Harbour Walk 5.2 

 DRUMMOYNE                        

May 2012  

4 km  

1 1/2 hours

This is a bridge to bridge walk again,

 from Iron Cove Bridge to Gladesville Bridge. 

   

5.2.1  It is easy to get to Iron Cove Bridge, so many busses go along Victoria Road from and to the City and suburbs.

I walked across Iron Cove Bridge and had a good view of Balmain West shoreline, where I walked along in April. 

I also looked down to Birkenhead where I will start my walk today.

Birkenhead used to be an industrial area.  In 1970s the Dunlop factory closed down, the site was redeveloped and the old factory building became shopping centre with outlet stores for designer clothing. 

Later a marina and apartment complex was added. 

The big Unit Blocks may not look so attractive however most allow access to the foreshore, and that is very nice. 

At Birkenhead Point is a park with a play ground,

and around the Point a little bit of a beach. 

Next to it is the Drummoyne Sailing Club 

and nearby a boat slipway

5.2.2  The walk now goes all along St. Georges Crescent, broken only by a few small reserves.

At the Peppercorn Reserve one gets a good view of Snapper Island, the smallest island in Sydney Harbour.

Further on, another little reserve with a good view of Spectacle Island. 

Spectacle Island was used for gun powder storage. 






Behind these two islands lays Cockatoo Island. 

5.2.3  Where St.Georges Crescent ends and Wolseley Street begins is Drummoyne Ferry Wharf. 

Along St.Georges Crescent and Wolseley Street and Wright Road and Drummoyne Avenue the pattern is the same: 

on the harbour side of the street apartment blocks have mostly replaced the original residences, 






whilst on the opposite side without good harbour views many single dwellings still remain.

There are no foreshore parks and walkways in front of these big buildings. 

However, now and then a vacant block of land turned into a reserve gives access to the water. 


 And suddenly there is Gladesville Bridge.

                        

This walk went along four streets only, and all four streets are very similar. 

Harbour Walk 5.1 

 IRON COVE  

  THE BAY RUN           

May 2012  

7 km  

2 1/2 hours  

I really like long walks now, so I thought I may start May with an additional walk around Iron Cove.

This is a famous walk, it has even a special name, ‘The Bay Run’. 

5.1.1  

From the west side of Iron Cove Bridge one can see across the bay.  

I started the walk under the bridge at the southern end . 

All along the eastern side of the bay are parks and one can walk right at the water’s edge.

Rozelle Psychiatric Hospital used to be at Callan Park till 2008. Sydney College of the Arts occupies now the old sandstone buildings and the NSW Writers’ Centre is there too. It is worth your while to divert a little and wander around the beautiful grounds.

Recently there was a very special walk around the Bay. 

It was low tide, and walking along the water’s edge then gets a completely new meaning. 

I could walk on the mudflats, around the rocky outcrops,  

and observe many waterbirds close by, so beautiful.

5.1.2  
Where Callan Park ends Leichhardt Park begins. 

Further along, past the Rowing Club, past more fitness equipment, the Aquatic Centre, and a little jetty,

and there it is:

the bridge across the Hawthorne Canal

And this bridge is special: 

it’s surface is grass! 








When the City West Link was built 

the bridge was no longer needed and was turned into a park way.

At the end of the bridge, there is a large mural: 

And further on are some signs:

these marker indicating the highest local tidal level for 1920, 2006 and anticipated for 2050, to show the effect of climate change on local sea level.

5.1.3  
Along Dobroyd Parade and Henley Marine Drive are signs 

explaining the estuary ecology. 

There are long stretches of mangrove, good to observe at low tide.

This is now about half way around the Bay. Busses take you from here back to the City. A cafe across the road you can get some refreshments and use the toilet.  

There are a good view right across the Bay to the Iron Cove Bridge in the distance.

   On a little headland stands a big sandstone cross marking where once the Rodd Family Mausoleum stood. The tomb was built by convicts in the early 1800s. 

It is very nice to walk around Rodd Park. 

Great views to all sides of Iron Cove and Rodd Island.

5.1.4   
Back on Henley Marine Drive two things stand out:
the many people walking, jogging and bike riding along the Bay Run

and also the many houses being renovated and improved.

All along Henley Marine Drive are good views of the Bay, even if sometimes through some bushland. 

It is nice to look across to where I walked 2 hours ago,

 to Callan Park with the sandstone buildings and also to see the city high rise behind .

At the end of the 7 km Bay Run is the 

Drummoyne Swim Centre, 

but it is open only during the summer season.

And here we are right under the Iron Cove Bridge again, but at the northern end.

From Victoria Road many busses go to the City and suburbs.

Harbour Walk 4 

BALMAIN PENINSULAR    

April 2012 

in 3 stages

total: approximately 13 km  

        5 1/2 hours

         

Between Anzac Bridge and Iron Cove Bridge 

lies Balmain, one of the oldest suburb of Sydney. 

This is a very long walk, going all around Balmain Peninsular,
so I may do the April walk in 3 stages.

Harbour Walk 4.1  

BALMAIN PENINSULAR 

WHITE BAY       

April 2012  

less than 4 km   

1 1/2 hour 

First I will walk from the western end of Anzac Bridge

around White Bay to Balmain Wharf at Darling Street.

4.1.1  

The White Bay Silos dominating the scene. 

Built in 1921 for grain storage the 16 silos are used as bulk cement terminal since the 1990s.

Turning into Victoria  Road, 

at the corner of Robert Street there is another big old building, the abandoned White Bay Power House.

Built in 1912 it ceased operation in 1983. It is listed with the Historic Houses Trust, but the future use of these now derelict buildings has not yet been decided.

Just opposite is a business with a very interesting fence, it tells a story.