IN the first of an occasional series of Hidden Gems, Marie Hogg explores the secluded rock pool where nurses swam and paddled a century ago.
NURSES treating highly infectious patients at Little Bay’s Prince Henry Hospital last century had few opportunities to gain respite from the horrors which passed through its halls.
The hospital’s site was chosen in 1881 for its isolation and coastal location to treat people who suffered from smallpox, tuberculosis, scarlet fever and even the bubonic plague.
Sharks had been seen in the bay.
Originally known as The Coast Hospital, it housed 65 nurses and on-site recreation became important as public transport was more than 6km away.
In its autumn 2005 Heritage NSWnewsletter, the NSW Heritage Office states a rock pool was built at Little Bay to provide a safe bathing place for nurses.
Sharks had been seen in the bay and so at the turn of the 20th century matron Jean McMaster banned nurses from swimming there.
“By 1904 the hospital’s matron knew her nurses bathed in the sea at night after work and she campaigned for an ocean pool to offer them some protection from sharks that frequented Little Bay,” the newsletter states.
By 1905 the rock pool had been constructed.
Today, Little Bay and its 112-year-old rock pool remain an oasis for locals, while other Sydneysiders may well be oblivious to its charms.
It is visible only before and after high tides.
The ring of rocks is on the south tip of Little Bay in the former grounds of the hospital and can be reached by walking past the 18th tee of The Coast Golf Club.
Local resident Chris Swinbanks is familiar with the swimming spot.
“Does anyone use the small rock pool there?” Not since a blue-ring octopus was found there when I was a kid ... but that was 50 years ago,” he said.
For many years Little Bay was polluted by the effluent from the Malabar sewage outfall but after construction of a deep-ocean outfall the quality of the beach has remained consistently high.
In October 1969 the site was briefly plunged into the spotlight when artists Christo and Jeanne — Claude wrapped 2.5km of coastline and cliffs in one million square feet of fabric for a 10-week public art exhibition.
By 2003 the Prince Henry Hospital was closed and the site redeveloped for residential apartments.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Access to the secluded beach is via a steep timber staircase. Take Pine Avenue off Anzac Parade. Walk past the 18th tee of The Coast Golf Club to get to the path down to the beach
Add your comment to this story
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout