“Ever swum at a place called a bogey hole?” I ask. Bronte is a beachside suburb in Sydney. It is known for its beautiful Bronte Beach and park. Today we will discover the story of Bronte.
Bronte’s history is tied to the Eora people. The Cadigal, Biddigal, and Birrabirragal bands lived here. European settlement dramatically changed this area.
In the early 19th century, land grants were given to settlers. Mortimer Lewis, the Colonial Architect, purchased land here in 1836. This included the land where Bronte House now stands. He paid just 144 pounds for 12 acres. Lewis began building Bronte House. Financial problems forced him to sell the property before finishing it.
Robert Lowe bought the foundations and surrounding land in 1843. He paid 420 pounds. Lowe and his wife completed the house two years later. Bronte House quickly became a landmark. Its gothic yet Georgian style was admired by many. The house became a gathering place for intellectuals and statesmen. William Macleay and Sir Alfred Stephen were frequent visitors. Even the governor, Sir George Gipps, visited Bronte House.
There is some debate about where the name Bronte comes from. Some believe Robert Lowe named it after the Bronte sisters. They were literary figures. Lowe’s family had connections to them. Another more likely explanation links the name to Lord Nelson. He was made Duke of Bronte by the King of Naples in 1799. Nelson Bay was the original name for this area. The earliest references to Nelson Bay are on old maps. In 1860, an article in the Sydney Mail mentioned Nelson Bay. It also mentioned Nelson Road and Trafalgar Road all commemorating the naval hero.
Bronte’s park became a public recreation area due to a council effort in 1863. The council wanted to ensure access to the beach. In 1886, the Governor approved the resumption of 14 acres for public recreation. Waverley Council became the trustee of Bronte Park. They fenced the area and made early improvements. In the 1920s, the Ebsworth family donated land along the creek. This area became known as Ebsworth Glen. Locals simply called it “the gully.”
Before the park was public, the beach was private property. Locals still enjoyed the waves. Some even engaged in “skinny dipping.” In 1886, a letter to the council requested action. It wanted bathers at Bronte Beach to wear suitable costumes.
At the southern end of the beach was a large “bogey hole.” This came from an Aboriginal word for swimming place. In 1887, it was enlarged to form the Bronte Baths. The Australian crawl was first seen here around 1899. The current bogey hole was formed around 1911.
In 1906, complaints arose about surf bathing affecting picnickers. A “Picnicker” wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald. They complained about surf bathers invading the beach. They noted the lack of dressing sheds. Bronte Park was a popular picnic spot. As early as 1911, Waverley Council built picnic huts.
Many large estates existed in this area. Chesterfield, Yanko, and Palmerstone were other estates. These are remembered by the names of local streets. The estates were eventually subdivided and sold for housing.
Public transport influenced the growth of Bronte. Horse-drawn buses came first. Steam trams began in the 1880s. The tram line from the city reached Bronte Beach in 1911. The opening of the line was a big event. Alderman Alldis suggested the tram would allow people from poorer areas to “get a wash.”
Bronte developed later than other parts of Waverley. In 1909, there were only 11 houses near the beach. Swimming was popular but only four shops existed in the 1920s. Snelling’s Tea Room was one of the early shops.
In 1940, the roads from Oxford Street to Pacific Street were named Bronte Road. Previously, the route included Cowper Street and Nelson Bay Road. The shops at the beach catered to beachgoers. They included milk bars, a fish-and-chip shop, and Lowe’s Hoy Gee Chinese restaurant.
The 1970s brought rising property prices to Bronte. Real estate agents promoted the area’s beauty. Professionals and academics were attracted to the beachside suburb. In the early 2000s, houses from the 1920s and 1930s sold for millions. Bronte’s location, transport, schools, and village atmosphere were appealing. Bronte has avoided large-scale commercial development.
Bronte remains a popular place. The park, picnic huts, baths, and “Bogey” are still here. Many original houses remain. New modern houses are being built. Bronte’s initial isolation has proved beneficial.