Pearl Beach, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Pearl Beach is a suburb of Gosford City on the Central Coast of New South Wales
, Australia
. Pearl Beach was assigned 'suburb' status by the Geographical Names Board of NSW on the 25th October 1991.
sailed north from Sydney Cove
, Port Jackson
, to the inlet described by Captain James Cook
in 1770 as a "broken land" (id est Broken Bay
).
As entered in their journals:
, and on the east by Broken Bay
. Green Point, with Paul Landa
Reserve, adjoins the southern end of the beach.
Broken Bay Entrance Landscape Conservation Area.
of Woy Woy
and features performances by leading Australian opera identities. All proceeds are given to charities and Rotary projects.
The only other access is via the former Pearl Beach Road, also sometimes referred to as Cliff Road, which, nowadays, is a rocky unstable walking track that runs 30 feet above the shoreline around the base of the Mount Ettalong cliff via Umina Point. Pearl Beach Road is Heritage Listed, notably as a Section 2: Items listed by Local Government and State agencies.
Vehicular access to Pearl Beach has been problematic ever since motorised traffic was given access to the town, some events in this long saga include:
bowling green
are located in Opal Close, bookings required. Lap swimming is available at the rock pool located at the southern end of the beach.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Pearl Beach was assigned 'suburb' status by the Geographical Names Board of NSW on the 25th October 1991.
History
On 2 March 1788 Captain Arthur PhillipArthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
sailed north from Sydney Cove
Sydney Cove
Sydney Cove is a small bay on the southern shore of Port Jackson , on the coast of the state of New South Wales, Australia....
, Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
, to the inlet described by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
in 1770 as a "broken land" (id est Broken Bay
Broken Bay
Broken Bay is a large inlet of the Pacific Ocean located about 50 km north of Sydney on the coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the first major bay north of Sydney's Port Jackson.- Geography :...
).
As entered in their journals:
- "We slept in the boat that night within a rocky point in the north-west part of the bay (which is very extensive) as the native tho very friendly appeared to be numerous", Gov. Capt. A. Phillip R.N..
- "At 9 at night moored the boats in a cove on the N. side of the bay off which the surf broke violently... They were met by a great number of the natives men, women and children... They were all very friendly", Lieut. Wm. Bradley R.N. March 1788.
Geography
Located south of Umina Beach, being separated from it by a ridge upon which sits Mount Ettalong at a height of 56 metres (184 ft). It is bounded on the west and south by Brisbane Water National ParkBrisbane Water National Park
Brisbane Water National park is a national park in New South Wales, , 47 km north of Sydney.The park has many pleasant and interesting walks that can vary from mild to rugged. One walk that can be easily accessed via public transport, is the walk to Pindar Cave on the escarpment above...
, and on the east by Broken Bay
Broken Bay
Broken Bay is a large inlet of the Pacific Ocean located about 50 km north of Sydney on the coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the first major bay north of Sydney's Port Jackson.- Geography :...
. Green Point, with Paul Landa
Paul Landa
David Paul Landa, QC was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1973 to 1984, and the member for Peats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1984...
Reserve, adjoins the southern end of the beach.
Environment
Pearl Beach village is located within the National Trust of Australia'sNational Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
Broken Bay Entrance Landscape Conservation Area.
Awards
- 4th of November 2009, Pearl Beach was declared the Central Coast regional winner of the NSW Keep Australia BeautifulKeep Australia BeautifulKeep Australia Beautiful is a not-for-profit Australian environmental conservation organisation. The Keep Australia Beautiful Council is the federation of independent organisations formed in each of Australian states and territories - the first of which, Keep Australia Beautiful was formed in...
Clean Beach Challenge while also winning the Community Partnerships and Action Award. Pearl Beach also took home a highly commended award in the Environmental Protection category. - 9th of December 2010, due to an absence of a formal select programme, Pearl Beach was successful with a nomination to represent New South Wales in the Keep Australia BeautifulKeep Australia BeautifulKeep Australia Beautiful is a not-for-profit Australian environmental conservation organisation. The Keep Australia Beautiful Council is the federation of independent organisations formed in each of Australian states and territories - the first of which, Keep Australia Beautiful was formed in...
Clean Beaches Award for 2010-11.
Community Groups
The Pearl Beach Progress Association was formed in 1929 to work for the needs of local residents. Membership is available to anyone who is 16 years of age or older and lives in Pearl Beach, or are owners of property in Pearl Beach, and the immediate families of such persons.Community Events
Since 2006, Opera in the Arboretum has been performed annually in March in the Crommelin Native Arboretum. The event is organised by the Rotary ClubRotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
of Woy Woy
Woy Woy, New South Wales
Woy Woy is a coastal town and a southern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the southern reaches of Brisbane Water north of Sydney...
and features performances by leading Australian opera identities. All proceeds are given to charities and Rotary projects.
Residential Development
Residential development in Pearl Beach is governed by Gosford City Council's Development Control Plan 162 (DCP16). The aim of the Control Plan is to preserve, improve and restore the special natural character of Pearl Beach. It applies to all properties in the village of Pearl Beach, including, proposed buildings and major alterations and additions to existing buildings. DCP16 has superseded Gosford City Council’s policies for Pearl Beach titled DO 16 and Pearl Beach Residential Development Policy.Road
As of November 2010, Pearl Beach Drive is the only vehicular access road to the town.The only other access is via the former Pearl Beach Road, also sometimes referred to as Cliff Road, which, nowadays, is a rocky unstable walking track that runs 30 feet above the shoreline around the base of the Mount Ettalong cliff via Umina Point. Pearl Beach Road is Heritage Listed, notably as a Section 2: Items listed by Local Government and State agencies.
Vehicular access to Pearl Beach has been problematic ever since motorised traffic was given access to the town, some events in this long saga include:
- In 1925 Pearl Beach Road was designed and constructed as the main vehicular access road to Pearl Beach.
- December 1935, Pearl Beach Road had been closed to vehicles. As reported at the time: "The engineer of the Woy Woy Shire Council has reported to the touring department of the N.R.M.A. that during the summer holidays cars will be able to reach Pearl Beach from Ettalong by way of the new road. It is necessary for motorists to go along the old road from Ettalong to a point where a turntable has been constructed and a notice gives Warning that the road ahead is closed to traffic. The road over the hill is still under construction, and travelling conditions are not good, but, with care, tourists should be able to travel to Pearl Beach without difficulty."
- June 1936, the Pearl Beach Progress Association sent correspondence to Woy Woy Shire Council objecting to the Council's decision to build a road to Patonga which would not go through Pearl Beach. A petition against the proposal was forwarded to the NSW Minister for Lands.
- April 1938, the Pearl Beach Progress Association had decided to pursue access to the town via water rather than road. As reported at the time: "Pearl Beach Progress Association has decided by a unanimous vote to demand a £800 wharf to facilitate launch connection with PatongaPatonga, New South WalesPatonga is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the north bank of the Hawkesbury River, southwest of Woy Woy. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area.-Geography:Patonga is a small riverside community...
and Hawkesbury River railway stationHawkesbury River railway station, New South WalesHawkesbury River railway station is a station on the Main North railway line serving the town of Brooklyn and other towns on the southern bank of the Hawkesbury River. It consists of two platforms in an island configuration with access via a footbridge. The original station building remains on the...
, in preference to a properly graded road connection with Woy Woy. It was expected that with a wharf large coastal vessels would come to Pearl Beach on their excursion trips from SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and NewcastleNewcastle, New South WalesThe Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
." - February 1939, Pearl Beach Road was closed by Woy Woy Shire Council because a portion of the road had been washed away and 2 youths had been killed on the road by falling over the cliffs. As reported at the time: "Although two experts stated that the road could be reconstructed for £ 2,000 and £ 4,800 respectively, a report by the shire engineer estimates that cost at £8,981. The Pearl Beach Progress Association will be advised of the cost, and as the rate necessary would be about 1 in the £. The suggestion to replace the road is not likely to meet with approval."
- August 2010, Gosford City Council commenced stabilisation and reconstruction of sections of Mount Ettalong Road and Patonga Drive. Works were organised to ensure minimal traffic disruptions during morning and afternoon peak hours with delays of up to 15 minutes during other times. Consideration was given to the bus timetable and emergency vehicles.
Rock Pool
In 1926 construction of the Rock Pool, located at the southern end of the beach, adjoining Green Point, commenced. Once completed in 1928, C. R. Staples and Co. used it in promotional material to help sell land. Up until 1950, the pool suffered a pollution problem from its own amenities block that used open uncovered sanitary pans. Design and maintenance problems have plague the pool from the start. Nonetheless many people have and still enjoy the rock pool. During 2010, the rock pool was closed for 4 months whilst major renovations were carried out.Electricity
Plans to provide Pearl Beach with electricity were given an approval on the 31st of December 1936. Mr. R. Franki, consulting electrical engineer to the Woy Woy Council, was instructed to proceed with construction after the necessary number of guarantees had been signed by the residents.Sport Facilities
Two tennis courts and a narrow artificial turfArtificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
bowling green
Bowling green
A bowling green is a finely-laid, close-mown and rolled stretch of lawn for playing the game of lawn bowls.Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep on them...
are located in Opal Close, bookings required. Lap swimming is available at the rock pool located at the southern end of the beach.
Notable Residents
- Minard CrommelinMinard Fannie CrommelinMinard Crommelin MBE was an Australian postmistress and environmental conservationist.Crommelin was born on 29 June 1881 at Aston Station, near Bombala, New South Wales....
MBE (1881-1972), postmistress and environmental conservationist, lived in Pearl Beach between 1939-1972.