Double Bay

History

Charles Amos Messenger became the sculling champion of Victoria on 1 July 1878, Rowing Champion of New Zealand in 1881, and a contender for the sculling championship of the world in 1887. Charles Amos also established the first boatshed on Sydney Harbour at Balmain, from where it was later transferred by flotation to Double Bay. The early life of Double Bay revolved around the Messenger boatshed.

Charles Amos was the father of rugby league and rugby union player Dally Messenger, and Wally Messenger, who also played Rugby League for Australia. From their boatshed the Messenger brothers would row people across Sydney Harbour, including William Bede Dalley, the acting premier of New South Wales in 1885, who owned a castle in Manly.

Heritage listings

Double Bay has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Cross Street: Double Bay Compressed Air Ejector Station
• 11 Gladswood Gardens: Gladswood House
• 337–347 New South Head Road: Overthorpe (Double Bay)
• 560 New South Head Road: Fairwater (Double Bay)
• 4 and 6 Wiston Gardens, Double Bay: Houses

Demographics

According to the , there were residents in Double Bay. 60.6% of people were born in Australia; the next most common countries of birth included England 6.0%, South Africa 3.8%, New Zealand 2.8%, China (excluding Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan) 2.0%, and the United States of America 1.6%. 79.2% of people only spoke English at home; the next most common languages at home included Mandarin 2.3%, Spanish 1.4%, Cantonese 1.3%, French 1.2%, and Italian 1.1%. The most common ancestries in Double Bay included English 32.1%, Australian 24.4%, Irish 13.4%, Scottish 9.2%, and Chinese 5.8%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 37.4%, Catholic 19.5%, Judaism 13.9%, and Anglican 14.7%; a further 6.1% of respondents elected not to disclose their religion.

Average household income was about $ compared to $ nationally, personal income was $ compared to $805 nationally, and family income was $ compared to $ nationally. The median rent in this area was $720, and the average monthly mortgage repayment was $. The majority of dwellings in this area were flats or apartments at 76.6% followed by separate houses at 13.4%, semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc at 8.9%, and all other dwellings at 1.0%.

Commercial area

The commercial area runs along New South Head Road and extends along surrounding streets of Knox Street, Cross Street and Bay Street. It features hotels and shopping, restaurants, supermarkets, offices and coffee shops.

Transport

Double Bay features a ferry wharf for Double Bay ferry services with regular services to Circular Quay and Darling Point. Bus services operate via New South Head Road to Bondi Junction, Watsons Bay and the City. The closest railway station is Edgecliff on New South Head Road.

Sport and recreation

Double Bay's former residents include Dally Messenger, one of the most famous rugby league players of all time who was born, raised, and lived most of his life in Double Bay. He attended Double Bay primary school and became a local celebrity in the first half of the 20th century.

Gallery

File:376-382 New South Head Road, from Knox Street, Double Bay, New South Wales (2012-06-04).jpg|Knox Street Image:Double Bay Council Chambers-A.jpg|Municipality of Woollahra council chambers Image:Double Bay Coopers Corner.JPG|Coopers Corner Image:Double Bay Golden Sheaf Hotel.JPG|Golden Sheaf Hotel Image:(1)Gladswood_House-A.jpg|Heritage-listed Gladswood House (1856) Image:Double Bay war memorial.JPG|Steyne Park war memorial

Notable residents

• John Christian Watson (1867–1941), first Australian Labor Prime Minister and third Prime Minister of Australia
• Clements Frederick Vivian Jackson (1873–1955), an Australian mining engineer
• Emma Linda Palmer Littlejohn (1883–1949), feminist, journalist and radio commentator
• Sandy Pearce (1883–1930), rugby league footballer and boxer, after whom Pearce Street is named.
• Charlene Todman (1931–2018), early Australian disability sportsperson
• Mary Fairfax (1922–2017), at her estate "Fairwater" philanthropist and businesswomen

References

References

1. "Double Bay NSW 2028 Eastern Suburbs Sydney Region".
2. *''The Book of Sydney Suburbs'', Compiled by Frances Pollen ''[[Angus & Robertson]]'' 1990 {{ISBN. 0-207-14495-8, page 84
3. Sean Fagan and Dally Messenger III, The Master, Hachette Livre, Sydney, 2007 pp1-10, {{ISBN. 978 0 7336 2200 7
4. Fagan, Sean and Messenger, Dally; The Master, Hachette Livre, Sydney 2007 {{ISBN. 978 0 7336 2200 7
5. {{cite NSW SHR. 5051425. Double Bay Compressed Air Ejector Station
6. {{cite NSW SHR. 5045709. Gladswood House
7. {{cite NSW SHR. 5045523. Overthorpe
8. {{cite NSW SHR. 5014213. Fairwater
9. {{cite NSW SHR. 5045516. Houses
10. {{Census 2021 AUS
11. (1990). "Watson, John Christian (Chris) (1867–1941)". Melbourne University Press.
12. (1986). "Littlejohn, Emma Linda Palmer (1883–1949)". Melbourne University Press.