Balmain and Birchgrove

Jendi and I live in Birchgrove, which is a part of Balmain, a suburb of Sydney. It is an inner city suburb and used to be a working class area with originally mining, and then shipping, being the main employers in the district.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, many of the lecturers and tutors from Sydney University found that Balmain was very convenient, was on the harbour and had harbour and city views and good public transport. Thus began the "gentrification" of the area.

Accommodation in the area is much sought after, with the shopping centre having a real village atmosphere. People speak of the "Balmain bolshies" and "Balmain basket weavers" because of the many residents who espouse left-wing politics and alternative lifestyles.

We just like the Balmain parks that are close by, have great views, and let us run free!

We have some maps for you to look at too!

Our View of Balmain
This is our house. Most houses in Balmain are terrace houses like this.	Our back yard, before we got our own house. Mum and dad call our house a "kennel" - we don't know why!
That is Coco's house on the corner with the beautiful jacaranda tree in front. We live just up the road, where the cars are.	Our house with Christmas decorations up. We sometimes try to help putting them up but mum usually tells us she can do it without our "interference". Is that gratitude or what?
This is Birchgrove Oval where we mostly go for our walks.	This is the Sir William Wallace Hotel in Balmain where mum and dad go sometimes. The have special "pooch parking poles" where we stay, they always have water for us and lots of people pat you. It is good fun even if we don't go inside.
This is Birchgrove from the air - you can see that it is quite close to the harbour and the bridge. It is a little separate part of Balmain	You can also get the ferry to the city from Balmain East.
As you can see, we are just a little stretch of water away from the central business district. This is the middle of the Balmain shopping centre.	This is Birchgrove Oval where we mostly go for our walks. It is just a couple of minutes from our house.
This is the view of the Harbour Bridge that we get from the front of the oval. It is a really good spot for the New Year's Eve fireworks over the bridge.	When you get to the front of the oval - by the harbour, there is a lovely little beach and you can go swimming if it is not winter and too cold!
This is another park but we have to go in the car to get there. It is on the other side of Balmain. The bridge is the ANZAC Bridge and flies the Aussie flag on one end and the New Zealand flag on the other	Mucking around with friends. Both these parks are ones where you can go off-leash. Jangles wasn't allowed to "go free" when this picture was taken. Mum said she could catch him easier if he have his lead dragging behind!
You can get some good views of the city skyline from the waters around Balmain. That is Centrepoint Tower in the middle.	A great shot of Birchgrove, and "our park". This was taken by airviewonline.com.au
Another view of the park and Birchgrove and Long Nose Point courtesy of airviewonline.com.au	This is another view showing the Dawn Fraser Pool - it is one of the last harbour pools left in Sydney.
A ferry leaving the wharf at Long Nose Point	This is Snails Bay - just beside our park as you walk along the harbour foreshore.
Some lovely old waterfront homes in Balmain East.	Another view of the Dawn Fraser pool and Elkington Park. Sometimes we go there for a walk too
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