Home to some of the most beautiful leafy streets in Sydney, Hunters Hill was already a pretty desirable place to call home, but a new addition has just significantly upped its game. Last week, the ribbon was cut on Western Sydney’s newest swimming spot – with Hunters Hill Council officially unveiling a safe new place to cool off at Bedlam Bay.
First up, a little context on this leafy harbour cove – which isn't technically new. Way back in the 1860’s, Bedlam Bay was the local place to plunge, but the netted area was removed in the 1950s, and pollution (among other reasons) prevented swimmers from diving in. Now, the urban swim spot is officially back on the map – the third official swim site delivered under the PRCG’s Masterplan (the other two are found at Putney Park and Parramatta Lake) .
Shaded by gum trees at the base of Parramatta River Regional Park in Gladesville, the historic site has been revived with a brand-new netted swimming enclosure – meaning all the splash-about fun with none of the shark-fearing stress. The project, backed by a $560,475 NSW Government investment, forms part of the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s (PRCG) big-picture mission to transform the river into a swimmable, community-friendly waterway.
At the Bedlam Bay re-launch, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully explained: “This brings the site back to its roots as a popular swimming destination – and adds another great outdoor activity to the area on top of walking, weekend sports and boating.”
Of course, swimming in the river only works if the water’s actually safe, and while it’s still best to avoid this site after heavy rain, the Council are confident that it’s ready to welcome swimmers this summer. Sydney Water have been monitoring the site since 2020 to ensure the bay meets strict recreational water quality standards – and you can check out daily water quality predictions via Hunter’s Hill Council’s website, and you can learn more via Sydney Water’s Urban Plunge and PRCG’s Our Living River hub.
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