Tambourine Bay, May 2011.

Pat and I went to Sydney to visit Anna and Pedram.  While there, we took a short walk down to Tambourine Bay, on the harbour.  It was said to have been named after Tambourine Sal (or Nell) a lady of “questionable repute” who resided here.  The name Tambourine Bay first appeared on Surveyor Latimer’s 1831 map. 

Entry to St Ignatius College, on the way to Tambourine Bay.


The Tambourine Bay Well was built in 1833 by Thomas Duckworth to help collect the pure water from a spring above.
This was a source of water for the surrounding districts, with people coming from as far as Hunter’s Hill and Longueville, especially in times of drought.
The well was dug out of sandstone to about one metre deep. It had been filled in, but was uncovered in 1991.
Filling the oval at St Ignatius College has affected the clarity of the water.  The orange colour is caused by iron-feeding algae, encouraged by the loose sandstone fill.










Along one side of the bay was a bush track which we followed – hard to believe we were so close to the centre of Sydney.  Through the trees, and beside stunning rock formations we could glimpse this very serene section of the harbour.


We could see across the water to the tidal swimming pool built in 1954, but now closed.  I guess the harbour water was cleaner in 1954 than it is now.


We walked up this ancient set of steps, then scrambled up a muddy slippery bank which brought us to the outside of the St Ignatius oval. 


From the outside fence of the oval, we could look across the harbour to the city beyond.  What a view for the footballers!


Then we slithered back down the bank, and walked down the steps again.  While we were in Sydney, we made good use of the beanies our neighbour May had knitted for us.  I think Pat only took his off to go to bed.


We walked back by a lower path, closer to the water.






It appeared that there had been a former dock here – now used only by fishermen and bushwalkers.
We retraced our steps and walked back to the well, through Tambourine Bay Reserve, and then along the other side of the bay.


Tambourine Bay Reserve.


Someone had been having fun with the sign at the pool.


The harbour looked good from this side of the bay as well.