Ballast Point (New South Wales) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballast Point Park |
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Ballast Point, pictured in 2013
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Ballast Point Road, Birchgrove, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Area | 2.6 hectares (6.4 acres) |
| Created | 11 July 2009 |
| Operated by | Inner West Council |
| Open | 24 hours |
| Status | Open all year |
Ballast Point is a cool park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It covers about 2.6 hectares (6.4 acres) and is located in Birchgrove, right at the tip of the Balmain Peninsula. The park sits between Snails Bay and Mort Bay, offering great views of Sydney Harbour.
Contents
History of Ballast Point
How Ballast Point Got Its Name
From 1788 to 1800, early European settlers used this spot for fishing and hunting. They also collected "ballast" here. Ballast is heavy material, like rocks, used to balance ships that were returning to Europe without much cargo. This is how Ballast Point got its name!
Early Land Owners
In 1800, a large piece of land, including Ballast Point, was given to a surgeon named Dr. William Balmain. He later sold his land to John Gilchrist. For a while, the area was even called Gilchrist's place. Over the years, the land was bought and sold many times.
Menevia House and Perkins Point
In 1852, a merchant named Thomas Perkins bought the site. By 1864, he built the only house believed to have ever been on the land, called Menevia. Because of this house, the area was known as Menevia Point until 1875. Later, it was called Perkins Point, after Mrs. Perkins. Menevia was even used as a boarding house for many years.
From Fuel Depot to Public Park
By 1928, the Menevia house was old and worn out. A company called Texaco (which later became Caltex) bought the land. They tore down the house and built a fuel depot and a factory. Ballast Point became a major place for Texaco to distribute fuel in Sydney. This continued until the 1990s.
Saving Ballast Point for Everyone
In 2002, the land was bought back by the NSW Government. This happened after a long effort by a group called "Save Ballast Point." This group, formed in 1984, had many members who wanted the land to be a public park, not built over with homes. Their hard work helped turn the industrial site into the beautiful park we see today.
Ballast Point Park Today
Ballast Point Park is now a public space for everyone to enjoy. It was designed by McGregor Coxall Landscape Architecture and Urban Design. The park officially opened on July 11, 2009.
The park cost about A$16 million to create. The old industrial site was cleaned up and transformed. Today, you can find cool steel stairways, walls made from recycled building materials, interesting artworks, and places to relax in the shade. There are also wind turbines and beautiful Australian native gardens. It's a great spot to explore and enjoy the harbour views!
