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Sydney offers a diverse urban experience. The wider populated area can truly surprise you with its staggeringly different neighborhoods and charming hotspots. Little Bay is probably one of Sydney’s best hidden secrets. At first glance, it looks like a quaint little suburb on the grand Pacific Coast. The impression most visitors have is that of a luxurious resort destination for a chosen few. Should your coastal travels ever take you to this southeastern corner of the Sydney urban area, here is a comprehensive guide to Little Bay, an eastern Sydney suburb well worth discovering.
The suburb on the Pacific Coast
Little Bay belongs to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and it occupies the very southeastern tip of this area. It is located around 14 kilometers south-east of Sydney’s central business district. It is located near Botany Bay, but the layout of the suburb is spread towards the open ocean. The topographical hotspot of this area is the charming little lagoon known as Little Bay Beach, a serene slice of paradise that looks like a hideaway for two lovebirds that just want to escape from the world. The sandy coastal stretch is divided by a protrusion rock, and while it is not spectacularly big, it packs quite a punch. It has all the necessary facilities for casual beach-goers – including showers and toilets.
Welcome to the place of casual recreation
The meadows that surround the area, especially the ones on the southwestern and the northeastern tip, are safe and quaint environments for those of you that enjoy a bit of recreation surrounded by greenery. There’s never even a remote chance of getting lost or wandering too far from civilization.
Of course, one of the conspicuous curiosities you will notice as you trek across the outskirts of the suburb is the extensive assembly of golf terrains, south of the beach. Indeed, there are several golf clubs that dot the environment and Little Bay has become quite a hotspot for the sophisticated clientele that is passionate about this sport.
The haunting history
The suburb itself boasts several intriguing highlights, one of which is the renowned hospital building with a vibrant and haunting history. The story of this suburb begins in the middle of the 19th century. The first residents were actually no regular citizens at all, but seriously ailing individuals affected by smallpox during the notorious Sydney smallpox epidemic of 1881 and 1882.
The first manmade structures here were mere tents for the afflicted, and the point of it all was to remove them from heavily populated areas in order to stop the smallpox from spreading. The hospital built on the coast turned out to be very useful during this crisis, as well as throughout the bubonic plague outbreak and for the surviving casualties of both World Wars. However, over a hundred years later, the hospital was moved and residential development was set in stone.
The sheer potential
Architects and designers could see the potential in the surroundings and they really went out of their way to create an attractive set of homes that became Little Bay as we know it. The quaint oceanfront and bucolic atmosphere coupled with proximity to the inner city were a killer combination for countless well-off individuals. People here simply achieve a sense of inner peace and balance that is quite contagious.
A whole package for all generations
With medical facilities, supermarkets, nice parks, restaurants and a picturesque beachside, Little Bay is a whole package for people of all ages and walks of life. It has pretty much anything you might require unless you are in the mood for something extravagant. For example, while there is a cluster of quality restaurants in the center of the suburb, you’ll have to head up north for more adventurous and exotic culinary experiences.
Botany Bay itself is quite an interesting location. It is dotted with suburbs that are of similar size as Little Bay and you can have quite an adventure by following its coastline. Still, Little Bay’s residents across all generations are ready to make the trip whenever it is necessary, and most of them do not plan to relocate further uptown.
As it turns out, it is quite easy to fall in love with Little Bay. While it is generally regarded as a rule of thumb that small-town kids want to “get out of Dodge” as soon as they reach the proper age, this suburb is an exemplary exception to this rule. It only goes to show how irresistible and comfortable this suburb really is, a place where hard-working individuals dream to settle down.
