Envision a landscape transformed. North Ryde evolved from farms to a bustling business hub. Now, let’s journey through the vibrant suburb of North Ryde. It sits 15 kilometers northwest of Sydney’s central business district. North Ryde is part of the City of Ryde.
North Ryde’s story is one of remarkable change. The earliest mention of North Ryde came after 1879. City View Public School changed its name to North Ryde Public School. Farming dominated North Ryde until 1897. Then, a Catholic parish bought much of the land. North Ryde got its name from nearby Ryde. G.M. Pope named his business ‘Ryde Store’ after his birthplace. Ryde is a town on the Isle of Wight in the UK.
Before European settlement, Indigenous Australians called this area Wallumatta. This name lives on in the Wallumatta Nature Reserve. It protects a tiny bit of original turpentine-ironbark forest.
Ryde ranks as Australia’s third-oldest European settlement. In 1792, it was named “Eastern Farms”. Later, it became known as Kissing Point. North Ryde emerged in the mid-19th century. It started as a farming area next to Ryde. The Field of Mars Common was dangerous. Escaped convicts and bushrangers frequented it.
Jane Wood was the first settler to get a land grant here in 1800. Other early settlers included David Brown and William Kent Jnr. James Weavers, a farm labourer, received a land grant in what is now Putney. He purchased Jane Wood’s farm later now the site of the North Ryde Golf Course.
North Ryde hosted motorcycle racing in the late 1920s. The North Ryde Speedway was located opposite the present-day School of Arts. It was on what is now part of North Ryde Golf Course.
During World War II, North Ryde housed a large army base. It held vehicles and equipment.
After the war, North Ryde transitioned from rural to suburban. The government purchased and subdivided land for housing. Many older buildings were demolished.
Cox’s Road is North Ryde’s main street. It was named after Joseph Cox. Joseph Cox was a landowner in the area. The North Ryde School of Arts and Literary Institute was built in 1901. It became a community hub.
An interesting fact: the S.M.C Electric Lighting Substation No. 79 was completed in 1916. It never supplied electricity. It was just used as a storehouse. It’s now a heritage-listed building.
In 2021, North Ryde had a population of 14,043. North Ryde has many businesses. The CSIRO Division of Food Preservation moved here in 1961. Macquarie University’s establishment boosted the area.
North Ryde Public School opened in 1878. It was originally called City View Public School. The city of Sydney was visible from its roof.
Macquarie Hospital started in 1959. It was originally known as the North Ryde Mental Asylum. Macquarie University Hospital is a specialist private hospital. It opened in 2010.
The Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium opened in 1922. The Northern Suburbs Crematorium opened in 1933.
North Ryde railway station opened in 2009. It provides access to the Sydney Metro.
North Ryde boasts parks and reserves. These include North Ryde Common and Lane Cove National Park.
North Ryde Golf Club features an 18-hole course. North Ryde RSL Community Club offers dining and entertainment.
Today, North Ryde stands as a vibrant suburb. It has a blend of history, business, and community. Its transformation tells a compelling story of growth.