A few weeks ago I called for suggestions as to which suburb I should make an honourary 53rd suburb, as a
diversion from sitting stuck behind my desk trying to drum up support for 52 Suburbs Around the World.
There were so many fantastic responses - in fact, at one point there were exactly 52 suggestions, enough
to keep me busy for another year. But the deal was, the one most voted for would win the day. So after tallying
up all the blog comments, emails and Facebook suggestions, the winner was Palm Beach.
Hmm. Palmie huh. Interesting. Although I felt bad that I couldn't satisfy everyone's requests, I did
quite like the idea of visiting Sydney's most northerly coastal suburb (41km from the city), the last one
before you hit water and then the Central Coast.
Brief history of the place: Named after the cabbage tree palms that still dominate the area. Original
residents were the Guringai people. European and Chinese fishermen lived on Snapperman Beach during
the early part of the 19th century. 1843, the colonial government built a customs house to stop smugglers
entering Broken Bay. 1881, shot up a lighthouse. 1912, land sold off to wealthy folk interested in
'fishing, sailing, golf and rowing'. Fast forward to today and not much has changed. PB is regarded as
one of Sydney's most beautiful - and expensive - suburbs, surrounded as it is by water with sweeping views
all around.
greenery
Let's Go Palmie!
Part 1: Palm Beach in a former life - House No 1
As anyone who's followed this blog for a while knows, I am a sucker for the old stuff and not so interested
in the shiny new. So when I rang one of the real estate agents up there to ask whether it was possible to
get entry into a PB home, I requested 'old not new please'. As a result I found myself being driven up a
windy road by Noel from LJ Hooker to meet heritage listed Windyridge, and David, its owner. A modest
home but one that made you drop your shoulders the moment you entered and saw the view, uninterrupted
to the north, east and west.
Thanks Noel and thank you David for putting up with a total stranger nosing around your house and for
rummaging around to find the original plans of Windyridge, built in 1919.
not windy today
view towards the lighthouse
David with the 100 year old plans
interior
the home's heart
from an era past
tea pot, painted many moons ago by David's wife
ahoy there
Part 2: Palm Beach in a former life - House No 2
I heard about another 'classic' PB house through an old friend. This time it was one of the 75% of homes
in the area that sit empty for the most of the year waiting patiently for a holiday to roll around and life
to inhabit them once again. Luckily for me, not only did the owner happen to be there when I knocked
on the door but she also very kindly agreed to let me in.
In her 80s, Claire explained that the house has been in the family for donkeys and was once a boathouse.
The little cottage is the opposite of grand yet it has the most majestic position - literally right on the
water's edge, looking out over the bay side of Palm Beach, Pittwater. I spent a good few hours there,
talking with Claire and snapping away. Long enough for a southerly to hit and turn the place into a
dreamy, moody landscape, one I had to drag myself away from.
Thank you Claire.
buoy up a tree
beach babes - Claire's mum and her sister, 1928
protection from the harsh western sun
outside in
on water's edge
wish I could stick my feet in the water
Part 3: Palm Beach in a former life - Houses various
Nothing new here either, all wonderfully old and original.
Jodie's house :: 1 - patterns from head to toe
Jodie's house :: 2 - window seat
take a seat
love a breezeway
garage with a view :: 1
garage with a view :: 2
hula
dragonflies ahead of the southerly
troppo in Florida
Part 4: Water to the west
As I mentioned, PB is surrounded by water. Pittwater to the west, Pacific Ocean to the east and Broken Bay
to the north.
Starting with Pittwater, a body of water people traverse in anything that floats, from tinnies to ferries.
straight off the ferry from the Central Coast
Margaret's ride home aboard Myra
twists
long lines
shimmery
married in a southerly
time to batten down the hatches
Part 5: Water to the east - and from above
Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club is an institution in the area. Founded in 1921, it holds court over the
southern end of Palm Beach, spread out over four charming old buildings. The members of the club will
happily save your life in the surf but as for having a nose about those charming interiors? No way buster.
no access
flexing their muscle
the boys
Piers
shutting up shop
the girls
That was Saturday. By Sunday the weather had really turned and it was only good for ducks. And surfers
with cameras on their heads as it turns out. Jack, if you're reading this, send me your video!
and then it really rained
Jack, wired for video
putting the Beach Closed sign up
Part 6: I can see for miles and miles (19 to be precise)
I ended my visit to Palm Beach on a high note, climbing 350 feet into the air to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse,
built in 1881 and still guiding ships to this day. Almost killed me but the steep steps were worth it - the view
ain't half bad from up there.
tea before the trek
steep steps up Smugglers
on the top - looking back over Pittwater
view to the lighthouse, 1927
sandstone, hewn and unhewn
flora on high
Tim and Bree, barefoot up Barrenjoey
The area is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Services. Back down at sea level I popped my head
into one of the old cottages there and met manager Col and a few of his mates who were visiting. Col told
me the cottage was where the film Tim was shot and hadn't really changed since except for a lick of yellow
paint. Recognise it?
Dan and Col where Tim was filmed
One of Col's friends was visiting with his 11 year old son, Jack. When Jack decided to try his luck on the
Pittwater fish, I couldn't help snap away - both at the beautiful half Balinese Jack and the sublime setting sun.
Jack, fishing not surfing
as the sun sets slowly in the west
golden
I can see why they call it god's country
people have been fishing here forever
On the way back to my car for my final trip back home, I met another fisherman, Jo. He was surveying
his two fishing rods from the comfort of a wheelbarrow, hoping to catch his dinner. What, I wondered, would
those Chinese and European fishermen - and the Guringai before them - who used to fish in that exact same
spot, make of the wheelbarrow?
Jo, catching his dinner
Having once lived in Avalon, I wasn't unfamiliar with this week's suburb. But I'd never liked it as much as I
did this week. Meeting some of its long-time locals, both human and man-made, made me feel like I'd
stepped back in time, to a less showy and more down to earth Palm Beach. I thought I would miss
doing a more urban, gritty suburb but it was invigorating to get out of the city for a change.
Many thanks to those who opened their doors to a curious woman with a camera.
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