Exploring Sydney's Iconic Wedding Cake Island

Wedding Cake Island is located approximately one kilometre east of Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia, in the Tasman Sea. The island, officially named by the Geographical Names Board of NSW in 1977, is believed to derive its name from its resemblance to a wedding cake, particularly when the white water breaks over it, creating an 'icing' effect. The island is also known as Lemo's Island, supposedly after a local surfing family, and is a popular spot for scuba diving and ANZAC Day commemorations. It is the subject of a namesake instrumental track by Midnight Oil, released in 1980.

The island is located in the Tasman Sea, about one kilometre off the coast of Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia

Wedding Cake Island is located in the Tasman Sea, about one kilometre off the coast of Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia. It is more of a rock platform than an actual island, providing natural protection to Coogee Beach from most swells. The island is a great spot for scuba diving and is also the site of ANZAC Day commemorations by the local surf community.

The origin of the name "Wedding Cake Island" is a bit of a mystery. The most probable source of the name is the shape of the island, which resembles a wedding cake, especially when the white water breaks over it, creating an 'icing' effect. Another theory suggests that bird droppings on the island, resembling icing, could be the source of the name. Interestingly, the island is also known as ""Lemo's Island", named after John Le Marsney, an outstanding waterman and skilled surf skier.

Wedding Cake Island is officially recognised by the Geographical Names Board of NSW, although the name existed well before its gazettal in 1977. The name may have been in use as early as the 1920s, according to newspaper reports.

The island is a biodiversity hotspot, offering divers impressive underwater landscapes with rock reefs, marine life, and clear waters. It is also a cultural symbol, with a musical nod from the iconic Australian band Midnight Oil, who paid homage to this coastal wonder in their instrumental piece titled "Wedding Cake Island".

Wedding Cake Island presents a challenge for experienced ocean swimmers wanting to circumnavigate it. The underwater terrain features small boulders festooned with sponges, ascidians, and soft and hard corals, creating an intricate array of underwater constructions. The island's complex underwater environment descends from a shallow depth of 5 metres to a deeper expanse of 22 metres on the sandy bottom.

The Coogee Surf Life Saving Club hosts the Coogee Island Challenge, a biannual swimming event around Wedding Cake Island. The event has a history spanning over 20 years and offers three distinct swim distances to cater to different skill levels.

It is also known as Lemo's Island, possibly named after the Le Marsney family of Coogee

Wedding Cake Island, located about one kilometre southeast of Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia, is also known as Lemo's Island. The name possibly comes from the Le Marsney family of Coogee, a well-known surfing family in the area. John Le Marsney, born around 1934, was an exceptional waterman and surf club supporter. He was skilled on surf skis and seemingly always in the water, handling any massive swell around the island with ease.

The Le Marsney family's skill in the surf became synonymous with navigating big waves, and so Lemo's Island became a colloquial term for Wedding Cake Island. A 1952 newspaper report supports this theory, detailing how 18-year-old lifesaver John Le Marsney avoided a shark attack at Coogee Beach. Le Marsney was one of about ten club members out on boards and skis near the island when he was warned about the approaching shark.

While the exact origin of the name Wedding Cake Island remains a mystery, it is speculated that it relates to the white caps on the waves that adorn the rock formation, giving it the appearance of a wedding cake from a distance. Some also say that the island's appearance of being covered in bird droppings contributes to its name.

It is said to resemble a wedding cake, especially when the white water breaks over it, giving the appearance of icing

Wedding Cake Island is located approximately one kilometre east of Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia, in the Tasman Sea. The island is said to resemble a wedding cake, especially when the white water breaks over it, creating the appearance of icing. This resemblance is believed to be the probable source of its name.

The island, also known as Lemo's Island, serves as a natural breaker, protecting Coogee Beach from most swells. It is a popular spot for scuba diving, offering divers a variety of underwater landscapes and marine life. The underwater terrain features small boulders adorned with sponges, ascidians, and soft and hard corals, creating a complex and captivating ecosystem.

Wedding Cake Island holds cultural significance as well. It is the inspiration for Midnight Oil's instrumental piece 'Wedding Cake Island'. The island also serves as a site for ANZAC Day commemorations, with surfers making an annual pilgrimage to the island, carrying cartons of beer and drinks to honour local war heroes.

In addition, the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club hosts the Coogee Island Challenge, a biannual swimming event where participants swim a 2.4-kilometre course around the island. This long-standing tradition attracts thousands of swimmers each year and is a celebration of community spirit and oceanic passion.

It is a popular scuba diving spot and the site of ANZAC Day commemorations by the local surf community

Wedding Cake Island is a popular scuba diving spot located approximately one kilometre southeast of Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia, in the Tasman Sea. The island, also known as Lemo's Island, is a rock platform that protects the beach from most swells. The depth of the dive site varies from 5 metres to 22 metres, and divers can expect good visibility. The water temperature can reach up to 21°C in the summer and early autumn months, and ranges between 14-18°C in winter.

Divers at Wedding Cake Island can explore an array of marine life, including old wife, bream, snapper, blue groper, combfish, kingfish, six-spined leatherjacket, and schooling fish. The island is also home to a variety of sea squirts, sponges, overhangs, and corals. Its distance from the shore and boat ramps makes it a relatively untouched dive location, offering a unique and excellent diving experience.

In addition to being a popular scuba diving spot, Wedding Cake Island holds significance for the local surf community as the site of ANZAC Day commemorations. ANZAC Day, observed on April 25, honours the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and fought during World War I, particularly at Gallipoli. On this day, surfers from Coogee Beach carry their surfboards and backpacks loaded with beer and drinks, paddling out to Wedding Cake Island to pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for their country.

The Coogee Surf Life Saving Club also organises a sporting event twice a year, in November and April, which involves a 2.4-kilometre swim from Coogee Beach that circumnavigates Wedding Cake Island. This event, known as the Coogee Island Challenge, has been a tradition for over 20 years and attracts thousands of swimmers annually.

It is the subject of an instrumental track by Midnight Oil

Wedding Cake Island is a famous surfing spot located on the southern side of Sydney's Bondi Beach in New South Wales, Australia. The unique name of this surf break has also inspired a musical tribute by iconic Australian rock band Midnight Oil. The instrumental track, simply titled "Wedding Cake Island," is a powerful and evocative piece that captures the essence of this iconic location.

The song was released in 1987 as part of the band's album "Diesel and Dust," which explored themes of environmentalism, Indigenous rights, and the Australian landscape. "Wedding Cake Island" stands out as a dynamic and atmospheric instrumental, showcasing the band's musical prowess and their ability to paint a sonic landscape.

The track opens with a driving rhythm section, laying down a solid foundation for the layers of guitar and keyboard melodies that follow. The music swells and crashes like the waves that pound the iconic island, creating a soundscape that is both energetic and haunting. Lead guitarist Jim Moginie's distinctive slide guitar work adds a touch of bluesy, surf-rock flair to the song, evoking the sun-drenched, beachside setting.

As the song progresses, the instrumentation builds and intertwines, mirroring the complex and ever-changing nature of the ocean. The band's tight-knit performance captures the sense of adventure and excitement associated with surfing at this renowned spot. Yet, there is also a sense of respect and awe for the power of nature, as the music conveys the sheer might of the waves and the unpredictable beauty of the sea.

"Wedding Cake Island" has become a fan favorite and a staple of Midnight Oil's live performances. The instrumental nature of the track allows the band to explore different interpretations and improvisations, making each performance unique and reflecting the ever-changing nature of the ocean itself. The song stands as a testament to the band's deep connection to the Australian landscape and their ability to translate its beauty and power into compelling and meaningful music.

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