Palm Beach, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Palm Beach
city = Sydney
state = nsw

---

caption = A view of Palm Beach from Barrenjoey Lighthouse
lga = Pittwater Council
postcode = 2108
est = 1911
pop = 1,601 (2001 census) [Census 2001 AUS|id=SSC12856|name=Palm Beach (State Suburb)|accessdate=2007-06-30|quick=on]
area = 2.6
propval = [http://www.domain.com.au/public/suburbprofile.aspx?suburb=Palm%20Beach&postcode=2108 $3,000,000] (2006)
stategov = Pittwater
fedgov = Mackellar
near-nw =
near-n = "Broken Bay"
near-ne =
near-w = "Pittwater"
near-e = "Tasman Sea"
near-sw = Clareville
near-s = Avalon
near-se = Whale Beach
dist1 = 41
dir1 = north
location1= Sydney CBD

Palm Beach is a northern beachside suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Palm Beach is located 41 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Pittwater Council, in the Northern Beaches region. Palm Beach sits on a peninsula at the end of Barrenjoey Road, between Pittwater and Broken Bay.Sydway street directory, 11th Edition 2006, Maps 159-160] Palm Beach is sometimes colloquially referred to as 'Palmy'.

Palm Beach is used for exterior filming of soap opera Home and Away, as the fictional town of Summer Bay.

Geography

Palm Beach is bounded by Broken Bay to the north, the Tasman Sea (within the South Pacific Ocean) to the east, Whale Beach, Avalon and Clareville to the south, and Pittwater to the west. Barrenjoey Headland, which is in the north of the suburb, is part of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The headland at the northernmost point rises quite sharply from the beach to over 100 metres above sea level, and features an operational lighthouse. The narrow sand spit linking the south side of the headland to the rest of Palm beach had extensive fencing and shrub planting undertaken during the 1980s to combat sand erosion.

Localities

There are 5 localities at Palm Beach:
* Barrenjoey
* Sand Point
* Careel Bay
* Paradise Beach
* North Avalon

Landmarks

* Barrenjoey Lighthouse
* Palm Beach-Boanbong Water Reservoir
* Palm Beach-McKay Water Reservoir

History

Origin of the name

The southern end of the Palm Beach is marked as Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour on a map of 1832. Palm Beach was later named after the Cabbage Tree palms "livistona australis" that were near Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour. The plant's species name gave origin to Livistona Lane, off Palm Beach Road.

Aboriginal history

Pittwater and the Northern Beaches, including Palm Beach, was the land of the Garigal and Cannalgal people, part of the Guringai language group. These people lived in family groups and moved around the area. The coast provided an abundant food supply. Fish was the staple diet, including shellfish such as oysters, whelks, and mussels. Stranded whales were eaten, but not hunted directly. Men and women were highly skilled at fishing, both from the shore and from canoes using spears, lines with shell or bone hooks, and nets, with chewed shellfish or discarded fish for bait. Often a small fire was kept alight on a bed of seaweed in the canoe and the catch cooked on board. Other food sources were birds, reptiles, marsupials, as well as roots, fruits, berries, and nuts.

Initially Aborigines were hospitable towards European explorers, but misunderstanding and hostility developed. European settlement in 1788 brought disaster for the Guringai. Between April 1789 and 1790 many Guringai died of diseases, to which they had no immunity, such as smallpox and measles. Most of those who survived where moved away from the coast as Europeans colonised their territory competing for food and territory.

It seems that there were many Aboriginal sites in the Pittwater area. Although much evidence has disappeared with European settlement, some traces of Aboriginal heritage remain. Throughout Pittwater, especially in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, there are Aboriginal sites, including middens, axe- grinding grooves, cave art sites and rock engravings. These illustrate the close relationship that Aboriginal people had with the land, sea and fauna. Aboriginals continued this tradition visiting camps in the Pittwater area during the twentieth century.

European settlement

The Southern end of the ocean beach is marked as Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour on a map of 1832. Palm Beach was later named after the Cabbage Tree palms "livistona australis". Palm Beach, Barrenjoey and most of Whale Beach (400 acres) was granted to James Napper in 1816. During the 19th century, a few Europeans and Chinese lived at Snapperman Beach catching and drying fish. [ "The Book of Sydney Suburbs", Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 198]

In 1900 all land, except Barrenjoey Headland, which had been purchased by the government in 1881, was divided into 18 large blocks, listed as good grazing land, and offered for sale. None sold. In 1912, the land was offered again in smaller residential blocks, offering fishing, sailing, golf and rowing. Most houses were built from local sandstone, other materials were shipped in. Some were guest houses but most were second homes for those who could afford them.

Palm Beach wharf was the terminus reached by boat from Newport or Bayview. Horden and Wiltshire Parks and Mackay Reserve were donated by RJ Horden, who lived at Kalua, opposite the beach. Since World War II the area has become more residential but still remains a secluded peninsula at the northern point of Pittwater.

Timeline of history

* Aboriginal inhabitants in area- Garigal clan of Guringai speaking people. Lands extended from Broken Bay to Port Jackson and to Lane Cove.
* 1770- Captain Cook names Broken bay.
* 1788-1789- area explored by Governor Arthur Phillip and Captain John Hunter
* 1788- Arthur Phillip (1738 - 1814) 2 March 1788, named "Barrenjuee" (Little Kangaroo or Wallaby). Barrenjoey has had at least 9 different spellings.
* 1789- Smallpox epidemic killed 50%-90% of local Aboriginal population.
* 1806- A sole ship wreck survivor is rescued by Aboriginals in Broken Bay.
* 1816 Land grant convert|400|acre|km2 to Surgeon James Napper RN by Governor Macquarie (1761 - 1824) - Headland to Whale Beach,8/- pa.
* 1804- Pat Flynn had a large garden below Observation Pt (facing Pittwater south of golf course) to supply passing ships.
* 1825- John Howard, an emancipist who arrived on the first fleet in 1788 lives at Barrenjoey in a cottage with two other fishermen.
* 1843- Customs Station set up under John B Howard. Near ranger's cottage. Constructed Smugglers Track. Smuggling of rum, brandy, tobacco. Today drugs & narcotics.
* 1840- Albert Black (1840-1890) becomes customs officer and adopted grandson of merchant Simeon Lord famous in early Sydney.
* 1842- Four Convicts build a Customs House at Barrenjoey and build a track to the headland.
* 1855- A navigation light is established on the headland.
* 1863- A Chinese fishing settlement is established at Snappermans Beach.
* 1881- Government repurchased headland for £1250 from the Wentworth family.
* 1881- A stone lighthouse and three cottages are built according to the designs of Colonial Architect James Barnet.
* 1893- A school is established at Palm Beach.
* 1911- Palm Beach is subdivided and an extension to customs House is built.
* 1912- Telephone is connected to Palm Beach.
* 1916-1919 The oldest bungalows were built at Palm Beach during this period.
* 1976- Customs House burnt down.
* 1978- Mel Gibson stars in the movie "Tim" filmed mostly at Barrenjoey Customs House (1911)
* 2004-2005- Construction of a Museum and a Public Toilet next to the lighthouse.

Commercial area

Facilities in Palm Beach, include a post office, a large RSL with a small cinema, a Police Station/Park Ranger Station, a Fire Station, a small clinic, a dental surgery, three schools and a number of cafes, restaurants and hotels.

Transport

Palm Beach Seaplanes operate seaplane services from Palm Beach to Rose Bay in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, Cottage Point and Mooney Mooney. Palm Beach Water Airport is located at the north end of Governor Phillip Drive and Golf Drive, just south of the headland.

The Palm Beach Ferry runs a ferry service from a wharf in the town centre to Ettalong, Great Mackerel Beach, Currawong Beach, Coasters Retreat and The Basin.

Palm Beach and Hawkesbury River Cruises runs a ferry service from Palm Beach wharf to Patonga. Barrenjoey Road provides access by bus or car. Bus routes servicing Palm Beach, are operated by Sydney Buses.

Population

Palm Beach features everything from cottages to grand estates, owned by some of the country's most affluent people. Many affluent and famous people can also be found holidaying at Palm Beach in summer.

port and Recreation

Palm Beach has a number of parks, beaches, and sporting areas, including part of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and the beach which gives the area its name. Careel Bay Ovals Sporting Complex includes facilities for rugby league, soccer and tennis.

Palm Beach has a golf club, sailing club, surf school and two surf lifesaving clubs. The North Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club, is a set for television soap opera "Home and Away" and has 'Summer Bay Surf Club' painted on the beach side. Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1921, is patrolled by paid surf lifesavers on weekdays during summer and by volunteers from the Palm Beach SLSC on weekends. The Surf Club is one of the biggest in NSW, with members coming from all over Sydney.

Clubs

* Pittwater Tigers AFL Club
* Palm Beach-Avalon Soccer Club
* Careel Bay Rugby Club
* Palm Beach Tennis Club
* Palm Beach Golf Club
* Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club
* North Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club

References

External links

* [http://www.palmbeachbandb.com.au/palmbeach/index.html] Official Website
* [http://www.palmbeachferry.com.au/palm_beach_ferry/splash.asp] Palm Beach Ferrys Website
* [http://ww2.whereis.com:80/mapping/recentreMap.do?mapIndex=40&brand=5&recentrePoint.x=1&recentrePoint.y=107] Map from wheris.com.au
* [http://www.palmbeachbandb.com.au/palmbeach/maplarge.html] Large detailed map of Palm Beach from www.palmbeachbandb.com.au
* [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~russo/tour/palmbeach.html] Palm Beach, from Beachnet