BONDI GIN CO

BONDI BEACH, NSW

BONDI BEACH IS AUSTRALIA’S MOST FAMOUS BEACH. YOU CAN TRAVEL BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT FROM THE CBD TO THE ICONIC BEACH.

FOUNDER’S WELCOME

Welcome to a very special edition of the Gin Journal. We are so excited to take you on Bondi Gin Co’s journey from inception to production – one that is extremely close my heart, because it’s my own gin!

Bondi Gin Co has been years in the making, and you are among the lucky few to own a bottle of Australian Dry Gin before its commercial release. Like any dream, there have been (more than a few) ups and downs, but the end result – as you will taste – has been well worth all the blood, sweat and tears.

But this issue isn’t just about Bondi Gin Co. It’s about the place that inspired my and Leon’s adventure: Bondi. We’ll explore what makes this famous beachside suburb so incredible – the places, the architecture, the history and of course the people who walk its streets.

We also speak to Fever-Tree’s Caroline Wood, who is this issue’s Ginsider. There are plenty of cocktails to keep you coming back to your bottle of Bondi Gin Co Australian Dry Gin.

As always, you can drop us a line at hello@ginsociety.com. Thank you for being part of this journey – it’s just the start for Bondi Gin Co!

Cheers!

BONDI GIN CO AUSTRALIAN DRY GIN

Andrew Burge Founder, Gin Society

VISIT US AT WWW.GINSOCIETY.COM

Contents

BONDI

COCKTAIL HOUR

Bondi Gin

Dry

THE GINSIDER

Fever-Tree’s Caroline Wood

Bondi

The Gin Society team

Founder: Andrew Burge Director: Jagdev Singh

Creative Director: Annah Lansdown

Head of IT: Chris Richardson

Membership Relations: Emily Prunty

Designer: Tori Gibson

Editor: Simon Jones

Contents

BEYOND THE BEACH

DAZZLING STREETS OF ART DECO

Bondi’s

Deco

MEET THE LOCALS

Hear what they

Bondi

Members

Got a question or query about your

We’re here to help. Drop us a line – hello@ginsociety.com

Advertising

We

enquiries

Events

Hosting an event? Looking for unique gins or an organised tasting? Let’s talk – events@ ginsociety.com

Partnerships

Launching a new gin? Opening a new venue

collaborations.

contact

–sales@ginsociety.com

distillery? Let us know –partnerships@ginsociety.com

MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING…

IT’S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY from inception to production, but Bondi Gin Co’s Australian Dry Gin is finally here! Straight from the mind of Gin Society founder Andrew Burge, this sensational drop is a labour of love, persistence and an unmatched desire to create something truly unique in the Australian craft gin scene.

Ambition meets opportunity

WAY BACK in the latter months of 2018, Andrew Burge had a business idea –one of many up to this point in his career. He wanted to build something in the alcohol space. Something that was purely his own and that reflected his own history and future ambitions.

“One of the reasons why I started Gin Society was to eventually create my own alcohol brand,” Andrew says.

“It was a nice segue into learning a lot about the industry and how it operated.”

But it was only a few months later when Andrew realised opportunity was already knocking at his door. He spent time looking into the marketability of Bondi – the branding, the naming rights, the companies, the URLs and social media assets – and realised, at least for gin, there was nothing else like it out there.

But diving head-first into such a grand project needed something –or someone – else.

“Andrew invited me to be the Ginsider for the Tanglin issue of the Gin Journal,” says Leon Dalloway, better-known as the founder of Gin Journey but also a Co-Owner and Creative Director at Bondi Gin Co.

“Obviously from living in Singapore and knowing lots about gin, that’s why Andrew

chose me for that. But after we had our little sit-down, Andrew got me on a call and the first thing he did was show me a picture –the concept for the Bondi Gin Co bottle.

“After seeing thousands of gin bottles, thousands of brands and thousands of different gin labels, you just know when you see something special. There was this immediate feeling of excitement. As soon as I saw the bottle, I was blown away by its potential.”

Bondi Beach

IT WAS CLEAR from that first viewing that Andrew had total clarity around what he wanted to do with Bondi Gin Co. The sheer financial burden of designing an original glass bottle mould alone would be enough to put most budding spirits makers off the idea of starting a gin company. But with Bondi as a crystal-clear throughline, it simply made sense for Andrew and Leon to join forces.

“Right off the bat, that authenticity of place was super important,” Andrew remembers. “I said, ‘If we’re going to be a gin company with Bondi in the name, then is has to be completely authentic and respectful to the area.’ I used to live in Bondi and Leon now lives there too – we both wanted to create something really special rather than something touristy. So getting him on board made good sense.”

Above clockwise from left: Bondi gin co Australian Dry Gin; Co-owner and Creative Director of Bondi Gin Co Leon Dalloway; Art Deco buildings of Bondi; Bondi Defender; Sydney engraved on the bottle of Gin.

A bottle with no equal

ANYONE FAMILIAR with the spirits world beyond the surface level will know that 99% of bottles you see on a liquor shelf are bought directly from a catalogue. The labelling might be different, but they are cheap to produce in high quantities because they already have the moulds for the machinery.

Andrew knew that wasn’t what he wanted for Bondi Gin Co. Instead, visions of Bondi’s famous ocean pools were always frontof-mind, and once designer Annah Lansdown had perfected the eye-catching bottle design it was all about nailing the physical prototype.

“Our bottle is completely bespoke,” Andrew says. “Which means we had to design the plates for the glass mould to reflect what we believe is a good homage to Bondi, to the ocean pools, to the Art Deco architecture, to all the classic influences of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.”

If getting Leon on board was easy, curating the ideal bottle was a slog. Five different prototypes were made, then there were challenges around different neck sizes, different shoulders, different colourings, different linework.

“Finally, we got exactly what we wanted,” Andrew says. “But that was a 12-month process in itself to get the bottle created.”

L eon says a common purpose was what drove the decisionmaking process throughout the countless prototypes and revisions. “Equally as importantly as what’s inside the bottle is how it looks on the outside,” he says.

“You need something that stands out at trade shows and compels people to pick it off the shelf and try it. It reminds me of some of the most beautiful Scottish gin bottles, like Isle of Harris and Lind & Lime. Those are just stunning bottles – anyone who sees them falls in love with them immediately because they transport you to that place, through the bottle first and then through the liquid.

“When I first saw our bottle, even though it was only through a computer screen, it transported me immediately to Bondi and its ocean pools. I hope that’s what others feel when they see this bottle, because that’s what the great booze brands do. They take you away – it’s escapism.”

WE HAD TO DESIGN THE PLATES FOR THE GLASS MOULD TO REFLECT WHAT WE BELIEVE IS A GOOD HOMAGE TO BONDI, TO THE OCEAN POOLS...”

Andrew Burge on Bondi Gin co’s bespoke bottle

“

Aerial view of Bondi Icebergs Pool

Finding the right distiller

BONDI GIN CO has big expectations for the brand over the coming years. The core elements are already there –the bottle, the branding, the Bondi association and – most importantly – the best-quality gin. But unlike some of the more established gin brands around the country, there’s no physical distillery right now. That’s the future of Bondi Gin Co, but its present – and its Australian Dry Gin, in particular – isn’t bound by geography.

One of the most important stages on this journey was finding a distiller who could not only craft a phenomenal spirit, but who could grasp the mission behind what Bondi Gin Co was striving to be. Andrew and Leon filtered through a number of potential

options – from solo distillers to massive spirits producers – before they landed on the alchemist to outsmart all alchemists: Brogan Carr.

A respected distiller in her own right, when she met with Bondi Gin Co it was as if all the pieces suddenly fell into place.

Anyone familiar with the Aussie craft gin scene knows that Brogan Carr is one of the hardest-working distillers around. So we were lucky to catch her between distillation runs to chat about her role in crafting Bondi Gin Co’s Australian Dry Gin. “It was a pleasure to work with both Andrew and Leon as they had a very clear vision and brief,” Brogan says. “But just as important for me was that they could tell me exactly what elements they don’t like in gins. This allowed me to really focus in on the things that would deliver the flavour profile they wanted. We had a number of development rounds which allowed us to quickly focus in on a direction then finesse it as we scaled up the recipe.

“The whole project was exciting for me. Turning someone’s idea into what they want is very rewarding, but the thing I really wanted to nail with this gin was the layering of the citrus notes – they had to be both the juicy flavours of the fleshy fruit as well as the zesty aromatic oils of the citrus skins. So combining both pot and vapour distillation into the process and using the different components of the citrus fruits to achieve this was something I was most pleased with.”

straight from the distiller

“FROM THAT FIRST CONVERSATION, we were on exactly the same page,” Leon says. “Every time Brogan sent us a sample, Andrew and I always decided on the same one – even during blind tastings.

Leon was more forthright in what he wanted the gin to deliver: “We always knew the flavour had to be coastal, but it also had to work in the holy trinity of cocktails: Gin and Tonic, Martini, and Negroni. Once we’d managed that, we knew we were in a good place.”

“Our taste buds guided what we wanted our Australian Dry Gin to be,” Andrew adds. “And Brogan nailed the brief straight away: to create a gin that is reminiscent of sitting on the beach with the sun on your skin, eating fresh oranges.”

BONDI G&t

Lavender for me was always super important. Because lavender is a reflection of coastal beaches in Australia – it’s growing wild everywhere along the coast.

Andrew Burge on of Bondi Gin co’s key botanicals

PLAYING WITH FLAVOURS

BROGAN’S MIND for alchemy was integral to matching Andrew’s vision for what Bondi Gin Co’s Australian Dry Gin should taste like through the right botanicals. In addition to the classics – such as juniper berries and angelica root – Andrew was adamant about including two key flavours. “Lavender for me was always super important,” he says. “Because lavender is a reflection of coastal beaches in Australia – it’s growing wild everywhere along the coast. I also wanted to incorporate fresh oranges, as I have such vivid memories of eating oranges on the beach during summer.” To complement these flavours of Bondi, you’ll also taste grapefruit, Tasmanian pepperberry, sea parsley and peppermint gum.

TO LABEL OR NOT TO LABEL

AFTER NAILING THE RECIPE and settling on the ideal ABV for the gin (43%), Andrew and Leon both had a moment of reflection. They’d managed to spin a concept several years in the making into a real, tangible product. And one that actually tasted bloody good.

While there were still plenty of moving parts to nail down, this seemed like a demarcation on their journey. It was no longer about “What if?” but instead “Where to now?” Then came the question of labelling.

“The visual look of the gin always circled back to the authenticity we’ve wanted to have from the start. We never wanted to rush anything,” Andrew says. “We took the time to find the right labelling company that was aligned with our view and our vision.”

“The decision to go naked,” Leon adds, “that choice for it to be a cleanskin bottle with a side label actually came from Jag [Director at Gin Society]. Even though Andrew and I are both highly experienced in the world of booze, we are still firsttime gin producers and we’ve been lucky enough to get support and input from other wonderful people in the industry.”

The sun is just starting to rise on Bondi

AS ANDREW PUT’S IT this has been a “long, long, long journey but we are so proud of what we’ve achieved.” The whole operation has been bootstrapped from the very beginning. All the heavy lifting fell on the shoulders of just a couple of individuals. And unlike the big brands who can come up with a recipe and pump out large-scale production in next to no time, this is the story of how first-timers can break into the market and deliver something that is right up there with some of the very best craft gin that Australia has to offer.

“So what’s our long-term ambition?” Leon asks. “We want to build our own world-class distillery in Bondi. We want to bring world-class distillation to the area. We’ve found ourselves with an opportunity to bring this incredible brand to the Eastern Suburbs and, hopefully in the near future, be able to welcome visitors to our distillery door and see exactly who we are, what we do, what we stand for, and why we are so proud of this spirit.”

Your forever bottle of Bondi

Bondi Gin Co’s bottle design is unlike anything you’re likely to find in the drinks space right now – especially Australian gin. With all the hard work and stress that went into developing the unique bottle design, why not reuse yours – once you’ve finished the liquid inside, of course! Here are some of the ways people are loving their ‘forever bottle’ of Bondi Gin Co’s Australian Dry Gin:

WAYS TO UP-CYCLE

BONDI BEACH

No matter where you are around the world, now you can bring a taste of Bondi with you. Andrew and Leon share their favourite cocktails to mix with your bottle of Bondi Gin Co Australian Dry Gin.

Eastside

Just like in Sydney, all the fun happens on the Eastside.

50mL Bondi Gin

20mL fresh lime juice

15mL sugar syrup

Mint

Cucumber

Add gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, 8–10 mint leaves and a wedge of cucumber to Boston tin. Shake vigorously and double strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a slapped mint sprig.

Bondi Negroni

One Negroni is never enough, especially with a splash of Bondi.

20mL Bondi Gin

20mL Campari

20mL Regal Rogue Bold Red Vermouth Orange

Stir together gin, Campari and vermouth before pouring into a rocks glass over ice rocks. Garnish with a wedge of orange.

Dirty Martini

Simplicity at its (dirty) best.

60mL Bondi Gin 20mL house-made sea salt vermouth (coming soon)

Olives

Ensure gin and vermouth are stirred to perfection, then pour immediately into an ice-cold martini glass. Garnish with three plump olives. Should be imbibed within three sips or 10 minutes.

Bondi Beach G&T

A classic best enjoyed on the sandy shores of Bondi beach

50mL Bondi Gin

100mL Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Grapefruit

Rosemary

Mix gin and tonic in a highball glass, served over cubed ice. Garnish with a wedge of grapefruit and sprig of rosemary.

THE GINSIDER

Having worked in the drinks industry for more than a decade – from spirits to beer to wine to mixers – Caroline Wood recently celebrated her three-year anniversary as Head of Marketing at Fever-Tree Australia. We sat down with Caroline as this issue’s Ginsider.

How were you introduced to gin?

I’m from Glasgow, Scotland originally. Back then there wasn’t such a wide variety of gin and tonic on offer, so my earliest memories are of my parents drinking copious amounts of Gordon’s gin and Schweppes diet tonic. I’ll always remember it had to be the diet version.

What makes gin such a special spirit for you?

I think now it’s the wealth of flavours, but also the stories behind the brands and the makers. I love learning their stories and how they came to make gin. I also love the conversations that come about when we educate people on the gin and tonic. Our Fever-Tree Gin and Tonic Festivals have been super-interesting in educating people on the styles and pairings – and I love just having random conversations with people in the supermarket about which tonic to buy.

How do you drink your gin?

I like a classic G&T in a large copa glass. My husband is Spanish so I’m used to the way they serve it over there.

What are some of the gins you’ve been trying lately?

Having not been able to get back to Scotland for a few years, I’m now enjoying some good Scottish gins such as Lind & Lime, Isle of Harris and Tobermory. From here in Australia I love Farmer’s Wife as well as Four Pillars Olive Leaf. These are all favourites in my house!

What’s your most memorable gin experience?

Hot nights on the coast in Spain with family – tasting lots of different gins but always with Fever-Tree tonic!

What are your three desert island gins?

• The Botanist

• Lind & Lime

• Farmer’s Wife

What have you noticed about the gin landscape in Australia recently?

Just the crazy amount of innovation coming through. It’s amazing to see how much the category has developed and continues to grow here in Australia especially.

Now that we are back out and about, it’s great to see the camaraderie among distillers and the joint sense of purpose. It’s a nice industry to be part of. Everyone is in competition yet friends at the same time.

What do you like about Gin Society?

I love the unique content and rare gins that come through. I’m always excited to receive my little package each month! It’s great to properly learn about the gin and who has produced it – feels like a rather exclusive club!

Caroline Wood

CAROLINE’S DESERT ISLAND GINS

THE BOTANIST

Scotland

Islay artisans, Bruichladdich, turn their hands to producing the first and only Islay Dry Gin. The botanicals used comprise of nine classic gin varietals, plus 22 wild, Islay botanicals that are hand-picked from the wind-swept hills, peat bogs and the Atlantic shores. The result is a highly distinctive, complex, floral gin with outstanding finish and impeccable provenance. In an age of re-badged industrial gins, the Botanist stands out as a truly artisanal, small-batch, hand-crafted labour of love and distiller’s art. A breath of botanical Islay in every glass.

BUY NOW danmurphys.com.au

Scotland

The very first spirit produced by The Port of Leith Distillery Company. The name is inspired by Dr. James Lind of Edinburgh who conducted one of the first clinical trials noting scurvy patients benefit from citrus. Key aromas include juniper and citrus followed by white pepper, lime peel and coriander, so more-or-less classic London Dry. Just five botanicals make for a deliciously creamy, mouth filling gin (without being over the top); dense juniper, grapefruit and hints of lime peel vie with pepper and coriander seed. Beautifully balanced gin in a beautiful bottle.

BUY NOW nicks.com.au

Australia

The gin’s 13 original botanicals, including myrtles, sage and rare sugar bag honey are enlivened by the addition of fresh sauvignon blanc grapes from our friends from Tamburlaine Organic Winery. Enveloped with floral notes & zesty citrus, this gin is perfectly suited to a cool summer spritz paired with good sparkling wine, fresh summer fruit and a warm summer day.

BUY NOW farmerswifedistillery.com.au

LIND & LIME GIN

SUMMER SPRITZ

IT’S GREAT TO PROPERLY LEARN ABOUT THE GIN AND WHO HAS PRODUCED IT – FEELS LIKE A RATHER EXCLUSIVE CLUB!”

CAROLINE WOOD, ABOUT GIN SOCIETY

Welcome back,

BONDI PAVILION

Bondi locals will tell you there are four stalwarts of the suburb: the beach, the surf lifesaving club, the ocean pool and the Bondi Pavilion.

Top view of BONDI PAVILION

A brief history of the pavilion

The Pavilion has stood for almost a century, with the grand opening happening way back in 1929. In the wake of World War I, Bondi saw a massive surge of interest in beachgoers, so much so that Waverley Council decided to invest in their most ambitious projects tow date.

Bondi Pavilion enjoyed incredible popularity for around two decades, but by the 1950s its utility began to decline and the following thirty years saw sections of the building closed off, transformed for various uses, additions made and even a name change to the Bondi Surf Pavilion Community Centre.

Above: Bondi Castle, in 1917 This first Bondi Pavilion was affectionately known to the locals as ‘The Castle,’ or the ‘Castle Pavilion’ because of its whimsical fairytale-like turrets. Its official name was the Bondi Surf Sheds, sometimes described by the rather plain moniker the Municipal Surf Sheds.

Above right: Bondi Pavilion in 1969

image credit: www.waverley.nsw.gov.au

image credit: www.bondipavilion.com.au

Restoration of the famous Bondi Pavilion

Taking the leap

Just a few years ago, many would have referred to the Pavilion as something of a white elephant amid the cultural rhapsody of Bondi. So when plans were made to completely rejuvenate the heritage building back to its former glory, more than a few eyebrows were raised.

No one should have worried, though. 33,000 Spanish terracotta tiles, 200 solar panels, uncovered murals from the past, and a cool $48 million refurbishment later, Bondi Pavilion reopened its doors to universal acclaim on 21 September.

All the bells and whistles

The original Bondi Pavilion of the late 1920s included:

Extensive dressing cubicles

Gender-exclusive courtyards

Turkish baths

Ballroom

Cabaret theatre

Auditorium

Café

Shops

Bringing back the best of Bondi’s past

Today you’ll find a lot more than just a place to change after a dip at the beach – there’s arts and cultural events, music shows, family-friendly experiences, tours and even a Bondi Story Room where visitors can learn more about the Pavilion’s history and notable people.

As Waverley mayor Paula Masselos told reporters at the reopening: “It has got state-of-the- art stuff in there, but it is not an elitist building. You can come in off the beach with sand on your feet and get a coffee, or you can come in later for dinner and a show.

“Everyone is blown away by it. The universal word is ‘wow’. It is an iconic building. It is known all around the world. I wanted to make sure we paid respect to the building, but showed how a heritage building can become a building of the 21st century.” bondipavilion.com.au

image credits: @BondiPavillion

interestingFACTS ABOUT BONDI

OLDEST

Home to the world’s first – and oldest –surf lifesaving club.

Bondi was originally called Boondi, an Aboriginal word said to mean a few different things: “surf”, “fighting sticks”, “water tumbling over rocks” and “a place where a fight with nullas took place”.

The finishing line for the famous City2Surf running event.

A popular shooting location for film and television productions –Underbelly, Top of the Lake, Farscape, Two Hands, The Block and countless others.

World-renowned for hosting the long-running TV reality series Bondi Rescue.

Home to some of the most recognisable Aussie celebrities, including Michael Clarke, Rose Byrne, Larry Emdur and James Packer.

Beachgoers simply couldn’t stay away during the early days of COVID-19 and the NSW Government had to shut down the whole of Bondi Beach.

One of the most densely populated suburbs in Sydney.

On Black Sunday in 1938, about 200 people were swept into the ocean after a series of vicious waves crashed into onlookers on a sand bar. Five drowned and dozens were injured.

The iconic Bondi Icebergs ocean pool dates back to 1929.

Photo: @bondisblsc

Photo: city2surf.com.au

Photo by Channel Ten Australia

Photo: icebergs.com.au

There’s much more to Bondi than just the beach. And while we know everyone loves soaking up the sunshine on Australia’s most popular stretch of sand, we reckon you’ll also get a kick out of these interesting Bondi facts.

The median house price in Bondi is just under $4 million.

More than 200,000 people attended the opening of the original Bondi Pavilion in 1929.

Set a Guinness World Record in 2007 for the most bikini-clad models gathered on a beach for a photoshoot: 1,010 in total.

Bondi Beach hosted the beach volleyball competition during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

47.3C

Bondi can reach scorching temperatures in the middle of summer – in 2018 the beach hit a sweltering 47.3°C record.

Surf waves at the beach sometimes reach over 4 metres (13.12 feet).

Bondi Beach is only 1.22 square kilometres in size – quite small compared to other famous Aussie beaches like Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast (6.2sqkm)

Famous for hosting festivals and events like Sculptures by the Sea (Oct-Nov), Festival of the Winds (Sep), and more.

Despite being protected by shark nets, there have been three (non-fatal, thankfully!) shark attacks at Bondi Beach since 1990.

Bondi Beach is able to pack more than 40,000 visitors on its sandy shores during its busiest days.

Photo: Aquabumps

Photo: Chinadaily

Photo by Hamish Blair

Photo by Bill Morris Shark by Freepik

House by macrovector_official on Freepik

THE SENSATIONAL WATERS OF SYDNEY’S OCEAN POOLS

thebeyondbeach

While Bondi Beach is packed with tens of thousands of sweltering visitors this summer, you’ll find us staring at a long black line in some of the best ocean pools across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Why not try them all over the holidays?

BRONTE BATHS

A little quieter than Icebergs and still a quick bus ride from the CBD, the historic Bronte Baths is the ideal place to watch the sun rise or cool off after a long summer day.

Opened: 1887 Location: Bronte Road, Bronte (Far southeastern end of Bronte Beach) Price: Free

Photo credit: bronte_baths

BONDI ICEBERGS POOL

It’s like looking at a mirror image of the Bondi Gin Co bottle, isn’t it? Inspirational in more ways than one, the famous Bondi Icebergs is in a class of its own when it comes to ocean pools.

Opened: 1929 Location: 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach (Southern end of Bondi Beach) Price: Adults $9; Kids $6 (12 and under)

GILES BATHS, COOGEE

A definite sight for sore eyes, Giles Baths is a popular swimming hole among locals and a must-swim destination if you’re around the Coogee area.

Opened: 1928 Location: 105-109R Beach Street, Coogee (northern headland of Coogee Beach) Price: Free

Photo credit: https://sydneysolesisters.org/

MAHON POOL, MAROUBRA

A spectacular venue thanks to the exposed rock outcrops and cliffs above, a visit to Maroubra isn’t complete without a dip in the Mahon Pool.

Opened: 1936

Location: 15R Marine Parade, Maroubra (north of Maroubra Beach at the base of Jack Vanny Reserve)

Price: Free

MALABAR OCEAN POOL

It’s a bit of a hike from Bondi but well worth a trip in the early hours of the morning or at golden hour right before sunset.

Opened: 1890s (refurbished in 1997)

Location: Bay Parade, Malabar (south-west of Malabar Beach, directly below Randwick Golf Club)

Price: Free

Malabar Ocean Pool, December 2021. Photography by DJI Mavic Air 2

Mahon Pool, Maroubra. Photography by @mattbarryimages

WATERS OF SYDNEY’S OCEAN POOLS

Dazzling streets of Art Deco

T here are countless reasons why Bondi is the most in-demand suburb in Sydney – from its famous beach to glorious ocean pools to some of the best food and shopping around. But take a lazy stroll along the streets of Bondi and you’ll see another side – an architectural extravaganza of Art Deco. Join us on a visual tour of the most eye-catching buildings.

Uniquely Bondi

Like everything else in this picture-perfect suburb, Bondi does things its own way. Its rampant Art Deco buildings are no different, and you’ll find plenty to admire in the apartments along Campbell Parade as well as famous locations like the Icebergs Club and Bondi Pavilion. Typically coated in gorgeous soft pastels of blue, yellow, green and pink, Bondi’s Art Deco style makes use of eye-catching geometric shapes, with many buildings announcing themselves with a rounded façade. Inspired by a widespread fascination for avant-garde artwork in the early 20th century as well as the cubism movement, there’s something effortlessly stylish about Bondi’s take on Art Deco.

BRIGHTON BOULEVARD BONDI, NSW - HOME OF CO-OWNER OF BONDI GIN CO LEON DALLOWAY

Out with the new, in with the old

While recent years have seen an influx of hypermodern luxury apartments being developed along Bondi’s busiest streets, it’s the old multilevel walk-ups that were constructed between both World Wars that are still in high demand. Buyers are willing to fork out millions just for a chance to snatch up a prize Art Deco apartment – even a humble one-bedder. Rental demand is just as crazy. Consider that musical genius Tim Minchin was able to rent out his Art Deco place in nearby Coogee for a staggering $3,750 per week – and that was way back in 2016. But the market is only worth what the people are willing to pay, so considering the typical clientele who are on the hunt for a Bondi Art Deco retreat, for most of us we’ll have to be satisfied with a snap on our phone rather than owning one.

Best spots for a Bondi Art Deco snap

Next time you’re in Bondi, make sure you visit these amazing Art Deco

and see for yourself what makes them so special:

• Hotel Ravesis, 118 Campbell Parade

• Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive

• Franklin Block, 226 Campbell Parade

• La Pacifique, 274 Campbell Parade

• Lexington, 144 Warners Avenue

• 33 Campbell Parade

• 2 Ramsgate Avenue

• 236 Campbell Parade

MEET THE LOCALS

It’s the people who live and breathe this spectacular suburb that truly make Bondi Bondi! We caught up with a few friendly faces to share what they love about our favourite place in the world...

WALLABIES

What’s your Bondi morning ritual?

SOOBI: Look straight out of my apartment to see weather, surf and who’s out and about. Always love to check out the beach as I catch my bus to work. TANIA: My Bondi morning ritual is to wake up early enough to catch sunrise with a meditation at the south wall, before grabbing an açai bowl from Cali Press. SONDRA: Working days, you’ll find me at bRU Coffee. Days off I really enjoy, what I call, “sharing the love” …

DREW: Coffee from Bobby’s on Wairoa, walk the promenade and finish with a dip in the ocean at the north end. ADAM: Midweek soft sand run into Icebergs sauna and dip.

LEON: Ocean swim at the North End and a coffee at Bru.

Drew Mitchell @drew_mitchell

Adam Ashley-Cooper @adamcoopy

Leon Dalloway @theginboss

GIN BOSS

Sondra Beram @brucoffeebondi

WIZARD

Soobi Tattersall @djsoonami

DJ,

Tania Acitelli @sydneyfoodslut

Cali Press @calipressjuice

Where’s your favourite place to grab lunch?

SOOBI: Icebergs, Raw bar, North Bondi Fish. TANIA: My lunch in Bondi is the bRU lunch bowl with chicken added. It’s got all the good stuff. SONDRA: Obviously a bRU Coffee lunch bowl, otherwise share the love BLT from The Shop and Wine Bar or Egg & Bacon roll from G&T or chilli egg from Makuto, this could go on forever.

DREW: Tuna Cheeseburger from Fish Shop is on another level. Corner of Blair and Glenayr. ADAM: Icebergs pub. Lobby spring rolls are a hidden gem. LEON: I’m at Bobby’s on Wairoa most days for a bagel and a juice, if we’re balling it’s got to be Icebergs Dining Room, Chaco for ramen, Tipica for Pizza.

And a drink?

SOOBI: Drink of choice G&T and Spicy Marg at NBF. TANIA: Icebergs Bondi for a sundowner can’t be beat. SONDRA: RND in summer and the new place Chloe’s on Gould. DREW: A beer that tastes like beer, not this new craft shit everyone is making. Then move on to gin and sodas. ADAM: The diggers. LEON: Neighbourhood’s drinks are on point and it’s always a great vibe, or Golf Club/diggers for a cheap beer.

What’s your favourite thing about Bondi?

SOOBI: The community and lots of secret hangout spots. Also being 2 min from the beach.

TANIA: The community, the feeling & happiness in the air is almost tangible on a sunny morning.

SONDRA: Community, friendships built, lifestyle, beach … I could again go on forever. DREW: How it comes to life when the sun comes out. Everyone’s mindset, attitude and energy shifts for the positive.

ADAM: How active everyone is. LEON: It’s alive with people getting out there and showing up.

words that describe Bondi to you - can’t be sea, sun and surf

TRENDY

DIVERSE

VIBRANT ACTIVE

North Bondi Fish @northbondifish

Icebergs Club @icebergsclub

Neighbourhood @neighbourhoodbondi

Chaco Ramen Bondi @chaco_ramen_bondi

Sondra Beram @brucoffeebondi

Tipica Pizza Bondi @tipica_pizza_bondi

RND Bondi @rndbondi

FLAVOUR PROFILE

TASTING NOTES

LEON’S TASTING NOTES

Bondi Gin Co Australian Dry Gin starts as all good gins should with a lusty dash of juniper then whoosh, in comes the strikingly fresh citrus. The mind’s eye is immediately transported to days on the beach devouring juicy oranges, the grapefruit adds to the zesty harmony and all feels right. Lavender dances around at the back of the room sprinkling salt and pepper on everything it touches, the peppermint gum adds that unmistakably Aussie eucalypt element with a touch of ocean spray that comes from the sea parsley, pepperberry plays its rockstar role and adds that touch of spice; it also makes this blend a true superstar line up of botanicals.

Bondi Gin Co Australian Dry Gin immediately sets itself as a modern Aussie classic. This is a gin that will flourish in a G&T and yet stand up strong in a Negroni and a Martini. Forgive me guys but I think it’s going to be a

BY CO-OWNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT BONDI GIN CO - LEON DALLOWAY good summer...

THE GIN SOCIETY PROUDLY BRINGS YOU THE GIN JOURNAL .