Bronte, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bronte BeachSydney, New South Wales |
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Bronte Beach
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| Population | 6,733 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 5,062/km2 (13,110/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 1.33 km2 (0.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 7 km (4 mi) E of Sydney central business district | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Waverley | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Coogee | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Wentworth | ||||||||||||||
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Bronte is a cool beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Bronte Beach is about 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district (the city centre). It's part of the Waverley Council area.
Bronte Beach is located on Nelson Bay, surrounded by Bronte Park. You can find awesome cliff-top walking paths here. These paths go south towards Coogee and north to Bondi Beach. Along the way, you'll pass Tamarama and Mackenzies Bay. From these paths, you can see amazing views stretching far out over the ocean. Bronte is about 2.5 kilometres south of Bondi Beach.
In 2008, the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Suburbs Guide even called Bronte the best of 641 Sydney suburbs!
Contents
History
Early Australian History
Before Europeans arrived in 1788, the land around Bronte was home to Aboriginal people. Many sources believe the Cadigal people were the traditional owners. Some also mention the Biddigal and Birrabirragal groups.
There was a natural swimming spot at the southern end of the beach called a "bogey hole." This name came from an Aboriginal word for "swimming place." Over time, the original bogey hole changed a lot. The one you see today was built in the early 1900s.
Sadly, much of the original Aboriginal culture and history of this area was lost. This happened because of the arrival of Europeans and the big changes they brought. Many of the original inhabitants were forced to move. Also, a lot of the land was developed for homes and businesses. This destroyed much of the old evidence of Aboriginal life along the coast.
Modern History
In the 1830s, a man named Mortimer Lewis was given a lot of land in this area. Later, Robert Lowe bought about 42 acres (17 hectares) from him. Lowe built a house there in 1845. He named it Bronte House. This name came from Lord Nelson, who was the Duke of Bronte in Sicily, Italy.
Bronte House is a single-storey stone building on Bronte Road. Today, Waverley Council owns it. It's rented out to people who sometimes open it to the public. This house is a very important historical site.
Robert Lowe later became a writer for The Times newspaper in England.
Trams in Bronte
For many years, trams were a popular way to get around Sydney. The Bronte tram line was one of these. It started from the Bondi Junction line. Then, it ran down Bronte Road and MacPherson Street to Bronte Beach.
A cool part of this tram line was its path as it got close to Bronte Beach. It ran through a rock cutting right next to the Pacific Ocean! The line first opened to Waverley in 1890 and then to Bronte in 1911. Electric trams started running to Bronte in 1911.
The tram line closed in 1960. Now, buses follow a similar route between Bronte and Bondi Junction.
Heritage Listings
Bronte has some important historical places. These sites are protected because of their special history:
- 470 Bronte Road: Bronte House
- St Thomas Street: Waverley Cemetery
People of Bronte
The 2016 Australian census counted 6,733 people living in Bronte. Most people (62.8%) were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included England (7.9%), New Zealand (2.6%), and the United States (1.5%).
Most people in Bronte (78.8%) speak only English at home. French is another language spoken by some residents (2.0%). When it comes to religion, many people said they had no religion (38.6%). Others were Catholic (24.8%) or Anglican (12.3%).
Culture
Bronte has become a great place for food lovers in recent years. Several popular restaurants have opened up, especially around Macpherson Street.
Sport and Recreation
Bronte is famous for its surfing! The Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club started in 1903. It claims to be the oldest surf lifesaving club in the whole world. Every December, a long-distance ocean swimming event takes place. Swimmers go from Bondi Beach all the way to Bronte.
Did you know that the famous "Australian crawl" swimming style might have been first seen at Bronte Baths? This was back in 1899!
Bronte also has a connection to one of Australia's most popular sports: National Rugby League. The local team, the Sydney Roosters, represents the Eastern Suburbs.
The Bronte Splashers Winter Swimming Club is another old club. They claim to be the oldest Winter Swimming club in the world, started in 1921! They compete against other clubs like the Bondi Icebergs in championships.
Famous People from Bronte
Many interesting people have lived in Bronte:
- Dave Brown (1913–1974): A legendary rugby league player. His parents ran the dressing sheds at Bronte Beach. His dad was also Waverley Council's first lifeguard.
- Cressida Campbell: A well-known artist.
- Ryan Clark: A former child actor from Home and Away. He grew up in Bronte and is now a Waverley Council lifeguard.
- Deborah Hutton: A famous media personality.
- Peter Dodds McCormick (1834–1916): He wrote Australia's national anthem, "Advance Australia Fair".
- Jessi Miley-Dyer: A professional surfer.
- Scott Morrison: The 30th Prime Minister of Australia, who grew up in Bronte.
- Mia Wasikowska: A talented actress.
- Andrew 'Joey' Johns: A famous former rugby league player and sports commentator.
Images for kids
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Uniting Church, Leichhardt Street
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Heritage-listed house, Bronte Road
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Grave of Henry Lawson, Waverley Cemetery
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Waterfall, Bronte Gully
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Bronte_Road_heritage-listed_house.jpg)
