Municipality of Woollahra

Municipality of Woollahra New South Wales
Population:	55,228(2009)[1]
• Density:	4400/km² (11,395.9/sq mi)
Area:	12 km² (4.6 sq mi)
Mayor:	Susan Wynne
Council Seat:	Double Bay
Region:	Metropolitan Sydney
State District:	Vaucluse, Sydney
Federal Division:	Wentworth
Website: http://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/
LGAs around Municipality of Woollahra: City of Sydney Municipality of Woollahra Waverley City of Randwick

The Municipality of Woollahra is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The administrative centre of the Municipality of Woollahra is located on New South Head Road at Double Bay. The Mayor of Woollahra is Councillor Susan Wynne.

Woollahra is an area steeped in natural beauty and heritage appealing to residents, visitors and tourists who enjoy its many parks, waterfront locations and historical buildings.

The community is culturally diverse, creative and well educated, featuring a skilled and varied business community.

Located in Sydney's eastern subrubs, near the Sydney CBD, Woollahra is bounded by Sydney Harbour in the north,Waverley Council in the east, Randwick City in the south and the City of Sydney in the west.

Suburbs in the Woollahra Municipality

Suburbs in the area include:

• Bellevue Hill
• Darling Point
• Double Bay
• Edgecliff
• Paddington
• Point Piper
• Rose Bay
• Vaucluse
• Watsons Bay
• Woollahra

Parts of Edgecliff, Rose Bay and Vaucluse which are shared with Waverley Council. Parts of Paddington are also shared with the City of Sydney.

Woollahra Council Chambers (Redleaf)

History of Woollahra

The name 'Woollahra' is thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning 'meeting ground'. The original custodians of Woollahra were the Cadigal and Birrabirragal Aboriginal people. European settlement dates from 1790, althought development was minimal until the 1860s when the Woollahra district became a Local Government Area.

Woollahra largely developed as a residental locality. A few small local industries were established in Woollahra, Dobule Bay and Paddington, but with the gentrification of Paddington and Woollahra in the 1960s, most of these cottage industries had vanished by the end of the 20th century.

Woollahra's cultural heritage has been enriched by the influx of people from many different cultural backgrounds. Some of the influential immigrants to Woollahra have been the Chinese market gardeners, who began leasing land in Double Bay gully and Rose Bay in the 1880s; the Portuguese whalers who settled at WAtsons BAy in the 19th century, building a church and becoming a part of the village life, and the many Europeans who migrated after World War II and helped change the face of commercial centres such as Double Bay.

Woollahra Municipal Council

Woollahra Municipal Council is composed of fifteen councillors elected proportionally. The area is divided into five wards, each electing three councillors. The mayor is not directly elected.^[2] The current makeup of the council is as follows:^[2]

Party		Councillors
	Liberal Party of Australia	4
	Residents First Woollahra	4
	The Greens	3
	Independent	4
	Total	15

The current council, elected in 2008, is:^[2]

Ward	Councillor		Party	Notes
Bellevue Hill		Isabelle Shapiro	Independent
		Nicola Grieve	Greens
		Sean Carmichael	Liberal
Cooper		Andrew Petrie	Independent
		David Shoebridge	Greens
		Malcolm Young	Residents First
Double Bay		Chris Howe	Independent
		Ian Plater	Residents First
		Toni Zeltzer	Liberal	Deputy Mayor
Paddington		Greg Medcraft	Residents First
		Peter Cavanagh	Liberal
		Susan Jarnason	Greens
Vaucluse		Anthony Boskovitz	Liberal
		Lucienne Edelman	Independent
		Susan Wynne	Residents First	Mayor

Lifestyle

The Woollahra community is one of families, young adults, and older people, with the population ageing at a rapid rate and a growing number of couples with children. Residents from a number of cultural backgrounds live in the area.

The area is culturally and historically rich with many sites of Aboriginal significance, heritage conservation areas and items listed in the Register of National Estate. Major natural features of the area include Sydney Harbour National Park and Gap Park, Watsons Bay. Woollahra's leafy harbourside parks and beaches are a major attraction for its community and visitors. Woollahra also has the greatest concentration of private galleries and major art auction houses in Australia.

There are a range of popular shopping destinations in and around the municipality, including:

Bellevue Hill Village is located at the top of the hill on either side of Bellevue Road. The Shopping Village includes a range of cafes, food and drink providers, and a wonderful range of services and personal services.

Double Bay is Sydney's smartest shopping centre with the accent on high fashion and designer labels. Boutiques, cafes, bookshops and galleries give the impression that it is the centre of a small sophisticated European city.

The Double Bay Organic Food and Produce markets are held every Thursday from 8am to 2pm and are a much-loved attraction in the village, showcasing the freshest produce, bread, and organic food products.

Edgecliff is centred on the busy Edgecliff Centre above the Edgecliff Bus/Rail Interchange. With easy access to public transport or underground parking, the Centre is easily accessible for goods from the supermarket and for other daily needs.

Paddington Oxford Street, and nearby areas are some of Sydney's trendiest shopping areas. Fashion, music, books, arts and crafts, homewares and food gives this area a special appeal to the young and those interested in the latest fashions.

Paddington Markets were established in 1973. The Markets are held on Oxford Street on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. For more information, phone [phone] or visit the Paddington Markets website.

Queen Street and West Woollahra and nearby streets are the centre of the fashion, arts and antique trade in Sydney. One of the most beautiful shopping villages in Sydney its boutiques, antique shops, galleries, cafes and decorator shops as well as its mix of 19th, early 20th century and contemporary architecture makes the district a favoured area for a pleasant day out enjoying heritage and village ambience, shopping and spending time with friends. For more information on local shopping, services and entertainment go to Woollahra Village.

Rose Bay is a busy suburban centre that retains something of a relaxed village feel. It is a favourite with locals shopping for everyday needs yet also has a range of boutiques and homeware stores that gives it a touch of sophistication.

Bondi Junction is the commercial centre of the Eastern Suburbs. The range of shops on the northern side of Oxford Street include large department stores and smaller shops specialising in clothing, homewares, office and recreational goods.

External links

• Woollahra Municipal Council website
• 2001 Census Information

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 March 2010). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2008–09". http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features42008-09?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2008-09&num=&view=. Retrieved 3 June 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Woollahra Municipal Council". 2008 Election results. Electoral Commission NSW. http://www.lg.elections.nsw.gov.au/LGE2008/result.Woollahra.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03. ^{[dead link]}

Coordinates: 33°53′S 151°15′E / 33.883°S 151.25°E / -33.883; 151.25