Krissy in Sydney

13/10/2026

💙 Gunnamatta Bay to Cronulla — Your memories keep coming!

Yesterday you blew me away — wooden tables at Gunnamatta in the 60s/70s, sea planes landing ✈️, Sunday school Xmas picnics in the 1950s with dry ice ice creams 🍦 and cork shooting, first swimming lessons, first dances...

And it made me think of Ray Scafidi's beautiful memory that I promised to share today.

Ray remembers his Italian grandparents' fruit shop in Cronulla main street — the one that fed all those Gunnamatta picnics! Fresh fruit for the Esky, for the Sunday drives.

Then from 1977-1997, Ray lived in Bundeena — boating over from Kurnell to Cronulla, back and forth across the water that connects us all.

Cronulla fruit shop → Gunnamatta picnic tables → Bundeena ferry → Kurnell...

We are all connected by this water 💙🐬

Did you or your family ever shop at the fruit shops in Cronulla main street in the 60s/70s?
Do you remember the Italian families who ran them? And who boated from Kurnell to Bundeena back in the day?

Share your Cronulla shops + Bundeena ferry memories below — I'd love to hear!

Thank you Kevin Taylor, David Dougherty, Matthew Davies and everyone who shared Gunnamatta yesterday — your stories are the heart of this page xx Krissy in Sydney ❤️

13/10/2026

💙 Gunnamatta Bay — Your memories kept me up smiling last night

Elizabeth — "Our family had a land grant at Kurnell — we'd boat over, then walk back to Port Hacking. We lived in the villa on Stacey St, Cronulla early 1900s. No hot water — we boiled pots on the stove just to wash the tea pots!"

Peter Top Fan 💎 — 1991 hidden grass track down Nicholson Parade to Gunnamatta, picnics + fire pit

Sandra — Holland St swimming club
Terry — Tonkin St

Did your family live on Stacey St, Tonkin St, Nicholson Pde or Holland St? Share your year + memory below 👇
— public chat only please xx Krissy ☕️

10/10/2026

Good morning from Gunnamatta Bay! 💙☀️

This week you shared 60+ years of memories of Darook Park & Gunnamatta Bay — thank you!

💙 Lynette learned to swim here at 5 years old, now 70 — 65 years of memories, Dad teaching her in this calm bay
💙 Karen grew up surfing here, met her hubby here, worked in Cronulla public library then established the library service in Tweed Heads — retired now, family in Northern NSW but never forgets
💙 Bradley's older brother saved a boy's life on this beach when they were kids — hero!
💙 David — 60 years here, remembers sand flats from Tonkin Oval to Darook to Wanda, driving Darook Park Rd at low tide
💙 Jon — 1950s fireplace building remains in middle of Darook Park — who remembers it?
💙 Peter — hidden grass track in 1991 when he lived across road in Nicholson Parade 🇦🇺 — now overseas and missing home!

And thank you Joanne for tip — watch out for huge jelly fish in warmer months! 🏊‍♀️

Who has a memory of Darook Park, Nicholson Parade track, or Gunnamatta Bay? I would love to read below!

📌 Save this post if you love old Cronulla — I'm saving these stories for RSL archive 1900-2026

xx Krissy, Krissy in Sydney

09/10/2026

🌊💙 Gunnamatta Bay — heart of The Shire! 💙🌊

Good morning from Gunnamatta Bay! ☀️👒

I'm here on the sheltered foreshore of Gunnamatta Bay — this beautiful bay that opens out into the Port Hacking estuary in Cronulla! 💙

Darook Park is right here on Gunnamatta Bay too — that calm, family-friendly beach we talked about yesterday — all part of the same bay! Gunnamatta Park, Darook Park and Tonkin Park are all on Gunnamatta Bay!

After yesterday's Darook post, David Dougherty (60 years in Cronulla, born here!) told us the sand flats here were his early playground — from Tonkin Oval, Gunnamatta Park through to Darook Park to Wanda! Sailed, surfed, skied, canoed, fished off the old steamer wharf at Bass & Flinders Point! ⛵🎣

Jon Hodsdon also told us about walking Redgum Ave at low tide around to Gunnamatta — this bay is full of memories!

Look at Gunnamatta today — kids on the sand, calm shallow water, no waves — perfect Saturday! Just like Darook! Who else grew up playing on these sand flats? 👇

Love — Krissy in Sydney xx 💙

09/10/2026

📍Darook Beach right now! 💙

Remember Jon Hodsdon commented on my last post — he said his friend lived in Redgum Ave just up from Darook Park and back then there was NO footpath! You had to walk up to Nicholson Parade or wait for low tide and walk around the rocks and sand to get to Gunnamatta Bay! 🥾

Well Jon — I checked it out for you! The new path is here now and it is beautiful! You can see Bundeena across the water! 😍 From no path to this gorgeous beach — just like Hungry Point Reserve next door that started in 1904!

Thank you Jon for the local history — and thank you Karen for your beautiful Wanda love story that I will share next! This page is all your memories! 💙

Who else swam at Darook Park when there was no footpath? Tell me your memory below! 👇 And who has a naughty Fox Terrier at Oak Park like Jane? 🐶😂

07/10/2026

📍Good morning from Wanda Beach! 🌊☀️

After cancelling Cronulla yesterday, I had to come back to Wanda! You were right Kerry — at the cafe you can't see the water, but once you walk down to Wanda Beach — look at this view! 😍

You all have been amazing — Kim says Bianchinis right on the water is amazing and HAM has the best coffee in Cronulla! ☕️ Bryce said many parties were had at Bundeena RSL! 🎉

So where is YOUR favourite spot to sip coffee AND see the water in The Shire? I'm making my weekend list! 👇💙

Where should I try next?

07/10/2026

Golden hour at Hungry Point Cliff Top Walk 🌅💙

Late afternoon light, calm water, and that view over to the cliffs — this is why I love Cronulla!

I learned yesterday that Greenhills got its name from the green grass on the dunes, and Red Hills was the red iron stone near Wanda SLSC (now under the car park!) Thanks again Jack Ross for the history lesson! 🌿

Is this one of your favourite walks too? What's your favourite time to walk here — morning coffee or late afternoon like this? ☀️🌊

📍 Hungry Point, Cronulla

Edit: Fixed my selfie — thank you John Hook for spotting it was back to front! Burraneer Bay should be west from Hungry Point! Now corrected! 🙏

07/10/2026

Rainy day change of plans! 🌧️☕️

I cancelled Cronulla today — it's been raining all night and overcast, so no pretty beach light for our #2 visit! I want sunshine for Top Shop & HAM! ☀️

So I'm at my other favourite — Marrickville Metro for my usual coffee and a little shopping! 🛍️ Cozy day!

Don't worry, #2 is still coming as soon as the sun is back — Top Shop and HAM are still neck and neck from your votes! Keep voting on my last post if you haven't! 👇💙

Where do you go for coffee on a rainy day?

06/10/2026

You all made my day at Wanda! 💙☕️🌊

I asked this morning about Green House at Wanda and WOW — you gave me the best list!
Urszula reminded me of Bianchini’s and Next Door, Nick says Top Shop has magnificent burgers, and so many of you said Barefoot on the beach for that beachside vibe!

You’re right — different vibe for different mood! I love that about the Shire.

I’m starting a little series — Your Favourite Shire Coffee Spots by the Sea — and Wanda is #1 on the map.

Where should I go for #2? I'm thinking Top Shop for Nick's burgers or HAM for Urszula's cakes — have you been to either? What did you love there? I read every comment! 💙

Tell me below and I’ll go try the most voted one! 👇

Edit: Thank you Jack Ross for the correction — it’s Green Hills not Green House! 💙 Learning the history of our Wanda dunes — Green Hills got its name from the green vegetation on the dunes! Love this local knowledge! 🌿

EDIT 2: Thanks to Jack Ross for the local history! Red Hills (red iron stone near Wanda SLSC) and Green Hills (green grassy dunes further north) — now I know where Greenhills Beach got its name! Learning every day in the Shire! 💙🌿

06/10/2026

Thank you for all the Sandshoes memories 🙏❤️

In memory of Brian Jackson — Jacko 💙🏄‍♂️
Board shaper, surfer, nice person — remembered from Cronulla to Crescent Head

From the Southern Highlands today — but thinking of Sandshoes.

Last week at Salmon Haul Bay / Bass & Flinders Point, Larry O Halloran said "Do one near Sandshoes for Brian Jackson and his contribution to Cronulla surfing history."

You all remembered him — without me sharing to any Cronulla group, just your own Shire stories and memories filling the comments. Thank you 💙

Full Shire history + 25+ names + WHY it's called Sandshoes + community memories in pinned comment below 👇 - with love and respect for locals who want to keep it special.

Rest easy Jacko — Midway Board Riders, Taren Point shaper, remembered Sandshoes to Crescent Head. 🙏🏄‍♂️💙

If you have a photo/memory of Jacko — please add below or DM — happy to credit you.