Suburb Profile

Foreshore - King George Park, Rozelle

Rozelle 2039

Originally named Balmain West, the area is separated from the rest of the Peninsula at Elliott, Reynolds and Crescent Streets.

The origin of the name is unknown, but may indirectly have been associated with the wild native parrot. The depth of Rozelle Bay was deeper than surrounding neighbourhood areas and it became the site of the largest timber handling in Sydney until 'container' terminals took over in the 1960's.

A 2-storey mansion Broughton Hall was built by Irishman John Ryan Brennan and much later the property and adjoining land became Callan Park. It was bought in 1873 by the State Government and Rozelle Hospital was built to accommodate patients from the already overcrowded Gladesville Psychiatric hospital.

A ferry called 'Mabel' crossed the river between the two institutions each day. Another of the 33 buildings erected on this 4.5 hectare site was Kirkbridge House, named after an American pioneer in psychiatry and is now a Sydney University College of the Arts campus. In the last decade, Rozelle hospital closed its doors to psychiatric patients after 120 years and subsequent plans to relocate other facilities to Concord Hospital have been put on hold.

Rozelle grew as a working man's suburb with many employed on building the Iron Cove Bridge and the waterfront industry.

There were a number of hotels and a live theatre on the corner of Red Lion Street. Rozelle public school was built in 1876 and 3 years later became a 'superior place of education' because of its courses for high school students. Later on it became a technical college and after Balmain High school was built in the 1920's, Rozelle was redeveloped into a primary school with an excellent reputation today.

Transport today is by ferry and RTA buses.

In the 2006 Census, Rozelle population numbered 7,719 people. 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

77% Australian citizens and 29% born overseas.

13.6% are children, 16.1% over 55 and the median age is 35 years.

73.2% of those are fully employed, with 75.8 professional, managers and administrators. 13.1% are technicians or in trades and sales.

The 2006 Census listed property types in Rozelle as 30.9% are separate houses, 32.8% semi-detached, row or terrace houses and 34% flats, units or apartments.

The median house price for Rozelle in 2008 is $823,000. The median unit price is $580,000.

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