Bondi is a small beach suburb in the east of Sydney CBD. Other than its year-round great weather, many exciting tourist attractions and a friendly community, Bondi is known for Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Australia, which entertains thousands of visitors every day during peak seasons. Bondi has been home to many celebrities, and several popular TV shows and films have been shot here. It is also famous for Bondi Junction, a nearby suburb and major commercial centre featuring one of the largest malls in Sydney. Find out more such fascinating facts about Bondi in this article.
You may also like to read about the Top Things to Do in Bondi
Bondi is primarily a residential suburb. The commercial and retail needs of the locals are sufficed by the nearby Bondi Junction.
The weather in Bondi is usually good throughout the year. However, summers can get quite hot. The Hottest Day in the area was recorded on January 7th, 2018 when the temperature reached 47.3 Degrees Celsius (117.14 Degrees Fahrenheit).
Many popular shows and films have been shot in and around Bondi, particularly Bondi Beach.
The spot that is now Bondi Aquarium was once the site of a popular amusement park called Wonderland City.
Bondi gets its name from the Aboriginal word boondi, which means “water breaking over rocks” or “the sound of water breaking over rocks.”.
Major roads and streets in Bondi include Bondi Road, Wellington Street, Watson Street, Moore Street, Penkivil Street, Bennett Street, Ocean Street and Sandridge Street.
Bondi has been called with different names over time, including Boondi, Bundi and Bundye. The current name was given in 1827 and has stuck since.
The area that is now Bondi was offered as a part of a 200-acre land grant to road-builder William Roberts in 1809. It was purchased by Edward Smith Hall, editor of the Sydney Monitor, in 1851.
Scarba, one of the oldest buildings in Bondi, is a two-storey, Italianate house built by Malcolm Campbell on Wellington Street in the 1880s. It is a heritage-listed site.
Bondi Public School is another heritage-registered site in the suburb. It was built in 1883 on Wellington Street.
Bondi Trams Line opened in 1884 as a steam tramway. It was expanded to Bondi Beach in 1894 and was electrified in 1902. It was closed in 1960 and was replaced by bus route 333.
Waverley Rugby Club, a local rugby union club, was founded in 1971.
Building styles in Bondi are inspired by various cultures and periods, including but not limited to Victorian, Federation, Inter-War (1915–1940) and contemporary.
According to the 2021 census, the town’s population was around 10,411, of which 47.7% of residents were born in Australia. Other top countries of birth included England 8.9%, South Africa 3.0%, Brazil 2.7%, New Zealand 2.4% and the USA 2.1%. English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, French and Italian are some common languages spoken by Bondi residents at home. Catholic, Judaism and Anglican are the most common religions.
Bondi is a major tourist hotspot, mainly due to Bondi Beach, which is within walking distance from the suburb. It is one of Sydney’s most famous beaches and welcomes tourists from all over the world.
Westfield Bondi Junction is a major commercial centre and one of the largest malls in the region. Sydney Airport is 12 kilometres or around 23 minutes from Bondi.
Other major tourist attractions and historical landmarks include Bondi Anglican Church, Bondi Public School (heritage-listed), The Wayside Chapel, St Anne's Catholic Church, Electricity Substation No. 269, Bondi Post Office, Royal Hotel, St Matthew's Anglican Church and Bondi-Waverley School of Arts.