Built to access and promote a new housing development at Northbridge, Long Gully Bridge has wonderful crenellated battlements making it look very medieval. Originally built as a private steel suspension bridge in 1892, the bridge was transferred to the Department of Main Roads in 1935. To ensure its ability to sustain increased traffic, it was converted to a concrete arch bridge in 1939. The sandstone towers were retained during this transformation, which is great as they still exist today.
Our first view of the bridge was from below during our walk of the Flat Gully Creek Walking Track. This let us look up at the bridge from below where you get some great perspective views of the sandstone towers. After returning to our car, we drove to the bridge and parked in a side street so that we could view the bridge up close.
Being part of Strathallen Avenue it’s a major road into the area and is very busy. Because of this, taking photos can be difficult if you want them free of cars. We waited patiently until the opportunity arrived and took some good photos.
This was an interesting bridge to visit, especially after walking the Flat Gully Creek Track. this bridge is similar to Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley.
From The Cricket Fields Looking up at the BridgeThe Bridge from belowLong Gully Bridge from belowThe crenellated turreted towersThe crenellated turreted towers
Located in the Sydney council of Willoughby, Flat Rock Gully Walking Track is a 4km return trip through bushland bordering a small creek. Utilised for the disposal of domestic and industrial waste until 1985, the area became overgrown with weeds. Following the closing of the tip and associated incinerator, the area has been landscaped and bush land regenerated. The result is a beautiful walk, through trees and ferns in the centre of Sydney.
Parking
Parking is available near the start of the track at Small Street where a gated entrance leads to parking spots. Additional parking at the netball courts, near the old incinerator is a five-minute walk away.
Flat Rock Gully Walking Track
Starting off with bitumen and a section of boardwalk, the track appears an easy hike. However, this soon gives way to rougher sections of rock and dirt track. Sections have steppingstones added to aid walking in wet conditions and in going up and down the slopes. In wet and rainy weather, these areas become very slippery, so good hiking boots are needed, as well as being careful.
Council Bush Regenerators, contractors and volunteers have done an amazing job reducing the weeds present along the track. As a result, you can now walk through remnant Australian bush while in the centre of Sydney.
Easy start to the Walking TrackSmall section of boardwalkWater stained boulders on the side of the trackTrack descending to the gully floorStone Steps of the trackStone Steps of the trackFlat Rock Gully Walking Track
Flat Rock Creek
The creek crossing is a series of steppingstones, which will be slippery when wet and during high rainfall may be submerged. At the crossing, a stone embankment prevents erosion of the creek banks and has become overgrown in moss. This makes the area look old and overgrown, but also extremely slippery.
Stepping stones over Flat Rock CreekFlat Rock Creek with moss covered retaining wall
Long Gully Bridge
Crossing the gully at the end of the walk is Long Gully Bridge. Built to access a housing development at Northbridge in the 1890s, the false crenellated turreted towers make it look very medieval. Under the bridge, a large, landscaped area was once the council tip. The 30 metres of fill has been rehabilitated into playing fields, where we saw a game of cricket being played.
From The Cricket Fields Looking up at the BridgeThe Bridge from belowLong Gully Bridge from below
Flat Rock Drive Pedestrian Underpass Indigenous Art Work
Pedestrian access from the track to the baseball diamond and netball courts is via an underpass under Flat Rock Drive. If you park at the netball courts, this is the best way to get to the track.
Decorated with large indigenous murals unlike many underpasses left in dull concrete. Not far from here is the Henry Lawson Cave, where the poet would sleep off a drinking session at the local tavern.
Indigenous art work on the Flat Rock Drive underpassIndigenous art work on the Flat Rock Drive underpass
What Did We Think?
This was a really fun track to walk. Moderately difficult and a little slippery in the wet, the walk through remnant forest and along a creek was fun. Looking at the underside of the bridge and the decorated underpass were added bonuses.
Constructed in 1910, the cable suspension bridge over Parsley Bay connects both sides of the inlet while providing a great view of the beach and Sydney Harbour. Although originally built for practical reasons, it is now an attraction in itself, in addition to the lovely beach it overlooks.
Getting There
We walked here as part of a longer day walk around the harbour foreshore. The walk from Greycliffe House was around 20 minutes, with the additional benefit of passing the entrance to Vaucluse House, if you want to visit there too.
Parking is available behind the beach and kiosk if you want to drive. Bus 325 stops at Fitzwilliam Rd at Parsley Rd which is next to the bridge at the top of the ridge.
The Bridge
Built at a cost of £500 in 1910, the bridge was part of a larger push at the time for access to walking tracks on the harbour. Standing high over the water, it makes for a great photograph as well as being fun to walk over. You can get great views of the bridge from the beach as well as from the track that goes to Parsley Bay Wharf.
Parsley Bay Beach
The beach at Parsley Bay is small, but there is a large grassed area next to it. This is great because it gives you somewhere else to sit besides the sand. There are also seats and picnic tables scattered around, although they were popular and were taken up quickly. Many people had brough blankets so that they could sit on the grass.
Behind the lawn is a kiosk that sells drinks and snacks and has its own outdoor seating area.
What did We Think?
We loved the bridge and its views as well as the little beach. The café was an extra thing to find and we bought some cold drinks there.
Parsley Bay BeachParsley Bay BridgeLooking up at the BridgeWalkway around the Bay looking back at the bridge
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
