$7.99 $ 7. Image: Mark Cocquio Sydney's harbour is a drowned river valley, its former tributaries swollen to bays, its ancient ridge lines rising above the tide as peninsulas and promontories. Genia McCaffery Centre for Sustainability. To reflect on practice can be akin to staring into a kind of professional mirror, one which returns personal pet peeves and hang-ups in an endless feedback loop. Once a significantly degraded site, impacted by coal dust that caused the soil to become hydrophobic, it has been regenerated and revegetated with local provenance native plantings. The park is accessed via Balls Head Drive, Waverton, New South Wales, Australia. The Aboriginal name for Balls Head is Yerroulbine and it was home to the Cammeraygal People. Tunnels being constructed for the Balls Head CoalLoader. The view across Balls Head to Birchgrove, circa 18701875. The Harbour View Walk and Ballasters Tracks will both take you around to the point. Residents came together at this location to form a Bushcare Group in early 1993, once infested with woody weeds (e.g., small-leaved privet and Lantana) and Asparagus Plant, the bushland has seen much improvement and now requires maintenance of exotic grasses and herbs. Its a nice spot to sit, with or without kids, and on a weekday it is pretty quiet. Perhaps the question, focused on the recognition and remembrance of action, of intention, is too petty. The reserve was named after Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, a commander of First Fleet of 1788. Perspectives from a practicing landscape architect. Bay Rd becomes Balls Head Road and at this point on your right, youll have expansive views of the Parramatta River. The walk along the Gaydan Track affords great views, especially at the point, and though the oil tanks around Greenwich arent exactly pretty, they are a reminder that Sydney still has a very active working harbour. Our recommendation is to follow the path north from the car park (Midden Walk) and follow the shoreline of the Reserve in a clockwise manner. Connection as you taste native, fragrant leaves. The Reserve is located at the southern end of Balls Head Drive on the Waverton Peninsula, and can be accessed from Waverton railway station, which is only a short 10-minute walk away. Turn right and follow the path along Oyster Bay. With a cafe on-site and plenty of natural beauty, the parklands offer an interesting history and vantage point overlooking Sydney. All Inclusive Small-Group Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney with Scenic World 1,995 Recommended 96% of travellers recommend this experience. A sense of belonging as you return to your favourite holiday house. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. Description:Forsyth Park Bushcare site is a small pocket of Angophora Foreshore Forest set in a gully between Yeo and Bent Street, Neutral Bay. Dont wait until New Years to explore this extraordinary bushland reserve! Second meeting of the monthmeets at the end of Bridge End, Wollstonecraft. As a designer, to be drawn to these places can feel like an act of renunciation of our very professional role. Badangi Reserve is part of the Wollstonecraft cluster of reserves, a biodiversity hotspot for North Sydney LGA and an important wildlife corridor connecting neighbouring Lane Cove Council. Because of the work of Bushcare, many areas are bouncing back with a variety of native species reclaiming their homes including an endangered species of Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis) and breeding Powerful Owls. Your Email. Description:With Council support, residents came together to form Primrose Park Bushcare Group in 1994. Wollstonecraft Station is straight up the hill on Shirley Rd or take the pathway to your right just before Tryon Rd to get back to to the gas works and rejoin the path on which you came. Locations:Outside 566 Miller Street,Cammeray. Balls Head Reserve is located on the land of the Cammeraygal people. The northside of the y shaped- gully extends from Flat Rock Gully in Willoughby Council, the northside is in North Sydney Council. Location:meet at the end of Newlands Lane, Wollstonecraft. In this context, the humble Balls Head Reserve sits at an unexpected nexus, quietly yet strategically centred, occupying a prime position from which to observe the ever-evolving surrounding foreshores. Best Sydney Bush Walks: Find Fab Sydney Walks Here, Balls Head Bushland Reserve on Google Maps. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Location:2 Balls Head Drive, Waverton, northern end of the Coal Loader closest to Waterhen Drive. Can you list the top facts and stats about Balls Head Reserve? The headland is in Port Jackson, 1.5 kilometres (0.93mi) west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, between Berrys Bay to the east and Balls Head Bay to the west. Balls Head Bushcare site located directly opposite the Coal Loader includes remnants of Angophora Foreshore Forest and Disclimax Sandstone Scrub. The entire area is approximately 10.2 hectares, and is located within 2km of the Sydney CBD. This helps support the blog. His series of sketches, dating from 1931 and now held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, depicts the headland looming over calm waters, its stony back exposed to the sky, its form shorn clean and stripped bare. It is 3km one-way. The fruits of the volunteers labour paid off in 2017 with the return Swamp Wallabies, now resident. Collect, curate and comment on your files. American and Australasian Photographic Company. Historically the Point faced threats from development and mining. Balls Head Reserve in Sydney's lower north shore is a beautiful forested headland nature reserve facing Sydney Harbour. Waterhole at Balls Head, probably created or enlarged by Aborigines. Awe as you make it to the snowy peak. Turn into Balls Head Drive from Balls Head Road, and follow until you reach the small car park. After Toms Cabin, if you continue walking to the top of the head, you will find two smaller picnic areas. [Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Barangaroo website, https://www.barangaroo.com/visit/barangaroo-reserve (accessed 13 March 2022). If you have older children, it is possible to walk from McMahons Pt Wharf to Balls Head Reserve. Location:meet at the utilities shed at Russell Street, Smoothey Park, Wollstonecraft. Well come back to this area later. The walk begins and ends at Waverton Station. Things To Do With Kids In Sydney when its BLOODY Hot, Q Station Manly A Unique + Historic Sydney Spot For A Visit or Stay, The Best Pram-Friendly Walks in Sydney: Find A Walk Near You. Built into this wall are arched entrances to the four tunnels that once serviced the coal loader platform above. Sydney bus network: Routes 263 and 201 - Earle St at Young St. Cremorne (Stop ID 209013) and Earle St opp Young St. Cremorne (Stop ID 209023), Nearest public toilets: Primrose Park, close to cricket nets, Meet:Sunday of the first and third full weekend of the month (starting from the first full weekend on the month - see dates in table below). Australian homes to inspire the very best residential architecture and design projects. Tunks Park East Bushcare Group look after the steep stretch of bush that starts on the corner of the Boulevarde and Rowlison Parade, Cammeray. Cremorne Gardens was one of the first of several harbour-side pleasure grounds, established here at Cremorne Point in 1856. Balls Head Reserve occupies the peninsulas southernmost tip, where the areas thin waist opens to a wider headland: a shape, if you were a winged thing, resembling a hammer or a mallet. Custom Content. The reserve is now maintained by North Sydney Council and contains a well-preserved natural bushland area, one of the closest to the city of Sydney. Australia hotels, motels, resorts and inns. An Aboriginal burial site within a rock shelter was documented by Sandra Bowdler, an archaeologist from the Australian Museum in 1964. Meetings that fall on a long weekend or the Boorowa tree planting trip must be confirmed by the Group Convenor. Please, note that the caf in only open Wednesday to Sunday, 7am to 3pm. They have been . It is part of the middle Harbour cluster of bushland reserves, an important wildlife corridor for North Sydney Council. Anglers who are familiar with Balls Head Bay are asked to suggest changes using the link above. Make your fishing dreams come true today and tomorrow. [1] Until 1916, the Balls Head area was frequented by the local Aboriginal community and sites including middens, art sites and rock engravings remain today. And the most important: the caf is in a pedestrian precinct, free of traffic. Unlike many though, this one feels like a real bushwalk. Bandicoots were recorded in Badangi Reserve for the first time in April 2020, a testament to the work of the volunteers. Harry Howard Bushcare Group formed in February 1999 following the suggestion of Councillors at an on-site residential meeting regarding a nearby controversial development the previous year. Covering 1.8 ha, the bushland reserve is mostly Blackbutt Gully Forestgrading into Angophora Foreshore Forest toward its southern margin. Overlooking Berrys Bay, Carradah Park has quite a rich history. This area has improved greatly since this time and is home to many small native birds e.g., White Browed Scrubwrens. Angophora Foreshore Forest and Blackbutt Gully Forest are the dominant plant communities, Badangi Reserve preserves the only example of Forest Red Gum Foreshore Forest (Eucalyptus teriticornis) in the North Sydney LGA and supports endangered wildlife such as the fishing microbat the Large-footed Myotis. T1 - North Shore & Western Line and T9 - Northern Line, Nearest toilet: Wollstonecraft Train Station, Meet:Saturday of the first full weekend of the month (see dates in table below). Balls Head is one of few mid-weeks Bushcare Groups provided by Council, located close to toilets and transport services. History. These picnic areas dont have facilities, but they are flat with views, the ideal setting for a picnic rug. This site is close to toilet facilities and public transport. At Balls Head Reserve, well-used concrete walkways follow the original paths laid down in the 1930s on this hybrid (both natural and designed)site. Cremorne Point (Stop ID 209035), Ferries: Cremorne Point Wharf F2 Taronga Zoo and F6 Mosman Bay, Meet:Sunday of the second full weekend of the month (see dates in table below). Forsyth Park Bushcare site is a small pocket of remnant Angophora Foreshore Forest set in a gully between Yeo and Bent Street, Neutral Bay. The cabin, which also included a fireplace and chimney, is thought to have been occupied throughout the thirties and forties before being taken over by North Sydney Council worker Tom Stacey who inscribed the words Toms Cabin into the lintel above the door. Many areas are bouncing backwith a variety of native species reclaiming their homes,including endangered species, the Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis) and breeding Powerful Owls. Despite the tracks are easy and they are not too close to the ocean, they are not handrails all times. Tunks Park bushland is an important wildlife corridor between Mortlock Reserve and Flat Rock Gully in Willoughby. Despite being a bit chilly, we had a great day. Nearest public toilet: The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability (directly opposite Balls Head Bushcare site). Sydney Buses Route 194, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 267, Meet:Sunday of the third full weekend of the month (see dates in table below). By then much of the forest that Lawson had described was gone. It is a popular picnic and bushwalking site, with views of the city skyline and harbour. Only one of these tunnels is open for access and it will take you through to the start of the bush walk proper on the other side. It is now used by the Maritime Museum for restoration work. It contains diverse vegetation communities and is home to a range of animals, including migratory birds that use it as a breeding site. The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainabilty has lots of attractions, read more here. Balls Head Reserve is one of North Sydney's most significant areas of urban bushland. Features: Ball fields, walking trail, children's play area and picnic area. Take some time to stroll up, down and around the old BP site. It is an important link within the middle harbours cluster of bushland reserves and a wildlife corridor for North Sydney Council. Disabled access available, contact operator for details. Keep up with the program talks, seminars, conferences and more. The habitat value is now much improved evidenced by the return of Long-nosed Bandicoots in recent years. To read more about myself, my family and this website, just click here. It is surprisingly lush and peaceful. TITLE : Balls Head Reserve . Daytime view large image The Reserve is situated on a cliff so it there's a lot of rocks and isn't very grassy towards the top. My daughters and I had a great time exploring Balls Head Bushland Reserve. 6. 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