Malabar Headland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malabar Headland |
|
|---|---|
The full bore rifle range located on the headland, in April 2004.
|
|
| Location | Franklin Street, Malabar, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | New South Wales Government |
| Official name: Malabar Headland; Long Bay Rifle Range; Anzac Rifle Range; Boora Point | |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 22 July 2005 |
| Reference no. | 1741 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape - Cultural |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Malabar Headland is a special place in Malabar, Australia. It used to be a public park and a military training area. Today, it's a place for nature conservation and public recreation. It's also known as Long Bay Rifle Range, Anzac Rifle Range, and Boora Point. The New South Wales Government owns this important piece of land. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 July 2005 because of its history and natural beauty.
Contents
Discovering Malabar Headland
Malabar is a suburb in Sydney, about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) south of the city centre. The suburb got its name from a ship called the MV Malabar. This ship was wrecked near Long Bay on 2 April 1931. The ship itself was named after the Malabar region in India, famous for its spice trade.
Before the shipwreck, the area was called Brand or Long Bay. Locals asked the government to change the name. They wanted to avoid being linked to the nearby Long Bay Correctional Centre (a prison). So, in 1933, the name Malabar was officially chosen.
Over the years, several ships have been wrecked near the Malabar headland. These include the St Albans in 1882 and the Hereward in 1898. The MV Malabar in 1931 is perhaps the most famous.
The Malabar headland has amazing sandstone cliffs and offers stunning views of the coast. It's also home to rare plants. These include the Port Jackson mallee scrub, which used to be much more common.
This 177-hectare (437-acre) headland has been used for a long time. First, local Aboriginal people used it for fishing and cultural activities. Later, Europeans used it for farming. It also became a military training area and a defence spot during World War II. This defence spot was called the Boora Point Battery.
The ANZAC Rifle Range on the headland has been used for target shooting since the 1850s. It's thought to be the oldest rifle range in Australia. The Army renamed it ANZAC Rifle Range in 1970. This was to honour rifle club members who served in the World Wars and the Korean War. Many big shooting competitions have been held here.
From 1968 to 1988, the middle part of the headland was used for dumping industrial waste. In 1986, the government wanted to sell the land. There was even a plan for a resort and golf course. But a legal case stopped the sale in 1990. More recently, different groups have used the headland. These include rifle clubs, horse riding schools, and model aircraft clubs. People also enjoy bushwalking, jogging, bird watching, and fishing here.
Malabar Headland's Past
Timeline of Malabar Headland
Here are some important moments in the history of Malabar Headland:
- Before 1780s: Local Aboriginal people used the land for fishing and cultural events. They called the land Boora.
- 1789: Governor Arthur Phillip mentioned "a long bay," which became known as Long Bay.
- 1819: Land at Long Bay was rented out for farming.
- 1850s: Recreational shooting started on the rifle range site.
- 1859: Randwick Municipal Council was created, covering the area.
- 1898: The ship Hereward was wrecked at the base of the cliffs.
- 1902: The NSW Government set aside the area for public recreation.
- 1910: The NSW Government decided the whole headland would be used for military purposes.
- 1929: Control of the rifle range moved to the Commonwealth.
- 1931: The MV Malabar ship was wrecked. The local village was soon named Malabar to avoid confusion with Long Bay Gaol.
- 1939-1945: During World War II, many military buildings were put up. The Boora Point Battery was a key defence spot.
- 1967: NSW Rifle Association clubs moved to the site.
- 1968-1988: The rifle range area was used for dumping industrial waste.
- 1970: The rifle range was renamed the ANZAC Rifle Range.
- 1986: The Commonwealth government announced it would sell the land. Military use stopped.
- 1990s: Legal action by the NSW Rifle Association stopped the sale of the site.
First Peoples' History
Aboriginal people have lived in the Sydney area for at least 20,000 years. In 1788, about 1,500 Aboriginal people lived between Palm Beach and Botany Bay. The Cadigal people lived south of Port Jackson to Botany Bay. They spoke the Dharug language. The local clan near Maroubra was called "Muru-ora-dial". By the mid-1800s, many traditional owners had moved away or died due to European diseases.
European Settlement
One of the first land grants in this area was given in 1824 to Captain Francis Marsh. In 1839, William Newcombe bought land nearby.
Randwick got its name from a town in England called Randwick, Gloucestershire. Simeon Pearce and his brother James suggested the name. Simeon was born in the English Randwick. The brothers helped develop both Randwick and Coogee. Simeon came to Australia in 1841 as a surveyor. He built his home, Blenheim House, on land he bought and called his property "Randwick."
Simeon worked to get a road built from Sydney to Coogee. This happened in 1853. He also pushed for Randwick to become an official suburb. In 1857, the first St Jude's church was built.
Randwick grew slowly at first. It was separated from Sydney by swamps and sandhills. Travel was difficult, with buses often getting stuck in the sand. Randwick had a mix of rich and working-class people. Wealthy families lived in large houses. But market gardens and piggeries were common for working-class families. Many jockeys and stablehands lived in simple huts. Immigrants, often very poor, lived in makeshift homes in an area called Irishtown. This area is now known as The Spot.
In 1858, the NSW Government passed a law allowing towns to form their own councils. Randwick was the first to apply and became a municipality in 1859.
Randwick was always a place for sports. Its first racecourse, the Sandy Racecourse, opened in 1860. In 1863, John Tait created Randwick Racecourse. This made a big difference to Randwick's growth. Trams soon linked the suburb to Sydney. Randwick became a busy and successful place.
Today, some old houses have been replaced by modern units. Many people from Europe have made their homes here. Students and workers at the University of NSW and the Prince of Wales Hospital also live in the area.
Land Transfer to New South Wales
On 19 January 2016, the federal and NSW Environment Ministers announced a big change. The South-Eastern Malabar Headland was officially transferred from the Commonwealth government to the people of New South Wales.
Minister Greg Hunt said this quadrupled the size of land owned by NSW. He called the South-Eastern Headland "the most beautiful and scenic part" of Malabar. The government also put $5 million towards upgrading the Central Malabar Headland. This money would help improve the ANZAC Rifle Range and look for new sites for the NSW Rifle Association. The goal is to keep the entire Malabar Headland public forever.
NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman was happy about the transfer. He said the South-Eastern Headland is home to rare plants and a World War II coastal battery. He announced plans to make the area a National Park. This would allow safe public access.
In March 2017, 70 hectares (173 acres) of Malabar Headland's eastern side were officially opened as a national park.
What Malabar Headland Looks Like
Malabar Headland has two main bushland areas. There's a larger eastern coastal section (about 54 hectares or 133 acres). There's also a smaller western section (about 17 hectares or 42 acres) further inland. Both areas have special coastal plants called Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub.
The plants on the eastern side vary in height. On exposed rocks, they are less than 1 metre (3 feet) tall. In more sheltered spots, they can grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) high. Common plants include heath banksia, coast tea tree, and scrub she oak. On the cliff edges, you'll find low scrub like coast rosemary.
The western section has heath and scrub plants from 1 to 4 metres (3 to 13 feet) tall. Heath banksia and tick bush are common here. In a sheltered gully, you can find red bloodwood trees. The mix of sand and sandstone soils here creates a wide variety of plant species. This area also provides a home for small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
On Boora Point, you can see the remains of a coastal defence site from 1943. There are concrete walls from two gun emplacements. You can also find tunnels, searchlight buildings, and engine rooms. A battery observation post and old barracks are also there. There's even a rare example of 6-inch Mark XII gun mountings. You can still see World War II graffiti on the walls.
Current Condition
The plants on the headland are in good shape. However, they face some threats. These include habitat loss, too many nutrients, and fires. Invasive plants like pampas grass and bitou bush are also a problem. Volunteers have done a great job reducing these weeds.
Wild animals like rabbits, cats, and dogs are present. Fires happen sometimes, but so far, they haven't badly affected the plant diversity. However, too many fires or uncontrolled trail bike use could harm the plants.
Even though access is sometimes limited for safety, people use the headland for walking. Trail bike riding has caused some damage, widening tracks and creating jumps. Vandalism is also seen, with graffiti on old forts and dumped cars. Overall, the landscape is in good to high condition.
Why Malabar Headland is Special
Malabar Headland is very important because it has two large areas of natural bushland. These are likely the biggest untouched bushland areas in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. This bushland is a key part of a natural pathway between Botany Bay and Port Jackson. It has at least seven different plant communities. Only Botany Bay National Park has a similar variety in the Eastern Suburbs.
The plants at Malabar Headland are important for science and education. They show rare examples of coastal plants growing on old sand deposits in Sydney. These plants are different from those found elsewhere in the region.
Both the coastal and western parts of Malabar Headland have many different plant species. Over 300 plant species grow here. The Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, a nationally endangered plant community, grows here. This community is very important because most of it has been cleared in other areas. Less than one percent of the original community remains, mainly at Malabar Headland and La Perouse.
The western section has old sand dunes from the last major ice age. These are next to sandstone rocks. They offer a chance to study how the land was formed.
Malabar Headland shows many types of landscapes that used to be common in the Eastern Suburbs. These include coastal rock platforms, sea cliffs, and sand dunes.
The headland is also home to the last known group of Port Jackson mallee plants in Eastern Sydney.
The site includes a World War II coastal defence site called the Boora Point Battery. This is a significant historical landmark. It shows Australia's defence efforts in Sydney during World War II. The battery has unusual features, like rare 6-inch Mark XII gun mountings. It also has a completely underground facility with ready rooms, ammunition storage, and an engine room. There's even a small railway linked to an observation post. This battery is very important to World War II veterans and those interested in military history. The area also has World War II graffiti and parts of an old sewer system.
Malabar Headland was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 July 2005 for these reasons:
- It shows important parts of NSW's history: The World War II Boora Point Battery is a key example of Australia's coastal defence.
- It has special social meaning: The battery is important to World War II veterans and those interested in military history.
- It can teach us about history: It has the largest area of diverse native bushland in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. It also has rare plants and the World War II battery.
- It has rare or endangered features: The battery has unusual gun mountings and an underground facility. The site also has the only known Port Jackson Mallee plants and endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub.
The Aboriginal heritage of Malabar Headland is still being explored with the Aboriginal community.
