Before-and-After Photos Showing How Much Our World Has Changed

Bondi Beach 1900/today

“Bondi” comes from the Aboriginal term meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks. The Australian Museum records that “Bondi” means a place where a fight using bondi sticks took place.

In 1851, Edward Smith Hall and Francis O’Brien purchased 200 acres of the Bondi area. As the beach became popular, O’Brien threatened to stop public beach access. However, the Municipal Council believed the government needed to intervene to make the beach a public reserve.

Bondi Beach is represented in one of the most popular sporting competitions across Australia. It’s also the end point of the City to Surf Fun Run, which is held each year in August.

The race attracts over 60,000 entrants who must compete in the 14km run from the central business district of Sydney to the beach. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, the beach played host to the beach volleyball competition with temporary-seating of 10,000.