Bonnet Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bonnet BaySydney, New South Wales |
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Twilight Inlet, Bonnet Bay
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| Population | 2,238 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1964 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2226 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 41 m (135 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 29 km (18 mi) south of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Sutherland Shire | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Miranda | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hughes | ||||||||||||||
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Bonnet Bay is a lovely suburb in southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 29 kilometers south of the main Sydney city center. This quiet area is part of the Sutherland Shire and has the postcode 2226. Bonnet Bay sits on the eastern side of the Woronora River, which flows north into the Georges River.
The suburb gets its name from the nearby bay of the same name. The land here is made of Sydney sandstone. You'll find steep valleys, creeks, cliffs, and even a sandstone plateau. Bonnet Bay is known as one of the safest suburbs in Sydney.
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A Look Back in Time
The area was first going to be called Kirkby. But there was a special rock formation shaped like an old-fashioned woman's hat, called a 'poke bonnet'. This rock formation overlooked a bay on the Woronora River. So, the bay was named Bonnet Bay. In 1969, the Geographical Names Board decided to name the whole land area Bonnet Bay. Building houses started in late 1969 and most homes were finished by 1985.
Who Lives Here?
According to the 2021 Census, 2,238 people live in Bonnet Bay. The average age of residents is 44. Most people, about 77.5%, were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include England (5.5%) and New Zealand (1.5%).
Most people (88.3%) speak only English at home. Other languages spoken include Mandarin, Cantonese, Greek, Spanish, and Russian. When it comes to religion, many people said they had no religion (34.7%). Other common religions were Catholic (28.8%) and Anglican (16.7%).
Cool Places to See
Burnum Burnum Reserve
The large Burnum Burnum Reserve is a natural area that almost surrounds Bonnet Bay. It stretches for about two kilometers and connects to other reserves. This reserve is home to some very rare plants that are protected. It was once called "Jannali Reserve." In 2005, its name changed to honor Burnum Burnum. He was an important Aboriginal resident of the Sutherland Shire. There's a small plaque in the reserve. It tells about a famous speech he gave in England in 1988. In this speech, he symbolically claimed England for Aboriginal people.
Street Names
A unique thing about Bonnet Bay is that almost all its streets are named after American Presidents. For example, Washington Drive runs through the suburb. This road even splits into "Upper" and "Lower" sections because of the steep hills. The last president a street is named after is Richard Nixon. He was president when Bonnet Bay was established in 1969. The only street not named after a president is Tudar Road.
Shops, School, and Getting Around
Local Shops
Bonnet Bay is mainly a place where people live. But it does have a small shopping center called Bonnet Bay Shopping Village. You can find it on Kennedy Crescent. It has a supermarket, a hairdresser, a pizza place, and a cafe.
Bonnet Bay Public School
Bonnet Bay Public School is located on Tudar Road. It had a very special opening in 1979. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne officially opened the school. She was the president of the Save the Children Fund. She wanted to visit a "typical Australian school," and Bonnet Bay Public School was chosen. The school also offers childcare before and after school.
Transport Options
Bonnet Bay doesn't have its own train station. However, the nearby suburbs of Jannali and Como have stations. These are on the Illawarra line of the Sydney Trains network. You can also catch the Route 968 bus in Bonnet Bay. This bus connects the suburb to Jannali, Miranda, and Kareela. Interestingly, Bonnet Bay has only two main roads to get in and out of the suburb.
Fun and Games
Bonnet Bay has many places for fun and recreation. There's a boat ramp for water activities. You'll also find picnic areas and sports fields. These include a cricket oval, a soccer oval, two netball courts, two tennis courts, and two baseball fields. The main recreational spot is Lakewood City Reserve, which is right by the water.
Special Events
Bonnet Bay used to be very famous in southern Sydney for its amazing Christmas decorations and lights. During the festive season, many homes would put on huge displays. This tradition was most popular in the mid-1980s. Now, many other areas in the Sutherland Shire also have great Christmas light displays.
Sport
Bonnet Bay has its own sporting club called Bonnet Bay FC. This is a football (soccer) club. They have junior teams for boys and girls, and senior teams for men and women. They play their games at Lakewood City Reserve.
