Bondi Beach, Beach in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
Bondi Beach is a horseshoe-shaped sandy beach about 800 metres long on the Tasman Sea in Sydney's eastern suburbs. A paved walkway runs along its upper edge, separating the sand from the street and buildings behind, while a low metal fence borders a grassy slope at one end. The beach is second only to Maroubra Beach in length along this part of the Sydney coast.
In 1851 Edward Smith Hall, publisher of the Sydney Monitor, and his son-in-law Francis O'Brien acquired the beach and its surroundings; O'Brien later opened it to the public, and the municipal council declared it public on 9 June 1882. Twentieth-century immigration, notably refugees from Nazi persecution, reshaped Bondi's housing. By the late 20th century the suburb had become one of Sydney's most expensive.
The beach hosts Sculpture by the Sea, an annual outdoor art festival that transforms the coastal path into an open-air gallery. This event has become central to the local identity and draws visitors interested in combining art with seaside exploration.
The northern end of the beach is the gentlest stretch for swimming; toward the south a rip current known as Backpackers Express pulls bathers out. An underwater shark net is installed in summer. Ball games, beach volleyball included, are banned on the sand by the local authorities.
The Bondi Icebergs swimming club was founded in 1929, and its members swim in the ocean pool through winter. The club began as a way for local lifesavers to keep fit in the colder months, and the winter races continue on Sunday afternoons.
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