'Extraordinary' high waves batter famous beaches in Australia

Sydney beachfront properties were flooded and coastal infrastructure damaged after a large swell combined with a king tide to batter the Australian shore, officials said yesterday.

Several homes were evacuated at Botany Bay in Sydney's south around midnight as waves surged across the coast, according to emergency services.

Further north at Sydney's premier Bondi Beach, the coast was lashed by a 5.5-meter swell, officials said.

Windows were shattered at Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club, a waterfront pool, gymnasium and restaurant complex. CCTV footage showed waves bursting through glass doors after 11pm on Tuesday.

"It has just been devastating," club general manager Bob Tate said. "I've been a member for 50 years at Bondi. I've never seen this sort of thing before. You know, the sheer magnitude of the level of water and the power of the water coming through must've just been horrendous."

Tate added that on the pool deck around 15 glass panels were splintered, floors were damaged, and cupboards and firehoses were ripped off the walls.

It was "quite extraordinary," he said.

South of Botany Bay at Cronulla Beach, a lifeguard said the beach, along with parts of the pavement behind it and electrical infrastructure, had been damaged by 4-meter waves.

Authorities warned yesterday of further hazardous surf with the potential to cause coastal erosion and damage from the Illawarra region south of Sydney to the Hunter region north of Sydney.

Associated Press