Point 2 Point

The interesting name for this point has two stories attached. The bushranger who became Captain Thunderbolt escaped from the prison on Cockatoo Island and swam to this point where his girl had a white horse waiting to make their escape to New England (country NSW). The less glamorous story is the old ‘let’s name the point after the shape of a rock’ theory (a la Pulpit Point, Quakers Hat, etc).

Good family point, lots of facilities, plus the Dawn Fraser Pool for a harbourside dip sans shark.

Modest point but does have a point-front restaurant which is a rare thing. Don’t know if it’s any good but it was full. Good views of ever-popular Snapper Island. Worryingly close to Birkenhead Point but we’ll let that go. Don’t think it’s named after Jimmy Sommerville of Bronski Beat fame … but oop, here it is, named after a town clerk (Mr A.W. Sommerville, 50 years service). Used to be called Fig Tree Point, but so was a bucket load of other points with a preponderance of figs. Thank goodness for dutiful clerks.

Named after a point in Cork Harbour in Ireland, from where the Harnett family emigrated in 1840. It is Mosman’s oldest park, once a whaling allotment. Some nice old photos: The Point, Mosman in 1917; bit more built up with ferry; view to a denuded Cremorne and Robertsons Point.

‘The Castle’ is a prominent landmark – of somewhat eccentric character – on the point. It is Mosman’s tallest sandstone structure, so, now you know.

There are a couple of pocket-sized parks, one with kids playground, the other with a bench with a view, so not a point for a day out but worth a stop for the views.

This area was once a sandstone quarry, established around 1850 to supply stone for the construction of Fort Denison as well as ballast for ships returning to England. Hence original name of Ballast Point, and the multi-layered reserve that’s well sited for a quiet picnic and play.

The area was described as “a delightful watering suburb” in 1915. And it’s about to regain its status as a suburb – not just a mere locality in Neutral Bay.

This information and a lot more is part of a walking tour guide called Gem of the Harbour (PDF) from North Sydney Council.

Good value here. A point with a point at its point. See Robertsons Point and Robertsons Point II. Looks like Robertsons Point is the pointy end of Cremorne Point. Anyway…

You can do a walk from Shell Cove or catch a ferry to Cremorne Point wharf and do the walk to Mosman Bay wharf – maybe 40 minutes, not hard, just a few stairs here and there – and see both sides of this excellent point. Lots of shady picnic spots, big gum trees and on the eastern side the Lex and Ruby Graham Gardens (sorry no pics), a cliff hugging memorial garden to love.

Many a childhood summer’s day spent in the fabulous salt water harbour pool – surely one of the best harbour pools with a view in the world!

James Milson Jnr (son of the Milsons Point Milson) purchased the Cremorne peninsular in 1853. The courts prevented him from selling building blocks running right to the water’s edge and Cremorne is consequently one of the few Sydney Harbour peninsulars with a public, waterfront park running around its edges (Wikipedia).

The Aboriginal name for Cremorne Point is ‘Wulwarrajeung’. Its English name comes from its time as a pleasure garden (quoits).