The Birthplace of Surfing
Convenient transportation and stunning beaches place Freshwater as an ideal neighbourhood for liveability. Cafes, restaurants, ferry links, and schools place the suburb as the perfect place for all ages.
An enriching history adds to the cultural significance of the suburb. The area was once home to the Kuring-gai people and evidence of their habitation remains today in the form of rock engravings, open campsites, and rock shelters.
In 1914, the world sprint swimming champion Duke Kahanamoku introduced surf board riding to Australia at Freshwater Beach. By creating a board inspired by Hawaiian models, it was the first recorded time that anyone had surfed the clean waves beyond the break in Australian waters using this surfing technique. This monumental event sparked the careers of scores of Australian surfers.
