Bare Island is a small island located at the northern side of the entrance to Botany Bay in Sydney, Australia.
It was noted by James Cook. My guess is that it is about two acres in size.
In the 1870s, the New South Wales Colony was worried about potential invasion by Russia and during the 1880s a number of fortifications were constructed along the top of the sandstone cliffs between Botany Bay and as far as to the north of Sydney Harbour. Bare Island was one such fort. It would appear that the bridge which crosses the 30‐40 metre gap was built towards the end of the construction of the fort.
The bridge uses heavy and strong Australian hardwoods in a beam and trestle arrangement. It has been repaired on a number of occasions such as in 1984‐86 when it was almost replaced and again in 2007. Evidence of past pier locations can be seen on the sandstone rock shelves on either side of the channel.
The bridge was used in the dramatic opening sequence in the 1999 movie Mission Impossible II
Bare Island and nearby La Perouse are popular locations for wedding photographers – often it is quite windy but they persist!
Some images by Peter Kneen of the timber bridge to Bare Island at La Perouse, Sydney.
