North Bondi, New South Wales

This article is about North Bondi. For other uses, see Bondi (disambiguation).

North Bondi Sydney, New South Wales
General view of North Bondi
Population:	8,550[1]
Established:	1851
Postcode:	2026
Location:	7 km (4 mi) east of Sydney CBD
LGA:	Waverley Council
State District:	Vaucluse
Federal Division:	Wentworth
Suburbs around North Bondi: Rose Bay Rose Bay Dover Heights Bellevue Hill North Bondi Tasman Sea Waverley Bondi Beach

Residential area in North Bondi, New South Wales

Campbell Parade, North Bondi, the site of the former semi underground tram cutting where trams once terminated^[2]

North Bondi is a coastal, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Bondi is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council.

North Bondi is a mostly residential area neighbouring Bondi Beach and the suburb of Bondi, as well as Bondi Junction, the commercial centre. Ben Buckler is a locality in North Bondi.

History

Bondi is an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rock. It has been spelt a number of different ways over time, Boondi, Bundi, Bundye. Rock carvings can be found on the cliffs at North Bondi. The whole Bondi area was part of a 200-acre (0.81 km²) land grant to road-builder William Roberts in 1809. In 1851, Edward Smith Hall, editor of the Sydney Monitor, purchased the land for 200 pounds.^[3]

Rathouse

On 22 March 1944, original members of the Rats of Tobruk formed the North Bondi Sub-Branch of the Returned and Services League of Australia and it is still known in modern times as Tobruk House or The Rathouse.^[4] In 2003, the New York Times ran an article on The Rathouse calling it "an ideal beachside hang out."^[5]

Ben Buckler Gun Battery

The Ben Buckler Gun Battery was constructed in 1892 and was intended to protect the colony and the approaches to Sydney Harbour from enemy vessels standing off the coast. During the 1950s the army vacated the premises and the fortification was buried. In the mid-1990s, the site was excavated by Water Board engineers planning to install a new pipeline. The site has been reburied and is currently under Hugh Bamford Reserve.^[6][7]

Tram to North Bondi

Main article: Trams in Sydney

Tram services to North Bondi from the CBD operated from either Circular Quay ( via Bridge and Elizabeth Streets) or Railway Square (via Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets), to Oxford Street. The line then passed down Oxford Street to Bondi Junction, where it branched off from Bronte services, to run down Bondi Road to Fletcher Street, Campbell Parade and then to the North Bondi tram terminus. A feature of this line was the large 3 track terminus cut into a hillside at North Bondi, which opened in 1946, as well as an underpass at 331a Bondi Road. Trams entered onto Campbell Parade via the under pass at a point where Bondi Road was too steep. The underpass and cutting have now been filled in, part of which is now public reserve and units.^{[8] [9]}

North Bondi beach

The line opened in 1884 as a steam tramway to Bondi, then to Bondi Beach in 1894. Electric services commenced in 1902. The line closed in 1960. The tram line followed the current route of bus 380 as far as North Bondi.

The service also travelled via Paddington and Bellevue Hill. Heading south down Elizabeth Street from Circular Quay, the line turned left into Park Street, then wound through East Sydney. A feature was the tram only viaduct over Barcom Avenue and Boundary Street in Darlinghurst as the line headed into MacDonald Street. This viaduct is now a road bridge. The line then travelled to Paddington and down Curlewis Street in Bondi to join the Bondi Beach via the Bondi Junction line on Campbell Parade, to the North Bondi terminus. The line follows approximately the current route of bus 389.^[2]

Landmarks

Bondi Golf Course sits on the coast, east of Military Road. North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club sits beside the beach in Biddigal Reserve.

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  Art Deco shops and flats

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  Aboriginal rock carvings

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  Bondi Golf Course

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  Sewer ventilation shaft in Bondi Golf Course

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "North Bondi (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC11721&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.bondivillage.com/tramrems.htm
3. ^ The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 33
4. ^ The Rathouse History as found on Tobrukhouse.com (retrieved 6 September 2009)
5. ^ Borden, Margaret, Bondi, Beyond The Beach, New York Times, November 16, 2003, section 5, page 10
6. ^ Welcome to Waverley Library
7. ^ NSW Heritage Office Website - Listing Heritage Items - State Heritage Register - Item View
8. ^ http://www.bondivillage.com/tramsyd.htm
9. ^ http://www.secretsofasydneypast.com/2008/02/tram-to-bondi.html

External links

• North Bondi, New South Wales is at coordinates 33°53′16″S 151°16′51″E / 33.88788°S 151.28080°E / -33.88788; 151.28080Coordinates: 33°53′16″S 151°16′51″E / 33.88788°S 151.28080°E / -33.88788; 151.28080