The City of Ryde is a predominantly residential LGA in northern Sydney between 8 and 15 kilometres north west of the Sydney GPO. The City features employment areas around Macquarie Park, notably Macquarie University, as well as Meadowbank, although the latter area has seen considerable redevelopment to residential uses in recent years. Commercial activity tends to be concentrated around old towns and transport nodes. These include Top Ryde, Eastwood and West Ryde, although in more recent decades most growth has occurred in Macquarie Park at the Macquarie Shopping Centre near the University.
While early residential development in Ryde dates from the late nineteenth century, with the opening of the railway line to Hornsby, the most significant periods of development in the City have been in the interwar and post-war period. The initial development which was focussed around railway stations, tram routes and along the Parramatta River spread as car ownership increased and infrastructure (especially roads and bridges) improved. By 1960, much of the City had been urbanised, although northern areas (North Ryde, Marsfield and Macquarie Park) remained as predominantly horticultural areas. By the 1980s, few areas remained for greenfield residential development and greater rates of infill and redevelopment began. This is a process that has continued to the current time, with redevelopment of old industrial areas along the Parramatta River. The population of the City of Ryde has been growing in the last five years after two decades of relative stagnation or minimal population growth.
The primary housing market role that the City has played in the post war era has been to provide housing for families. This role continues to some extent, although the influence of Macquarie University has become more dominant as student numbers have grown, particularly those from overseas. This has resulted in many more young people (18-29 years) migrating to the City than previously. The availability of more affordable family housing in neighbouring areas to the west and north of the City has lead to a minor net loss of families. It is assumed that a number of the migration patterns will continue into the future, most notably flows into the City from overseas and loss of persons to neighbouring areas.
Within the City of Ryde, areas have developed and will continue to evolve different roles within the housing market. Variations occur due to when areas were settled, the range of land uses in the area, developer interest and the varying planning policies in play. Macquarie Park, Marsfield and Eastwood tend to gain people in their late teens and early twenties due to the proximity to Macquarie University. Ryde (Top Ryde), Meadowbank-Melrose Park, Gladesville-Tennyson Point and West Ryde also attract young adults, albeit marginally older (20-29 years). Putney and Denistone-Denistone East-Denistone East continue to attract young and established families. With a greater share of development in areas that attract young people, a greater share of young adults would be expected.
There are also significant differences in the supply of residential property within the City which will also have a major influence in structuring different population and household futures over the next five to twenty years. A number of development sites have been identified, notably in Macquarie Park, West Ryde, Ryde (Top Ryde), Ryde (South) and Meadowbank-Melrose Park, which will contribute significantly to the City’s population growth over the forecast period. By comparison, Putney, Marsfield, Ryde (Santa Rosa) and Ryde (Field of Mars) are expected to have relatively minimal dwelling growth over the next 25 years.