Double Bay, New South Wales

Double Bay
Sydney, New South Wales

Double Bay ferry wharf
Population 4,687 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 2028
Location 4 km (2 mi) E of Sydney CBD
LGA(s) Woollahra Council
State electorate(s) Vaucluse
Federal Division(s) Wentworth
Suburbs around Double Bay:
Port Jackson
Darling Point Double Bay Point Piper
Edgecliff Woollahra Bellevue Hill

Double Bay is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district. It is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra.

Double Bay has the most expensive real-estate in Australia and takes its name from the bay of Sydney Harbour. It refers to the two geographical formations between Point Piper and Darling Point, which are interrupted by a miniature point in between. The eastern part is also known as Blackburn Cove. Colloquially it is often referred to as "Double Pay", a term coined in the 1980s, due to the high income of people living there, and the nature of the shopping area which features high-end fashion labels.

History

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 the area currently known as Woollahra, Bondi Junction, Bellevue Hill, and Point Piper.[2]

Charles Amos Messenger was the sculling champion of Victoria (ca. 1875), in 1881 Rowing Champion of New Zealand, and in 1887 contender for the sculling championship of the world. Charles Amos also established the first boatshed on Sydney Harbour at Balmain, from where it was later transferred (by flotation) to Double Bay NSW. The early life of Double Bay, revolved around the Messenger boatshed.

Charles Amos was the father of the renowned Dally Messenger, Rugby League and Rugby Union superstar, and his younger brother Wally Messenger, who also played Rugby League for Australia. From their boatshed the Messenger brothers would row people across Sydney Harbour, including William Bede Dalley, who inter alia was acting premier of NSW in 1885, and who owned a castle in Manly, the base remains of which are still visible.[3]

Population

According to the 2011 census, there were 4,687 residents in Double Bay. The most common ancestries in Double Bay were English 23.6%, Australian 17.8% and Irish 8.9%. The most common occupations of residents included Professionals 42.5%, Managers 20.4%, and Clerical and Administrative Workers 12.5%.[1]

Commercial area

The commercial area runs along New South Head Road and extends along surrounding streets of Knox Street, Cross Street and Bay Street. It features hotels and shopping, restaurants, services, supermarket, and coffee shops.

Transport

Double Bay features a ferry wharf for Eastern Suburbs ferry services. Bus services operate via New South Head Road to Bondi Junction, Watson's Bay and the City.

Sport and recreation

Double Bays former residents include Dally Messenger, one of the most famous Rugby League players 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. Another former resident is [Lisa-Jean Brough] who shares the joy of sailing and racing 18' foot skiffs. Starting here at the 18' Foot Sailing Club launched L-J into a career of sailing Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races. Her oldest daughter attended Double Bay Public school.

Since 1908, Double Bay has been represented in one of Australia's most popular sporting competitions, the National Rugby League, by the Sydney Roosters, officially known as the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club.

Gallery

Notable residents

  1. Emma Linder Palmer Littlejohn (1883-1949), feminist, journalist and radio commentator [4]

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Double Bay (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  2. ↑
    • The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 84
  3. ↑ Fagan, Sean and Messenger, Dally; The Master, Hachette Livre, Sydney 2007 ISBN 978 0 7336 2200 7
  4. ↑ "Littlejohn, Emma Linda Palmer (1883–1949)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography. 1986. Retrieved 30 March 2015. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
View of Sydney Harbour from Steyne Park, Double Bay, NSW

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Double Bay, New South Wales.

Coordinates: 33°52′39″S 151°14′28″E / 33.8775°S 151.2412°E / -33.8775; 151.2412

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