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in
Australia and there are around 50 suicides at The Gap each year. The tall cliffs have made it a location for those wishing to end their lives. Between 2008 and 2011 numerous measures have been implemented to dissuade those at risk of suicide, including security cameras to monitor the area, several
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for preventing suicides at The Gap. From 1964, Ritchie saved 180 people from jumping from the cliffs by crossing the road from his property and engaging them in conversation, often beginning with the words, "Can I help you in some way?" Afterwards
Ritchie would invite them back to his home for a cup
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drove into the rocky cliff at the foot of The Gap causing the ship's topmasts to snap and the ship to turn broadside against the rocks because of the pounding of the waves. By light next day, crowds watched as breakers pounded victims' corpses against the rocks. Other bodies amid cargo and wreckage
376:, her uncle asked the man if he knew its name, to which Swivell replied, "The Nieuw Holland". Soon afterwards, the smartly-dressed man stood up and walked away; he climbed to the top of the cliff and jumped. Swivell survived the fall but died as he was being rescued.
383:, fell to her death at The Gap. Due to the notoriety of the area, police did not initially suspect foul play. However, in 2008, her then-boyfriend was convicted of pushing her over the edge, but in February 2012, he was acquitted of her murder on appeal.
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recorded how she and her uncle, Christopher Dunne, witnessed a suicide at The Gap. By chance, the pair shared a bench with a well-dressed, middle-aged man who was later identified as
William Albert Swivell. As the three watched a ship sail through the
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in 1788, the
British established a makeshift signalling station on the ridge above The Gap. Its role was to give early warning to the colony of any approaching ship. A formal signal station was established in 1790, serviced by a
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use the cliff for nesting sites. The sandstone cliff has created nutrient-poor soils similar to those found around Sydney. As nutrients are scarce, plants which survive on The Gap cannot afford to lose leaves to
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A young sailor named James
Johnson was the only survivor. He was rescued after clinging to a rocky ledge below The Gap for 36 hours. Johnson, who was later employed at the lighthouse near
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of tea and a chat. Some would return years later to thank him for his efforts in talking them out of their decision. Ritchie, who was nicknamed the "Angel of The Gap", died in May 2012.
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in 1956. Visitors are sometimes permitted to visit the clifftop chapel that was dedicated in 1962 to service personnel who served at The Gap. The Gap has been part of
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sequence that is transitional between the Sydney Basin and New
England Fold Belt. The Gap itself forms a sequence that continues offshore to the edge of the
361:, organ damage, broken bones and lifelong pain. Most think that jumping from The Gap will lead to an instant death but for many death is not instant.
150:, were completed by 1877. Extensions were added in 1880 to accommodate additional personnel. Many of the early barracks are still standing near The Gap.
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period, 40 million years later, a cataclysmic event resulted in an enormous crack forming within the strata. This fault allowed erosion from
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were washed inside Sydney harbour with the incoming tide; many of the dead were naked and had been mutilated by sharks. The funeral of the
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rock platforms lie at the base of the cliff because The Gap is bordered to the south and west by an older sequence of largely low-grade
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shortly after dark on 20 August 1857. In poor visibility and stormy weather, Captain Green misjudged the entrance to the harbour. The
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291:. The total maximum thickness of rock formations within the Sydney Basin are in depth ranges of 5,000 metres (16,000 ft).
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in varying proportions, bound with a clay matrix. The Gap's warm yellow-brown colour is due to oxidation of the stone.
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victims was one of the longest processions ever seen in Sydney. The unidentified dead were buried in a common grave at
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since 1982. In 1990, the area was opened to the public to offer access to the spectacular cliff views and walks.
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926:"British playboy threw model girlfriend off cliff in Australia to her death 'like a spear'"
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737:"CIRCULAR QUAY TO SOUTH HEAD AND CLOVELLY MAIN WALK SECTION 4: SOUTH HEAD TO NORTH BONDI"
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1036:"Australia mourns 'Angel of the Gap' Don Ritchie, the man who talked 160 out of suicide"
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carrying 63 passengers and 59 crew struck the rocky cliff at the foot of The Gap. The
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established a radar training school nearby. The facility was initially named HMAS
127:, the headland around The Gap became a military garrison when work began to build
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354:. An inward-leaning fence has also been erected to deter people from jumping.
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on 14 March 1945. Torpedo and anti-submarine warfare training were relocated to
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anchor was recovered more than fifty years later and placed on the cliffs at
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People who have survived the jump have had severe consequences including
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so they defend their foliage with toxins. Vegetation includes the
222:, rescued another lone survivor from the wreckage of the steamer,
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592:. Bondi Junction, NSW: Faircount Media Group. pp. 125–126.
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can often be seen moving among the rocks. Seabirds, such as the
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56:
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396:, jumped from The Gap after battling depression and anorexia.
55:. Although the cliff is a popular tourist destination, it has
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The rock is a very porous stone. It is composed of very pure
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Prior to
European colonisation, The Gap was inhabited by the
146:. The first barracks, which were occupied by members of the
683:. National Library of Australia. 21 August 1930. p. 11
25:
Looking north towards high cliffs that create The Gap near
627:. National Library of Australia. 22 August 1857. p. 4
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counselling phone booths, and information boards from the
586:
Oldham, Charles, ed. (2011). "Bases and establishments".
955:"State prosecutor's reasoning in Wood trial 'dangerous'"
953:
Hall, Louise; Jacobsen, Geesche (25 February 2012).
364:
On the afternoon of 20 April 1936, noted
Australian
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to create the cliff line around Sydney. Tessellated
415:veteran and retired insurance agent, was awarded a
1094:Green light for Gap safety Cameras to alert police
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153:By 1895, the area was being used by the fledgling
123:In 1871, a year after the official withdrawal of
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298:grains and a small amount of the iron mineral
87:Aboriginal clan, who were part of the coastal
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390:, a 29-year-old newsreader who worked for
533:Walks in the Sydney Harbour National Park
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711:. The Text Publishing Company. pp.
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20:
283:. Northwards these rocks pass into the
259:more than 200 million years ago in the
47:, Australia. The area, which faces the
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1007:"An angel walking among us at The Gap"
700:
698:
589:100 Years of the Royal Australian Navy
574:100 Years of the Royal Australian Navy
75:passing through The Gap on its way to
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763:The Colony, A History of Early Sydney
530:
135:. Construction was undertaken by the
792:"Tragedy amid the beauty at The Gap"
112:would meet ships at the entrance to
980:"Hundreds pay tribute to Charmaine"
790:Turnbull, Malcolm (23 March 2010).
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655:. Sydney. 22 August 1857. p. 4
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379:In June 1995, a 24-year-old model,
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116:in order to guide them safely into
91:. Shortly after the arrival of the
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816:Bondi, OnScene (26 January 2024).
337:The Gap is a well known place for
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1049:from the original on 18 June 2022
876:Albury Banner and Wodonga Express
742:. www.walkingcoastalsydney.com.au
157:as a gunnery school. In 1942 the
924:Allen, Nick (21 November 2008).
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165:, but was later commissioned as
16:Ocean cliff in Sydney, Australia
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417:Medal of the Order of Australia
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129:coastal artillery emplacements
51:, is located in the suburb of
1:
1033:Roger Maynard (16 May 2012).
1005:Kate Benson (1 August 2009).
535:. Kangaroo Press. p. 58.
517:
437:The Gap looking out over the
1156:Sydney Harbour National Park
871:"Fell 280 feet into the sea"
511:Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge
329:which produces such toxins.
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178:Sydney Harbour National Park
7:
905:. 20 April 1936. p. 16
818:"The other side of suicide"
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457:the Tasman Sea to the south
10:
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843:"Man's leap over the Gap"
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279:and granitic rocks of the
144:British military engineers
62:
1072:Robin Derricourt (2008).
903:The Sydney Morning Herald
796:The Sydney Morning Herald
453:The Gap looking out over
188:In 1857 the sailing ship
148:New South Wales Artillery
133:defend the Port of Sydney
1117:33.843519°S 151.284599°E
761:Karskens, Grace (2010).
619:"SHIPWRECK AT THE HEADS"
255:. The cliff was laid as
243:Geology, fauna and flora
239:with a memorial tablet.
100:that developed into the
247:The Gap is formed from
125:Imperial British forces
1122:-33.843519; 151.284599
705:Flannery, Tim (1999).
473:and Vaucluse with the
251:making it part of the
108:based at Camp Cove in
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29:
1012:Sydney Morning Herald
984:Sydney Morning Herald
959:Sydney Morning Herald
680:Sydney Morning Herald
675:"Wreck of the Dunbar"
647:"Wreck of the Dunbar"
624:Sydney Morning Herald
552:Royal Australian Navy
413:Royal Australian Navy
310:eastern water dragons
159:Royal Australian Navy
142:under the command of
137:colonial government's
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35:is an ocean cliff at
24:
1146:Suicide in Australia
1079:Dictionary of Sydney
531:Paton, Neil (1987).
1151:Geography of Sydney
1141:Cliffs of Australia
1113: /
931:The Daily Telegraph
708:The Birth of Sydney
469:Looking south over
348:Black Dog Institute
213:Camperdown Cemetery
102:Old South Head Road
986:. 12 November 2007
493:Golden Gate Bridge
386:In November 2007,
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776:978-1-74237-364-5
767:Allen & Unwin
281:Lachlan Fold Belt
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400:Angel of The Gap
388:Charmaine Dragun
333:Suicide location
249:Sydney sandstone
228:, in July 1866.
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851:. 21 April 1936
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1085:27 September
1083:. Retrieved
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1051:. Retrieved
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1016:. Retrieved
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881:. Retrieved
879:. p. 33
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853:. Retrieved
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744:. Retrieved
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601:. Retrieved
588:
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556:. Retrieved
550:
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481:on the right
441:to the north
410:World War II
403:
391:
385:
378:
374:Sydney Heads
363:
356:
336:
318:Pacific gull
304:
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253:Sydney basin
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114:Port Jackson
98:bridle trail
89:Darug people
82:
32:
31:
18:
1120: /
1108:151°17′05″E
964:25 February
822:OnScene ACT
499:Beachy Head
471:Watsons Bay
408:, a former
406:Don Ritchie
352:Beyond Blue
314:silver gull
289:Sahul Shelf
277:metamorphic
269:wave action
237:Watsons Bay
110:Watsons Bay
93:First Fleet
77:Watsons Bay
53:Watsons Bay
27:Watsons Bay
1135:Categories
1105:33°50′37″S
1045:. London.
909:26 January
899:"Shipping"
883:26 January
855:26 January
687:1 November
659:1 November
652:The Empire
631:1 November
558:22 January
518:References
439:Tasman Sea
323:herbivores
225:SS Cawarra
200:Botany Bay
167:HMAS
49:Tasman Sea
37:South Head
1074:"The Gap"
1053:25 August
1018:25 August
990:25 August
598:741711418
501:, England
404:In 2009,
359:paralysis
327:eucalypts
220:Newcastle
184:Shipwreck
104:by 1811.
1047:Archived
934:. London
827:11 March
801:11 March
746:9 August
576:, p. 126
487:See also
455:Vaucluse
344:Lifeline
339:suicides
316:and the
300:siderite
265:Jurassic
257:sediment
233:Dunbar's
79:, c.1949
603:20 June
513:, China
507:, Japan
505:Tōjinbō
479:harbour
424:Gallery
366:diarist
140:militia
63:History
39:in the
33:The Gap
938:16 May
773:
719:
596:
306:Skinks
296:silica
273:basalt
209:Dunbar
204:Dunbar
196:Dunbar
191:Dunbar
174:Watson
169:Watson
106:Pilots
57:infamy
45:Sydney
740:(PDF)
713:14–19
163:Radar
1087:2015
1055:2012
1020:2012
992:2012
966:2012
940:2012
911:2014
885:2014
857:2014
829:2024
803:2024
771:ISBN
748:2012
717:ISBN
689:2011
661:2011
633:2011
605:2011
594:OCLC
560:2014
477:and
350:and
308:and
231:The
73:tram
131:to
43:of
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1039:.
1009:.
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957:.
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873:.
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697:^
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71:A
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
