Wanda Beach | |
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Patrolled beach | |
View of Wanda Beach looking east towards Bate Bay
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Location | Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia |
Coordinates | 34°02′36″S 151°09′43″E / 34.04333°S 151.16194°E |
Beach length | 1500 m |
Beach number | |
Hazard rating | 7/10 (highly hazardous) |
Patrolled by | Wanda Surf Life Saving Club |
Wanda Beach or Wanda is the northernmost patrolled beach on Bate Bay in Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia.Green Hills or Green Hills Ridge is the name given to the sand hills, just north of Wanda.
Wanda is an Aboriginal word for beach or sand hills. The beach became notorious in 1965 after the Wanda Beach Murders.
The original inhabitants of the land were the Gweagal Aborigines who were a clan of the Tharawal (or Dharawal) tribe of Indigenous Australians. They are the traditional custodians of the southern geographic areas of Sydney.
The Wanda Surf Lifesaving Club was established in 1946 after World War II by a group of men who banded together, as they did in warfare, to patrol the beaches. The colours of Army red, Air Force blue, and Navy blue were adopted as the club colours. The club, located on Marine Esplanade, has grown in size to its current membership of over 900 male and female members, ranging in age from five-year-old Nippers to the original Founding Members.
The primary objective of the club is to patrol the beach in an effort to ensure the safety of the surfing public but it is also actively involved in the competition arena, with excellent performances at State and National Competitions. A number of social activities are organised throughout the year to bring together members from all sections of the club.
Wanda Beach
Wanda Beach Tower
Wanda Beach Gym
Wanda Beach Gym
Wanda Beach