Greenwich (local pronunciation GREN-itch) is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Greenwich is located 7 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Lane Cove. The suburb occupies a peninsula on the northern side of Sydney Harbour, at the opening of the Lane Cove River.

History

The suburb's name is derived from its namesake Greenwich, by the banks of the Thames in London. Parramatta River had been known as the 'Thames of the Antipodes' and other nearby suburbs were also named after Thames localities of Putney, Woolwich and Henley.

Greenwich House was built on the 20 acre estate of George Green in 1836 and still stands on the corner of George and Lawrence Streets.

Landmarks

It features beautiful harbour views, a few pockets of bushland, local shops, restaurants and cafes, a harbour swimming pool (with shark net) and Greenwich Public School. Given the suburb's boundaries with Lane Cove National Park, it features considerable wildlife including blue tongue lizards, rosellas and possums. This may be due to the vast array of ecosystems within such a small area, including rainforest and mangroves.

Transport

Greenwich ferry wharf provides access to the Inner Harbour ferry services, with ferry services to Circular Quay. A bus service from Greenwich Point runs to McMahons Point, Lane Cove and St Leonards. The closest train stations are at St Leonards and Wollstonecraft.

Sport and Recreation

The Greenwich Village Games are held every four years (previous held 2004) and feature numerous sports and competitions held mainly at Bob Campbell Oval (Gore Creek Oval) and Lane Cove Aquatic Centre.

Population

Demographics

In the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing, the population of Greenwich stood at 5,054 people, 50.7% females and 49.3% males, with a Median age of 39 years. 28.4% of the population was born overseas with England (5.3%), New Zealand (2.9%) and China (1.9%) the most common. The five strongest religious affiliations in the area were in descending order: Catholic (23.5%), no religion (22.5%), Anglican (22.2%), Uniting Church (3.7%) and Presbyterian and Reformed (3%).

Greenwich's population has a median weekly household income of $1,951, compared with $1,027 in Australia. The most common types of occupation for employed persons were Professionals (42.6%), Managers (18.1%), and Clerical and Administrative Workers (14.8%). 64% of the suburbs occupied private dwellings were family households, 22.5% were lone person households and 5.5% were group households.

Notable residents

• Antonia Kidman - Journalist and sister of actress Nicole Kidman

Politics

State Elections   Liberal 49.3%   Greens 22.9%   Labor 19.3%   Democrats 4.5%   Unity Party 2.3%   Christian Democrats 1.8%

Federal Elections   Liberal 48.52%   Labor 37.27%   Greens 10.91%   Climate Change 1.25%   Christian Democrats 0.91%   Family First 0.57%   Independent 0.45%   Citizens Electoral Council 0.11%

Greenwich is in the now marginal Liberal federal electoral division of North Sydney. As of 1996 this seat is held by Joe Hockey, the Liberal Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, who was last re-elected in the 2007 federal election. North Sydney is one of only two original divisions in New South Wales, along with Wentworth, which have never been held by the Australian Labor Party (ALP).

For NSW state elections, Greenwich is in the Electoral district of Lane Cove. As of 2003 this seat is held by Liberal MP Anthony Roberts, who was last re-elected in the 2007 state election.

References

• The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8

External links

• Lane Cove at the Open Directory Project
• Greenwich Community Association