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Category: History

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Wallsend Brickworks Park

Rehabilitated area with retaining walls made to look like industrial building rooves

Wallsend Brickworks Park

Wallsend Brickworks Park is a public park in Wallsend, Newcastle Australia, located at the site of a historic brickmaking operation which ran from 1891 to 1977. Featuring a playground, picnic shelters, barbecues, a pond with birdlife, and remnants of the brickworks’ machinery, it’s a great family destination.

The park is also part of the Jesmond Bushland, which offers nature trails for walking, cycling and mountain biking. The bushland is home to some native species such as powerful owls, flying foxes and squirrel gliders. The park is a great place to enjoy history, nature and fun with family and friends.

Brickworks History

Operating from 1891 to 1977 the Wallsend Brickworks used steam-powered machinery to make bricks. At its peak, the operation had orders of 400,000 bricks a week.

The brickworks produced a variety of bricks, including firebricks, pressed bricks and common bricks. Local buildings, such as the Wallsend Hospital and the Wallsend Post Office used some of the bricks.

Due to competition from other brick manufacturers and environmental concerns, the brickworks closed in 1977. Abandoned for many years, it became an environmental eyesore until the council decided to redevelop it as a park in 2002. The resulting public space provides play areas and walking tracks and an environmental wetland while paying homage to its industrial past.

How to Get There

We parked on Iranda Grove where car parking spots are available.

Throughout the grassed rehabilitated areas, concrete retaining walls have been constructed to resemble industrial buildings’ roofs. Several concrete structures remain as a reminder of the site’s heritage. The old clay quarry has been made safe and now forms a lake and habitat for local wildlife.

Entrance and main pathway through Brickworks Park
Entrance and main pathway through Brickworks Park
The old quarry face. Hidden behind trees
The old quarry face. Hidden behind trees
The old quarry is now a wetland Brickworks Park
The old quarry is now a wetland
Walking track through the Brickworks Park
Walking track through the park
Some of the few industrial remains
Some of the few industrial remains
Rehabilitated area with retaining walls made to look like industrial building rooves
Rehabilitated area with retaining walls made to look like industrial building rooves

The park also features artworks made from recycled bricks, including some of the original Wallsend bricks. One of the artworks is a sculpture named Kullas Incubator, which represents the regeneration of life and nature at the site.

Sculpture made from recovered broken bricks Brickworks Park
Sculpture made from recovered broken bricks

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Norah Head Lighthouse

Norah Head Lighthouse

Norah Head Lighthouse

Located at Norah Head on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, Norah Head Lighthouse is still active after 120 years of operation. Built in 1903 it was the last lighthouse of the James Barnet style constructed. The lighthouse is 27 metres (89 ft) high and has a light characteristic of two white flashes every 15 seconds. This distinguishes it from other nearby lighthouses which will have a different number of flashed or separations.

Getting There

Parking is available onsite but is quite small and during busy periods fills quickly. Once the car park is full, visitors can park on the access road, or walk in from town which is a 10-minute walk.

Norah Head Lighthouse
Norah Head Lighthouse

Opening Times

The lighthouse is open to the public for guided tours every day (except Christmas Day and Anzac Day) between 10 am and 3 pm. Arriving early we were the only customers for the 10 am tour. This was great because we had the undivided attention of the guide. Our guide was great and being a volunteer, very passionate about the lighthouse. He kept up a running commentary for the whole tour, even while climbing the steps (there are 96 of them).

Ground Floor

On the ground floor we saw the weights that used to turn the light. Wound up and then released, they slowly moved down, with their movement turning the light. Not surprisingly, this was a laborious job and has been replaced by an electric motor.

Weight system to turn the light
Weight system to turn the light
Spiral staircase Norah Head Lighthouse
Spiral staircase

Balcony

At the balcony level, we saw the unique markings used by the lighthouse. Each lighthouse had its own unique design, so that during the day, if the light couldn’t be seen, sailors could still determine their location.

Norah Head Identification Shape Norah Head Lighthouse
Norah Head Identification Shape
Red navigation light
Red navigation light

The Light

At the light deck, our guide explained how airflow to the original kerosene that fuelled the lamp was controlled. Incorrect airflow would result in black soot deposits on the glass lens, restricting it’s visibility. Brass air inlets could be opened or shut depending on wind speed and direction, ensuring the light burned correctly.

Air vent used to control light brightness
Air vent used to control light brightness

Climbing the 96 steps was not difficult as there were many breaks for explanations. One was about the stairs themselves which are made is slate with brass fittings, so that sparks are not generated. Although not significant now, it was a vital consideration when the lighthouse burned kerosene.

The view from the top was spectacular, with views up and down the coast. This also gave us a bird’s eye view of the lighthouse keepers’ cottages, which are now used as guest houses.

The light Norah Head Lighthouse
The light
View from the top of the lighthouse looking south
View from the top of the lighthouse looking south
Lighthouse keepers' cottages
Lighthouse keepers’ cottages

Following the tour, we walked over the rock platform below the cliff that the lighthouse is built on. On returning, we saw a long queue waiting to do the tour, making us very pleased that we had come early.

Looking up at the lighthouse from the beach Norah Head Lighthouse
Looking up at the lighthouse from the beach

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Balmoral Beach

The Circular Wharf Balmoral Beach

Balmoral Beach

Balmoral Beach is a picturesque and popular beach located on the north shore of Sydney Harbour, Australia. It’s a great place to swim, relax or just take in the scenery.

Getting There

During busy time like weekends and public holidays, the area can be very busy, so getting there early might be a good idea. Using public transport requires several changes of buses, trams and ferries, depending on where you leave from. Only the 114 and 238 busses stop at the beach, with the 238 connecting to the wharf at Taronga Zoo, enabling you to get the ferry from Circular Quay.

Balmoral Beach

The main attraction, in the area is of course the beautiful beach. The sheltered waters are a great place to relax and swim. Along the foreshore, a variety of eateries offer places for snacks and meals. The old Bathers’ Pavilion is now a restaurant, with views over the beach while you eat. Strictly speaking this area is Edwards Beach, as there is a name change around Rocky Point Island.

Bathers Pavilion
Bathers Pavilion.

Rocky Point Island

Located just offshore and at the north end of the beach, Rocky Point Island was one of the reason we visited. Not only does it have great views along the coast and back to the beach, but it is accessed via a unique foot bridge. This bridge allows access to the island during high tide while providing a great backdrop for photos. It’s very popular for wedding photos as well.

Arch bridge to Rocky Point Island Balmoral Beach
Arch bridge to Rocky Point Island.
Arched bridge to Rocky Point Island
Arched bridge to Rocky Point Island.
View to Balmoral Beach from Rocky Point Island
View to Balmoral Beach from Rocky Point Island.
View to Balmoral Beach from Rocky Point Island

Balmoral Wharf

Built in the early 1900s, the circular Balmoral Pier is a popular spot for fishing and boating. The water enclosed by the pier is a sheltered and safe spot to swim and we saw a lot of families with small children using it. Visitors can also enjoy a meal or a drink at one of the restaurants or cafes located on the wharf, while taking in the stunning views of the harbour.

The Circular Wharf Balmoral Beach
The Circular Wharf.

Tramway Cutting

Located in Lawry Plunkett Reserve and opposite Balmoral Beach is an old tramway cutting, built in the early 1900s to provide easy access to the beach for visitors. Unfortunately it was removed, as it would make access to the area far easier. Today, the tramway cutting is a pedestrian walkway that runs along the eastern side of the beach, providing a scenic route for walkers and joggers.

We accessed the park from Botanic Road, but there are entrances from all of the surrounding streets. Following the path through the reserve led us to the old cutting, which is near the Esplanade entrance. Several pieces of old track are still present, but most has been removed. This was an interesting place to see and nice to see that a small part was preserved.

Remains of the old tracks in the tramway cutting Balmoral Beach
Remains of the old tracks in the tramway cutting.
Old control wheel cemented into the rocks
Old control wheel cemented into the rocks.
Walking track through Lawry Plunket Reserve Balmoral Beach
Walking track through Lawry Plunket Reserve.
The White Flower by Christopher Hodges
The White Flower by Christopher Hodges.

What Else to do in the Area?

From here we walked part of the Hedland Park Walking Track which has fantastic views over Sydney Harbour. We had a great day here walking along the beach and it’s surroundings, and finished it off with a great walk.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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