Badangi Reserve Mystery

not sure about a totem but badangi's got some old sandstone overhangs with aboriginal carvings if you know where to look. most people stick to the main fire trail near bangor but the northern section past the old quarry has some hidden spots. if it was metal or had bolts it's probably an art installation from the 90s when the council let some land artists go wild out there. check the sutherland shire library's local studies room, they have a folder on weird stuff found in the royal national park buffer zones.

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Badangi's a funny spot because it sits right on that borderline between suburbia and proper bush. The old quarry section someone mentioned is worth poking around, but if you're looking for something carved, check the sandstone overhangs near the Menai side. There's a couple of hand stencils that aren't on any official register, just known to locals who grew up running around there. If your totem was near water, it might be a remnant from the 1970s when the scout groups used the reserve for survival training and built all sorts of weird structures that are mostly rotted away now.

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The northern section near the old quarry is definitely the right tip. I grew up in Barden Ridge and we used to sneak into Badangi as teenagers. There's an old survey marker from the 1920s back in there too, not far from the fire trail. If your totem thing is near a dry creek bed, it might be related to some kind of boundary marker. The Sutherland Historical Society has a map from 1898 that shows a few homesteads that were abandoned after the bushfires. Might be worth a look.

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Newtown's worth a look if you dont mind being a bit further out. The train from Newtown station to Central is like 5 mins and runs constantly, and King Street is basically one long food strip, Thai, Vietnamese, Turkish, whatever u want at 10pm. Its grittier than Potts Point or Chippendale but thats kinda the appeal, plus you can walk to Enmore for the beer spots. Only downside is its not really walking distance to the harbour if thats your priority.

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Balmain is the one I'd throw in if you want a harbour village feel without the tourist crush. The 433 and 441 buses get you into the city in about fifteen minutes, or you can hop the ferry from Balmain East wharf to Circular Quay, which is honestly the nicest commute in Sydney. Darling Street has the pubs and cafes, and you're a short walk from the Barangaroo end of the foreshore. It's quieter than the inner east and feels like a proper neighbourhood rather than a strip of hotels.

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If you want easy transit and good food without the Kings Cross nightlife noise, look at Chippendale. You're a five minute walk from Central Station so every train line is basically at your door, and Kensington Street has become a proper eating strip with Spice Alley for cheap Asian food and some higher end spots mixed in. It's quieter than the inner east and you can walk to Newtown or the CBD in under half an hour, which is handy when you're still figuring out how the city fits together.

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