Creative Redevelopment
Nestled between the harbourside suburbs of McMahons Pt and Wollstonecraft sits the beautifully transformed Waverton Peninsula. What was once an ugly industrial area has been redeveloped into a large parkland of walking tracks and lookouts. To add to the character, some of the industrial remnants have been left in tact, such as the old Coal Loader tunnels and crumbling wharves. While the bushwalks and harbour views are reason enough to visit the area, the quarterly Artisan Market at the Coal Loader provides an additional incentive!
Where: Waverton – 4km North of CBD or 1km SW of North Sydney
Allow: 1/2 day
Getting There: Train to Waverton or Drive
Also see: McMahons Point, Secret Garden Lavender Bay,
What to See & Do
To explore the area we did a circular route from Berry’s Bay to Balls Head Reserve and the Coal Loader, all up about 2 hours. If you prefer a longer walk, start at the beautiful village of McMahons Point which adds about 30 minutes to the walk.
1. Berry’s Bay Lookout – BP Site Redevelopment
The Berry’s Bay Lookout on Larkin St is located at the former BP industrial site, which ceased operations in 1993. After years of demolition and remediation work by BP, the North Sydney Council redeveloped the area into parkland, opening it to the public in 2005.
From the lookout you can enjoy big sky harbour and city views as well as views to the busy boat yards, old wharves and historic cottages across the bay. One can really appreciate both the past and present lives of these small inlets.
Below the lookout are some very easy walking tracks along the foreshore. Some remnants of the former industrial site are still visible, and are very much part of the character of the parkland. For example, the large circular imprints of the oil storage tanks are now grassy fields, some surrounded by towering sandstone walls. Above the oil storage areas are a number of metal platform walkways that extend out over the site, providing a birds eye view!
Following the path toward Balls Head we encountered an old crumbling wharf. What character… perfect for foreshore photography! Beyond the wharf were views to Balls Head, a small collection of ‘bathtub boats’, a long white wharf, tall palm trees and old brick cottages, loved this view.
2. Balls Head Reserve
Although there’s a road into the park and plenty of parking, we entered the Balls Head Reserve by walking from Berry’s Bay Lookout. The forested reserve has a number of beautiful bush tracks and picnic areas. I loved the glimpses of water through the gum trees and the views to the Balmain Peninsula and CBD.
3. Waverton Coal Loader
The old Coal Loader now houses the North Sydney Council’s Centre for Sustainability. You can wander around the inspiring community garden, community nursery, Aboriginal bush foods garden or the chook run!
The Green Roof Project was the last stage of the redevelopment of the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability. Is is one of Sydney’s largest publicly accessible green roof spaces, located on the old coal-loading platform. The green roof includes community ‘urban harvest’ plots with vegetables, fruit trees, aquaculture.
4. North Sydney Art Prize at the Coal Loader
The old coal tunnels are now being used as part of the exhibition space for the North Sydney Art Prize, quite a unique space to exhibit works!
5. Artisans Market at the Coal Loader
Every quarter the North Sydney Council hold an Artisans Market at the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability. With 70+ artisans displaying their wares you can imagine the selection…. such an array of high quality products at very reasonable prices.
The vibe is upbeat and welcoming… it’s a wonderful venue for chatting to the artisans about the creative process. It is well worth planning your visit to Waverton to coincide with the markets.
6. Eat & Drink
Waverton has managed to maintain a village vibe. There are a number of good cafés and restaurants in and around the village. We usually finish our walk with a bite to eat at one of the cafés. Waterview Café and the Botanica Garden Café are both good. The Coal Loader Café is also very popular, particularly when the Artisans Market is on.
Alternatively, if you fancy a picnic there are plenty of picnic areas in the Balls Head Reserve, or even a secluded table or rock platform with superb views over the harbour!
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