Mackenzies Bay

Last updated
Mackenzies Bay
Bight
Mackenzies Bay Tamarama-1.jpg
View of Mackenzies Bay, looking north-east
Australia New South Wales relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Mackenzies Bay
Coordinates: 33°53′59″S151°16′23″E / 33.899831°S 151.273131°E / -33.899831; 151.273131
Location Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Offshore water bodies Tasman Sea

Mackenzies Bay is a small inlet in the coast between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. It forms part of the shoreline boundary of the suburb of Tamarama. Most of the time, it is a rocky inlet but, at times, depending on prevailing conditions, a sandy beach—known informally as Mackenzies Bay Beach [1] or Mackenzies [2] —comes into existence. Mackenzies Bay is also a well-known surf break. [3]

In recent years, the beach existed at times during 2007, [4] 2016, [1] 2019, [5] and 2023. [6] Because it is not a permanent beach and is not patrolled, whenever it exists, the beach has become, de facto , a 'dog-friendly beach'. [1] [4] [7]

In the years up to 1947, the beach typically appeared around December and then disappeared around March, with the arrival of southerly gales. [8] [9] [10] The beach then did not reappear until near the end of October 1951. [10] The beach next reappeared in November 1953. [11] In 1997, there was so much sand that, at low tide, it was almost possible to walk between Tamarama and South Bondi. In the years between 1997 and 2007, there was no beach. [4] Unusually, in 2007, the beach arrived in May and disappeared in August. [4] In September 2016, December 2019, and late August 2023, the beach followed its more typical pattern and appeared in time for the beginning of the Australian summer. [1] [5] [6] [12] The latest instance of the beach was disappearing by February 2024. [12] [13]

The area was occupied by local Aborigines, before their dispossession in the years after Sydney was established in 1788. There is a rock engraving at Mackenzies Point depicting marine life. The age of the engraving is not known, but could be up to 2,000 years old. [14] [15]

Mackenzies Bay and nearby Mackenzies Point are named after the Mackenzie family who, from the 1860s to approximately 1926, ran the Waverley Dairy on farmlands that stretched from near the corner of Bondi Road and Denham Street, east to the coast, and as far south as Gaerloch Avenue, Tamarama. [4] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf lifesaving</span> Beach surf lifesaving volunteers

Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted social movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary lifeguard services and competitive surf sport. Originating in early 20th century Australia, the movement has expanded globally to other countries, including New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Surf lifesavers in Australia are colloquially known as "Clubbies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bondi Beach</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Bondi Beach is a popular beach and the name of the surrounding suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, 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. It has a population of 11,656 residents. Its postcode is 2026. Bondi, North Bondi and Bondi Junction are neighbouring suburbs. Bondi Beach is one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia sparking two hit TV series Bondi Rescue and Bondi Vet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronte, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Bronte is a beachside Eastern Suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bronte Beach is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the Waverley Council local government area of the Eastern Suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)</span> Region in New South Wales, Australia

The Eastern Suburbs is the eastern metropolitan region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford Street, Sydney</span> Road in Sydney, Australia

Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, running from the south-east border of the Sydney central business district to Bondi Junction in the Eastern Suburbs. Close to the CBD in particular, the street is lined with numerous shops, bars and nightclubs. After the 1980s, Oxford Street garnered a reputation as Sydney's primary nightclub strip and subsequently saw a large increase in the number of crimes committed in the area. However, the 2014 lockout laws saw many nightclubs close and the crime rate drop as Sydney's nightlife hubs moved to Darling Harbour and Newtown. The lockout laws ended in 2020 with a focus on small bars and restaurants. Many nightclubs reopened in 2021 especially around Taylor Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coogee, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Sydney, Australia

Coogee is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, eight kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamarama</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Tamarama is a beachside suburb, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Tamarama is 6 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clovelly, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Clovelly is a small beach-side suburb in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Clovelly is located 8 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick, within the Federal Division of Wentworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral district of Coogee</span>

Coogee is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales located south-east of Sydney CBD. It is represented by Marjorie O'Neill of the Australian Labor Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sculpture by the Sea</span>

The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in Sydney and Perth is Australia's largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition. This exhibition was initiated in 1997, at Bondi Beach and it featured sculptures by both Australian and overseas artists. In 2005, a companion event was established at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia featuring over 70 artists. In 2009 it was announced that Aarhus in Denmark would host the first Sculpture by the Sea exhibition outside of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf Life Saving Australia</span>

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is an Australian not-for-profit community organisation that promotes water safety and provides surf rescue services.

<i>Bondi Rescue</i> Australian factual television program

Bondi Rescue is an Australian factual television program which is broadcast on Network 10. The program follows the daily lives and routines of the Waverley Council professional lifeguards who patrol Bondi Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronte Beach</span> Locality in Sydney, New South Wales

Bronte Beach is a small but popular recreational beach in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia. It is a division of the LGA of Waverley Council. Bronte Beach is 2 kilometres south of Bondi Beach and north of the much larger Coogee Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderland City</span>

Wonderland City was an amusement park located at Tamarama, on Wonderland Avenue near the point at which it joins Fletcher Street, in Sydney, Australia. It opened on Saturday, 1 December 1906 and closed in 1911. At the time it was the largest open air amusement park in the southern hemisphere. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) amusement park was operated by theatrical entrepreneur William Anderson. During its operation the colossal playground had a balloon could go up to about 3,800 feet high. An enormous switchback railway and around the clifftop, a steam-driven miniature railway operated over about two miles (3.2 km) of track. A large wooden bridge build over an artificial lake, the Alpine Slide would take you to "Rivers of the World", Seal Pond. An open air Roller Skating Ring, American Shooting Gallery. It was operated by electric light powered by its own steam plant, and the whole area was covered with thousands of gaily coloured lamps and described as a Fairy City. The first Surf "Gymkhana" Carnivals was held at Wonderland City organised by Bondi SBLSC on Saturday 11 February 1908. was dogged by controversy for its attempts using high barbed-wire fence blocked access completely to local swimmers from Tamarama Beach. Before being occupied by the amusement park, Tamarama Park was the site of The Royal Aquarium and Pleasure Grounds, commonly called the Bondi Aquarium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bondi Pavilion</span>

The Bondi Surf Pavilion in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, is an outstanding beach cultural icon of Australia, together with the beach, park and surf lifesaving club. The structure is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register 01786 as well as by Waverley Council. The building has also been listed by the Heritage Council. According to the National Trust it "has come to represent the Australian culture of beach bathing and outdoors living".

The Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club is Australia's oldest Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1907. The club was officially established on 21 February 1907 at the Royal Hotel in Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales. The clubs aim is to ensure "No Lives Lost" at Bondi Beach and is a volunteer organisation that patrols Bondi Beach from October to April every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bondi Beach Cultural Landscape</span> Historic site in Sydney, Australia

The Bondi Beach Cultural Landscape is a heritage-listed former Turkish baths, pavilion with dressing cubicles, dining rooms, sunbaking, shops and ballroom and now art gallery, pavilion, theatre and open air cinema located at Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia. The pavilion was designed by Robertson and Marks, with Leith C. McCredie the architect. The Bondi Surf Life Savers' Club, erected c. 1934, was designed by Ross & Rowe. The Bondi Pavilion was designed by John Howie & Sons. The cultural landscape includes the beach itself, Bondi Surf Pavilion, Bondi Park and Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and the North Bondi Surf Club. The landscape was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 May 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marjorie O'Neill</span> Australian politician

Marjorie Spooner O'Neill is an Australian politician. O'Neill was elected as a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Coogee at the 2019 state election. O'Neill was also a Councillor of Waverley Council from 2017 to 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hansen, Nick (3 October 2016). "Sydney's mystery 'pop up beach'". www.dailytelegraph.com.au . Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Mackenzies - Beach in Tamarama Waverley NSW". SLS Beachsafe. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "Mckenzies [sic] Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Reports (NSW - Sydney South Coast, Australia)". www.surf-forecast.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Waverley Council (2007). "Mackenzies Bay: Waverley's mystery beach" (PDF).
  5. 1 2 "Sydney's Disappearing MacKenzies [sic] Bay Beach Has Made a Triumphant Return". Concrete Playground. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. 1 2 Green, Eli (17 October 2023). "Secret beach at Mackenzies Bay reappears in Sydney's east". news.com.au.
  7. ↑ "Freedom for Dogs vs Freedom From Dogs". The Beast. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  8. ↑ "Sea swallows beach". Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954). 12 March 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "'Will-of-Wisp' Beach". The Sydney Morning Herald . 30 December 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Beach returns". Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954). 29 October 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "SWIMMER FORCED FROM SURF". Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954) . 16 November 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Mackenzies Bay Beach Is Back: The Ultimate Sydney Hidden Gem Re-emerges". Visit Bondi Beach. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  13. ↑ Dalton, Angus (8 February 2024). "Sydney's magical mystery beach is vanishing again". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  14. ↑ Meadows, Elida (August 1999). "Aboriginal History of the Waverley Area - A discussion paper" (PDF). Reference Department, Waverley Library.
  15. ↑ "Sydney: Aboriginal Sites". www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  16. ↑ "'Milko!' Dairies in Waverley" (PDF). Published by Waverley Library from sources in the Local History Collection, 2010.
  17. ↑ "The Bondi to Tamarama walk". www.bonditocoogeewalk.com. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.