The Lockhart Walk is a short walk along a section of urban waterfront at Balmain. With views across the Parramatta River to Birkenhead Point and Iron Cove, this short walk is dotted with benches to sit an take in the view.
One of the benefits of this short walk at Balmain is its versatility. Complete the short walk and pack a picnic to enjoy along the way at Balmain Cove Park or Bridgewater Park, or extend your walk by joining The Bay Run when you reach the section of the walk that passes under the Iron Cove Bridge.
On this short walk you’ll enjoy a scenic pocket of urban bushland on the foreshore and pass monuments to Balmain’s industrial history.
| Distance: | 1.1km |
| Start: | Balmain West Ferry Wharf |
| End: | Waterfront under Iron Cove Bridge |
| Public Transport: | Ferry at Balmain West Wharf Buses on Darling Street and Victoria Road |
| Water: | King George Park, Rozelle Shops on Darling Street, Balmain |
| Toilets: | King George Park |
| Dogs: | This walk is dog friendly, just be sure to be a responsible pet owner and pay attention to signs about on vs off-leash areas along the way. |
| Top Tip: | When you reach Iron Cove Bridge, extend your walk by continuing on along The Bay Run. |
Lockhart Walk Overview
The Lockhart Walk is a very short walk along an area of foreshore in Balmain.
Because the Lockhart Walk is just a few hundred metres, this guide covers the Lockhart Walk plus the pathway via Balmain Cove Park and Bridgewater Park, taking in a total of just over 1km of the Balmain waterfront.
The start of the walk is signposted as ‘Lockhart Walk’ near the bottom of Elliot St, close to the Balmain West ferry wharf.
The walk is paved and runs along the foreshore for about a hundred metres before it reaches a set of stairs. These stairs lead up from the waterfront to a pedestrian pathway between apartment buildings and through to Broderick Street.
You’ll follow the road for a short distance, walking straight along Broderick Street (parallel with the waterfront). Broderick Street becomes Longview Street, and at the end of Longview you’ll see a locked gate at Sydney Secondary College and on the right hand side a public access way into a pocket of bushland.
You’ll walk along a wooden board walk and down the stairs, finding yourself back on the waterfront.
The paved path on the waterfront runs past the sports courts to reach beautifully maintained Balmain Cove Park.
Continuing on the waterfront path you’ll pass a few points of interest commemorating Balmain’s industrial past. There’s a monument to the site of pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers Elliot Brothers Inc. (circa 1865) and the Balmain Power Station Pump House.
When you reach the spot where the Iron Cove Bridge passes over the path, you can end your walk, returning the way you came, or continue on to join The Bay Run. If you make it as far as the Cycle Bridge over the Hawthorne Canal, you can cross to join the Greenway through to the Cooks River.
Map & Navigation
The walk is a point-to-point walk from near Balmain West ferry wharf through to the Iron Cove Bridge where the path meets The Bay Run, a popular 7km circuit around Iron Cove.
Accessibility
You can enjoy an access friendly version of this walk if you keep to the Lockhart Walk as an out-and-back paved path from the bottom of Elliot St (near Balmain West wharf).
When you reach the end of Lockhart Walk, instead of taking the stairs to connect with Broderick Street, simply turn around and return the way you came.
This will give you a waterfront walk of approximately 250m, with views across the Parramatta River and several seats to stop and enjoy the view along the way.
Facilities
Because this short walk is an urban walk, you’re fairly close to just about everything you could need.
Along the direct route of the foreshore walk you’ll find seating. While just beyond the end point of the walk, in King George Park, you’ll find water fountains and public toilets.
You’re also close to plenty of shops and cafes such as those on Darling Street in Balmain or just across the Iron Cove Bridge at Birkenhead Point.
Cafes & Shops
This short foreshore walk is within walking distance of the shops and cafes along Darling Street. At the end of the walk, you can also walk up and over the Iron Cove Bridge to Birkenhead Point shops.
Drinking Water
There is a drinking water fountain in King George Park just beyond the Iron Cove Bridge.
Toilets
You’ll find public toilets in King George Park (and various other locations along The Bay Run) just beyond the Iron Cove Bridge at the end of the walk.
Lockhart Walk Highlights
For a short walk, this path around the foreshore at Balmain sure does pack in the highlights. From scenic water views to monuments commemorating Balmain’s industrial history, there’s plenty to enjoy on this walk.
Balmain Waterfront
The obvious drawcard of this walk is its position along the waterfront in Balmain. As you walk the Lockhart Walk around the foreshore to Balmain Cove Park and Bridgewater Park, you’ll enjoy views across the Parramatta River toward Iron Cove for almost the entire way.
Iron Cove Foreshore Habitat Corridor
At the end of Longview Street there’s a pocket of bushland accessible via the path alongside Sydney Secondary College. Lookout for the ‘Volunteers care for this bushland’ sign. A wooden walkway carves a path through the bush from street level down to the foreshore.
Elliot Brothers Inc. Site
After passing through Balmain Cove Park, just before reaching the Balmain Power Station Pump House, keep your eyes out for the plaque commemorating Elliot Brothers Inc.
What is today waterfront parkland and apartment blocks was once an industrial site home to the first pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing in the nation.
“In 1865 this was the site of the first pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer in Australia, Elliot Brothers Inc. A major employer in the region, the company became The Drug House of Australia in 1929, Monsanto in 1958, and Champlex in 1988, which closed in the 1990s.”
Sign on the foreshore near iron cove in balmain
If you’re interested in Sydney’s industrial history, there’s plenty to discover as you make your way around the Balmain peninsula. Next stop, what remains of the Balmain Power Stations.
Balmain Power Station Heritage Pump House
The pump house is all that is left of the Balmain Power Stations that once dominated the waterfront at the mouth of Iron Cove.
The original Balmain Power Station (‘A’) was constructed in 1909, with Balmain Power Station ‘B’, constructed between 1940 and 1950 on what is now Bridgewater Park.
The power stations supplied energy to Balmain (including to Morts Dock and the Balmain Coal Mine), Leichhardt, Ashfield, Newtown, and Petersham, before being decommissioned in 1976.
Iron Cove Bridges
The Iron Cove Bridge (or rather, bridges—there are two now) connects Rozelle and Drummoyne.
You’ll have a view of the Iron Cove Bridge for much of this walk. When you reach the section of pavement that passes under the bridges, you’re at the end of this walk. You’ll also have an interesting perspective of the bridges from this point.
The original Iron Cove Bridge opened in 1882, and was replaced in 1955 when upgrades were required to accommodate increased traffic.
In 2011, a second bridge was constructed alongside the original and includes not only additional traffic lanes, but also a wide shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. The shared path over the Iron Cove Bridge forms part of The Bay Run loop and the 7 Bridges Walk.
