Lavender Bay, New South Wales

Lavender Bay Sydney, New South Wales
Lavender Bay Wharf
Population	852 (2011 census)[1]
• Density	4,300/km^2 (11,000/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2060
Area	0.2 km^2 (0.1 sq mi)
Location	3 km (2 mi) north of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	North Sydney Council
State electorate(s)	North Shore
Federal Division(s)	North Sydney
Suburbs around Lavender Bay: North Sydney North Sydney North Sydney McMahons Point Lavender Bay Milsons Point Dawes Point

Lavender Bay is a harbourside suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Lavender Bay is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council.

The suburb takes its name from the natural feature of Lavender Bay, on Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It lies between Milsons Point and McMahons Point and the suburb of North Sydney is located, to the north. Lavender Bay is a residential suburb with expansive views of Sydney Harbour.

History

Lavender Bay in 1931 with Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction and Lavender Bay railway station on the left

Lavender Bay was named after the Boatswain (bosun), George Lavender, from the prison hulk "Phoenix", which was moored there for many years. The bay was originally called Hulk Bay and sometimes Phoenix Bay. George Lavender lived on 14 acres (57,000 m²) adjacent to the property of Billy Blue. On 30 May 1915 Lavender Bay railway station was opened to take the place of Milsons Point railway station. This only lasted for seven weeks, as passengers refused to alight here and demanded that trains stop at Milsons Point. During the harbour bridge construction, Lavender Bay Station was the terminus for the North Shore Line. The area is now railway storage sidings.^[2]

Landmarks

• A wharf is located in the bay which provides access to private vessels.
• The Lavender Bay Baths (1910) were once popular with swimmers, located in the area beside the ferry wharf.
• Wendy Whiteley created a garden adjacent to her home, in the area between Clark Park and the old railway line. It is sometimes known as Wendy's Secret Garden, and is open to the public.

Churches

• Christ Church, Lavender Bay, a Lower North Shore landmark.
• The Jesuit Church of St Francis Xavier was founded in 1856 and is now part of North Sydney Parish.

Notable residents

• Sir Donald Bradman lived in the harbourfront Bay View Street, and was one of the first few Australians to get a private telephone number while living in Bay View Street.
• Artist Norman Lindsay lived at 'Heidelberg' at 9 Bay View Street; another artist, John Firth-Smith, occupied this same house many decades later.
• Artist Brett Whiteley lived in a house overlooking the Bay. His wife Wendy Whiteley still resides in the house.

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Lavender Bay (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
2. The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 150

Coordinates: 33°50′39″S 151°12′14″E / 33.84428°S 151.20388°E