The shoreline at Palm Beach
'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 the Barrenjoey between the
Pittwater and
Broken Bay.
[2] Palm Beach is colloquially known as 'Palmy'.
Geography
Palm Beach is bounded by
Broken Bay to the north, the
Tasman Sea or
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. Although there are no public roads on the headland, the walk up is well worth the effort, with spectacular views of the surrounding area. 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 1970s to combat sand erosion.
Localities
There are 5 localities at Palm Beach:
★
Barrenjoey
★
Sand Point
★
Careel Bay
★
Paradise Beach
★
North Avalon
Facilities
There are a number of
facilities in Palm Beach, this incudes a post office, a large
RSL which includes 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.
Recreation
Palm Beach is home to 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 also 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
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 area 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 invaded 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 itself and with the creatures of the land and the sea. Aboriginals continued this tradition visiting camps in the Pittwater area during the
twentieth century.
Admiral Arthur Phillip (1786 portrait by Francis Wheatley, National Portrait Gallery, London)
'John Hunter', Naval pioneer and colonial governor
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.
In 1900 all the 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 400 acres 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.
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 Mackeral Beach,
Currawong Beach,
Coasters Retreat and
The Basin.
Barrenjoey Road provides access by bus or car. Bus routes servicing Palm Beach, operated by
Sydney Buses, include:
★ Routes L90 and 190 -
Sydney CBD to Palm Beach via
Dee Why
★ Routes 191 and 192 operate by a loop that turns on George Street.
★ Route 193 operates from
Avalon to Binya Road in Palm Beach
★ Route E88 operates from
Sydney CBD to Careel Head Road in Palm Beach.
Population
The suburb is one of Sydney's most affluent areas in terms of real estate. The rich and famous can be found holidaying at Palm Beach around Christmas and New year. Palm Beach is a favourite with Australian television and sports personalities.
Lleyton Hewitt and his wife
Bec Cartwright recently purchased an A$4.9 million residence in Palm beach where they now reside with their daughter Mia.
Pop Culture
★ Palm Beach is notable as the location for the
shooting of the well known Australian television
soap opera, ''
Home and Away''.
★ The 1978 movie '
Tim' starring
Mel Gibson was filmed at Barrenjoey Customs House.
★ The area is also a popular location for
music videos. International artists including
Kelly Rowland have filmed there.
References
1.
2. Sydway street directory, 11th Edition 2006, Maps 159-160
See also
★
Barranjoey, New South Wales
★
Careel Bay, New South Wales
★
Palm Beach Seaplanes
★
Palm Beach Water Airport
★
Palm Beach Ferry
External links
★
[1] Official Website
★
[2] Palm Beach Ferrys Website
★
[3] Map from wheris.com.au
★
[4] Large detailed map of Palm Beach from www.palmbeachbandb.com.au
★
[5] Palm Beach, from Beachnet
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