Iron Cove (the Bay Run)

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Route: Leichardt Park, Callan Park Oval, Point Road Park, King George Park, Iron Cove Bridge, Henley Marine Drive, Half Moon Bay, Rodd Park, Rodd Point, Timbrell Park, Robson Park, Hawthorne Canal

Date: 18/04/2020
From: Leichardt Park

Parking: Leichardt Park
Start Point: Leichardt Park
Region: Sydney

Route length: 4.6 miles (7.4km)
Time taken: 01:38
Average speed: 2.9mph
Ascent: 52m
Descent: 43m

Other points of interest: Callan Park, Iron Cove Bridge, Rodd Park Memorial

With region-wide travel now restricted, we're forced to look closer to home for our outdoors fix. Sadly, Marrickville lies in the heart of the Sydney suburbs and extensive green space is limited. We've been visiting the nearby Cooks River but decided to branch out a bit on a warm, sunny weekend.

To the north of the Inner West is Iron Cove, a long bay that is now home to the 'Bay Run', a tidy seven-kilometre scenic circuit that skirts the waterfronts of inner western suburbs like Leichhardt, Drummoyne, Russell Lea and Rozelle. Because it's a jewel of the Canada Bay Council Area, it's well maintained but popular, especially now the beaches are closed.

In the early days of the colony of New South Wales, the area was sometimes known as Long Cove, presumably for its long narrow shape. However, the origin of the name 'Iron Cove' is unclear. It has been suggested that the name is derived from the iron shackles worn by convicts from Cockatoo Island, who were forced to work in the area around the bay from 1839. Another possible explanation for the name is that it was derived from the Ironbark trees that used to grow there.

There's a large parking area on the fringe of Leichhardt Park, Leichhardt being one of Sydney's inner suburbs. It is known as Sydney's 'Little Italy' due to the relatively large Italian population who have settled there.

Iron Cove

We set off from the park along the shore of the bay, heading to Callan Park and then King George Park. While Callan Park is an important public greenspace now, it was previously part of the grounds of the Callan Park Hospital for the Insane which operated until 1914. It is now part of the Sydney University campus. On the rocks along the shore are a series of carvings depicting various scenes. It is likely these were created by former patients at the hospital.

Boats moored in Iron Cove

Rodd Island

Leichhardt Park

Leichhardt Park

Old hospital buildings in Callan Park

A ship carved onto the rocks

Iron Cove and Iron Cove Bridge

Callan Park - now the Sydney College of the Arts

After passing through King George Park, a short climb took is up onto Iron Cove Bridge which spans the entrance to Iron Cove. The original bridge was opened in 1882 after four years of construction. A decision to replace the original bridge was made in 1939 just prior to the outbreak of World War II with the current bridge officially opened in July 1955

Iron Cove from the bridge

Drummoyne Olympic Pool

Iron Cove

Iron Cove Bridge backed by Sydney

At the other side of the bridge is Brett Park and Henley Marine Drive which runs the length of the north side of the bay. Having crossed the entrance to Iron Cove, we now found ourselves in the Canada Bay area - the adjoining suburb to the Inner West.

Sisters Bay

Half Moon Bay

Looking across to Rodd Island

Iron Cove

Following the road alongside the bay, we reached the small Rodd Park which accesses Rodd Point, named after the Rodd family who contributed to the area for almost a century. It includes land bought by Brent Clements Rodd (1809–1898) from the Five Dock Farm estate in 1836. Rodd had a large family of 12 children and many of the local streets are named after members of the Rodd family: Brent, Brisbane, Burnell, Clements, Janet, Lenore, Rodd, Trevanion and Undine.

Rodd Park

Rodd Park

Barnstaple Road takes its name from Barnstaple Manor, Rodd’s family home which in turn took its name from his birthplace in Britain. The Rodd Point memorial in Rodd Park was originally the Rodd family mausoleum.

Rodd Point Memorial

Within the bay is Rodd Island, well seen from Rodd Point. Today the island is uninhabited and forms part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. Between 1888 and 1894, the island was used as a laboratory by scientists working for the Pasteur Institute, who were researching the use of the chicken cholera microbe to control Australia's rabbit population. Famous Frenchman Louis Pasteur sent his nephew, Dr. Adrien Loir to conduct the experimentation in Australia and facilities were constructed on the island.

Rodd Island

During the Second World War, from 1944, the island was used as a training base for the US Army. After the war, it reverted to its former use as a recreation area

Marine Drive continues, rounding the head of the bay at Timbrell Park and crossing Iron Cove Creek via a footbridge (built in 2015 to protect pedestrians who otherwise had to cross the road). The path passes the local rowing club who seemed to be doing a roaring trade in take-out coffees. If there's one thing the Aussies love, it's a good coffee.

Iron Cove

Crossing the creek led us to the fringe of Robson Park and on to Hawthorne Canal. Like many watercourses in Sydney, the canal was originally a natural waterway known as Long Cove Creek, that has been straightened and given artificial banks. Despite its tatty appearance, it is now heritage–listed.

The final stretch of the walk follows the shore of the bay along back to Leichardt Park. It's fortunate that we are currently living in Sydney as areas like Iron Cove are plentiful meaning we can still get out and about despite the current Covid restrictions. I have a few more local walks up my sleeve so keep your eyes peeled for those.