Gordon, New South Wales

Coordinates: 33°45′26″S 151°08′57″E / 33.75732°S 151.14916°E / -33.75732; 151.14916
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Gordon
Sydney, New South Wales
Eryldene, a heritage-listed home built circa 1913
Map
Population8,795 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density2,321/km2 (6,010/sq mi)
Established1823
Postcode(s)2072
Elevation126 m (413 ft)
Area3.79 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Location14 km (9 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)Ku-ring-gai Council
State electorate(s)Davidson
Federal division(s)Bradfield
Suburbs around Gordon:
West Pymble Pymble St Ives
West Pymble Gordon St Ives
Killara Killara East Killara

Gordon is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia 14 kilometres (9 mi) north-west of the Sydney Central Business District and is the administrative centre for the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Gordon is a locality within Gordon, and West Gordon is a locality within West Pymble.[2]

Geography[edit]

Gordon is located on the northern outskirts, about 18 kilometres from the Sydney central business district in the upper area of the North Shore. Most of the suburb is residential and sits within bushland along the banks of Stony Creek.

History[edit]

The name 'Gordon' first appears as the name of the survey parish covering most of the upper north shore, assigned by the NSW Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell. This is believed to commemorate Sir Willoughby Gordon, with whom he had served during the Peninsular War and who was the quartermaster-general of the regiment in which Mitchell had served. The survey parish, and later suburb and municipality of Willoughby also commemorates his name.[3]

Settlement of the area commenced about 1820. The early settlement at Gordon was originally known as Lane Cove. The earliest school at 'Lane Cove', as Gordon was then known, was established at the behest of Governor Macquarie in 1816.[3] The first Lane Cove Post Office opened on 1 February 1860. The name of the village and Post Office was changed to Gordon, after the Gordondale estate of Robert McIntosh, on 1 June 1879.[3][4] Gordon Railway Station on the North Shore Line was built in 1888.

In the late 20th century Gordon was the Australian headquarters of Sun Microsystems Australia (opposite the present Gordon library site). It also had a significant Ikea store on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Ryde Road (opposite the former 3M site on the northern or Pymble side of the intersection, circa 2014-2020 under legally frustrated intent to renovate for use by Bunnings[5][6]).

Gordon Public School[edit]

The former Gordon Public School, now largely demolished and rebuilt as the library and police station, was constructed in 1878 on the Pacific Highway, having been designed by George Mansfield. A Gothic Revival style was used in accordance with the tradition that educational buildings, like churches, were designed in a Gothic style. A second block was added in 1912. The school was originally called Lane Cove School, and the name was officially changed to Gordon Public School in November 1885.[3] The school buildings are one of the few remaining buildings that date back to the pioneering days of northern Sydney. It is listed on the Register of the National Estate.[7] The Gordon Public School was closed in 1989, however East Gordon Public School and West Gordon Public School remain nearby.

Heritage listings[edit]

Gordon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

In addition, Gordon is home to Sydney's largest flying fox colony, land for the protection of which was jointly purchased by the Heritage Council of New South Wales and Ku-ring-gai Council.[13]

Notable former residents[edit]

Transport[edit]

Gordon is located on a major transport artery, the Pacific Highway and near the intersection of Ryde and Mona Vale roads which form a link between the Northern Beaches, Homebush Bay and the St George District and Sutherland Shire.

Gordon railway station is on the North Shore railway line of the Sydney Trains network with frequent commuter services and express rail services during peak hours. The railway station was built in 1888 and has an important heritage relationship with its landscaped gardens – it has been preserved as an example of a historic Edwardian station. Lifts to the platforms have been recently added. A bus stop outside the station is a terminus for various routes including those to St Ives, West Pymble, Mona Vale/Warriewood and Macquarie University. These are operated by CDC NSW.

Churches and education[edit]

Churches in Gordon comprise: St Johns Anglican Church (with an adjoining cemetery and columbarium), Gordon Uniting Church, Gordon Baptist Church and The Liberal Catholic Church of St. Francis.

Gordon is home to two schools:

Gordon West Public School is named after the suburb, but is located in West Pymble.

Gordon Community Preschool supports children from 3–5 years of age.

Commercial[edit]

Gordon has a commercial area with many shops and restaurants along the Pacific Highway and around Gordon railway station. Gordon Centre, is a shopping centre owned by Charter Hall which includes a Harvey Norman, Woolworths and many stores and offices. Gordon Centre was originally built as a Farmers & Co department store, now part of Myer, before reopening as Gordon Centre in 1985. McDonald's is located near the Pacific Highway. Gordon Village Arcade is a shopping arcade also owned by Charter Hall and includes many stores including a post office. Gordon Private Hospital located on the Pacific Highway specialises in the treatment of mental health and is a teaching hospital affiliated with UNSW.

The administrative buildings for the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council are located in Gordon.

Residential[edit]

Eryldene is a local historic house that is open to the public. Located in McIntosh Street, the house was designed for Professor Eben Gowrie Waterhouse by William Hardy Wilson and built circa 1913. The extensive garden is a significant part of the property in its own right. House and garden as a whole are listed on the Register of the National Estate.[19][20] The house also has a state heritage listing.[21]

Another notable home in the area is Tulkiyan, located on the Pacific Highway. This home was designed by Bertrand James Waterhouse, an architect who was popular for his residential work (he was also responsible for the design of Nutcote, the home of painter May Gibbs). He designed Tulkiyan in the Arts and Crafts style that he favoured in much of his work. Tulkiyan was built on part of a land grant that went back to 1823. The land changed hands many times until it was acquired by the Donaldson family, who commissioned Waterhouse to design the house. It stayed in the hands of the Donaldson family until 1994, when it was bequeathed to Ku-ring-gai Council. Tulkiyan has a state heritage listing.[22]

The Arts and Crafts style favoured by Waterhouse was just one of the styles that were part of the Federation period that went from 1890 to 1915. Other prominent styles were the Federation Queen Anne style—the Australian version of the English Queen Anne style—and the Federation Bungalow style. Some notable examples of the latter style can be seen in Nelson Street, Gordon. Other architects who favoured Federation styles were Walter Liberty Vernon and Howard Joseland.

Gordon is also the location of a notable house designed by the architect Alexander Stewart Jolly. Nebraska, in Yarabah Avenue, is a distinctive home reminiscent of a log cabin. One of its features is the irregular stonework. It is heritage-listed.[23]

45.3% of occupied private dwellings in Gordon are separate houses, 48.3% are flats, units or apartments and 3.5% are semi-detached (mainly townhouses). The average household consists of 2.7 people.[1]

Population[edit]

At the 2021 census, there were 8,795 residents in Gordon.[1]

  • The population of Gordon was about the same age as the rest of New South Wales, with a median age of 39 compared to the national median of 38, and 15.8% of people aged 65 years and over.
  • 44.2% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were China 16.0%, South Korea 4.3%, Hong Kong 4.2%, England 3.6% and Taiwan 2.3%.
  • 48.1% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 20.2%, Cantonese 9.0%, Korean 5.0%, Persian 2.2% and Japanese 1.3%.
  • The median household income of $2,460 was higher than the national figure of $1,746.
  • 35.3% of Gordon's population rent their home compared to 32.3% who own their home without a mortgage and 30.6% who do have a mortgage. The median weekly rent was $577 and the median monthly mortgage payment was $3,033.
  • Gordon responded to the Census question about religion with No Religion 46.2%, Catholic 12.7%, Anglican 10.6%, 4.9% of people did not state their religion and 4.4% who practice Buddhism.

Gallery[edit]

  • Home of Annie Wyatt, Park Avenue
    Home of Annie Wyatt, Park Avenue
  • Federation house, Nelson Street
    Federation house, Nelson Street
  • Federation bungalow, Nelson Street
    Federation bungalow, Nelson Street
  • Tulkiyan, designed by B.J.Waterhouse
    Tulkiyan, designed by B.J.Waterhouse
  • Nebraska, designed by Alexander Stewart Jolly
    Nebraska, designed by Alexander Stewart Jolly
  • Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist
    Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist
  • Cemetery adjoining Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist
    Cemetery adjoining Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist
  • Ravenswood School
    Ravenswood School
  • War Memorial and Council Chambers
    War Memorial and Council Chambers

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gordon, New South Wales.
  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Gordon (NSW)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 November 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, Gregory's Publishing Company, 2007
  3. ^ a b c d "Ku-ring-gai Historical Society - Gordon Local History".
  4. ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Court Rejects Challenge to Amber Light Approval". 12 March 2018.
  6. ^ Giammetta, David (20 November 2014). "Bunnings Retail Plans in Pymble on Hold as Building Becomes Heritage Listed". Daily Telegraph.
  7. ^ The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/33
  8. ^ "Eryldene". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00019. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  9. ^ "Gordon Railway Station". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01150. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  10. ^ "Iolanthe". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00227. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  11. ^ "Tulkiyan". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01733. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  12. ^ "Gordon Public School". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00757. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  13. ^ Edwards, Zeny; Rowland, Joan (2008). "Gordon". Dictionary of Sydney. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Profile of the electoral division of Bradfield (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023. Named in honour of Dr John Job Crew Bradfield CMG, 1867–1943. Bradfield was a civil engineer who was associated with the Cataract and Burrinjuck Dams and was instrumental in the design of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
  15. ^ "Tim SCHENKEN". driverdb.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Hometown Gordon, Sydney
  16. ^ Simpson, Caroline (2006) [2002]. "Wyatt, Annie Forsyth (1885–1961)". Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023. In 1926 the family (with two children) moved to Gordon.
  17. ^ O'Neil, W. M. (2006) [1990]. "Waterhouse, Eben Gowrie (1881–1977)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. This article was published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, (Melbourne University Press), 1990. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Back in Sydney, they bought land at Gordon
  18. ^ Aston, Heath (1 April 2012). "At Home with ... Clover Moore". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023. [Moore grew up in Gordon, the heart of Sydney's north shore]
  19. ^ The Heritage of Australia, p.2/33
  20. ^ "The Eryldene Trust". Collections Australia Network. Commonwealth of Australia. 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  21. ^ State Heritage Website
  22. ^ State Heritage Website
  23. ^ State Heritage Website

External links[edit]

33°45′26″S 151°08′57″E / 33.75732°S 151.14916°E / -33.75732; 151.14916

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