History of Narrabeen, NSW
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Narrabeen is among the places which complement the history of Australia. Located 23 kilometres on the North-Eastern side of Sydney CBD, Narrabeen is part of the Northern Beaches and falls within the jurisdiction of Northern Beaches Sydney. Originally, Narrabeen was a rural place with minimal developments. The current Narrabeen has been a result of massive urbanisation.
It is worth noting that there are different theories surrounding the emergence of the name Narrabeen. Some associate Narrabeen with the fact that the place provided fresh water to the original inhabitants of the land, the Garigal or Caregal people. Others subscribe to the theory about the killing of the first settlers in Narrabeen- Henry and his family. It is believed that Henry’s family was massacred by escaped convicts. The pursuit to hunt and recapture the escaped convicts was facilitated by a girl named Narrabeen, naming the location after her name. So far, the second theory is the most popular and what most people believe about the name Narrabeen.
The Garigal Land
The Garigal land was originally home to the Garigal or Caregal people. For the Garigal people, one of the main facilitating survival elements was the abundance of food and water available to them. It is notable that fish was the staple food for Garigal people in Garigal land due to its direct connection with the Pacific Ocean.
A unique thing about the settlers in Garigal land is that they were highly skilled in fishing. Aside from the stranded whales, the fishermen would traverse the sea and gather enough to feed families within the area.
Due to the continued extinction of the Garigal people, settlement in Garigal land significantly reduced, particularly after the British Invasion. It was through this process that the place gradually turned into the current Garigal National Park. The national park presents 35 threatened species and over 600 other native species. Today, Garigal National Park is considered a national heritage and a major attraction for tourists.
Early European Settlement
Notably, Narrabeen was first sighted by Captain Cook in 1770. It wasn’t until 1788 however when Governor Phillip made the first crossing into Narrabeen. Following the settlement of Phillip and his rise as the governor, the European settlements began to surge. Although the settlements were not prevalent at the beginning, the Europeans would later flock to Narrabeen, particularly in the wake of the 20th century. The Narrow Bridge was constructed at the entrance of Pittwater Road, which paved the way for more European settlers into Narrabeen.
As the European population grew in Narrabeen, the population of the Garigal people, on the other hand, dwindled. The current population in Narrabeen is a blend of both local and foreign people. Historically, the Garigal people lived harmoniously with the land until the British invasion, which culminated in the massive entry of the European settlers.
Narrabeen Surfing Through The Ages
The history of surfing in Narrabeen dates back to 1974. The place is largely acknowledged as a breeding spot for the most competent surfing champions in the world. The first international surfing event took place in 1974, which was sponsored by Coca-Cola and dubbed Surfabout. Interestingly, the event emerged as one of the most lucrative, with a prize worth $7,000. This was a significant milestone in putting Narrabeen on the global map as far as surfing is concerned.
The aforementioned surfing contest by Coca-Cola attracted massive media coverage, which again played a major role in boosting the popularity of the place. The contest would be won by Michael Peterson, who held the record as the best surfer on the planet. That marked the turning point for Narrabeen as far as surfing is concerned.
Ever since the first surfing event, many more have been successfully organised in Narrabeen. It is in fact believed that Narrabeen is the place where a majority of the iconic surfers in the world built their expertise. For more than three decades, surfing events have complemented Narrabeen. It is considered one of the major elements that have facilitated the rise in tourism in Narrabeen.
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