Bondi Icebergs, the iconic pool and club at the southern end of Bondi Beach, is the subject of a long-running Aboriginal land claim over the Crown land beneath the site, as NSW faces a backlog of more than 44,000 unresolved Aboriginal land claims.
Read: Documentary Celebrates Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club Legacy
The La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council told 2GB’s breakfast program about the claim, revealing that it had lodged a claim over the Crown land beneath Bondi Icebergs. The matter remains unresolved and is now before NSW Lands Minister Steve Kamper.
The revelation came as a surprise to Bondi Icebergs, which, according to 2GB, was not aware of the claim before the radio show reported on it.
In a separate interview with 2GB following the initial report, Bondi Icebergs president Lynne Fitzsimons said the club was seeking more information because the claim had come as a surprise. She said the organisation had no comment at this stage while it worked to understand the situation.
Bondi Icebergs has operated at the southern end of Bondi Beach for generations, with its ocean pool becoming one of Sydney’s most recognisable coastal landmarks. The club and pool operate on Crown land.
How Aboriginal Land Claims Work
The existence of a claim does not mean the land has been transferred or that a transfer will ultimately occur. Under the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, Aboriginal Land Councils can lodge claims over certain parcels of Crown land. For a claim to succeed, the land must meet several legal requirements.
These include being capable of being lawfully sold or leased, not being lawfully used or occupied, not being required for an essential public purpose and not being subject to a native title claim.
Claims are assessed before a recommendation is made to the relevant minister, who then determines whether a claim should be granted. If a claim is refused, the decision can also be challenged in the Land and Environment Court.
The Bondi Icebergs claim is part of a much wider group of unresolved claims across NSW. Figures cited in recent reporting put the number of outstanding Aboriginal land claims at 44,026, with more than 30 claims involving surf clubs.
Claims have also been reported over Crown land associated with surf clubs across Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including North Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly, and Maroubra.
Crown Land Laws Under Review
The Crown Land Management Act 2016 provides the legislative framework for managing Crown land in NSW. On March 17, 2026, the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 was introduced into the NSW Parliament.
The proposed reforms have three stated goals: maximising public value from Crown land, building stronger and more capable Crown land managers, and modernising legislative provisions, technology and governance practices.
The Bill remains before Parliament, with its second reading debate adjourned in the Legislative Council. It was informed by a statutory review of the Crown Land Management Act, with the review’s final report tabled in March 2026.
The proposed legislation concerns the broader management of Crown land and is separate from the determination of the Bondi Icebergs Aboriginal land claim. Aboriginal land rights representatives have opposed aspects of the proposed reforms, raising concerns about their potential impact on land rights protections.
The La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council has rejected suggestions that Aboriginal Land Councils are responsible for delays in determining outstanding claims. It said the uncertainty surrounding the Bondi site was linked to the time taken to determine claims and that it remained willing to work constructively with Bondi Icebergs while the claim was being assessed.
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For Bondi Icebergs, the claim remains unresolved. The club is seeking more information about a matter it said it did not expect, while the determination remains with the relevant NSW minister.
Published 12-September-2026
