Kirribilli 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 44 hectares, bounded by the suburb of North Sydney and Bradly Avenue in the north, Careening Cove in the east, Port Jackson in the south, and Olympic Drive, Broughton Street and Ennis Road in the west.
One of Sydney’s most established and affluent neighbourhoods, Kirribilli stands as the location of the Kirribilli House, one of the two official residences of the Prime Minister of Australia. The suburb was also declared one of the most liveable suburbs in North Shore based on Domain’s Liveable Sydney Report in 2016.
ABOUT KIRRIBILLI
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 Lane Cove, 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 Lane Cove and North Sydney, which was formerly known as St Leonards.
Kirribilli was derived from the Aboriginal word Kiarabilli, meaning ‘good fishing spot’. The suburb was initially established in the vicinity of Jeffrey Street as a part of a land grant to James Milson, after whom Milsons Point was named.
The Kirribilli area opened up for further development with the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932, which linked the municipality of North Sydney directly by road and rail with the Sydney CBD.
During the post-war years, North Shore saw the most significant development, with population and medium- to high-density housing growing rapidly.
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 of the local government area.
Demographics
As of 2019, Kirribilli is home to 4,223, with a population density of 96.48 persons per hectare.. Australia-born citizens represent 52.0 per cent of the local population, with other residents born in England and New Zealand. About 72.0 per cent of people spoke only English at home.
Famous residents
One of the notable residents of Kirribilli is Australia-born British novelist Elizabeth von Arnim, who also wrote under the pen name Alice Cholmondeley. She launched her career by publishing her semi-autobiography Elizabeth and Her German Garden (1989), which was such a success that it was reprinted 20 times in its first year.
Elizabeth also penned The Solitary Summer (1899), The Benefactress (1902), Vera (1921), and Love (1925).
LIFESTYLE
As one of Sydney’s most established and affluent neighbourhoods, Kirribilli is home to Kirribilli House, the official Sydney residence of the Prime Minister of Australia;, Admiralty House, the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia; and the headquarters and marina of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. The Sydney Flying Squadron is located adjoining Milson Park, formerly Kirribilli Park.
To this day, Kirribilli is considered a prestigious and stately urban hub, boasting glamorous harbourside residences with uninterrupted views of the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city skyline.
The cluster of neighbourhoods features a stylish casual vibe, with parklands and local markets, as well as a multicultural dining scene, all within walking distance—truly a taste of the best urban life accentuated with spectacular views.
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.
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.
Kirribilli supports the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and is serviced by rail, bus and ferry services. The Warringah Freeway provides a link south to the Sydney CBD and north to Chatswood.
Milsons Point railway station is the closest train stop, which forms part of the North Shore & Western Line of the Sydney Trains network. Further, State Transit operates regular services from Kirribilli to many parts of northern Sydney, with the 269 bus service running a loop within the Kirribilli - Milsons Point - McMahons Point - North Sydney railway station area on weekdays.
There are four operating ferry wharves near Kirribilli, serviced by both public and private ferries, namely the Kirribilli wharf, the Beulah Street Wharf, the Jeffreys Street Wharf and the Misons Point ferry wharf.
Schools and universities
Some of the most notable schools across Sydney’s North Shore are:
- St Aloysius’ College
- Loreto Kirribilli
- 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 (Kirribilli 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 Kirribilli Hospital
- Royal North Shore Hospital
- North Shore Private Hospital
- The Mater Hospital
Landmarks
Some of the major landmarks across North Shore are:
- Kirribilli House
- Admiralty House
- Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre
- Church by the Bridge
- Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron headquarters and marina
- Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church
- St John’s Anglican Church
- Loreto Convent
- St Thomas Rest Park
- Northside Community Church
- 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:
- Kirribilli Markets (opposite Milsons Point railway station)
- 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
Sports and recreation
Some of the major sports and recreation facilities in Kirribilli 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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