Historian solves mystery of concrete pillars unearthed at Sydney beach
The concrete cylinders were a regular sight at the eastern suburbs beach after tidal events, but were taken away four years after becoming a hazard to beachgoers.
A dozen concrete pillars uncovered on Sydney's Coogee Beach in July 2022 were actually part of shark observation towers, reveals a local historian. The cylindrical supports were removed by Randwick City Council after large surf exposed them in July 2022. The historian, Ashley Kingston, discovered that the pillars had supported two shark towers and a shark net, protecting the southern half of the beach.
The concrete bases were likely eroded or removed, leaving only the cylindrical columns. The first shark observation tower was built in 1922 and featured an electric bell to alert lifeguards of shark sightings. Following shark attacks, including two fatalities in 1922, a shark-proof fence and rescue boat were added. The shark net, supported by the towers, replaced the pier, which was dismantled in 1934.
Despite the towers' effectiveness, a shark attack in 1925 resulted in a lifesaver losing his leg. Neonatal shark attacks in recent years have led to an expansion of drone surveillance across 72 NSW beaches.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
