Blackwattle Bay Park, Glebe

 Arrived at 3pm home 4.30pm

If you think it is time to visit a "plot of land belonging or yeilding profit to an English parish church or an ecclesiastical office" , then you will be interested in going to Glebe.  Amazingly, that is the definition of Glebe, it is not named after an English Lord as one could be forgiven for assuming.The Glebe Point foreshore has a few parks that are joined together.  Today I set off to have a look at one of those parks - Blackwattle Bay Park.

 I joined the 370 bus in Newtown for a quick trip around to Glebe.  Glebe is easy to get to by a bus from the city, the 433, or via the light rail from Central Railway Station.

Ferry Road

Anzac Bridge

Ferry Road is to the right of Glebe Point Road, a pleasant downhill trot takes you to the beginning of the Blackwattle Bay walk.  Before you spans the magnificent Anzac Bridge with its accompanying cacophony of traffic sounds.  The harbour glistens in front of you, the city skyline in all its' glory as a backdrop.  Across the water to your right is Sydney Fish Markets.

It's easy to be lost in your thoughts as you wander along this superb shared pathway with the water on your right and trees, gardens and homes on your left. The grass is very green (testomy to our very wet summer) a light breeze and a sense of space.

The first point of interest is the Burley Griffin Incinerator.  This glorious building was hard at work back in the 1930's burning Sydney's refuse.  It was a fitting solution to the previous rubbish method of dumping out in the ocean along the coast, only to have it floating back in on the beaches.  Of course the incinerator method fell out of favour, when our skyline started loosing its lustre.  You might recognise the name associated with this structure - yes he designed our Nation's capital.

Banksia

The predominantly native vegetation is flourishing all along this track.  There are beauties such as the Banksia, Acacia, Melaleuca, Grevillea, Westringia, Callicoma, Casuarina, Eucalypts, Hakea.  The understory plants are Lomandra, Commelina, Pratia, Hibbertia, Kangaroo grass and Baumea.

Blackwattle Cafe

Blackwattle Cafe

               I enviously spy a moored boat with a gentleman idly reading his newspaper on the back deck.  My momentary thoughts of envy elevated as I discover the Blackwattle Cafe. This cafe is in the historic house called Bellevue, there could be no better spot  to  sit and gaze over a cup of tea.

Crane remnant

Feeling refreshed after my tea, I joined the path again to discover a couple of lone mangroves and a small beach just around the next bend. Strides Crane is a silent reminder of the flurry of port activity in years gone past in this same area. An interpretive sign documents the industry that flourished in this area from the 1820's until 1983.  The crane as well as the cables are still there, coiled around giant metal spools.

Historical home

Nearby homes add to the history of this small area of the track.

Ficus macrophylla

Two Ficus macrophylla (Morton Bay Fig) trees will stop you in your tracks.  Wow ! This canopy provided welcome relief from the heat of the day. From this point the path continues on and becomes the Bicentennial Park which meanders around to Rozelle.

Glebe terraces

My route takes me back up to Glebe Point Road, via Northcote Road, turning left into Eglinton Road, which joins Glebe Point Road. Victorian mansions are well represented in this area of Glebe.  There is a village feel with colourful shops and cafes, plenty of delicate gardens to spot through the wrought iron fences. Neat box hedges, trimmed camelias marry well with smart terraces.

Glebe terrace

I join the  370 bus back to Newtown, near Wigram Road, one of those old buses with noisy engines. A welcome breeze wafts in after I navigate the sliding windows. I slouch back with a soft sigh..... what a fitting ending to an historic day.

Destination: Blackwattle Bay Park, Ferry Road Glebe.

Route: Bus 431, 433 dep Central, 370 Newtown - Glebe. Light Rail.

Suitable: Children, prams, dogs, adults, joggers, wanderers.

Time: Allow at least an hour for the walk around the park.