Yurulbin Park, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Yurulbin Park is a 1.5 acre (0.61 ha) public open space located at the end of Yurulbin Point on the Balmain Peninsula in the suburb of Birchgrove
in the Municipality of Leichhardt
in Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia.
at the northern end of the Balmain Peninsula. Louisa Road runs the length of the point and has spectacular views of Sydney City and the harbour.
At the end of the point lies the AILA award winning Yurulbin Park, an idyllic refuge transformed from a derelict industrial site in the early 1970s. The water frontage of the park offers panoramic views from Snails Bay, Goat Island
, Sydney City
and the Sydney Harbour Bridge
.
The park contains interpretative signs with information about traditional place names of sites in the harbour and the history of the area.
Prior to European occupation, the local area was close to the border of the Gadigal
and Wanegal clans of the Eora
nation and is believed to lie just within Wanegal land. Evidence of etchings and midden
s on nearby private land show the site was used for fishing and conducting feasts.
Following European settlement in 1792, George Whitfield was granted an area of land on the north eastern end of the Balmain Peninsular and in time it took the descriptive name Long Nose Point. Given its location, it is believed to have been used as a landing point for water craft on the harbour.
The first industrial use of the 1.5 acre (0.61 ha) site at the end of Long Nose Point was as a galvanised iron works built by a cooper, Alexander Cormack. Further developed by the Wallace Powerboat Building Company took place between 1917 and 1920.
In 1923, Morrison & Sinclair Ltd transferred from Johnson's Bay in Balmain
to the site and carried out a shipbuilding operation there until the company ceased trading in 1970. The company designed, constructed and repaired Government vessels, Naval, island trading and merchant ships and many Sydney Ferries
and yachts. The yacht Morna (later Kurrewa IV), which won line honours 7 times from 10 starts in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
, was built here. Morrison & Sinclair Ltd no longer exists but the records of the company are held by the State Library of New South Wales
.
On 17 June 1971, the land was acquired by the State Planning Authority of New South Wales for A$185,000. Landscaping was carried out by Bruce Mackenzie & Associates and the site, now known as Long Nose Park, placed under Leichhardt Council control in 1981. The park won the 1986 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Award of Merit.
Both Long Nose Point and the park changed back to the traditional name of Yurulbin, Aboriginal
for 'Swift Running Water', on the 8th July 1994.
Birchgrove, New South Wales
Birchgrove is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Birchgrove is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
in the Municipality of Leichhardt
Municipality of Leichhardt
The Municipality of Leichhardt is a Local Government Area in the inner-west of Sydney, in state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The Municipality of Leichhardt stands on land that traditionally belonged to the Gadigal and Wangal people, of the Eora nation...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia.
Description
Yurulbin Point lies north east of Snails Bay and extends approximately 500 meters (1,640 ft) into Port JacksonPort Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
at the northern end of the Balmain Peninsula. Louisa Road runs the length of the point and has spectacular views of Sydney City and the harbour.
At the end of the point lies the AILA award winning Yurulbin Park, an idyllic refuge transformed from a derelict industrial site in the early 1970s. The water frontage of the park offers panoramic views from Snails Bay, Goat Island
Goat Island (Port Jackson)
Goat Island is a rocky island in Sydney Harbour, in New South Wales, Australia. The island is some 400 m by 200 m in size and is located north-west of the Sydney central business district....
, Sydney City
City of Sydney
The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...
and the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
.
The park contains interpretative signs with information about traditional place names of sites in the harbour and the history of the area.
History
Cadigal
The Cadigal, also spelled as Gadigal, are a group of Aboriginal Australians who originally inhabited the area that they called 'Cadi', part of which later became known as the Marrickville Local Government Area of Sydney. Cadigal territory lies south of Port Jackson and stretches from South Head to...
and Wanegal clans of the Eora
Eora
The Eora are the Aboriginal people of the Sydney area, south to the Georges River, north to the Hawkesbury River, and west to Parramatta. The indigenous people used this word to describe where they came from to the British. "Eora" was then used by the British to refer to those Aboriginal people...
nation and is believed to lie just within Wanegal land. Evidence of etchings and midden
Midden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
s on nearby private land show the site was used for fishing and conducting feasts.
Following European settlement in 1792, George Whitfield was granted an area of land on the north eastern end of the Balmain Peninsular and in time it took the descriptive name Long Nose Point. Given its location, it is believed to have been used as a landing point for water craft on the harbour.
The first industrial use of the 1.5 acre (0.61 ha) site at the end of Long Nose Point was as a galvanised iron works built by a cooper, Alexander Cormack. Further developed by the Wallace Powerboat Building Company took place between 1917 and 1920.
In 1923, Morrison & Sinclair Ltd transferred from Johnson's Bay in Balmain
Balmain, New South Wales
Balmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located slightly west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
to the site and carried out a shipbuilding operation there until the company ceased trading in 1970. The company designed, constructed and repaired Government vessels, Naval, island trading and merchant ships and many Sydney Ferries
Sydney Ferries
Sydney Ferries is an agency of the New South Wales Government Department of Transport, providing ferry services on Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River in Sydney, Australia....
and yachts. The yacht Morna (later Kurrewa IV), which won line honours 7 times from 10 starts in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
, was built here. Morrison & Sinclair Ltd no longer exists but the records of the company are held by the State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
.
On 17 June 1971, the land was acquired by the State Planning Authority of New South Wales for A$185,000. Landscaping was carried out by Bruce Mackenzie & Associates and the site, now known as Long Nose Park, placed under Leichhardt Council control in 1981. The park won the 1986 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects is the Australian non-profit professional institute formed to serve the mutual interests of its members and the wider profession of landscape architecture throughout Australia.-AILA Vision Statement:...
Award of Merit.
Both Long Nose Point and the park changed back to the traditional name of Yurulbin, Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
for 'Swift Running Water', on the 8th July 1994.
See also
- Balmain Parks and ReservesBalmain Parks and ReservesBalmain, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, is home to an array of delightful parks and reserves. Many are located by the water with magnificent views of Sydney harbour...
- The nearby suburbs BalmainBalmain, New South WalesBalmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located slightly west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
and RozelleRozelle, New South WalesRozelle is a suburb in the inner west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 4 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
both located on the Balmain Peninsula. - Thomas Sutcliffe MortThomas Sutcliffe MortThomas Sutcliffe Mort was an Australian industrialist responsible for improving refrigeration of meat. He was renowned for speculation in the local pastoral industry as well as industrial activities such as his Ice-Works in Sydney's Darling Harbour and dry dock and engineering works at...
, co-founder of the Dry Dock and Engineering WorksMort's DockMort's Dock is a former dry dock, slipway, and shipyard in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia. It was the first dry dock in Australia, opening for business in 1855 and closing more than a century later in 1959.-Sydney's first dry dock:...
at nearby Mort Bay.