Saltwater People of the Broken Bays

Book excerpt: Saltwater People of the Broken Bays explores the incredible history and natural beauty of the coastline between North Head and Barrenjoey. These golden beaches found along this coastline were the birthplace of Australian beach culture. Manly Beach and neighbouring Freshwater are the home to where beach bathing, surf life saving and board-riding all began in this country. What is not so well known is the strong link to the ocean of the Aboriginal clans who enjoyed a highly sustainable lifestyle along this coastline for 20,000 years before the arrival of the Europeans. The book reveals the spirit of the northern beaches through the lens of history, and explores our relationship with that energized zone where the ocean meets the shore. Cyclops Press also hopes that Saltwater People of the Broken Bays will raise awareness about the need to preserve threatened Eora rock art, and champions the construction of a permanent site on the northern beaches acknowledging the first people.