Freshwater

Background

The area was once inhabited by overlapping clans of the Garigal people to the north and the Gayamaygal to the south, and evidence of their habitation remains today in the form of rock engravings.

The first grant of land was to Thomas Bruin on 27 September 1815, 50 acres directly opposite the beach. The Manly Land Company subdivided and named the property Freshwater Estate in December 1884. One part of the subdivision was named Harbord Estate in 1886, in honour of the Honourable Cecilia Margaret Harbord, wife of the governor, Lord Carrington at the time (1885-90). The beach and area behind it was known as Freshwater, probably due to the stream that ran down to the beach (now Oceanview Road). Some residents believed the holiday image of Freshwater needed an upgrade to the name Harbord, creating much debate and controversy. the first primary school was opened in 1912 as Freshwater Public school, even though the Education Minister had been petitioned for the name change to Harbord. The Harbord name lovers turned their attention to the Postmaster General who bowed to the pressure and officially renamed Freshwater to Harbord on 1 September 1923.

In 2003 the Harbord Chamber of Commerce requested the name change back to Freshwater to the Geographical Names Board of NSW via Warringah Council. The suburb of Harbord officially was renamed Freshwater on 12 January 2008. Phew!

The Soldiers Avenue of Honour

After three modes of transport, bus, light rail, ferry and bus again, we started our day in The Soldiers Avenue of Honour, created by Warringah Council in 1919 when it renamed (there is definitely a theme in this suburb!) Mathieson Avenue to Soldiers Avenue. 67 trees were planted in honour of WWI and, later, WWII fallen soldiers as a living memorial, now heritage listed. The guards around the trees carried plaques with the name of a soldier. Many of the plaques were relocated to a Wall of Remembrance in nearby Jacka Park, named for Lesley Jacka who was killed at Gallipoli. In 2015, as part of the Centenary of Anzac Commemorations the memorial and park were upgraded. It is one of the last remaining ‘Avenues of Honour’ in greater Sydney.

The entrance to Soldier’s Avenue
A peaceful place for sitting and reflecting
Highlighting the memorial trees
Commemorating Frederick Reynolds, the first soldier to be killed on Anzac Day in 1915 from the northern beaches
The heroes tree, first planted in 1923 as a living memorial

Surfers Walk Of Fame

We headed off towards McKillop Park which includes a statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, who introduced surfing to Australia in 1914, previously only known in Hawaii. Duke was an Olympic Hawaiian swimmer who was brought to Sydney to display his swimming prowess in 1914-15. He crafted a surfboard from sugar pine and demonstrated the craft of Hawaiian style surfing to Freshwater on 24 December 1914. A crowd watched the demonstration, and a 15 year old, Isabel Letham was invited to join Duke for a tandem surf. She went on to become a pioneer on Australian surfing. The original board is on display at Freshwater SLSC.

Near the statue is the Surfers Walk of Fame, established in 1994, with large plaques and mosaics of surfing greats.

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku

We headed down the hill to the fresh water swimming pool.

Then across the water’s edge to the beach, scrambling over the rocks.

The pathway along the water’s edge
Steer clear of the outlet

The view of the beach with music thanks to YR! Too cold to swim. We continued our walk to the Surf Life Saving Club and then on to Pilu Baretto for lunch.

We started walking up Moore Road and happened across the Harbord Hotel as raindrops started. Well we could hardly walk in the rain with a nearby shelter! We ordered a drink and enjoyed the company, the place and the view.