Bellevue Hill, New South Wales

In the early 19th century, Irish-Australian immigrants referred to the area as Vinegar Hill, after the Battle of Vinegar Hill, an engagement during the 1798 uprising of the United Irishmen in south-east Ireland. Governor Lachlan Macquarie took great exception to this and decided to name the suburb Bellevue Hill, the belle vue meaning beautiful view.[3]

Later in that century, Bellevue Hill became the home of the Fairfax family, who lived at Trahlee, in Ginahgulla Road, which was leased by James Fairfax from 1866 to 1878. They then moved to Ginahgulla (now known as Fairfax House and owned by The Scots College) on the same road. The Fairfax family were responsible for establishing the Fairfax Media empire, which became a major force in the Australian news media (see also John Fairfax).

According to the 2011 census of Population, there were 10,765 residents in Bellevue Hill. 56.3% of residents were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 5.1%, South Africa 4.7% and New Zealand 2.4%. 73.9% of residents spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Hebrew 1.3%, Cantonese 1.3% and Mandarin 1.1%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Judaism 23.0%, No Religion 19.2% and Catholic 16.7%. The most common occupations for residents were Professionals 41.9%, Managers 20.7% and Clerical and Administrative Workers 12.8%.[4]

In the 2016 census, 10,716 residents were counted.

• 58.2% of these had been born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 5.8%, South Africa 4.9%, New Zealand 2.2%, China 1.6% and United States of America 1.2%.
• 74.8% of residents spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Hebrew 1.8%, Mandarin 1.7%, Russian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2% and French 1.2%.
• The most common responses for religious affiliation were No Religion 28.1%, Judaism 21.4% and Catholic 16.8%.
• The most common occupationsincluded Professionals 40.8%, Managers 22.3%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 11.4%, Sales Workers 7.9%, and Community and Personal Service Workers 7.2%. 4.2% of employed people in Bellevue Hill worked in Legal Services. Other major industries of employment included Other Auxiliary Finance and Investment Services 3.0%, Banking 2.9%, General Practice Medical Services 2.8% and Real Estate Services 2.6%.[1]

Caerleon (1885)

Bellevue Hill is well known for having some of the most significant real estate in Australia. The Rona Estate, located on Ginahgulla Road, sold for close to $60 million in 2018, making it one of Australia's most expensive homes. The historic Queen Anne home Caerleon was sold for $22 million in January 2008.[5] This price was surpassed by the $23 million paid for a mansion in Victoria Road in November 2009. The mansion had previously been used by the French consulate since 1955. One person who inspected it was actor Russell Crowe, who subsequently did not take part in the bidding. The house was bought by Lachlan Murdoch.[6]

Actress Toni Collette sold her Bellevue Hill home in August 2009 for $6.4 million. The house, El Mio, had been the base for Collette and her husband, musician David Galafassi, since they bought it in 2004 for $5 million. The house was located in Rupertswood Avenue and was designed in 1928 in the Spanish Mission style. It was initially passed in at $6.3 million, but was then sold within an hour after successful negotiations with the highest bidder.[7]

Bellevue Hill has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• 24 Victoria Road: Leura (Bellevue Hill)[8]

The following buildings are on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate.[9]

Cranbrook Sports Pavilion

• Rona, Ginahgulla Road
• Ginahgulla, Ginahgulla Road, now known as Fairfax House and part of the Scots College
• Rovello, Ginahgulla Road
• Caerleon, Ginahgulla Road (first Queen Anne home in Australia)
• House and Gardens, 1 Rose Bay Avenue
• Former Government House, now part of Cranbrook School, Victoria Road
• Sports Pavilion, Cranbrook School, New South Head Road (designed by John Horbury Hunt)
• Trahlee, Ginahgulla Road, is listed on the Heritage Register of New South Wales[10]
• Villa d'Este, Victoria Road, is listed on the Heritage Register of New South Wales[11]
• Bonnington, Victoria Road, is listed on the Heritage Register of New South Wales[12]
• Wirian, Victoria Road, former home of Martin Sharp, is listed on the State Heritage Register of New South Wales[13]

Scots College, Victoria Road

Bellevue Hill has several schools, including Bellevue Hill Public School and private schools The Scots College and Cranbrook School.

• Kerry Packer, a businessman who was Australia's richest man at the time of his death in December 2005, lived at Cairnton on Victoria Road.
• James Packer, son of Kerry Packer and a businessman who was Australia's richest man from 2006-2008.
• Tony Hancock, comedian. Found dead after an overdose in his flat.
• AthenaX Levendi, Cast member on The Real Housewives Of Sydney
• Edmund Capon, the former director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, lived in Bellevue Hill.
• Rene Rivkin, the late stockbroker, lived at Carrara, 5 Rose Bay Avenue, Bellevue Hill. He later moved to Point Piper.
• Charles Blackburn, a former chancellor of the University of Sydney. Died at his home in Bellevue Hill.
• Alan Kippax, the former Australian Test cricketer and captain of New South Wales. Lived in Bellevue Hill for many years, and died at his home in 1972.
• Sir William McMahon and Lady McMahon, Prime Minister of Australia and wife lived in Drumalbyn Road And Victoria Road respectively.[14]
• May Brahe composer, spent her last years here and in Onslow Gardens, Potts Point
• David Wilson KC, lived at Yandooya, Cranbrook Road, from 1919 until 1943. This house was built in 1912 to a design by the architectural firm of Manson and Pickering and had extensive grounds running between Cranbrook Road and Cranbrook Lane. The Scots College bought the property in 1943 and it became a boarding facility, Royle House, but was demolished in 1981.[15]
• Martin Sharp, artist, lived in Wirian in Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, from 1978 until his death in 2013
• Helen Garner, writer, lived in Bellevue Hill in the late 1990s
• Chad Morrison, former Australian rules footballer[16]
• Gordian Fulde, director of emergency medicine at St Vincent's Hospital
• Sanjeev Gupta, British-Indian billionaire, and founder of Liberty House Group.
• Monica Saunders-Weinberg, rich-lister and philanthropic daughter of late billionaire John Saunders, co-founder of Westfield Shopping Centres

Since 1908, Bellevue Hill has been represented in one of Australia's most popular sporting competitions, the National Rugby League, by the Sydney Roosters, officially known as the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club.

• 
  Fairfax House
• 
  Rona
• 
  Rovello
• 
  Trahlee
• 
  Aspinall House, Scots College, Victoria Road

• Garry Wotherspoon (2012). "Bellevue Hill". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 24 September 2015. [CC-By-SA]

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