Hunter's Hill, New South Wales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hunter's Hill is a suburb in the Municipality of Hunter's Hill, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is mainly a small peninsula between the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers about 7 km from the central business district of Sydney and can be reached easily by bus or even by ferry for those who live near the water on the peninsula.

Named after John Hunter the second Governor of New South Wales between 1795 and 1800, Hunters Hill is one of the oldest areas on the north side of Sydney Harbour.

Proclaimed as a Borough in January 1861, the character of Hunters Hill was formed from 1860 through to the 1920s, with many of the buildings dating back to that period and often being built from the local sandstone. The area was linked to Drummoyne and the southern side of the Parramatta River by bridge in 1881 with the construction of the original Gladesville Bridge.

Today, Hunters Hill has a population of over 12,000 people (2001 Census), and has an area of 5.75 square kilometres including some 650,000 square metres of parks and reserves. Development is almost entirely residential and Hunters Hill is recognised as Australia's oldest garden suburb with 75% of the Municipality being declared a conservation area.

Hunters Hill sports many heritage-listed buildings and it is positioned near or on the water, offering fine harbour views. Previously having a number of residents of French extraction, it was known as the "French Village" and shares a friendship with a sister city near Paris, Le Vésinet.

Hunters Hill also is the site of the Catholic boys' secondary school, St Joseph's College and Hunters Hill High School.

There is a private hospital in Alexandra Street and in Barons Crescent a Jewish nursing home and synagogue named the Sir Moses Montefiore Home.

There is also the Great North Walk through the large, water front parkland known as Boronia Park; which contains Aborignal drawings thought date back to before the start of the colony.