We would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land the Gammeraygal/Cammeraygal people, on which we meet today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today.

About Northbridge

Northbridge is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located 6 kilometres north of the Sydney Central Business District, in the local government area of Willoughby City Council (WCC).

Northbridge took its name from its location, north of a sandstone suspension bridge built in 1892 and celebrated the centenary of the naming of ‘Northbridge’ in 2013.

According to the Office of Environment & Heritage, the offical name of the bridge is ‘Suspension Bridge’ however other names include: Northbridge Suspension Bridge, Cammeray Bridge, Long Gully Bridge.

The Suspension Bridge

The Suspension Bridge in Northbridge is of State significance. It was built as a steel suspension bridge with sandstone turreted towers by a private syndicate to promote residential development and was opened to traffic in in 1892. It was transferred to the Department of Main Roads in 1935 and rebuilt as a reinforced concrete two rib arch bridge, with original towers intact, in 1939.

The bridge is intimately associated with the residential development of the area to the north of the bridge, essential infrastructure which allowed the area’s development to proceed in the late nineteenth century. The process of the design and construction of the arch is illustrative of an era in the history of bridge building in the Department of Main Roads (DMR) and of contemporary concern with aesthetic and historical landmarks and their preservation. The bridge is a distinctive structure, both graceful and impressive, and situated in a highly attractive setting. The design of the arch demonstrates creativity in its response to a highly individual technical problem and in its aesthetic sympathy with the original towers of the suspension bridge. The concrete arch makes an important historical, technical and aesthetic contribution to the suspension bridge, which is already highly valued by the community, and is of considerable interest in its own right.

The Suspension Bridge is the entrance to our suburb and Willoughby City Council area which is why it is the logo of – Northbridge Progress Association (NPA).

Northbridge Progress Association (NPA)

Progress associations are local resident associations, owned and run by their members. Any resident within the City of Willoughby is entitled to and welcome to become a member of their local progress association. They often communicate their concerns and suggestions to appropriate government departments, the local council or other relevant organisations.

The Northbridge Progress Association was formed in June 1919 ‘to do everything possible to further the interests of the district of Northbridge’. Today our constitution states, the objects for which the association is established:

(a) To preserve or improve for its residents, the amenity and environment of the suburb of Northbridge;

(b) T o affiliate with, establish, promote or assist in establishing or promoting any other association or body whose objects are substantially similar to the objects of the association or the establishment, promotion or assistance of which may be beneficial to the association;

(c) In promotion of the objects of the association to maintain and pursue discussion in matters of business on a non-sectarian and non-political basis;

(d) To do any of the foregoing matters or things either alone or jointly or in co-operation with any government or other authority, institution, company or person as the association may consider proper; and

(e) To do all such other things as the association deems to be directly or indirectly incidental or conducive to the attainment of any or all of the above objects.

All nine progress associations in the city are members of the Federation of Willoughby Progress Associations. This umbrella body discusses and acts on matters of general concern to the whole Willoughby community.

The 202

The newsletter of the NPA is named The 202 (after the local bus route) and is published quarterly and delivered free to all residents by a voluntary team.