Arncliffe, New South Wales

Arncliffe Sydney, New South Wales
Arncliffe Post Office
Population	8,420 (2011 census)
• Density	2,340/km2 (6,060/sq mi)
Established	1840
Postcode(s)	2205
Area	3.6 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Location	11 km (7 mi) south of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Bayside Council
State electorate(s)	Rockdale
Federal Division(s)	Barton
Suburbs around Arncliffe: Bardwell Park Turrella Wolli Creek Bardwell Valley Arncliffe Sydney Airport Bexley Banksia Kyeemagh

Arncliffe is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Arncliffe is 11 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Bayside Council. Arncliffe is part of the St George area.

Arncliffe is south of the Cooks River and Wolli Creek, close to Sydney Airport. Arncliffe is a mostly residential area featuring low density detached and semi-detached houses and some medium density town houses and blocks of flats. There are also some areas of commercial and light industrial developments.

Arncliffe's name comes from a small village called Arncliffe in North Yorkshire, England. The name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, as 'Arneclif', meaning Eagle Cliff. Ron Rathbone in his book "A Village Called Arncliffe" says that an early land speculator, William Hirst, created a subdivision in 1840. It was named The Village of Arncliffe Estate. William Hirst was born in Settle, Yorkshire. Settle is a market town serving a cluster of villages, of which Arncliffe is reputed to be the prettiest. Rathbone says it is likely that Hirst gave Arncliffe its name, although it was more than two decades before it received official recognition.

Alderman E.G. Barton, worked to develop the district, including the reclamation 120 acres (0.49 km²) of swampland where Barton Park and Kogarah Golf Links now stand. James Beehag also owned land in the area and later became one of Rockdale's early mayors.