Barangaroo
On Wednesday 11 January, 2023 we went by bus to Barangaroo Wharf in Sydney and did a walk northwards along the foreshore through Barangaroo Reserve.
This area was once an industrial site, a disused container terminal which has now been transformed into a six hectare parkland. There are beautiful views of Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. There are lookouts, extensive walking and cycling trails, idyllic coves, picnic spots and places for quiet contemplation. More than 75,000 native trees, palms, ferns and shrubs and other plants have been planted that are native to the Sydney region. This once-scarred promontory is now visually reunited with Goat Island and its sister headlands at Balls Head, McMahons Point and Ballast Point. Pyrmont and various other landmarks and destinations are also clearly visible.
The sandstone foreshore follows the natural Sydney fault line so the new headland is in line with natural Sydney Harbour headlands. 93% of the sandstone used was sourced from the on-site extraction pit. Every grain of sandstone extracted was used. Offcuts were ground up and mixed to become the sandy topsoil required by the newly planted trees and plants. These trees and plants are thriving and already looking well established!
You can now walk along the foreshore between Walsh Bay and Cockle Bay which was once industrial and commercial land and off-limits to the public. This walk is known as Wulugul Walk. Wulugul is a local indigenous word for kingfish, a prize catch for Aboriginal people long before European settlement and still a delicious treat at many Sydney restaurants. The wulugul/kingfish has a golden band along its blue-green skin, similar to the golden sandstone lining the blue of the harbour along the length of the new walk.
The Gadigal people of the Eora nation are the traditional custodians of the land. Barangaroo was a leader of the Cammeraygal people and wife of Bennelong of the Wangal people who played a significant role within her community and that of the early British colony.
On Monday of this week, Marrinawi Cove in the north-east corner of Barangaroo Reserve was opened for swimming. A shark net has been installed across the ocean end of this sandstone-edged cove and also a shower on the shore. The NSW Government says this once neglected industrial western side of the Harbour has now been cleaned up and they will consider adding ladders and decking to Marrinawi Cove in the future, if the area proves popular for swimmers. This area was used by the local Gadigal people for thousands of years as a fishing, canoeing and swimming spot, but has been off limits for Sydneysiders for the last few decades due to pollution and neglect. It is wonderful that it has been restored to its former pristine condition.
We weren't quite sure where Marrinawi Cove was situated and, unfortunately, we did not walk far enough to see the new swimming pool.
2 comments:
I have been trying to talk my husband into visiting Barangaroo for ages. Firstly he was too sick, then too cold, now too hot. I will get there one day.
It is certainly worth a visit and one I wanted to do for a long time. That was my first visit last week. The weather was hot, but not as hot as in Penrith. There is a cool breeze off the Harbour. Hope you get there soon!
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