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.