McMahons Point is a 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 35 hectares, bounded generally by Bank Lane, Union Street and Lavender Street in the north, the suburb of Lavender Bay, East Crescent and Lavender Bay in the east, Port Jackson in the south, and Berrys Bay and Commodore Crescent in the west.
Once predominantly working class, McMahons Point now stands as one of Sydney’s most exclusive localities, boasting low crime rates, a bustling culture and dining scene, accessibility to the City and other major localities and expansive views of the Sydney CBD.
The suburb was deemed one of the most liveable suburbs in the North Shore, based on Domain’s Liveable Sydney report in 2016.
ABOUT MCMAHONS POINT
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 McMahons Point, 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 McMahons Point and North Sydney, which was formerly known as St Leonards.
McMahons Point is named after 19-year old Irish farmer Michael McMahon, who arrived in Sydney in 1849 and went on to become a successful and wealthy manufacturer of brushes and combs. In 1864, he built the McMahon family home on the headland and consequently became the mayor of the borough of Victoria (now North Sydney) in 1890.
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 2019, McMahons Point is home to 2,726 people, with a population density of 77.33 persons per hectare. Australia-born citizens represent 56.9 per cent of the local population, with most of the other residents born in England. About 76.4 per cent of people spoke only English at home.
LIFESTYLE
Offering accessibility to the hustle and bustle of the city while maintaining an atmosphere of a quiet haven, McMahons Point has become one of the most sought-after residential locations across New South Wales. The suburb is surrounded by the towering North Sydney and expansive Sydney Harbour views, thus offering attractions ranging from reputable restaurants to popular outlooks at Blues Point Reserve and unparalleled views of the harbour and Walsh Bay.
The residential area of McMahons Point is home to both young and mature professionals who mostly reside in historic cottages and terrace houses and enjoy the ease of access to the City and North Sydney.
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 Lane Cove Council is served by the Lane Cove 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.
Other main transport routes across the region are the Military Road and parts of Ryde Road and Mona Vale Road. Major arterial roads include Eastern Arterial Road at St Ives, East Killara and East Lindfield, the Comenarra Parkway at Thornleigh, Wahroonga, Turramurra, South Turramurra and West Pymble, Lady Game Drive at West Pymble, Gordon, Killara and Lindfield.
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.
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.
McMahons Point is also serviced by Cross Harbour ferry services and Parramatta River ferry services, as well as various bus routes, including bus routes 254 and 291 which terminate at McMahons Point ferry wharf.
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 (McMahons Point 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 McMahons Point Hospital
- Royal North Shore Hospital
- North Shore Private Hospital
- The Mater Hospital
Landmarks
Some of the major landmarks across North Shore are:
- North Sydney Circle Walk
- Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
- Sydney Flying Squadron
- Norths (North Sydney Leagues Club)
- Great North Walk
- Parramatta River Regional Park (Bedlam Bay)
- The Priory
- 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
- Lane Cove Plaza
- Lane Cove Market Square
- Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre
- Westfield Chatswood Shopping Centre
- Chatswood Central
- Bridgepoint Shopping Centre
Sports and recreation
North Shore’s residents and visitors enjoy several sports activities, including golf and swimming. The region is home to notable sports centres, such as the North Sydney Olympic Pool and North Sydney Oval.
Other sports centres in Sydney’s North Shore are:
- Asquith Golf Club
- Pennant Hills Golf Club
- Thornleigh Brickpit Sports Stadium
- Galston Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- 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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