Bondi Beach and Sculpture By The Sea

Bondi Beach with the Bondi Pavilion in the background.

For Australians there is nothing more iconic than beaches; and Bondi beach is one of them. During the 1900's, the beach became associated with health, leisure and democracy - a great equalizer where everybody can enjoy themselves free from the rigidity of social class.

Bondi beach became very popular mainly due to the close proximity to the Sydney Central Business District (CBD); about seven kilometres east of the city. It is a kilometre long and shaped like a moon crescent.

Some believes the name was derived from the Aboriginal word meaning "water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks. While the Australian Museum records that Bondi means "place where a flight of nullas took place". [1] But the fact remains that before European settlement, Bondi and the surrounding areas were inhabited by the Eora [the people] Aboriginals due to the significant rock carvings in the area.

Every October, Sculpture by the Sea - an arts event occur on this beach stretching as far back as Tamarama beach. Above is one example of an outdoor inspired sculpture, taking Bondi and its surrounding beaches as background.

More sculptures at Tamarama beach.

See last year's sculptures: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.