Double Bay Guide

Where it is

Double Bay sits about four kilometres east of the CBD, tucked between Darling Point and Point Piper on the harbour. It’s in the Woollahra local government area, postcode 2028, with Bellevue Hill behind it to the south and Edgecliff to the west. Tiny by Sydney standards, but punches well above its weight.

A brief history

The name comes from the two small inlets that form the bay, with the eastern one also known as Blackburn Cove. In the early colonial days it was a spot for fishermen seeking shelter. Governor Macquarie floated the idea of a botanical garden here in 1821, nothing came of it, and Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell eventually planned a village of 31 lots auctioned off in 1835. By the late 1800s, Chinese market gardeners were working the valleys behind the foreshore and a proper residential community was forming around the water. By the mid-twentieth century, Double Bay had become Sydney’s most glamorous shopping strip, thick with European delis, couture boutiques and a distinctly continental feel. The nickname “Double Pay” stuck, for obvious reasons. It went quiet for a while in the nineties and early 2000s, then quietly reinvented itself. What came back was better, honestly.

Who lives here

About 4,709 people called Double Bay home at the 2021 Census. It’s one of the wealthiest postcodes in Australia, with ATO data putting average taxable income at $255,901. Professionals and managers make up most of the workforce. The community has always had a cosmopolitan character, with a strong European and Israeli influence that you still feel in the cafes and the general vibe on Knox Street on a Thursday morning. It’s not as stuffy as outsiders assume. There are young families here, a lot of downsizers who moved from Bellevue Hill and Vaucluse, and a genuinely local crowd who just like being able to walk to good coffee.

Parks and outdoor spaces

Steyne Park runs along the harbourfront right next to the ferry wharf. There’s a playground, grassy picnic spots and off-leash dog walking, and it fills up fast on weekends with people who’ve just stepped off the ferry from the Quay. Murray Rose Pool, the old Redleaf Pool, is one of those Sydney spots that feels like a genuine secret even though everyone knows about it. It’s a tidal harbour pool with a wooden pontoon, views straight out to Clark Island, and it’s open year-round. Worth the walk down from New South Head Road. Blackburn Gardens is heritage-listed, a bit quieter and more tucked away, with manicured lawns, a sundial and a water feature. Seven Shillings Beach is right there too, small and sheltered and good for a quick swim if you don’t want to deal with Murray Rose Pool’s entry fee.

Schools

Double Bay Public School is on Ocean Avenue and is your local government primary. For secondary and independent options nearby, Cranbrook School and The Scots College are both in Bellevue Hill, Ascham is in Edgecliff, and Reddam House sits right on New South Head Road on the Edgecliff border with preschool through Year 12.

Getting around

The train station is technically Edgecliff but everyone calls it Double Bay and it gets you to Town Hall in about ten minutes on the Eastern Suburbs line. The ferry from the Double Bay wharf to Circular Quay takes around 13 minutes and is genuinely a nice way to start the day. Buses on New South Head Road are frequent, with the 324 and 325 running to the CBD and the 387 connecting to Bondi Junction. The village itself is compact enough that you can walk everywhere once you’re in it, which is most of the point.

Shopping and dining

The action is on Knox Street, Bay Street and Cross Street. Knox Street in particular has become the spine of the new Double Bay, lined with wine bars, restaurants and the kind of boutiques where you actually want to go inside. Lola’s at No. 18 Knox is a neighbourhood favourite for long lunches. Matteo is the place for Italian, loud and convivial and very good pasta. Brera is a wine bar that draws a crowd most nights. For coffee, Double Roasters on Cross Street is solid and unpretentious. The Golden Sheaf on New South Head Road is the local pub for the under-forty crowd, with a big beer garden and live music on weekends. The Royal Oak on New South Head Road is the older, quieter option, a heritage corner pub that’s been there for over 150 years. Honouring their craft, as they’d probably say. On the shopping side, there are independent fashion boutiques and homewares stores running through the village, plus the InterContinental hotel anchoring the Knox Street end and keeping the foot traffic up.

Heritage and landmarks

Blackburn Gardens is heritage-listed and worth a wander, especially if you want harbour views without the crowds at Murray Rose Pool. The Woollahra Council Chambers at Redleaf is a heritage building and the administrative heart of the whole municipality. The Double Bay Sailing Club, going since 1956, runs weekly racing from the wharf and is a proper local institution. The InterContinental Sydney Double Bay is relatively new in the scheme of things but has become a genuine village anchor.

Local government

Double Bay sits within the Double Bay Ward of Woollahra Council, represented by three elected councillors. The council chambers and the main Woollahra library are both located in the suburb, which means Double Bay is effectively running the whole show for the municipality.

Weekly rhythm

Double Bay Market Every Thursday, 9am to 2pm at Guilfoyle Park, Knox Street, Double Bay. This is the weekly heartbeat of the village. Fresh produce, seasonal fruit and veg, artisan pantry goods and local fashion stalls, right in the middle of Knox Street. Go early for the best stuff and plan to grab a coffee from Double Roasters nearby and make a morning of it. Locals treat it as a social event as much as a shopping run.

Frequently asked questions

What is Double Bay known for? Harbourside dining, European cafe culture and a compact village feel that’s genuinely easy to love. It’s reinvented itself as one of Sydney’s best eating and drinking precincts, with Knox Street leading the charge.

What are the best things to do in Double Bay? Swim at Murray Rose Pool, grab a long lunch on Knox Street, walk through Blackburn Gardens, take the ferry back to the Quay at sunset, or hit the Thursday market if you’re around in the morning.

When is the Double Bay Market? Every Thursday, 9am to 2pm at Guilfoyle Park on Knox Street. Fresh produce, gourmet food and some fashion stalls thrown in.

How do I get to Double Bay from the CBD? Train to Edgecliff takes about ten minutes from Town Hall. The ferry from Circular Quay to the Double Bay wharf takes about 13 minutes and is a much nicer option if you’re not in a rush.

Is Double Bay good for families? Yes, more than its reputation suggests. Steyne Park has good playground facilities, the harbourfront is easy for kids, and Double Bay Public School on Ocean Avenue is well-regarded.

Is Double Bay expensive? Yes, it’s one of the wealthiest postcodes in Australia. But coffee is coffee, the market is free to wander, and Murray Rose Pool charges a small entry fee. You don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy the place.