Northbridge is a quiet, leafy suburb with no through traffic as it occupies a peninsula that extends into Middle Harbour, and is surrounded by bush and water on three sides.

He initially regarded the land as valueless but changed his mind when he made a handsome profit by selling some of it to an English syndicate who built the suspension bridge.

Twemlow decided to build a two-storey home called The Hermitage, on Fig Tree Point, from sandstone quarried on the estate, which took a year to cut.

As this was the first house built in this locality, transport was a problem and Twemlow had to sail through The Spit and around Middle Head to Circular Quay, from where he walked to his shop at Sydney Arcade.

Located outside of Northbridge Plaza along Sailors Bay Road are several cafes providing breakfast, lunch and coffee options, and restaurants including Indian, Thai, Japanese, and pizza establishments, offering eat-in or takeaway food.

Of these: Several notable Australians live in Northbridge including former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, federal 'teal' independent MP and businesswoman Kylea Tink, former rugby league champions Laurie Daley and Jason Taylor, former Wallabies player Phil Waugh, Seven News presenter and journalist Chris Reason and Australian journalist Kathryn Robinson.

[16][17] Former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke purchased a waterfront property in Northbridge shortly before the end of his tenure and resided there until his death in 2019.