh water.

Historic Places

West Ryde has some places that are listed for their historical importance:

• 135 Marsden Road: Riverview House, West Ryde
• Victoria Road: Ryde Pumping Station

Shops and Services

West Ryde has a lively shopping area near the West Ryde railway station. The Ryde Pumping Station is also nearby.

The West Ryde Marketplace is a good-sized shopping centre. It has a Woolworths supermarket, lots of specialty shops, and the West Ryde Public Library. Since it opened in 2005, it has become a popular place for people to shop. There is also a Coles supermarket in the area.

Getting Around West Ryde

West Ryde railway station is on the Main Northern line. This makes it easy to travel by train. There's also a bus stop right next to the station. You can catch buses like the 500N, 500X, 501, 523, 524, and 543.

In 2021, about 32.2% of people who worked in West Ryde drove to their jobs. About 9.2% used public transport like trains or buses.

Homes in West Ryde

The types of homes in West Ryde are changing. More and more people are living in apartments or units. In 2021, about 46.3% of homes were flats, units, or apartments. About 41.5% were separate houses, and 11.1% were semi-detached homes like townhouses. The average household had 2.5 people living in it.

West Ryde has some very old buildings, including Addington, which is one of the oldest surviving houses in Australia. Many homes in the suburb show different Australian architectural styles. You can see Federation houses, Californian Bungalows, and houses from the 1930s and 1960s. There are also many red-brick apartment buildings.

In the past, West Ryde had many factories, especially near Meadowbank. But now, many of these factories are being replaced by new apartments. These new homes often have great views of the Parramatta River and Sydney Olympic Park. This means the suburb is becoming more modern and popular.

Who Lives in West Ryde?

In 2021, West Ryde had a population of 13,171 people. Here's a quick look at who lives there:

• Age: The average age of people in West Ryde was 37 years old. This is similar to the national average. About 16.7% of the population were children aged 0–14 years.
• Background: About 44.7% of people were born in Australia. Other common countries of birth included China (10.6%), South Korea (6.1%), India (5.3%), and the Philippines (3.3%).
• Languages: While 41.7% of people spoke only English at home, many other languages are spoken. These include Mandarin (12.3%), Cantonese (7.2%), and Korean (7.3%).
• Beliefs: The most common responses for religion were No Religion (33.6%), Catholic (23.6%), and Hinduism (7.1%).
• Income: The average weekly household income in West Ryde was $1,983. This is higher than the national average.
• Living Together: Most households (69.0%) were family households. About 26.6% were single-person households.

Famous Faces

• Jed Gillespie, a rugby union player, is from West Ryde.

Images for kids

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  Ryedale Road shops

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  West Ryde library

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  The West Ryde hotel

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  Ryde Eastwood leagues club

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  Victoria Road shops

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  Victoria Road

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  West Ryde pumping station

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  Miniature railway ride at West Ryde in 2007