Gordon, New South Wales



Gordon is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Gordon is located 16 kilometres north-west of the Sydney Central Business District and is the administrative centre for the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Gordon is a locality within Gordon.

History
It is believed that the suburb was named by Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell to commemorate Sir James Willoughby Gordon, whom he had served during the Peninsular War and was the quartermaster-general in England when the First Fleet sailed to Botany Bay. The suburb of Willoughby also commemorates his name.

Gordon Public School was constructed in 1878 on the Pacific Highway, having been designed by George Mansfield. A Gothic Revival style was used in accordance with the tradition that educational buildings, like churches, were designed in a Gothic style. A second block was added in 1912. The school is one of the few remaining buildings that date back to the pioneering days of northern Sydney. It is listed on the Register of the National Estate.

Eryldene is a local historic house open to the public noted for its camellia garden, in McIntosh Street. This house was designed for Professor Eben Gowrie Waterhouse by William Hardy Wilson and built circa 1913. The extensive garden is a notable part of the property. House and garden as a whole are listed on the Register of the National Estate.

Transport
Gordon is located on a major transport artery, the Pacific Highway and the intersection of Ryde and Mona Vale Roads which form a link between the northern beaches, Homebush Bay and the St George District and Sutherland Shire.

Gordon railway station is on the North Shore Line of the CityRail network with frequent commuter services. The railway station was built in 1888 and has an important heritage relationship with its landscaped gardens; it has been preserved as an example of an historic Edwardian station. Lifts to the platforms have been a recent addition. A bus stop outside Gordon railway station is a terminus for various routes including those to St Ives, West Pymble, Mona Vale/Warriewood and Macquarie University. These are operated by two different bus companies, Shorelink and Forest Coach Lines.

Commercial area
It has a shopping centre with many shops and restaurants along the Pacific Highway and around Gordon railway station. The largest building in Gordon, the Gordon Centre, contains many shops and offices, including a Woolworths (supermarket), a St.George Bank branch and Harvey Norman store. It was originally built as a Farmers & Co department store, now part of Myer, but Myer closed it in 1983.

The administrative buildings for the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council are located in Gordon.

Churches

 * St Johns Anglican Church
 * Gordon Uniting Church
 * Gordon Baptist Church

Schools

 * Gordon East Public School, a primary school on Rosedale Road.
 * Gordon West Public School, a primary school on Ryde Road in West Pymble. This area was previously called West Gordon but became part of West Pymble in 1990. The primary school retained its name because there was another public primary school already called West Pymble Public School.
 * Ravenswood School for Girls, an all-female, kindergarten, primary and secondary independent school

Politics
Gordon is in the Ku-ring-gai local council area which includes Lindfield, Killara, Pymble, Turramurra and St Ives.