Tamarama
is a beach-side suburb of Sydney, in the
state of New South Wales, Australia. Originally
known as Dixon Bay the name was changed
to Tamarama in the 1800's. The beach is
home to one of the first surf lifesaving
clubs in the world, Tamarama Surf Life
Saving Club was opened in 1906. The club
pavilion is perched over the cliffs on
the northern edge of the beach. Tamarama
has a small but perfectly formed ocean
beach immediately south of the world famous
Bondi Beach and north of Bronte Beach.
Known affectionately as Glamarama by the
locals, it is a beach where the seriously
beautiful come to sunbathe and swim. Because
of its deep water, small size and easterly
aspect, the beach is considered one of
the most dangerous to swim at in Australia.
Even a moderate ocean swell can produce
rip currents of up to 2 metres a second,
about the speed of the current 50m mens
world record.
The
Bondi Aquarium at Tamarama, circa 1890In
1887 Sydney's first coastal amusement
park, and one of the oldests in Australia,
opened at Tamarama. Named The Bondi Aquarium
its greatest attraction was a plunging
roller coaster that dived and twisted
over the beach. People flocked to the
attraction, not only for the rides, but
for vaudeville acts and aquarium creatures,
including seals and a tiger shark. Only
four years after opening the Bondi Aquarium
closed in 1891. In 1906 Wonderland City
opened and replaced the Bondi Aquarium
as the latest attraction at Tamarama.
Powered by its own steam plant the amusement
park featured a airship suspended over
the bay and an elephant named Alice available
for rides on the beach. Frequent battles
with local residents over beach access,
charges of animal cruelty and an incident
with the airship saw a decline in numbers.
After a few years of low crowds and poor
revenue Wonderland City closed in 1911.
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