Wentworth Point, New South Wales

Wentworth Point is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 15 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of City of Parramatta. It is on the western shore of Homebush Bay on the southern side of the Parramatta River. Wentworth Point is usually regarded as part of the Greater Western Sydney region, including in administrative contexts,[2][3][4] but it is also regarded as part of the Inner West region of Sydney in some contexts, especially commercial contexts.[5][6][7] The Australian Bureau of Statistics includes it in the statistical region (SA level 4) of "Parramatta".[8]

Wentworth Point
Sydney, New South Wales
View of recently completed and under construction apartment buildings in February 2018
Population6,994 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density11,700/km2 (30,200/sq mi)
Established2009
Postcode(s)2127
Area0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Location15 km (9 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)City of Parramatta
State electorate(s)Auburn
Federal Division(s)Reid
Suburbs around Wentworth Point:
Melrose Park Meadowbank Rhodes
Newington Wentworth Point Concord West
Lidcombe Sydney Olympic Park Liberty Grove

History

This suburb was once part of the suburb of Homebush Bay, named after Homebush Bay, the bay with a natural and artificial shoreline on the southern side of the Parramatta River. Homebush Bay is itself named after the nearby estate and suburb of Homebush, established in the 1800s by the colonies assistant surgeon D'Arcy Wentworth.[9] According to local government historian Michael Jones, "Wentworth is popularly credited with having called the area after his 'home in the bush', although Homebush is also a place in Kent."[10]

Subdivisions in this area began in 1881, when parts of the former Home Bush Estate north of Parramatta Road, extending to the tip of the peninsula which later became Wentworth Point, were subdivided as the "Homebush Park Estate".[2] However, this and subsequent subdivision proposals were not successful, and other than the lots adjacent to Parramatta Road, most of the land remained unsold and was sparsely populated.[11] Parts of the area turned to industrial use, such as a new government abattoir built in 1907.[2]

Present-day Wentworth Point was part of the Borough of Rookwood proclaimed on 8 December 1891,[12] which was renamed the "Municipality of Lidcombe" in 1913.[13] The Municipality of Lidcombe merged into Auburn Council in 1948.[14]

Industrial and commercial usage

Much of the modern suburb is reclaimed land, created by draining and filling in the northwestern shore of Homebush Bay which began in 1949.[2] The northern part of the peninsula was named Wentworth Point and gazetted in 1976.[15] After it was reclaimed from the bay, Wentworth Point was used for a variety of industrial uses.

Notable businesses include Ralph Symonds, a plywood manufacturer, which used the river as a transport route for large logs, which were then moored in Homebush Bay while awaiting processing. Other activities have included McPhee Transport depot, the former Head Office and warehouse space for Hyundai Australia and a transmission tower for Sydney radio station 2GB.

de Havilland Marine (Large Craft) was located on the waters edge at Homebush Bay. Due to a lack of new business it closed its doors in 1982. In the years prior it manufactured various large aluminium craft for both the local and international market. These included Carpentaria Class Patrol Boats for Burma & the Solomon Islands, Titan Work Boats for the New South Wales government, and the hulls of the Nepean Bell which still operates on the Nepean River in NSW.

Redevelopment and the Olympics

Nearby parts of the peninsula began to be redeveloped in the 1990s. Prior to the move of the Royal Agricultural Society showgrounds from Moore Park to Homebush Bay (as the area of Sydney Olympic Park was then known) in 1998, much of Wentworth Point was bought by Payce Consolidated Limited. Sydney Olympic Park ferry wharf opened in 1997 at the tip of the peninsula.

Residential development

Auburn Council renamed the future waterfront residential area as the suburb of Wentworth Point on 2 October 2009[15][16] after the council sought public comment on a proposal to rename the suburb of Homebush Bay, to remove confusion with its namesake (but separate) suburb of Homebush. The area encompassing Sydney Olympic Park was given autonomy as a suburb. The Carter Street industrial precinct was absorbed by the neighbouring suburb of Lidcombe, and therefore the suburb of Homebush Bay ceased to exist.

Wentworth Point was rezoned from industrial use to residential use in 2013. As well as residential development, the plan called for cultural and commercial development in the new suburb.[2]

Auburn Council was suspended in 2016 due to dysfunction, and later in 2016 it was abolished, with different parts of the former council area merged into different councils. Wentworth Point became part of the City of Parramatta.[17][18] Media reports prior to the final merger decision suggested that some residents wanted Wentworth Point to instead be allocated to the City of Canada Bay.[19]

Most of Wentworth Point is now zoned for medium to high density residential development. The new Wentworth Point Public School opened in 2018 and already has around 300 students.[20]

Commercial areas

Wentworth Point has some small shops, cafes and restaurants.

Marina Square is a shopping centre that opened on 21 November 2018 and was built by Australian developer Billbergia. The centre has over 40 shops including a Coles supermarket.[21]

NSW Maritime owns about 18 hectares of land at the northern end of the point. This land has been subject to proposals for marine related development including boat storage.[22]

Population
Main street through the centre of Wentworth Point

In the 2016 Census, there were 6,994 people in Wentworth Point. 36.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were China 14.8%, South Korea 7.3%, Azerbaijan 3%, India 2.5%, England 2.0% and Iran 1.9%. The most common reported ancestries were Chinese 18.4%, English 12.4%, Australian 9.1%, Korean 7.6% and Irish 4.3%. 37.2% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 15.2%, Korean 9.0%, Azerbaijani 6.7%, Cantonese 4.0%, Arabic 2.7% and Spanish 2.0%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 33.7% and Catholic 19.1%.[1]

Recreation

Cycle paths extend through Sydney Olympic Parklands used by cyclists, runners and walkers. The Bennelong Bridge creates a bay run or cycle loop around Homebush Bay. A shorter 6 kilometre loop through Bicentennial Park or a longer 12 kilometre loop through to Silverwater Bridge are available.

Kayaking, rowing and dragon boating can be seen inside Homebush Bay, but water access and boat storage facilities are limited. There is a recreation club in Wentworth Point which has an indoor heated pool, an outdoor recreational pool, gym and tennis courts. A wide range of other recreation facilities are available at nearby Sydney Olympic Park.

Transport
Bennelong Bridge serves as a pedestrian and bus only connection to Rhodes station

Wentworth Point is served by bus and ferry services. A light rail line is also proposed to run through the suburb.

The 526 bus services Wentworth Point from Burwood to Rhodes in both directions. The 533 bus services Wentworth Point from Chatswood to Olympic Park in both directions. An additional local shuttle bus started on 22 May 2016.[23][24]

Sydney Olympic Park ferry wharf is at the northern end of Wentworth Point and is served by Parramatta River ferry services. Regular services run to Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Parramatta. The wharf was upgraded to have two docks and faster transitions in 2015.

Until 2016, Wentworth Point was relatively isolated by road. Because it is surrounded by parklands in the west and south and by water in the north and east, it was only accessible by road from the rest of Sydney by two roads, Hill Road which connected it to Lidcombe, and Bennelong Parkway, which connected it to Sydney Olympic Park and the A3 arterial road. Road access was improved when the 300-metre (984 ft) Bennelong Bridge across Homebush Bay opened in May 2016, making it easier for residents to access shops and the railway station at Rhodes.[25][26] However, the bridge roadway can only be used by buses and emergency service vehicles. The bridge also includes a pathway for cyclists and pedestrians.

Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail is a proposed light rail link between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park via Parramatta. The project would include the construction of a bridge across the Parramatta River, between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park.[27][28]

There are no train services to Wentworth Point; the closest stations are Rhodes and Olympic Park.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wentworth Point (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  2. City of Parramatta - Wentworth Point - A Brief History
  3. Centre for Western Sydney - About the profile area
  4. "Six selected in design competition for 1,000 new homes in western Sydney", Architecture AU
  5. Domain - Wentworth Point Suburb Profile
  6. Wentworth Point PropertyNest
  7. Murder charge after man was allegedly mowed down and crushed by a car in Sydney’s inner west The Australian 29 June 2020
  8. ABC - Sydney - Parramatta: Region Data Summary
  9. Pollon, Frances, ed. (1990). The Book of Sydney Suburbs'. Australia: Angus & Robertson Publishers. p. 124. ISBN 0-207-14495-8.
  10. Jones, Michael (1985). Oasis in the West: Strathfield's first hundred years. North Sydney: Allen & Unwin Australia. p. 15. ISBN 0-86861-407-6.
  11. Site 2 – Sydney Olympic Park: Historical Archaeological Assessment and Statement of Heritage Impact
  12. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". New South Wales Government Gazette (782). New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1891. p. 9683. Retrieved 14 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (167). 22 October 1913. p. 6335. Retrieved 17 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "4895 Royal Commission on Local Government Boundaries". State Records Archives Investigator. State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  15. "Wentworth Point". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales.
  16. New names for Auburn Suburbs Auburn City Council
  17. Saulwick, Jacob; Kembrey, Melanie; McKenny, Leisha (14 May 2016). "NSW council amalgamations announced". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  18. "Local Government (City of Parramatta and Cumberland) Proclamation 2016 [NSW]". NSW Government. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  19. "Wentworth Point residents want to leave Auburn City Council, Greater Parramatta for Canada Bay council", Daily Telegraph 17 February 2016
  20. "Brand new school for Wentworth Point" (Press release). Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  21. "Marina Square | Wentworth Point Shopping and Restaurants". marinasquare.com.au. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  22. "Department of Planning and Environment - Wentworth Point". www.planning.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  23. Bennelong Bridge was officially opened 22 May 2016 Bennelong Bridge connecting committee
  24. "The Planning Process". www.homebushbaybridge.com.au. Bennelong Bridge connecting committee. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  25. "About the Bridge". www.homebushbaybridge.com.au. Bennelong Bridge connecting committee. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  26. A Bridge to Belonging Billbergia 3 September 2013
  27. "Parramatta Light Rail to Sydney Olympic Park". Transport for NSW. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  28. Constance, Andrew. "We're planning light rail extension to Sydney Olympic Park to improve public transport for 1000's[sic] of event goers". Twitter. Retrieved 19 October 2017.

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