Bellevue Hill, New South Wales

Bellevue Hill is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, located 5 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the Municipality of Woollahra.
The suburb is located within the Division of Wentworth electorate, which is the wealthiest in Australia. The suburb has long been home to Australia's most notable billionaires.
In 2018, Bellevue Hill was found to be the most expensive suburb in Australia, with the highest median house price of $5.4 million. In 2019, Bellevue Hill was also recognised as one of wealthiest suburbs in Australia, with one of the highest taxable income averages in the country.
History.
In the early 19th century, Irish-Australian immigrants referred to the area as Vinegar Hill, after the Battle of Vinegar Hill, an engagement during the 1798 uprising of the United Irishmen in south-east Ireland. Governor Lachlan Macquarie took great exception to this and decided to name the suburb Bellevue Hill, the "belle vue" meaning "beautiful view".
Later in that century, Bellevue Hill became the home of the Fairfax family, who lived at "Trahlee", in Ginahgulla Road, which was leased by James Fairfax from 1866 to 1878. They then moved to Ginahgulla (now known as Fairfax House and owned by The Scots College) on the same road. The Fairfax family were responsible for establishing the Fairfax Media empire, which became a major force in the Australian news media (see also John Fairfax).
Former tram service.
The line to Bellevue Hill opened in 1909. Services operated from Circular Quay via Elizabeth Street and Park Street. Trams heading south from Circular Quay down Elizabeth Street swung left into Park Street, via a right turn into Yurong Street, a left turn into Stanley Street, a right turn into Bourke Street, then a left turn into Burton Street.
A feature was the tram only viaduct over Barcom Ave and Boundary Street in Darlinghurst as the line headed into MacDonald Street. This viaduct is now a road bridge. The line then twisted down Glenmore, Gurner and Hargreave Streets in Paddington, then Moncur and Queen Streets in Woollahra. Here, a connection to Oxford Street allowed access to the Waverley Depot. The line then travelled down Edgecliff and Victoria Roads, then wound along Birriga Road in Bellevue Hill, finally running down Curlewis Street in Bondi to join the Bondi Beach via Bondi Junction line on Campbell Parade, to the North Bondi terminus. The line was double track throughout with numerous points to allow short working.
The line was cut back to Ocean Street, Woollahra in 1955; the remainder closed on 27 June 1959.
The line followed approximately the current route of bus 389 between the city and Woollahra and route X84 between Woollahra and Bondi Beach.
Demographics.
According to the 2011 census of Population, there were 10,765 residents in Bellevue Hill. 56.3% of residents were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 5.1%, South Africa 4.7% and New Zealand 2.4%. 73.9% of residents spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Hebrew 1.3%, Cantonese 1.3% and Mandarin 1.1%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Judaism 23.0%, No Religion 19.2% and Catholic 16.7%. The most common occupations for residents were Professionals 41.9%, Managers 20.7% and Clerical and Administrative Workers 12.8%.
In the 2016 census, 10,716 residents were counted. 
Real estate.
Bellevue Hill is well known for having some of the most exclusive real estate in Australia. The "Rona" Estate, located on Ginahgulla Road, sold for close to $60 million in 2018, making it one of Australia's most expensive homes. The historic Queen Anne home Caerleon was sold for $22 million in January 2008. This price was surpassed by the $23 million paid for a mansion in Victoria Road in November 2009. The mansion had previously been used by the French consulate since 1955. One person who inspected it was actor Russell Crowe, who subsequently did not take part in the bidding. The house was bought by Lachlan Murdoch.
Actress Toni Collette sold her Bellevue Hill home in August 2009 for $6.4 million. The house, El Mio, had been the base for Collette and her husband, musician David Galafassi, since they bought it in 2004 for $5 million. The house was located in Rupertswood Avenue and was designed in 1928 in the Spanish Mission style. It was initially passed in at $6.3 million, but was then sold within an hour after successful negotiations with the highest bidder.
Heritage listings.
Bellevue Hill has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
The following buildings are on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate.
Schools.
Bellevue Hill has several schools, including Bellevue Hill Public School and private schools The Scots College and Cranbrook School.
Sport and recreation.
Since 1908, Bellevue Hill has been represented in one of Australia's most popular sporting competitions, the National Rugby League, by the Sydney Roosters, officially known as the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club.