Bobbing on Rush Cutting Bay
A Sydney Photo Essay, Photographic Essay, Fine Art, Leica, Australia, Yachting, Aerial Photography
Called Kogerah by the Indigenous Australians, this Sydney harbourside inner-east suburb originally sat on swampy land. The early British settlers named it Rush Cutting Bay because they harvested the tall rushes growing there for thatching houses. Today Rushcutters Bay is a thriving community with a world class yacht club on its foreshore and, even though it is walking distance to the CBD and entertainment areas like Potts Point, it feels serene. The title of this essay is a nod to the opening line of a song titled Rushcutter's Bay by Christine Lavin.
Rushcutters housed the Sydney Stadium, which hosted famous boxing matches in the early 20th century. It was also home to White City Stadium, which was used for major tennis tournaments. Sydney Stadium is long gone, but White City is currently undergoing major renovation.
Interestingly, talking pictures found their first home in Australia in Rushcutters when De Forest Phonofilms opened their sound studio in April 1927 at the old cable-tram sheds in Rushcutters Bay. Both the sheds and the studio are long gone.
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is one of Australia's premier yacht clubs. It was established in 1944. There is always loads of excitement towards the end of the year as boats congregate at the marina for the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which the CYCA hosts. The marina can berth yachts up to 30 metres in length.
For me, Rushcutters is home. I feel blessed to be able to share these photos, which I took of my immediate neighbourhood.
:: Rand
If you'd like to delve deeper into my photography visit my website and Instagram (@randleebdutoit). Please reach out if you'd like to suggest a collaboration.
All images are copyright Rand Leeb-du Toit, 2024