Bass Point Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bass Point Reserve |
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Bushrangers Bay, Bass Point, 2008
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| Location | Boollwarroo Parade, Shell Cove, City of Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner |
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| Official name: Bass Point Reserve; Long Point | |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 18 January 2013 |
| Reference no. | 1896 |
| Type | Place of significance |
| Category | Aboriginal |
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Bass Point Reserve is a special place in New South Wales, Australia. It's located at Boollwarroo Parade, Shell Cove. This area has a long history, from being a home for Aboriginal people to a place for timber and mining. Today, it's a beautiful spot for nature and quiet activities. It's also known as Long Point. The land is looked after by the Department of the Environment and Shellharbour City Council. Bass Point Reserve was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 January 2013.
Contents
Discover Bass Point Reserve
A Look Back in Time: Indigenous History
Archaeologists have found signs that Aboriginal people lived in the Illawarra region for about 20,000 years. The Elouera people are the traditional owners of this land. They are part of the larger Dharawal group. The Elouera people lived from Botany Bay to Jervis Bay.
Ancient Life at Bass Point
The Elouera people were known as fresh or salt water people. This was because they lived near the ocean or rivers. They used the natural resources from these areas. They lived by hunting and gathering food. Men hunted on land and sea, while women collected food and resources. They understood how to use their environment without harming it. They moved around to use seasonal resources. This allowed nature to grow back.
The Elouera people ate many different foods. These included fish, shellfish, and seals from the ocean. They also ate wallabies, possums, birds, and plants from the land. We know this from looking at shell middens. These are ancient piles of shells and food remains. They are found at Bass Point and along the coast.
Shell middens at Bass Point are about 6,000 years old. They show how people lived long ago. They also show how tools changed over time. This helped people hunt different animals and fish. Bass Point was an important camping and meeting place for Aboriginal people. It had plenty of food and fresh water.
European Arrivals and Early Changes
For thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived in balance with nature. This was how things were when Europeans first arrived. Captain James Cook sailed past Bass Point in April 1770. His crew wrote about seeing people on the beach. They also saw many campfires. Cook tried to land here, but it was too dangerous. If he had landed, it would have been the first European landing in Australia.
First European Explorers
The Illawarra region was hard to reach at first. Mountains blocked the way. There was no easy harbour. So, official European settlement didn't happen until the early 1800s. Stories about the "White Swan" (Cook's ship) spread among Aboriginal groups. At first, some Aboriginal people thought the settlers were their ancestors.
The first official exploration of the Illawarra was in 1796. George Bass and Matthew Flinders explored the area. They collected samples and reported back. The name Bass Point remembers their early visits.
New Settlers and Industries
In 1803, there was a big drought in Sydney. Settlers needed new land for their cattle. They heard about the rich land near Lake Illawarra. James Badgery was given land for cattle, including Bass Point. Cutting Red Cedar timber was also a big industry. There was a lot of cedar in the Illawarra.
Cattlemen and timber cutters followed Aboriginal trails. They started using the land and its resources. This was very different from how Aboriginal people used the land. It led to problems between the groups.
In 1816, Governor Lachlan Macquarie divided the land into grants. D'Arcy Wentworth, a rich official, received a large grant. This included Bass Point. By 1827, Wentworth owned a huge area. This included Bass Point and what is now Shellharbour village.
Taking and dividing the land greatly affected the Elouera people. Their best camping spots were taken. They could no longer move freely. Grazing cattle destroyed traditional plants. Native animals were scared away. This made it hard for Aboriginal people to find food. They had to adapt to survive.
The settlers saw taking crops and animals as theft. This led to conflict. The Aboriginal people faced many challenges. They had fewer people and no firearms. New diseases like smallpox also arrived. Governor Macquarie's plan was to expand the colony. This meant the Illawarra land was cleared of its traditional people.
By the 1840s, the economy was tough. Large landholdings were split into smaller farms. Farmers grew wheat and maize. Later, the dairy industry became successful.
George Laurence Fuller bought part of the land, including Bass Point. He started a basalt quarry in 1880. Basalt is a type of rock. He built a 146-metre (480-foot) jetty to ship the rock. By 1890, the business was doing well. He extended the jetty to 152 metres (500 feet). He even had a ship, the SS Dunmore, to carry the basalt to Sydney.
Busy Waters: Shipping and Shipwrecks
Shipping was the main way to move the basalt. But the sea journey was often dangerous. Many ships were lost near Bass Point.
Ships and Their Stories
The Bertha, a wooden schooner, was one of the earliest wrecks. It ran aground in 1879. Local Aboriginal people helped rescue the crew and passengers. Other ships also sank:
- The Our Own (1880)
- The Alexander Berry (1901)
- The Comboyne (1920)
- The Kiltobranks (1924)
The Cities Service Boston Wreck
One famous shipwreck was the Cities Service Boston. This US oil tanker sank on 16 May 1943. It ran aground during a storm at what is now Boston Point. Australian soldiers helped rescue all 62 crew members. Sadly, four Australian soldiers died during the rescue. Plaques were put up in 1968 to remember them. A service is held there every year.
After the 1920s, the Australian Military Forces used Bass Point. They used it for defence and training. Around 1957, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) bought Bass Point. They started mining basalt again. The old jetty was replaced in 1958.
Protecting Nature: Bass Point Today
In the 1960s, people started thinking about protecting Bass Point. Local groups wanted to balance nature and development. A reserve was officially created in 1968. Later, Bushrangers Bay Marine Reserve was declared in 1982.
Amazing Discoveries: Archaeology
Archaeologists have studied Bass Point. They found important information about its past. They found 12 shell midden sites. Dr. Sandra Bowdler studied six of these in 1970. Dr. PJ Hughes studied the others in 1974.
These middens show what Aboriginal people ate. They found shells and bones of shellfish, fish, wallabies, and seals. Some archaeologists think the middens along the northern shore might be one continuous site. These digs show how Bass Point changed over time. They also show how Aboriginal people developed hunting and gathering skills. Bass Point is now one of the most important Aboriginal archaeological sites in NSW.
What Makes Bass Point Special?
Bass Point Reserve is about 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of Wollongong. It's a 4-kilometre (2.5-mile) long headland. It has rocky shores and sandy bays. It's rich in both nature and history.
Nature's Beauty and Wildlife
Bass Point has many important natural features. It has different types of plants and animals. The waters around Bass Point are very clean. They are home to many common, rare, and endangered species. Shallow, calm waters have important seagrass habitats. These are places where aquatic animals can shelter, feed, and breed.
The Bass Point Marine Area is also a critical habitat for the Grey Nurse Shark. This shark is an endangered species in NSW. Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve is on the eastern side of Bass Point. It has beaches, rock pools, and underwater cliffs. These provide homes for fish, crabs, and other sea creatures.
Bass Point Reserve also has special plants. It has headland vegetation and littoral rainforest. Littoral rainforest grows near the coast. It's an endangered type of forest in NSW. The plants and animals here make Bass Point a unique place. Today, Bass Point is a beautiful place for visitors to enjoy the bush, beaches, and ocean.
Hidden Treasures: Shipwrecks and History
Bass Point Reserve has many historical sites. There are 14 sites linked to Aboriginal life. Most are shell middens. One is a meeting and camping place. There are also signs of European history. You can find possible remains of the old jetty. On Boston Point, there's a memorial for the 1943 Cities Service Boston shipwreck.
Six shipwrecks have been found in the waters around Bass Point. These include the Bertha (1879), Our Own (1880), Alexander Berry (1901), Comboyne (1920), Kiltobranks (1924), and the Cities Service Boston (1943).
How Bass Point Has Changed Over Time
Bass Point has been used by people for a very long time. Here are some of the changes:
- 1803: James Badgery gets rights to graze cattle and clear land.
- 1880: George Laurence Fuller starts mining basalt.
- 1885: Fuller builds a 146-metre (480-foot) jetty for shipping rock.
- Around 1890: Fuller makes the jetty longer, to 152 metres (500 feet).
- 1939-1953: The Australian Military Forces use Bass Point for defence and training.
- Around 1958: The old jetty is taken down. A new, modern one is built nearby.
- 1968: A memorial is built for the Cities Service Boston shipwreck.
- 1968: Bass Point is given to Shellharbour Council to become a nature reserve.
- After 1968: Roads, parking, and public facilities are built and maintained.
Why Bass Point is Important: Heritage Listing
Bass Point Reserve is very important for its history and nature. This includes both Aboriginal and European history.
A Place of Long History
Aboriginal people lived at Bass Point for about 20,000 years. They lived by hunting and gathering. Bass Point was a key camping and meeting place for them. Archaeologists have studied Bass Point since the 1960s. They found 12 midden sites and one camping place. These sites show how the environment changed. They also show how Aboriginal people adapted their hunting and gathering skills. Bass Point is one of the most important Aboriginal archaeological sites in NSW.
Important People and Stories
Bass Point is important because of its links to many people and groups.
- The Elouera People: For thousands of years, Bass Point was a vital place for the Elouera people. It was a "good and happy place" for them. Its importance continues today.
- Captain James Cook: He sailed past in 1770. His journals mention the landscape and Aboriginal people. He tried to land here, which would have been the first European landing in Australia.
- George Bass and Matthew Flinders: They were the first Europeans to explore the area in 1796. Bass Point is named after George Bass.
- D'Arcy Wentworth: He was a wealthy official who received a large land grant here in the early 1800s. He helped develop the Shellharbour area.
A Beautiful and Unique Place
Bass Point Reserve has amazing natural features. It has bushland, beaches, and the ocean. This creates a beautiful landscape. Many people visit to enjoy its natural beauty. It's also important for its biodiversity. It has rare and endangered plants and animals. This includes littoral rainforest and habitats for the endangered Grey Nurse Shark.
A Special Place for the Community
Bass Point Reserve is very important to the local Aboriginal community. It was a long-standing camp and meeting place. It provided food and fresh water for 20,000 years. Even after European settlement, Aboriginal people continued to use it. Today, it's a conserved natural area. It is still used by Aboriginal people and many other visitors.
More to Discover
Bass Point Reserve has the potential for more discoveries. Archaeologists believe there could be more Aboriginal sites. These might include unrecorded middens, artefact scatters, or burial sites. The location of the Bertha shipwreck is still unknown. There might also be other shipwrecks that haven't been found yet.
A Rare and Important Site
Bass Point is a rare and important site for understanding NSW history. It's one of the most significant Aboriginal archaeological sites in NSW. It shows how Aboriginal people lived for thousands of years.
A Great Example of Nature and Culture
Bass Point is a great example of a coastal headland in the Illawarra. It shows the typical plants of the area. It also represents places where Aboriginal people lived for a long time. This was because of the rich natural food resources.
