Balls Head Coal Loader - Sydney Harbour

Visitors to Sydney often see only the places that are so well know and travel worn, it becomes rather boring. Yet there are so many places so close to these well worn tracks that to visit them is the peak of fascination.

One such place is right under our noses on the north side of Sydney Harbour called Balls Head. 

It is a headland that juts out into the harbour just north of Goat Island and facing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Aside from magnificent views of the Bridge and Sydney skyline, Balls Head offers the visitor a wonderful parkland and easy bushwalks. 

One such walk is to the old Coal Loader - established in the 1920's as a transfer area for coal from bulk carriers and for transport via road. 

The wharf is in poor condition right now, and not accessible, but the walk around the loading area is easily accessible, including through one of the loading tunnels that was used to transfer coal from ship to rail. 

These tunnels are built under a raised platform, where the coal was stored, and poured through chutes down to waiting rail cars for loading onto the vessels. 

Balls Head Coal Loader 

Rail Tunnel