Lavender Bay is a harbourside suburb on the Lower North Shore and part of the local government area of the North Sydney Council. Located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney CBD, the suburb occupies approximately 20 hectares, bounded by the suburbs of North Sydney in the north, Milsons Point in the east, Northwood, Dawes Point in the south, and McMahons Point in the west.
The suburb was declared one of the most liveable suburbs in North Shore based on Domain’s Liveable Sydney Report in 2016.
ABOUT LAVENDER BAY
History
Sydney’s North Shore was originally inhabited by the Birrabirragal, Boregal, Kuringgai, Wallumedegal, Gorualgal and Cammeraygal Aboriginal people.
Between 1794 and 1814, the first European settlement was recorded across the land now known as the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, Ku-ring-gai Council, Municipality of Lavender Bay, Mosman Council, City of Willoughby, Municipality of Hunters Hill and North Sydney Council. The LGAs were named after notable European settlers, including Police Constable Samuel Horne, John Lane, Archibald Mossman, Sir James Willoughby Gordon, Captain John Hunter, and 1st Viscount Sydney Thomas Townshend. Only the Ku-ring-gai Council was named after its original inhabitants, the Kuringgai Aboriginal people.
Based on the Cumberland County mapping from 1792 to 1894, four local government areas were derived from the Parish of Willoughby, including the City of Willoughby, Mosman Council, Municipality of Lavender Bay and North Sydney, which was formerly known as St Leonards.
Lavender Bay was named after Boatswain George Lavender from the prison hulk Phoenix, which was moored in the area for several years.
The establishment of the Newcastle and North Shore railway lines and the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge spurred residential and industrial development in North Shore, beginning the urban transformation that most of the areas will experience through the years.
During the post-war years, North Shore saw the most significant development, with population and medium- to high-density housing growing rapidly. Several suburbs stood out as growth centres, including Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Dural, Gordon, Killara, St Ives, Turramurra, Wahroong, Chatswood, Artarmon, St Leonards and North Sydney,
The 21st century saw urban consolidation across the region, with multiple infrastructure, transport systems and different types of dwellings built to support the needs of the 400,000-strong population across all of North Shore.
Demographics
As of 2016, Lavender Bay is home to 941 people. Australia-born citizens represent 57.2 per cent of the local population. About 76.1 per cent of people spoke only English at home.
Famous residents
Among the notable residents of Lavender Bay are Sir Donal Bradman, one of the first few Australians to get a private telephone number; artists Norman Lindsay and John Firth-Smith, who both lived at Heidelberg at 9 Bay View Street; and artist Brett Whiteley and his wife Wendy Whiteley.
LIFESTYLE
Lavender Bay is a residential suburb with expansive views of Sydney Harbour, providing a ‘ultimate Sydney lifestyle’ through harbour-side living that boasts a combination of charm and convenience, featuring access to the wide variety of Sydney’s wonders, including world-class entertainment, dining and sporting events.
As one of the most liveable suburbs in Sydney, Lavender Bay offers a unique village atmosphere and rich, living heritage, as well as proximity to schools, shops, cafes and restaurants and connection to public transport.
Public transport
All local government areas in the North Shore region are serviced by the Pacific Highway.
Hornsby Shire and Ku-ring-gai Council are served by the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway while the Lavender Bay Council is served by the Lavender Bay Tunnel, the City of Willoughby served by the Gore Hill Freeway, the North Sydney Council served by the Bardfield Highway and Warringah Freeway and Hornsby Shire served by the Hills (M2) Motorway, and Pennant Hills Road.
The North Shore railway line runs through Hornsby Shire, Ku-ring-gai Council, the City of Willoughby and the North Sydney Council, while the Northern and Central Coast & Newcastle railway lines run through Hornsby Shire.
Further, T1 North Shore line services multiple suburbs from Chatswood north to Hornsby, including Chatswood, Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Warrawee, Wahroonga, Waitara and Hornsby. Meanwhile, railway stations within Lower North Shore serve Milsons Point, North Sydney, Waverton, Wollstonecraft, St Leonards, Artarmon & Chatswood.
Schools and universities
Some of the most notable schools across Sydney’s North Shore are:
- TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute (Hornsby College)
- TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute (St Leonards Campus)
- TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute (Bradfield Senior College)
- Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview
- The Northern Sydney Institute (Lavender Bay Campus)
- Australian Catholic University (North Sydney - MacKillop Campus)
- Sydney Church of England Grammar School
- St Joseph’s College
Hospitals
Among the major hospitals in North Shore are:
- Sydney Adventist Hospital (The SAN)
- Lady Davidson Private Hospital
- Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital
- HammondCare Lavender Bay Hospital
- Royal North Shore Hospital
- North Shore Private Hospital
- The Mater Hospital
Landmarks
Some of the major landmarks across North Shore are:
- Wendy’s Secret Garden, built by Wendy Whiteley
- Christ Church, Lavender Bay
- North Sydney Parish
- Sydney Harbour National Park
- HMAS Penguin Naval Base
- Taronga Zoo
- Mosman Art Gallery
Shopping centers
Some of the major shopping centres and shopping districts across North Shore are:
- St Ives Village Shopping Centre
- Westfield Hornsby Shopping Centre
- Hornsby Mall
- Lavender Bay Plaza
- Lavender Bay Market Square
- Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre
- Westfield Chatswood Shopping Centre
- Chatswood Central
Sports and recreation
Some of the major sports and recreation facilities in Lavender Bay and across North Shore are:
- Castlecove Golf Club
- Chatswood Golf Club
- Northbridge Golf Club
- Mosman Swim Centre
- Cammeray Golf Course
- North Sydney Olympic Pool
- North Sydney Oval
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