Northbridge, New South Wales

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 Willoughby.

Northbridge features a historic stone bridge over Tunks Park. It has many large waterfront houses which overlook Sailors Bay and Middle Harbour on Port Jackson.

History
Northbridge took its name from its location, north of a sandstone suspension bridge built in 1892. It was constructed by a team of land developers at a cost of 42,000 pounds and originally known as North Sydney Bridge. The engineer responsible for the construction was J.E.Coyle and the style was Federation Gothic, with medieval motifs as "unexpected embellishments". It has been known as the Northbridge and Cammeray Suspension Bridge but is now called the Long Gully Bridge.

Aboriginal culture
Before European settlement, Northbridge was part of an area controlled by the aboriginal tribe known as the Cammeraygals (for whom 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 Plaza is a shopping centre on Eastern Valley Way that features a supermarket, banks, grocers, butchers, bakers, chemists and a range of specialty shops.

Transport
Bus routes 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207 & 208 from Wynyard, in the Sydney CBD, travel through Northbridge. A bus stop is located at the major intersection between Strathallen Avenue and Sailors Bay Road.

Churches

 * St Philip Neri Catholic Church
 * St Marks Anglican Church
 * Northbridge Uniting Church

Schools
Northbridge Public School is a non-denominational primary school in the suburb and has been chosen to host many national events, such as the launch of the "Australian of the Year Awards" 2003. Shore Preparatory School is also in the west of Northbridge, as are the SHORE playing fields.

St Philip Neri Catholic School is a Catholic primary school in Northbridge.

Parks
Northbridge boasts a fine vantage point over Middle Harbour with the harbourside parks (Clive, Elizabeth And Hallstrom Parks) all offering great views.
 * Elizabeth Park: Coolawin Road
 * Clive Park: Minimbah Road, has toilets, tables, harbour views, barbecue facilities, swings
 * Hallstrom Point Park:Hallstrom Close
 * Roche Playground:Roche Lane, barbecue facilities, playground, junior bike track
 * Tunks Park: Brothers Avenue, barbecues, playing fields, boat ramp, gym equipment, playground, bush tracks, extensive parking-
 * Warners Park:Jack McLure Place, shelters, playground, bowling club, parking
 * Bonds Corner Park: A small bike track with two jump lines and a large berm.

Sport and recreation
Northbridge features an 18-hole harbour view golf course, soccer club, sailing club, marina, salt water baths, scout hall, girl guides, tennis courts, parks, ovals, local reserves and bike track. The Bonds Corner bike track was designed and created by the group of friends, who believed Northbridge needed an area that appealed to the increasing bike riding population of the town. The nearby Willoughby Leisure Centre is easily accessible through Small Street or a nearby track.

The Norths Pirates Junior Rugby Union Club is the local village Rugby Club, the former Club being known as Cammbridge Bay. This Club taking its name from Northbridge, Cammeray and Neutral Bay.

The Northbridge Sailing Club (NSC) faces Middle Harbour and can be accessed through Minimbah Road. Partnered with Seaforth Sailing Club, races are held on Sundays. The club offers boat storage, a canteen and a launching pontoon.