Bondi Beach is perhaps Sydney's most popular beach, located in the suburb of the same name, 7 kilometres east of the central business district. The word "Bondi" - is of Aboriginal origin, and one theory is that it means "water crashing rocks".
In 1851, Edward Smith Hall and Frances O'Brien purchased 200 acres of land, which included almost the entire beach. Between 1855 and 1877. O'Brien bought Hall's share of the land and turned the beach and surrounding areas into a place where anyone could picnic or entertain. As as the popularity of the place grew, O'Brien increasingly considered of restricting public access to the beach. However, the City Council intervened, and in June 1882 Bondi Beach officially became a public beach.
Throughout most of the 20th century, the Bondi Beach area was a working-class neighbourhood. After World War II, Jewish immigrants from Poland, Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Germany flocked here.
Today, Bondi Beach's kilometre-long beach attracts tourists from all over the world. In 2004, the Australian Rescue Service gave it several categories on a 10-point risk scale, ranging from a 4 at the northern end of the beach to a 7 at the southern end due to a dangerous backcurrent off the shore. The southern part is only open to surfers. Safe swimming areas are marked with yellow and red flags.
During the summer months, sharks appear in the waters around Bondi Beach - tourists should be extra cautious. Sometimes whales and dolphins swim by, and small penguins can occasionally be seen close to the shore. Along the beach are numerous cafes, restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops. There is also the Bondi Pavilion, a cultural centre consisting of a theatre, gallery, art studio, etc. Throughout the year, it hosts a variety of events.
In 2008, Bondi Beach was listed as a National Treasure in Australia.
