North Bondi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Bondi Sydney, New South Wales
North Bondi's Ben Buckler
Established	1851
Postcode(s)	2026
Elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Area	1.26 km2 (0.5 sq mi)
Location	7 km (4 mi) east of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Waverley Council
State electorate(s)	Vaucluse
Federal Division(s)	Wentworth
Suburbs around North Bondi: Rose Bay Rose Bay Dover Heights Bellevue Hill North Bondi Tasman Sea Waverley Bondi Beach

North Bondi is a cool coastal suburb in Sydney, Australia. It's about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) east of the city center. This area is mostly homes, right next to famous Bondi Beach. It also borders the suburb of Bondi and Bondi Junction, which is a busy shopping area. A special spot in North Bondi is called Ben Buckler.

Campbell Parade, North Bondi, where old trams used to stop

History of North Bondi

The name "Bondi" comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "water breaking over rock." Over time, people spelled it in different ways, like Boondi or Bundi.

Ancient Rock Carvings

You can still see Aboriginal rock carvings in North Bondi. They are on a rocky surface near the Bondi Golf Course. Another Aboriginal carving is at Ben Buckler, a headland east of Bondi Beach. It's about one meter long and looks like a turtle.

There are also some carvings made by Europeans nearby. In 1910, a man named Lawrence Hargrave thought Spanish sailors made them in 1595. But more recent studies suggest quarry workers made these carvings between 1890 and 1915.

Early Land Ownership

The whole Bondi area was once a large piece of land. It was given to a road-builder named William Roberts in 1809. In 1851, Edward Smith Hall, who was a newspaper editor, bought this land for 200 Australian pounds.

Historic Places in North Bondi

North Bondi has several places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. They include:

• Ben Buckler Gun Battery
• Blair Street: Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer
• Military Road: Bondi Sewer Vent

The Rathouse: A Special Club

On March 22, 1944, a group of soldiers called the "Rats of Tobruk" started a club in North Bondi. This club is part of the Returned & Services League of Australia. Today, it's still known as Tobruk House or The Rathouse. In 2003, the New York Times newspaper even wrote about it, calling it a great beachside spot.

Ben Buckler Gun Battery

The Ben Buckler Gun Battery was built in 1892. Its job was to protect Sydney Harbour from enemy ships. In the 1950s, the army left the site, and the fortification was buried. In the 1990s, engineers dug it up while working on a new pipeline. Now, the site is buried again under Hugh Bamford Reserve.

Trams to North Bondi

Residential development in North Bondi

For many years, trams were a main way to get to North Bondi. They ran from the city center, like Circular Quay or Railway Square. The tram line went through Bondi Junction and then down to the North Bondi tram stop.

A cool part of this tram line was a large, three-track station built into a hillside at North Bondi. It opened in 1946. There was also an underpass at 331a Bondi Road. Trams used this underpass to get to Campbell Parade because the road was too steep. The underpass and the hillside station are now filled in. Part of the area is now a public park and some apartments.

The tram line first opened in 1884 as a steam tramway. Electric trams started running in 1902. The tram service stopped in 1960. The old tram route is now mostly followed by the bus route 333.

Another tram service also went to North Bondi. It traveled through Paddington and Bellevue Hill. This line had a special bridge just for trams over Barcom Avenue in Darlinghurst. This bridge is now a regular road bridge. This tram route is now similar to bus route 379.

Who Lives in North Bondi?

In the 2021 Census, there were 9,290 people living in North Bondi.

• Most people (58.3%) were born in Australia.
• Other common birthplaces included England (7.8%), South Africa (5.8%), and New Zealand (2.0%).
• Most people (77.5%) spoke only English at home.
• Other languages spoken included Spanish (2.2%) and French (1.8%).
• When asked about religion, 40.8% said they had no religion.
• Other common religions were Judaism (22.1%) and Catholic (16.2%).

Famous Spots in North Bondi

Residential area in North Bondi

North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club

• The Bondi Golf & Diggers Club is on the coast, near Military Road.
• The North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club is right next to the beach in Biddigal Reserve.
• St Anne's Catholic Church is also in North Bondi.

Sports and Fun

Since 1908, North Bondi has been part of a popular Australian sport: National Rugby League. The local team is the Sydney Roosters, also known as the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club.

Images for kids

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  Art Deco shops and flats

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  Aboriginal rock carvings near the golf course

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  European rock carvings once thought to be Spanish

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  Bondi Golf Course

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  Former Basalt Quarry at North Bondi