Curlewis Street, Bondi, New South Wales 1972

This authentic colour photograph, captured in 1972, offers an elevated perspective of Curlewis Street in the world-famous suburb of Bondi, New South Wales, Australia. The archival image, looking west from near the beachfront, illustrates the dense residential character of the era, dominated by multi-story red-brick flats and traditional Californian Bungalow-style homes with distinctive terracotta tiled roofs. In the immediate foreground, the rooftop and signage of a Volkswagen dealership are visible, with long rows of period-correct vehicles—including VW Beetles, Kombis, and various 1960s sedans—parked along both sides of the road. The background reveals the sprawling urban landscape of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs under a bright, scattered cloud sky. This factual record captures Bondi as a bustling, lived-in community decades before the significant modern redevelopment of the late 20th century. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.