Gladesville, an affluent suburb in Sydney’s Northern Suburbs, is located 10 km north-west of Sydney CBD in the local government area of City of Ryde, and the Municipality of Hunter’s Hill. Gladesville is in the federal electorates of North Sydney and Bennelong.
Gladesville has riverside views and bush settings on the Parramatta River. Named after the suburb, the Gladesville Bridge is a Sydney landmark linking the North Shore and the Inner West.
Before European settlement, Indigenous Australians lived in the Gladesville region. Glades Bay Park overlooks Glades Bay, and still shows evidence of their presence in rock carvings and grinding grooves.
The cottage Rockend is another historical landmark. This was where poet Banjo Paterson lived between 1870 and 1880. It was constructed in 1850. The cottage is still open to the public at Punt Road, Banjo Paterson Park.
The establishment of Tarban Creek Lunatic Asylum on the banks the Parramatta River in 1838 was a major milestone in the growth of the suburb. It was the first purposely built mental asylum in New South Wales. It was renamed the Gladesville Hospital for Mental Disorders in 1869, and the Gladesville Mental Hospital in 1915. It was merged with Macquarie Hospital in 1993 to create the Gladesville Macquarie Hospital. Inpatient services were consolidated at Macquarie Hospital North Ryde in 1997.
The suburb has four elementary schools: Gladesville Public School, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Christ Church Gladesville Preschool and Boronia Park Public Schools. Gladesville is close to several prestigious private schools. Riverside Girls High School, located in Huntleys Point suburb, is just a short drive from Gladesville. Hunters Hill is home to Villa Maria Primary School and St Joseph’s College for Boys. Ryde is home to Holy Cross College (Boys), while Marist Sisters College Woolwich (Girls), is just a short drive away. Ryde Secondary College is a public school located near Ryde.
Gladesville had 11,827 inhabitants at the 2016 census. 65% of respondents stated that they were born in Australia. The suburb has a mix of semi-detached and detached houses.
Gladesville’s commercial district is located on Victoria Road. A small shopping center (Gladesville Shopping Village), is also situated off Cowell Street. Gladesville’s commercial areas are home to many restaurants and cafes that offer a wide range of food including Thai, Vietnamese, Greek and Mexican cuisines. They are close to residential buildings. The Gladesville RSL Club, Gladesville Tavern, The Sawdust, Gladesville Bowling Club, Gladesville Sports Club, and The Bayview Tavern are some of the entertainment venues.