North Ryde is a suburb about 15km north west of Sydney's CBD. Its claim to fame is it's one of Australia's major business hubs and is also home to Macquarie University. The area was originally known by its Aboriginal name Wallumatta, but was later renamed after a popular business 'Ryde Store', which operated around the 1840s. The owner, Mr G.M.Pope had named it after his birthplace in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, UK. Prior to World War II the area remained pretty much rural but after the state government purchased and subdivided the land it boomed in the 1950s and 60s.