Bondi Beach, Australia
Posted on Sep 02, 2009 under Travel | No CommentDuring the Nineteenth Century, it was controversial and a bit unsafe to swim in the waters off the coastlines of Sydney. There were threats of attacks by stingrays and sharks. Swimming was banned on the beaches between the hours of 9 in the morning and 8 o’clock at night, but still remained a popular activity. By the beginning of the twentieth century however, many of the restrictions we lifted and the attitudes of the officials became more relaxed. The beach lifestyle became synonymous with leisure, democracy and a healthy lifestyle. Bondi Beach is one of the popular beaches in Australia, with a long and rich history.
Archaeological evidence was found in the location of Bondi Point, and artifacts as well as rock paintings and carvings recovered here suggest that this was once home to Aboriginal tribes of the country.
This is located in the Waverly district, and many of the locations, including Bondi, where named using the language of the early inhabitants. Even before the easing of restrictions, Bondi Beach was a favorite spot for local families to either picnic or spend some time in the top restaurants. Sydney residents are still fond of the beach, and it becomes quite populated during the summer months. Early developers wanted to make Bondi a private beach, in response to the growing popularity, and the debates on that subject went back and forth for many years.
The Government did decide however, in 1882, that the beach would in fact remain open to the public. A tramway was built two years later that provided access from the center of city directly to the beach. And while some of the restrictions had been lifted, it was not until 1902 that swimming in public was legal throughout the entire day. Each year in August the run known as City to Surf, has the finish line in Bondi Beach. The race attracts participants from all over the world, more than fifty thousand people complete the fourteen KM run every summer. Many other activities take place throughout the year such as volley ball tournaments, the Australian short film festival and in November the art exhibit sculpture by the sea. Any time of year is a great time to visit Australia’s Bondi Beach.
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