| Bondi Beach Sydney, New South Wales |
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 Bondi Beach |
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| Population: | 10,373 (2006 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Established: | 1851 | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Property Value: | AUD $1,155,000 (2009) | ||||||||||||
| Location: | 7 km (4 mi) east of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||
| LGA: | Waverley Council | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Vaucluse | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Wentworth | ||||||||||||
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Bondi Beach (pronounced "BOND-eye", or /'bɒndaɪ/) is a popular beach and the name of the surrounding suburb in Sydney, Australia. Bondi Beach is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council, in the Eastern Suburbs. Bondi, North Bondi and Bondi Junction are neighbouring suburbs.
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"Bondi" or "Boondi" is an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks.[2] The Australian Museum records that Bondi means place where a flight of nullas took place.
In 1809, the road builder William Roberts received a grant of land in the area.[3] In 1851, Edward Smith Hall and Francis O'Brien purchased 200 acres (0.81 km2) of the Bondi area that included most of the beach frontage, which was named the "The Bondi Estate." Hall was O'Brien's father-in-law. Between 1855 and 1877 O'Brien purchased his father-in-law's share of the land, renamed the land the "O'Brien Estate," and made the beach and the surrounding land available to the public as a picnic ground and amusement resort. As the beach became increasingly popular, O'Brien threatened to stop public beach access. However, the Municipal Council believed that the Government needed to intervene to make the beach a public reserve. On 9 June 1882, the Bondi Beach became a public beach.[citation needed]
On 6 February 1938, 5 people drowned and over 250 people were rescued after a series of large waves struck the beach and pulled people back into the sea, a day that became known as "Black Sunday".[4]
Bondi Beach was a working class suburb throughout most of the twentieth century. Following World War II, Bondi Beach and the Eastern Suburbs became home for Jewish migrants from Poland, Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Germany, while a steady stream of Jewish immigration continues into the 21st century mainly from South Africa, Russia and Israel, and the area has a number of synagogues, a kosher butcher and the Hakoah Club.
An ordnance[5] governing the decency of swimming costumes was in force between 1935 and 1961, and resulted in public controversy as the two-piece "bikini" became popular after World War II. Waverley Council's beach inspectors, including the legendary Aub Laidlaw, were responsible for enforcing the law and were required to measure the dimensions of swimwear and order offenders against public decency off the beach. The rule became increasingly anachronistic during the 1950's and was replaced in 1961 with one requiring bathers be "clad in a proper and adequate bathing costume", allowing for more subjective judgement of decency. By the 1980s topless bathing had become common at Bondi Beach, especially at the southern end.[6]
Sydney's Water Board maintained an untreated sewage outlet not far from the north end of the beach which was closed in the mid 1990s when a deep water ocean outfall was completed.
Bondi Beach is about one kilometre long and receives many visitors throughout the year. Surf Life Saving Australia has given different hazard ratings to Bondi Beach in 2004. But it remains one of the best beaches in the world. While the northern end has been rated a gentle 4 (with 10 as the most hazardous), the southern side is rated as a 7 due to a famous rip current known as the "Backpackers' Express" because of its proximity to the bus stop, and the unwillingness of tourists to walk the length of the beach to safer swimming. The south end of the beach is generally reserved for surfboard riding. Yellow and red flags define safe swimming areas, and visitors are advised to swim between them. [7]
Somewhat surprisingly, in view of official warnings about the dangers of exposure to the sun, there are no parasols available on the beach, either free or for hire. Those not used to the sun should not let this lull them into a false sense of security as burns can occur much more quickly than expected.
There is an underwater shark net shared, during the summer months, with other beaches along the southern part of the coast. Pods of whales and dolphins have been sighted in the bay during the months of migration. Fairy penguins, while uncommon, are sometimes also seen swimming close to shore.
In 2007, the Guinness World Record for the largest swimsuit photo shoot was set at Bondi Beach, with 1,010 women wearing bikinis taking part.[8]
Bondi Beach was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2008.[9]
Bondi Beach is the end point of the City to Surf Fun Run which is held each year in August. The race attracts over 63,000 entrants who complete the 14 km run from the central business district of Sydney to Bondi Beach. Other annual activities at Bondi Beach include Flickerfest, Australia's premier international short film festival in January, World Environment Day [10] in June, and Sculpture By The Sea in November. In addition to many activities, the Bondi Beach Markets is open every Sunday. Many Irish and British tourists spend Christmas Day at the beach.
An Oceanway connects Bondi to South Head to the north and other beaches to the south up to Coogee.
Bondi Beach hosted the beach volleyball competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics. A temporary 10,000-seat stadium, a much smaller stadium, 2 warm-up courts, and 3 training courts were set up to host the tournament.
Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club [11] is the world's first surf lifesaving club and North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club is a federation club. Both clubs were founded in 1907. Bondi members invented the surf reel and many other icons of lifesaving. Surf Lifesavers from both clubs were involved in the largest rescue ever on a single day, known as 'Black Sunday'. Bondi holds the most Australian Surf Lifesaving Championship gold medals in R&R (rescue & resuscitation) and North Bondi hold the most gold medals in March Past.[citation needed]
The Swimming Club's origin dates back to 1929 and owes its origins to the desire of a band of dedicated local lifesavers who wished to maintain their fitness during the winter months. They formed the Bondi Icebergs Winter Swimming Club and drew up a constitution and elected office bearers. Included in the constitution was a rule that to maintain membership it was mandatory that swimmers compete on three Sundays out of four for a period of five years.
The Icebergs became licensed in 1960 and the members moved from a tin shed into comfortable premises with Bar and Poker Machines. A further update took place in the 1970s enabling the Club to operate on two floors. In 1994, female members were admitted and in 2002 the Club opened their new premises.
Bondi Beach has a commercial area along Campbell Parade and adjacent side streets. Bondi Beach features many popular cafes, restaurants and hotels, with spectacular views of the beach. Hotel Bondi is a famous landmark opposite the beach featuring a number of popular bars and restaurants. The nearby Swiss Grand Hotel Bondi Beach is also a landmark development opposite the beach.
Bondi Pavilion is a community cultural centre, located right on Bondi Beach, which features a theatre, gallery, rehearsal, meeting and function rooms, art workshop, studios.. Bondi Pavilion is the centre for major festivals performances throughout the year.
Numerous festivals and events such as the annual Miss Bondi beauty pageant have made Bondi Beach a popular destination among travellers. The beach has long captured the attention of poets including Joanne Burns, Les Murray and Brook Emery. A skateboarding competition called Bowl-a-Rama is held in February every year.
Bondi Beach has been used as a location for a few Australian and International movies, various television series as well as music videos and a video game.
An article in the Sydney Morning Herald, 6 December 1997 noted the increasing gentrification of the area. Nonetheless the beach remains a diverse, vibrant community. According to the 2006 census, there were 10,373 persons usually resident in Bondi Beach. Country of Birth of these residents was Australia 41.0%, followed by England 6.2%, New Zealand 3.8%, South Africa 1.9%, Ireland 1.3% and France 1.1%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 58.4% of persons. The most common languages other than English spoken at home were: Russian 2.0%, Spanish 1.4%, French 1.4%, German 1.2% and Greek 0.9%. The most common responses for religious affiliation for persons usually resident were No Religion 20.7%, Catholic 18.5%, Anglican 10.0%, Judaism 8.0%, and Eastern Orthodox 2.0%.
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Bondi Beach is a world famous beachside locality of Sydney.
The closest ocean beach to the centre of Sydney, Bondi has become synonymous with Sydney's beach lifestyle, and is very popular with tourists, residents, and resident tourists.
Bondi has become a favourite of the "barmy army" of British tourists, who annually gather on its sands for a Southern Hemisphere Christmas in the sun.[1] Bondi is also now home to numerous youth hostels with backpackers who congregate mainly in the summer months. It is not uncommon to hear Norwegian, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish or Spanish while walking across the beach or through the cafes.
Bondi Beach has a vaguely alternative feel, despite the obvious commercialism present, and attracts a large number of "individuals"; watch out, for example, for the guy who will strip off near the shops, to walk stark naked through the traffic on Campbell Parade, before going down to the beach.
Bondi Beach is very tolerant; topless sunbathing is common and gay and lesbian couples displaying affection can be seen.
Don't confuse Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach. Getting to Bondi Junction is just one step on the way to the beach. It is about a 3km walk from one to the other, so you may want to consider your transport options.
You will save up to 25 minutes travel time by taking the train to Bondi Junction, and catching the bus from there, over the equivalent bus trip all the way from the city. Tickets are available to "Bondi Beach" from any train station that include the train to Bondi Junction and the 10 minute bus ride from there to Bondi Beach.
From central Sydney, take the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line trains from Central, Town Hall or Martin Place stations to Bondi Junction (10 mins). From there, a bus (lines 380, 381, 382, 333 express, L82, 15 mins), will get you to Bondi Beach (2 km downhill). Ther is no need to write down the bus numbers since stand A1 at Bondi Junction is just for buses going to Bondi Beach, and they depart frequently. Bondi Junction has a large bus terminal, but it is quite well signposted. The train ride takes 10 minutes from Town Hall to Bondi Junction.
Buses run to Bondi Beach every 5 minutes from Bondi Junction and the City during the day (6AM till 9PM) and then at 15 minute intervals from approximately (9PM till 1AM) then every half hour during the early hours.
The best route from the city is the 333. The 333 bus is a prepay only bus, and you must purchase a ticket in advance from the kiosk at Circular Quay or from a newsagent (if you don't already have a travelpass or travelten).
Other routes 380, 382, 381 or X84 with the destinations showing North Bondi, Dover Heights, Watsons Bay or Bondi Beach also go to Bondi Beach, but make more stops, and it is usually worth waiting for the next 333. You can buy tickets on the bus (or use the prepaid tickets as well).
For more information see the transport infoline [2].
Sydney ferries don't go outside the harbour, and you can't get a ferry to Bondi Beach. However if you want to avoid the jams of Oxford Street or the underground railway, take the ferry to Watson's Bay and the 380 bus from there to Bondi Beach. Walk across the park from Watson's Bay wharf to the bus terminus. Ferries run about every 45 minutes, and buses every 20 minutes or so. Allow some extra time for fish and chips and Doyles on the water's edge, and to see cliffside at The Gap. On busy summer weekends Sydney ferries run to capacity, and they won't overload the ferry. On a sunny weekend you should turn up 15 minutes before your ferry departure time, or be prepared to wait for the next one.
There are some times when it is literally just impossible to park at Bondi Beach. After mid-morning on a sunny summer weekend, expect to end up in a jam of cars cruising for parking spots. There is no large parking station that you can just pay your money and park. If you are going to drive, go early.
However, finding the beach by road is simple. Just take Oxford Street or the Eastern Distributor from the city and follow the signs.
Taxis from the airport cost around $40 and take about 25 minutes.
Shuttle services run from the airport direct to Bondi Beach and cost around $15 per person. You need to get on a eastern suburbs shuttle. [3]
The cheapest way is to get bus 400 to Bondi Junction direct from the airport, and then change at Bondi Junction interchange to stand A1 for the bus to Bondi Beach.
You can also get the train to Bondi Junction.
See the crowds, the waves, the water, the sand, the sunbathers, the teenagers showing off, the tourists with long socks and shoes straight off the tour coach next to the skimpily clad sunbathers. It is all part of the Bondi Beach Scene.
If you see past the crowds, the beach itself is actually naturally scenic, and there is a esplanade running along the beach front and along to the rocks either side.
There are often displays in the historic Bondi Pavilion. Usually free, it is worth a quick look around.
There are kiosks on the beach, alfresco dining in the pavilion with the tables stretching right onto the sand. Unless you are planning a Saturday or Friday night out, there is usually no need to book in advance. Just walk around and find somewhere you like, or grab fish and chips and eat on the beach.
It is quite possible to go to Bondi Beach on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and not bother with any of that sand or water. The two biggest bars in Bondi are the Beach Road Hotel and Bondi Hotel. Both are excellent places to catch the finals in a cricket match or have a few drinks with your mates. Another great bar is at the previously mentioned Bondi Icebergs, it has a great view of the beach and relatively cheap drinks. Make sure to take some form of ID that proves you live outside a 5km radius as this is a club and the rule require that you be a member if you are inside 5km.
Of course, if you want to be "seen" then go for Ravesis on the corner of Hall St and Campbell parade. It attracts the beautiful people.. or at least those who think they are beautiful.
Bondi locals will tend to go for BB's Bar Bondi [15]. Established in 1959 BB's is a blues n roots, rock n roll live music venue. Recently relocated from its cramped spot on Curlewis St this funky little place is hidden in an atrium between the Bondi surf co shop and Bondi Ink on 78 Campbell Parade. Now offers food at affordable prices. There's always a happy hour from 5-7pm.
Congratulations on making it to the world famous Bondi Beach. Time now to discover some of Sydney's other fantastic but lesser known beaches up and down the Sydney coast. Each has its own character. Try the other Eastern Suburbs beaches, some within walking distance. Cronulla Beach is just over the Georges River further south. Sydney's Northern Beaches stretching north from Manly to Palm Beach.
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[[File:|right|thumb|300px|Bondi Beach is popular with tourists]] Bondi Beach is a beach in Sydney, Australia, about one kilometre long and roughly seven kilometres from the centre of the city. Bondi beach is one of the world's greatest beaches, and is one of Sydney's main tourist attractions. Large numbers of tourists visit Bondi Beach throughout the year, and many Irish and British tourists spend Christmas Day there.
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