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Neutral Bay

Coordinates:33°50′04″S151°13′06″E/ 33.8345°S 151.2184°E/-33.8345; 151.2184
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Neutral Bay
Sydney,New South Wales
View from Bent Street
Neutral Bay is located in New South Wales
Neutral Bay
Neutral Bay
Map
Coordinates33°50′04″S151°13′06″E/ 33.8345°S 151.2184°E/-33.8345; 151.2184
Population10,090 (2021 census)[1]
• Density6,310/km2(16,300/sq mi)
Postcode(s)2089
Area1.6 km2(0.6 sq mi)
Location1.5 km (1 mi) N ofSydney CBD
LGA(s)North Sydney Council
State electorate(s)North Shore
Federal division(s)North Sydney,Warringah
Suburbsaround Neutral Bay:
Crows Nest Cammeray Cremorne
North Sydney Neutral Bay Mosman
Milsons Point Kirribilli Cremorne Point

Neutral Bayis asuburbon theLower North ShoreofSydney,New South Wales,Australia.Neutral Bay is around 1.5 kilometres north of theSydney central business district,in thelocal government areaofNorth Sydney Council.[2]

Neutral Bay takes its name from the bay onSydney Harbour.Kurraba Point,formerly a locality in Neutral Bay, was declared a separate suburb in 2010, sharing the postcode 2089. Surrounding suburbs includeNorth Sydney,Cammeray,Milsons Point,CremorneandCremorne Point.

Map

History[edit]

The name "Neutral Bay" originates from the time of the early colonial period of Australia, where different bays of Sydney harbour were zoned for different incoming vessels. This bay was where all foreign vessels would dock, hence the nameneutral.[3]

TheAboriginalname for the area was 'Wirra-birra'. In 1789, soon after the arrival of theFirst Fleetin Sydney, GovernorArthur Phillipdeclared this bay aneutral harbourwhere foreign ships could anchor and take on water and supplies.[4]Neutral Bay was far enough away from Sydney Cove to discourage convicts from escaping on these vessels and to keep possible enemy ships at a distance from the main settlement.[5]

By the beginning of the 20th century, Neutral Bay andCremornewere developing as "alternative society suburbs", populated by the kind of people who were attracted to theArts and Craftsarchitectural style that was in vogue at the time.[6]This style was an attempt to get away from mass production and give homes the "human touch". Notable examples soon appeared in the area.Brent Knowle,in Shellcove Road (now part ofKurraba Point), was designed by Bertrand James Waterhouse and built in 1914.[7]It influenced home design in the area for at least the next fifteen years[8]and has a state heritage listing.[9]

A different style was used forThe Cobbles(now inKurraba Point), also in Shellcove Road. Designed by Peddle and Thorp and built in 1918, it made great use of natural stones and pebbles to achieve the desired look. It is an Australian interpretation of theCalifornia Bungalowstyle and has a state heritage listing.[10]The Gables,in Spruson Street, was another Waterhouse design and was built in 1920. It was influenced by the "shingle style" which was brought to Sydney by Horbury Hunt, and featured prominent gables and extensive use of shingles. More Waterhouse designs appeared in Shellcove Road in the vicinity ofThe CobblesandBrent Knowle(now inKurraba Point).[8]An outstanding example isAilsa(now inKurraba Point), which was designed by Waterhouse for Captain Robert Craig and built in 1908. It has a state heritage listing.[11]Along withKeynsham(now inKurraba Point),[12]St Anne's(now inKurraba Point),[13]andGundimaine House(now inKurraba Point),[14]these homes form a significant heritage group and have a state heritage listing.[15]

Neutral Bay was also the home of the English-born children's author and painterMay Gibbs,who lived for a time inDerry,a two-storeyFederation homein Phillips Street. Afterwards, she moved to the homeNutcotein nearbyKurraba Point.

Neutral Bay was the location of the Royal Australian Navy's Submarine ServiceHMAS Platypus (naval base)between 18 August 1967 and 29 March 1999. It was home to the HMA Oberon submarines, with the firstHMAS Oxleyarriving at the site on the same day as the commissioning. During World War 2 the site was converted for use as the RAN Torpedo Maintenance Establishment (RANTME).

Heritage listings[edit]

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

Commercial area[edit]

The main shopping district of Neutral Bay, known as Neutral Bay Junction, is along Military Road, which is the main road that runs through Neutral Bay,CremorneandMosman.It features many shops, restaurants and cafes. The Big Bear shopping centre is ashopping mallthat features a supermarket and grocery shops.Keolis Downer Northern Beaches'North Sydney Bus Depotis located behind the Big Bear.

The Oaks Hotel is a well-known and popular venue located on the corner of Military Road and Ben Boyd Road. It has been a popular meeting place in Sydney since 1885. The Oaks Hotel features a number of restaurants, bars, function rooms and abeer gardenwith the main focal point an old oak tree.

Transport[edit]

At the2016 census,39.2% of employed people travelled to work on public transport and 36.4% by car (either as driver or as passenger).[18]

TheNeutral Bay wharfsits at the end of Hayes Street and it is serviced by both publicNeutral Bay ferry servicesand private ferries.

TheWarringah Freewayruns along the western border of Neutral Bay, providing links south to the Sydney CBD and north toChatswood.Military Road has been a prominent local electoral issue, due to issues relating to the heavy traffic congestion on the road.

Notable residents[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
20019,601—
200610,278+7.1%
20119,384−8.7%
201610,488+11.8%

At the2016 census,the suburb of Neutral Bay recorded a population of 10,488. Of these:[18]

Age distribution
The distribution of ages in Neutral Bay showed a large proportion in the 25-34 age group (25.8%) compared to the country as a whole (14.2%), with fewer children or seniors. Neutral Bay residents' median age was 36 years, compared to the national median of 38. Children aged under 15 years made up 12.5% of the population (national average is 18.7%) and people aged 65 years and over made up 13.7% of the population (national average is 15.8%).
Ethnic diversity
54.4% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 6.7%, New Zealand 3.1%, China 2.6%, South Africa 1.7% and Japan 1.6%. 69.8% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 3.2%, Japanese 1.8%, Cantonese 1.8%, Spanish 1.4% and French 1.2%.
Religion
This question is optional in the Census. Of the people who answered it, the most common responses were No Religion 37.4%, Catholic 20.0% and Anglican 13.4%.
Income
The median weekly household income was $2,301, compared to the national median of $1,438.
Housing
81.0% of occupied residences were flats or apartments, 11.1% were semi-detached and 7.3% were separate houses. The average household size was 2 people.
Employment
72.1% of residents in Neutral Bay were working full-time, 20.7% part-time, 3.6% were unemployed.
Local Businesses
84.4% of businesses in Neutral Bay were in food industry, 5.4% in retail industry, 5.1% in newsagency and lotto, 2.4% were beauty stores, 1.7% were in service industry and 1.0% others.[citation needed]

Schools[edit]

Places of worship[edit]

Parks and recreation[edit]

TheNorths PiratesJunior Rugby Union Club is the local village Rugby Club, the former Club being known as Cambridge Bay Junior Rugby Union Club.[19]This Club taking its name from Northbridge,Cammerayand Neutral Bay. The Pirates play home games at Tunks Park Cammeray and train at Primrose Park inCremorneandAnderson Park.

The Neutral Bay Club is a tennis and bowls club situated next to Ilbery Reserve in the centre of Neutral Bay.[20]In continuous operation since 1882, it is one of the oldest licensed clubs in New South Wales.[21]The club features four floodlit tennis courts, a floodlit bowling green surrounded by a heated deck, two function rooms, bistro, sports bar and a members lounge.[22]It runs teams of various levels in the Sydney tennis and bowls leagues.[23]

Gallery[edit]

  • The Cobbles
    The Cobbles
  • Military Road shopping centre
    Military Road shopping centre
  • Derry, home of May Gibbs before she lived at Nutcote
    Derry, home of May Gibbs before she lived at Nutcote
  • The Oaks Hotel
    The Oaks Hotel
  • Brent Knowle
    Brent Knowle
  • Ailsa
    Ailsa

References[edit]

  1. ^Australian Bureau of Statistics(28 June 2022)."Neutral Bay".2021 Census QuickStats.Retrieved12 May2023.Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, Gregory's Publishing Company, 2007
  3. ^The Book of Sydney Suburbs,Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in AustraliaISBN0-207-14495-8,page 185
  4. ^Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Sites - Macquarie
  5. ^Naming North Sydney Image Library
  6. ^Sydney Architecture, Graham Jahn (Watermark Press) 1997
  7. ^A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture, Apperly (Angus and Robertson) 1994, p. 142
  8. ^abSydney Architecture
  9. ^"Brent Knowle".environment.nsw.gov.au.Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.Retrieved15 December2016.
  10. ^"The Cobbles".environment.nsw.gov.au.Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.Retrieved15 December2016.
  11. ^"Ailsa".environment.nsw.gov.au.Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.Retrieved15 December2016.
  12. ^"Keynsham".environment.nsw.gov.au.Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.Retrieved15 December2016.
  13. ^"St Anne's".environment.nsw.gov.au.Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.Retrieved15 December2016.
  14. ^"Gundimaine".environment.nsw.gov.au.Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.Retrieved15 December2016.
  15. ^"Heritage".Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
  16. ^"Hastings".New South Wales State Heritage Register.Department of Planning & Environment.H00567.Retrieved18 May2018.Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC-BY 4.0licence.
  17. ^"St. John's Uniting Church and Pipe Organ".New South Wales State Heritage Register.Department of Planning & Environment.H00423.Retrieved18 May2018.Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC-BY 4.0licence.
  18. ^abAustralian Bureau of Statistics(27 June 2017)."Neutral Bay (State Suburb)".2016 Census QuickStats.Retrieved29 December2017.Edit this at Wikidata
  19. ^"RugbyNet - Norths Pirates Junior Rugby Union Club".Archived fromthe originalon 3 September 2014.Retrieved30 August2014.
  20. ^"North Sydney Council - Ilbery Reserve".Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2012.Retrieved16 October2012.
  21. ^"Neutral Bay Club".au.timeout.
  22. ^"Neutral Bay Club: Come Down and Play".neutralbayclub.
  23. ^"Play Competitive Bowls in Sydney | Neutral Bay Club".Archived fromthe originalon 8 November 2012.Retrieved16 October2012.

External links[edit]

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