Hungry Beach

Hungry Beach is situated beside Cowan Creek and the Hawkesbury River in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the northern part of Sydney, Australia.[1]

Hungry Beach
LocationKu-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Coordinates33°34′59″S 151°16′33″E
Offshore water bodiesHawkesbury River
Length0.13 kilometres (0.081 mi)
GeologyNarrabeen Group of sedimentary rocks
OperatorNational Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
Patrolled?beach not patrolled
Campingnot allowed
Accessprivate boat

The north facing beach is about one kilometre from the ruins of the Flint & Steel Guesthouse. The beach is protected by steep cliffs. Above the beach are caves and middens, and a small densely vegetated gully with a fresh water stream. Access to the beach is by private boat; there is no formal bushwalking track but the beach can be reached by foot from Flint and Steel Bay.[2]

Hungry Beach was known as a fishing area, particularly for shark, turtle and mulloway.[3][4][5] In 1936, The Sydney Mail reported that an indigenous man was shot dead by shark fishermen at Hungry Beach. The newspaper says he was the last surviving member of the Barrenjoey people.[6] In 1899, the wreckage of the steam launch "Hatte", lying on Hungry Beach was sold for £25.[7]

The beach allegedly gets its name from a fisherman who became hungry, waiting for three days for a large shark to leave the area. Previously, the shark attacked his rowboat while fishing.[3][6]

Royal Australian Navy in World War Two

Offshore and nearby, are concrete and brick relics of Indicator Loop & Controlled Mining Station number 285, constructed by the Royal Australian Navy during world war two. Mines were laid in this area. An indicator loop was an electrically charged cable, used to indicate shipping movements. In this case, the cable was situated from Hungry Beach to Juno Point at Patonga, two kilometres distant on the opposite side of the Hawkesbury River. The cable was used in the detection of Japanese submarines and to protect the railway bridge. An infra red photo electric beam shone 2.6 kilometres from Hungry Point to the Central Coast, in order to detect enemy shipping.[8][9][10]

A government auction sale was held in August 1945 for building related articles at Hungry Beach. Items included a 61 foot long mess hut, a 42 foot long sleeping hut, hot water boiler, 1,000 gallon tank, 300 gallon tank and stand, fuel range with double oven, doors, windows and linings. As well as fittings from the brick power hut, a latrine, moorings and a 25 by 7 foot boat.[11]

Brick power hut, built by the Royal Australian Navy, above Hungry Beach

References
  1. "Hungry Beach". Mapcarta. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  2. Hiking the World. "Hungry Beach, West Head". Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  3. Braemar. "The House that Mac Built". Trove, National Library of Australia, from The Sydney Mail, February 5th, 1936. Page 37. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  4. Wobbegong. "Rod and Line". Trove, National Library of Australia, from Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930) Sun 23 Oct 1921 Page 16. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  5. Piscator. "Weekend Prospects for Line and Rod". Trove, National Library of Australia, from Arrow (Sydney, NSW : 1916 - 1933) Sat 30 Sep 1916 Page 8 FISHING NOTES. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  6. "Flint And Steel Guesthouse - A Hand Built Home That Kept Growing". Pittwater Online News. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  7. "The Wreck of the Steam Launch Hatte". Trove, National Library of Australia, from Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 - 1954) Fri 24 Feb 1899 Page 4. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  8. "Jane Louise Ainsworth. "Purely Defensive Measures". The Archaeological Network of Defence in the Sydney Region 1788 - 1945. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  9. "Shepherds Hill Defence Group Military Installations Conservation Management Plan Final - OEH endorsed 16/7/19" (PDF). Heritage Council of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  10. Peter Dunn. "Royal Australian Navy in and around Australia during WW2". Ozatwar; from Straczek, J.H., "Royal Australian Navy, A - Z , Ships, Aircraft and Shore Establishments", Navy Public Affairs, Sydney, 1996. ISBN 1876043784. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  11. "Auction Sale of Buildings for Removal". Trove, National Library of Australia, from The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wed 8 Aug 1945 Page 11. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
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