Shark attacks and sewage slicks, lifesavers and surfers, amusement parks and beach camps – the beach is Sydney’s most iconic landscape feature.
From Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the south, Sydney’s coastline teems with life. People around the city escape to the beaches to swim, surf, play and lie in the sun. Sydney beaches tells the story of how Sydneysiders developed their love of the beach, from 19th century picnickers to the surfing and sun-baking pioneers a century later.
But Sydney’s beaches have another history, one that is lesser known and more intriguing. Our world-famous beach culture only exists because the first beachgoers demanded important rights. This book is also the story of these battles for the beach. Accompanied by vibrant images of Sydney’s surf, sand and sun worship, this expansive and delightful book is the story or how a city developed a relationship with its ocean coast, and how a nation created a culture.
On sale now in bookshops and through NewSouth Books
Reviews
Walter Mason, ‘Walterblog‘, 4 February 2015
Peter Spearritt, ‘Freedom on the Beach’ – Inside Story, 22 January 2014
Honest History
Sydney Morning Herald – Spectrum, 11 October 2014
Manly Daily, 26 September 2014
Daily Telegraph, 25 September 2014
PHA NSW blog, 15 October 2014
Berkelouw Books
Media
Interview with Robbie Buck, 702 ACB Sydney. 6.20am, 27 January 2015.
Interview with Daniel Healion (podcast), 2Ser radio. 8 December 2014.
Sydney Beaches in history, Australian Geographic, 24 November 2014.
‘Beach histories laid bare’, St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 28 October 2014.
Interview with Phillip Adams (podcast), Late Night Live on Radio National. 15 October 2014.
‘Public always refused to stick heads in sand and saved our beaches and headlands’, Manly Daily 26 September 2014
And stlll the fight continues to keep our beaches public at Little Manly.
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