Palm Beach, New South Wales
Palm Beach Federal division(s) | Mackellar | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palm Beach is a
Palm Beach is sometimes colloquially referred to as 'Palmy';
Geography
Palm Beach is bounded by
Localities
The suburb of Palm Beach also contains the following localities:
Reserves and bushland
Along the cliffs and sanddunes there is much remnant bushland vegetation, located in reserves and national parks, with Barrenjoey headland being part of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.[12] These reserves often contain endangered ecological communities, such as Littoral Rainforest, and Pittwater spotted gum forest. See, for example, the articles, McKay Reserve, and Barrenjoey.
Landmarks
Landmarks include the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Palm Beach-Boanbong Water Reservoir, Palm Beach-McKay Water Reservoir, Palm Beach-Squaters Lodge, Blueberry Ash, and Iluka Resort Apartments.
The 2.3-kilometre (1.4 mi) long east-facing
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.[14]
European settlement
Governor Philip explored the area in 1788, and named the headland 'Barrenjuee', which was an indigenous word apparently meaning 'young kangaroo'.[15] In 1816, Palm Beach, Barrenjoey and most of Whale Beach (160 hectares (400 acres)) was granted to James Napper. During the 19th century, a few Europeans and Chinese lived at Snapperman Beach catching and drying fish.[16] 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.
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. Hordern and Wiltshire Parks and Mackay Reserve were donated by RJ Hordern, 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 names.
- 1806 – A sole ship wreck survivor is rescued by Aboriginals in Broken Bay.
- 1816 Land grant 400 acres (1.6 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.
- 1921 – Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club is established.
- 1976 – Customs House burnt down.
- 1978 – Mel Gibson stars in the movie "Tim" filmed mostly at Barrenjoey Customs House (1911)
- 1988–present – Palm Beach is the location of exterior scenes for Summer Bay, the fictional coastal town featured in the long-running soap opera Home and Away.
- 2004–2005 – Construction of a Museum and a Public Toilet next to the lighthouse.
- 2013 – A fire engulfs the Barrenjoey headland 28 September 2013, threatening to destroy the heritage listed headland. It is contained by local firefighters and no damage to infrastructure was sustained. The bush has slowly recovered.
Many historic images of Pittwater and Palm Beach may be found at Pittwater online news: Historic Record of Pittwater
Heritage listings
Palm Beach has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Barrenjoey Headland: Barrenjoey Head Lighthouse[17]
Commercial area
Facilities in Palm Beach include a milk bar, a large RSL, hairdresser, beautician, preschool, and a number of cafes, restaurants, and bed and breakfast establishments.
Schools
The nearest primary school and high school for people residing in Palm Beach are the Avalon Public School – which is a co-educational primary school catering for students K–6 and Barrenjoey High School – which is a co-educational high school catering for students 7–12. Both are state-funded, public schools.[18] There is also Maria Regina – which is a co-educational Catholic primary school catering for students K–6.
Transport
Palm Beach Seaplanes operate
The Palm Beach Ferry which connects the suburb to the Central Coast provides an important tourist route for visitors to the suburb and commuter link to the Central Coast. Ettalong Beach is serviced by regular bus services (Busways) with connections to Woy Woy railway station, the Umina Beach retail center, Gosford, Kincumber, and Erina Fair. The nearest railway station to Palm Beach is in Woy Woy.
Palm Beach and Hawkesbury River Cruises runs a ferry service from Palm Beach wharf to
Sport 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 used as 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 (at the south end of the beach), is patrolled by paid surf lifesavers on weekdays during summer and by volunteers from the Palm Beach SLSC on weekends.[13] The Surf Club is one of the biggest in NSW,[citation needed] with members coming from all over Sydney. The beach also attracts rock climbers, due to there being two sandstone boulders with highly featured vertical and overhanging features allowing for bouldering.
Clubs
- Avalon Soccer Club
- Avalon Rugby League Club
- Cabbage Tree Club
- Careel Bay Tennis Club
- North Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club
- Pacific Club
- Palm Beach Golf Club
- Palm Beach Sailing Club
- Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club
In Popular Culture
- Palm Beach (2019 Film)
- Palm Beach (1980 Film)
- Palm Beach Road is referred to in the lyrics of the song "Deep Water" by Australian singer-songwriter Richard Clapton.
- The music video for Train on a Track by Kelly Rowland was filmed here.
- Palm Beach has been used as the location for the town of Summer Bay in the TV series Home and Away.
See also
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Palm Beach (NSW) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Palm Beach Postcode Australia Post
- ^ Sydway street directory, 11th Edition 2006, Maps 159-160
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Palm Beach (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ "Palm Beach". Sydney.com. Destination NSW, Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- ^ "Official Home and Away Tour". Back to the bay. 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "All-star cast announced for Palm Beach".
- ^ Guide to Sydney Beaches
- ^ "Real estate properties for sale in Palm Beach, NSW, 2108". domain.com.au. June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Real estate and properties for sale in Palm Beach, NSW, 2108". realestate.com.au. June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Australia's richest and poorest postcodes revealed in ATO's 2016-17 tax statistics ABC News 29 March 2009
- ^ "Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Lion Island, Long Island and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves Plan of Management Oct 2014" (PDF). NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Palm Beach, NSW". Beach Safe. Australian Government. June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Palm Beach". Mona Vale Library. Pittwater Council. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ISBN 0-9577124-05.
- ISBN 0-207-14495-8.
- .
- ^ List of NSW Public Schools: A-Z List 2015
- ^ "Palm Beach Ferries Web site". Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
Further reading
- Huntsman, Leone (2001). Sand in our Souls – the Beach in Australian History. Sydney: Macquarie University Press.
- Barker, Karina. "The lifesaver" (PDF). In Les Wicks (ed.). Guide to Sydney Beaches: An anthology. Meuse Press.
- Macleod, Virginia; Mona Vale Library (2008). "Palm Beach". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 28 September 2015.