Northern Suburbs (Sydney)
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The Northern Suburbs is a general term used to describe the metropolitan area on the northern bank of the Parramatta River in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This area includes suburbs in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, City of Ryde, City of Parramatta and Municipality of Hunters Hill. Because this is not a clearly defined region, the term 'Northern Suburbs' may also be applied to suburbs in the Upper North Shore, Lower North Shore, Hills District and even the Northern Beaches.

The Northern Suburbs of Sydney are characterised by pristine waterways with immense greenery, a good public transport system, large plots of land, and substantial bungalow style homes. ¹ The region is home to an innumerable amount of parks and reserves, the region's largest being Pennant Hills Park. Major waterways in the region include the Parramatta River, and the many creek systems that branch out from this aquatic lifeline.

Suburbs and Localities of Northern Suburbs

Parramatta River at Hunters Hill

Macquarie University grounds

The suburbs and localities of the region generally known as Northern Suburbs are:

Suburbs

Localities

Curzon Hall, Marsfield

History

Before European settlement, the Central North Region was home to the Wallumettagal (Ryde-Hunters Hill & Western Lane Cove) tribe. The first settlement in the Northern Suburbs and in fact the third-earliest in Australia, after Sydney and Parramatta, was at Ryde; then known by the Aboriginal name Wallumetta.

Transport

The Northern suburbs are very well serviced by public transport. The Northern railway Line has frequent services to the city via Strathfield.

There are also an abundance of bus routes serving the region such as the 200 series bus routes, the 400 series bus routes and the 500 series bus routes, all operated by Sydney Buses. The Southern part of this reagion is frequented by ferry services to the CBD and westbound towards Parramatta.

Epping Railway Station

The Huntley's point ferry wharf

Beecroft railway station

Landmarks

The Northern Suburbs have many unique landmarks, on an international level these include: Macquarie University. At a Sydney or local level, landmarks include: The Ryde Civic Plaza, Brush Farm House in Eastwood, Gladesville Bridge and Ryde Bridge, Ryde Hospital, Macquarie Centre & Ice Skating Rink and Curzon Hall in Marsfield.

Landmark Churches and Cathedrals in the area include St Annes in Top Ryde (Australia's third oldest) and St Andrews in Eastwood.

Macquarie Centre's main entrance on Herring Road

Commercial Areas

The "Sydney Global Corridor", is used to describe a geographical 'arch' of Sydney, home to international corporations. The Northern Suburbs North Ryde as an important part of Global Sydney. Many global companies have their Asia Pacific or Australian Headquarters in this part of Sydney.

North Ryde is undisputedly Australia's hi-tech hub and is home to scores of international corporations including Microsoft, Boeing, Fujitsu, HP, Avaya and Optus. North Ryde also has the Ryde-Hunters Hill Equestrian Club, a quality golf course, an Olympic field hockey venue, the Macquarie University and Macquarie Centre.

The view of Sydney from the Gladesville Bridge

Events and celebrations

The largest annual event in the Northern Suburbs is the Granny Smith Festival held in the suburb of Eastwood usually in October of each year. The festival's attendance record set in 2004 currently stands at approximately just over 90,000. Many are attracted each year by the live bands, shows, stores, rides, the main street parade down Rowe Street and of course the massive fireworks display in the skies over Eastwood.

Other festivals/events include: The Ryde Aquatic Festival & Bridge to Bridge run, the Guringgai Festival honouring northern Sydney's Aboriginals, the Moocooboola Festival at Hunters Hill, and the Ryde Summer Festival which mainly includes outdoor cinemas. All local government areas in the region and around the country celebrate Australia Day, which is the 26th of January.

Notable Residents

The Northern Suburbs are home to various notable Australian identities:

• Cate Blanchett (Hunter's Hill)
• Member of Parliament for Bennelong Maxine McKew (Epping)

References

External links

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