Northbridge, New South Wales

Northbridge Sydney, New South Wales
Population	5,639 (2001 census)
• Density
Established	1837
Postcode(s)	2063
Area	2.71 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Location	7 km (4 mi) from CBD
LGA(s)	City of Willoughby
State electorate(s)	Willoughby
Federal division(s)	North Sydney
Suburbs around Northbridge: Willoughby East Castlecrag Seaforth Willoughby Northbridge |Mosman Naremburn Cammeray Cremorne

Bridge at Northbridge

Northbridge is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Northbridge is located 7 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council.

Northbridge is sandwiched between the suburbs of Cammeray, Castlecrag and Willoughby and has many large waterfront houses which overlook Sailors Bay and Middle Harbour on Port Jackson. Northbridge features a historic stone bridge.

History

Northbridge takes its name from the stone suspension bridge built in 1892, from Cammeray. It was constructed by a team of land developers at a cost of 100,000 pounds and originally known as North Sydney Bridge, but soon shortened to 'North Bridge'.

Aboriginal Culture

Before European settlement, Northbridge was part of an area controlled by the aboriginal tribe known as the Cammeraygals (of which Cammeray is named). Governor Phillip in a dispatch of 1790 reported: "...About the north-west part of this harbour there is a tribe which is mentioned as being very powerful, either from their numbers or the abilities of their chief. This district is called Cammerra, the head of the tribe is named Cammerragal, by which name the men of that tribe are distinguished. Of these Bands, we know more about the Cammeraygals. They are recorded as being a very powerful people and by far the most numerous. They were also the most robust and muscular and had the extraordinary privilege of extracting a tooth from the natives of other Bands and Tribes inhabiting the sea-coast." There are no surviving members of the tribe residing in the suburb.

European Settlement

The land where the suspension bridge was built belonged to Arthur Twemlow, a Sydney jeweller. In 1870 he built a two storey house called The Hermitage, on Fig Tree Point, from sandstone quarried on the estate. Transport was a problem in the early days and Tremlow had to sail through The Spit and around Middle Head to Circular Quay, from where he walked to his shop at Sydney Arcade.

Commercial Area

Northbridge Valley Plaza is a small shopping centre on Eastern Valley Way.

Churches

St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, At Marks Anglican Church, Northbridge Uniting Church.

Schools

St. Philip Neri Catholic School is a Catholic primary school in Northbridge founded in 1925 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Saint Josephites.

Sport and Recreation

Northbridge features an 18-hole harbour view golf course, a sailing club, a marina, salt water baths, a unisex scout hall, parks, ovals and local reserves. A local bike track has recently been built near Bond's Corner for extreme kids.

References

• The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8