Point 2 Point

Newcombe Point

Newcombe Point Visited in on 15 February 2009 Comment View on map -33.83639075918359;151.18023812770844

Looking east up the Lane Cove River, Newcombe Point in foreground right, Longueville to the left.
Looking north-north-west to the folly of St Ignatious (Riverview) College.
Headstone of Francis Charles Viret.

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.

Pulpit Point

Pulpit Point Visited in on 15 February 2009 Comment View on map -33.84460472720636;151.16147875785828

The Gates of Elysium. Fact.
Pathway leading around the Pulpit to the park.
Looking north-west up Parramatta River with Tarban Creek Bridge in the background, left.
Looking east towards the city.
Fern Bay, looking north to Hunters Hill and Woolwich.
Atop the Pulpit looking south-east to Spectacle Island (center) and Birkenhead Point (far right, with crane).

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.