Wanda Beach | |
|---|---|
Beach | |
 View of Wanda Beach looking east towardsBate Bay | |
 | |
| Coordinates:34°02′36″S151°09′43″E / 34.04333°S 151.16194°E /-34.04333; 151.16194 | |
| Location | Cronulla,Sydney,New South Wales, Australia |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 1500 m |
| Patrolled by | Wanda Surf Life Saving Club |
| Hazard rating | 7/10 (highly hazardous) |
| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Cronulla Sand Dune and Wanda Beach Coastal Landscape |
| Type | Landscape – Natural |
| Criteria | a, b, c, d, e, f, g |
| Designated | 26 September 2003 |
| Reference no. | 01668 |
Wanda Beach orWanda is the northernmost patrolled beach atBate Bay inCronulla,Sydney,New South Wales,Australia.[1]Green Hills orGreen Hills Ridge is the name given to theCronulla sand dunes, just north of Wanda.[2]
The original inhabitants of the land were theGweagal Aborigines who were a clan of the Tharawal (or Dharawal) tribe of Indigenous Australians. They are the traditional custodians of the southern geographic areas of Sydney. Wanda is an Aboriginal word forbeach orsand hills.[3]
The Wanda Surf Lifesaving Club[4] was established in 1946 afterWorld War II by a group of men who banded together, as they did in warfare, to patrol the beaches. The colours ofArmy red,Air Force blue, andNavy blue were adopted as the club colours. The club, located on Marine Esplanade, has grown in size to its current membership of over 900 male and female members, ranging in age from five-year-old Nippers to the original Founding Members. The primary objective of the club is to patrol the beach in an effort to ensure the safety of the surfing public but it is also actively involved in the competition arena, with excellent performances at State and National Competitions. A number of social activities are organised throughout the year to bring together members from all sections of the club.
In 1965 the beach became notorious after theWanda Beach Murders.
