Vaucluse, New South Wales

Vaucluse Sydney, New South Wales
Overlooking Diamond Bay and the Tasman Sea from Chris Bang Crescent Vaucluse
Vaucluse
Coordinates	33°51′21″S 151°16′16″E / 33.85583°S 151.27111°E / -33.85583; 151.27111Coordinates: 33°51′21″S 151°16′16″E / 33.85583°S 151.27111°E / -33.85583; 151.27111
Population	7,919 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	2030
Location	9 km (6 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Waverley Council, Municipality of Woollahra
State electorate(s)	Vaucluse
Federal Division(s)	Wentworth
Suburbs around Vaucluse: Watsons Bay Port Jackson Vaucluse Tasman Sea Rose Bay Rose Bay Dover Heights

Vaucluse is an affluent eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Vaucluse is located 8 kilometres (5 mi) north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Waverley Council and the Municipality of Woollahra.

Vaucluse is located on the South Head peninsula, just south of The Gap with Sydney Harbour on the west and the Tasman Sea to the east. The Sydney Harbour side of the suburb commands views across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The adjacent suburbs are Watsons Bay, to the north and Rose Bay and Dover Heights to the south.

Vaucluse is a mainly residential suburb. For many years, it was the most affluent suburb in Sydney and in terms of houses and properties is still in the top five most expensive suburbs. Tahiti, a Hawaiian-style residence in tropical gardens above Hermit Bay, set Australian residential record when it sold to a trio of South Africans (the Krok brothers) for more than $29 million in September 2007. The Australian residential record was overtaken by Leon Kamenev, the founder of Menulog purchasing 4 waterfront properties on prestigious Coolong Road for a combined $80 million in April 2016.

Before European settlement, the area where Vaucluse is now located was inhabited by the Birrabirragal aboriginal clan, who belonged to the coastal Dharug language group. The first European activity in the area took place not long after settlement, when a makeshift signalling station was set up on the ridge overlooking the ocean. Its role was to signal the colony if a ship was approaching. Pilots based at Camp Cove, Watsons Bay, could then meet the ship and guide it through the harbour. A formal signal station was established in 1790, serviced by a bridle trail that later became Old South Head Road in 1811.