Point 2 Point

As there’s a house on the point – more pointedly a tennis court – the closest you can get is Viret Street Reserve.

According to the plaque, Francis Charles Viret was a signatory to the successful petition to have Hunters Hill declared a municipality. His grave was lost when Victoria Road was widened but his headstone now stands in this much more peaceful and pleasant spot.

Viret Street Reserve is a tiny little park sandwiched between big houses at the end of Viret Street. Viret good.

So named because the rock formation resembled a pulpit.

Charles Jeanneret, who built many a fine house in Hunters Hill, had Pleasure Gardens here in the nineteenth century. When man’s fancy turned to automobiles it became an oil storage depot. This was taken over in 1907 by Vacuum Oil, which became Mobil Oil Australia. In 1988 Mobil moved from Hunters Hill and their site at Pulpit Point was sold and re-zoned for residential development (early 90s McMansions). Now you pass by the gates of Elysium as you walk the muddy path of Pulpit to a modest low-lying park.

Quiet little point, probably more interesting for the houses around than the view from. It is distinguished by being on The Point Road.

Named after Samuel Onions, a land grantee and ironmonger. The suburb of Woolwich was originally called ‘Onion Point’ (1835). Here’s Mr Onions in a case of wilful and corrupt perjury – maybe why he got relegated to the tip. Before that, the place is ‘Mookaboola’ or ‘Moocooboola’ – meeting of waters (Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers).

The sea scouts boat shed in Onions Point Reserve is about as close as you can get to the actual point as there are a couple of grand houses on the point itself.

Named after a family of cabinet-makers, the Clarkes, who were granted the land in 1835. The biggest dry dock in Australia was opened in 1901 in the present reserve just north of the point. 85,000 cubic metres of sandstone was excavated – maybe some of that rock features in the venerable fences, gates and houses in Woolwich and Hunters Hill.

The area is being renewed by the Harbour Trust with walking tracks and helpful plaques. Due to surly 4 year old, when choosing between the Goat Paddock heritage trail or lunch at the Woolwich Pier Hotel, a beverage and oysters was the only option. We’ll head back to check out the pumphouse, workshops and other attractions another day.

Clarkes Point Reserve has BBQs and good facilities and looks like a killer place for a game of backyard (err… point-park?) cricket.

Some of the biggest fish you’re likely to land in Sydney Harbour are found round here. Apparently the upstream side of Pickering Point is a great king, jew and big flattie spot. So no surprise to frighten up six fishermen about the swimming enclosure (that has seen better days).

Not much of a point otherwise, although it does have good views of Middle Harbour, Seaforth Bluff, Castle Cove, Explosives Reserve and Bantry Bay.

Named after George Pickering, one of the first European settlers in the area, who it is recorded resided in Manly in the year 1814.