Double Bay

Double Bay Sydney,New South Wales
Double Bay ferry wharf
Population	4,709 (SAL2021)
Postcode(s)	2028
Elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Area	0.79 km2(0.3 sq mi)
Location	4 km (2 mi) E ofSydney CBD
LGA(s)	Woollahra Council
State electorate(s)	Vaucluse
Federal division(s)	Wentworth
Suburbsaround Double Bay: Port Jackson Darling Point Double Bay Point Piper Edgecliff Woollahra Bellevue Hill

Double Bayis a harboursideeasternsuburbofSydney,in the state ofNew South Wales,Australia4 kilometres east of theSydney central business district.It is the administrative centre of thelocal government areaof theMunicipality of Woollahra.

Double Bay takes its name from the bay ofSydney Harbourand refers to the two geographical formations betweenPoint PiperandDarling Point,which are interrupted by a miniature point in between. The eastern part is also known as Blackburn Cove. It has some of the most expensive real-estate in Australia and is colloquially often referred to as "Double Pay", a term coined due to the high income of people living there, and the nature of the shopping area which features high-end fashion labels.

History

Charles Amos Messenger – Champion Sculler of Victoria, Australia and pioneer boatbuilder of Double Bay

Double Bay developed soon after initial European settlement in 1788. In the early years of the colony, Double Bay was used as shelter for fishermen who would regularly fish around the harbour. Farming mostly cattle and lettuce a farm had developed and by 1814 it had increased to envelop the valleys leading into Woollahra, Bondi Junction, Bellevue Hill, andPoint Piper.

Charles Amos Messengerbecame the sculling champion of Victoria on 1 July 1878, Rowing Champion of New Zealand in 1881, and a contender for the sculling championship of the world in 1887. Charles Amos also established the first boatshed on Sydney Harbour atBalmain,from where it was later transferred by flotation to Double Bay. The early life of Double Bay revolved around the Messenger boatshed.

Charles Amos was the father of rugby league and rugby union playerDally Messenger,andWally Messenger,who also played Rugby League for Australia. From their boatshed the Messenger brothers would row people across Sydney Harbour, includingWilliam Bede Dalley,the acting premier of New South Wales in 1885, who owned a castle in Manly.

Dally Messenger 1908 Civic Reception Scroll. It contains the words "When we review the names of the Athletic Champions produced by New South Wales in the cricket, rowing, swimming and bo xing world we feel that no name has added more glory to the fame of our country than your own".

Heritage listings

Double Bay has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Cross Street:Double Bay Compressed Air Ejector Station
• 11 Gladswood Gardens:Gladswood House
• 337–347 New South Head Road:Overthorpe (Double Bay)
• 560 New South Head Road:Fairwater (Double Bay)
• 4 and 6 Wiston Gardens, Double Bay:Houses

Demographics

According to the2021 census,there were 4,709 residents in Double Bay. 60.6% of people were born in Australia; the next most common countries of birth includedEngland6.0%,South Africa3.8%,New Zealand2.8%,China(excludingSpecial Administrative RegionsandTaiwan) 2.0%, andthe United States of America1.6%. 79.2% of people only spokeEnglishat home; the next most common languages at home includedMandarin2.3%,Spanish1.4%,Cantonese1.3%,French1.2%, andItalian1.1%. The most common ancestries in Double Bay includedEnglish32.1%,Australian24.4%,Irish13.4%,Scottish9.2%, andChinese5.8%. The most common responses for religion wereNo Religion37.4%,Catholic19.5%,Judaism13.9%, andAnglican14.7%; a further 6.1% of respondents elected not to disclose their religion.

Average household income was about $3,077 compared to $1,746 nationally, personal income was $1,662 compared to $805 nationally, and family income was $4,250 compared to $2,120 nationally. The median rent in this area was $720, and the average monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000. The majority of dwellings in this area wereflats or apartmentsat 76.6% followed byseparate housesat 13.4%,semi-detached,row orterrace houses,townhousesetc at 8.9%, and all other dwellings at 1.0%.

Commercial area

The commercial area runs alongNew South Head Roadand extends along surrounding streets of Knox Street, Cross Street and Bay Street. It features hotels and shopping, restaurants, supermarkets, offices and coffee shops.

Transport

Double Bay features aferry wharfforDouble Bay ferry serviceswith regular services toCircular QuayandDarling Point.Bus services operate via New South Head Road toBondi Junction,Watsons Bayand theCity.The closest railway station isEdgecliffon New South Head Road.

Sport and recreation

Double Bay's former residents includeDally Messenger,one of the most famousRugby leagueplayers of all time who was born, raised, and lived most of his life in Double Bay. He attended Double Bay primary school and became a local celebrity in the first half of the 20th century.

Gallery

• 
  Knox Street
• 
  Municipality of Woollahra council chambers
• 
  Coopers Corner
• 
  Golden Sheaf Hotel
• 
  Heritage-listedGladswood House(1856)
• 
  Steyne Park war memorial

Notable residents

• John Christian Watson(1867–1941), first Australian Labor Prime Minister and third Prime Minister of Australia
• Clements Frederick Vivian Jackson(1873-1955), an Australian mining engineer
• Emma Linda Palmer Littlejohn(1883–1949), feminist, journalist and radio commentator
• Sandy Pearce(1883–1930), rugby league footballer and boxer, after whom Pearce Street is named.
• Charlene Todman(1931–2018), early Australian disability sportsperson
• Mary Fairfax(1922–2017), at her estate "Fairwater" philanthropist and businesswomen

References

View of Sydney Harbour from Steyne Park, Double Bay, NSW

External links

• Double Bay – Sydney
• Car Parks Double Bay – Woolhara Municipal Council
• Shopping Centre Double Bay – Kiaora Place

Media related toDouble Bay, New South Walesat Wikimedia Commons