Arguably the most famous point in Australia and, architecturally, the world. Sometimes windy, always gorgeous, ladies and gentlemen, Bennelong Point…
Which can also claim to be the centre of Australia. Flinders – who gave Australia its name – “determined the geographical position of this point in 1795 and again in 1802 and used it as the initial point in his surveys of Port Jackson and the coastline of Australia.” That’s from a plaque placed at the northern end of the point by the Institution of Surveyors, Australia, N.S.W Division, in 1974.
Once a small tidal island, Bennelong Point was consolidated and flattened to extend the eastern arm of Sydney Cove in the 1820s. It housed a fort (photo, photo) and then a tram depot. This photo taken from Dawes Point in 1900 shows just how unprepossessing Bennelong Point looked back then.
Known as Cattle Point in the early days of the colony when it was used for the herding of public stock, it became Limeburners’ Point when convict women burnt oyster shells from its middens to make lime for cement mortar.
It was called by the indigenous people Tubowghule.
Its contemporary name honours Bennelong, who had a brick hut built for him there by Governor Arthur Phillip. Must have had a cool view. Still does.
