Henley, New South Wales

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Henley is a small suburb on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, about 9 kilometres west of the city centre. It sits on the north side of the Parramatta River, in the Municipality of Hunter’s Hill. The postcode is 2111 and the population was 455 in the 2021 census.

History in brief
- The area was originally home to the Wallumettagal people of the Eora nation. Their language was a Dharug dialect. The name Henley area has connections to the land once called Moco Boula. Europeans began arriving in 1788, and by the late 1700s Indigenous people were increasingly displaced by illness and colonisation.
- In 1988, an inlet in Henley was renamed Wallumatta Bay to recognise Indigenous history; a plaque was added in 2002.
- After colonisation, land was granted to Dr William Bland and called Blandville. It later became part of the Municipality of Hunter’s Hill in 1861 and was subdivided, becoming the Village of Blandville.
- The Parramatta River became famous for rowing. The Three Brothers rocks near Henley were a race marker, and the Mercantile Rowing Club started in Henley in 1874. A memorial to World Sculling Champion Henry Ernest Searle was placed on the rocks in 1889.
- The area was renamed Henley in 1895, inspired by Henley-on-Thames in England, a centre of rowing.
- Transport and development continued in the 20th century, including a tram line (1908–1949), the creation of Gladesville Reserve in 1920, and housing on the old Mercantile Rowing Club site in 1947 (later sold for private housing in 1997). A new Gladesville Bridge opened in 1964.

Today
- Henley remains a small, residential area with local services and parks. Nearby landmarks include the Three Brothers rocks and the Parramatta River’s rowing history.
- Education and care: Papilio Early Learning on Crown Street and Riverside Preschool near the Henley Community Centre. Nearby schools include Riverside Girls’ High School in Huntleys Point and Giant Steps Sydney on the grounds of Gladesville Hospital.
- Transport: Buses run along Victoria Road to Sydney CBD, West Ryde, and Parramatta. The Huntley’s Point ferry wharf provides Parramatta River ferry services.

People and culture
- In 2021, about 69.7% of residents were born in Australia, and 75.4% spoke only English at home. The most common religions were Catholic (about 34.9%) and No Religion (about 27%).