Blues Point facts for kids
Blues Point is a lovely harbourside spot in North Sydney, Australia. It's named after a famous local sailor from the 1800s, Billy Blue. This area is at the very tip of the McMahons Point peninsula, offering amazing views of Sydney Harbour.
Blues Point is part of the North Sydney Council area. It's home to the Blues Point Tower, a well-known residential building designed by Harry Seidler. Since 2005, Blues Point has also been officially known by its Indigenous name, Warungareeyuh. Many people also gather at Blues Point to watch the amazing Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks celebration.
The Story of Billy Blue
Blues Point got its name from Billy Blue, a fascinating person who arrived in Sydney in 1801. He was a convict, meaning he had been sent to Australia for a past mistake. Billy Blue was a strong and friendly man, described as having a bright eye and a good sense of humour. He said he had even served in the British Army during the American War of Independence.
When he arrived in 1801, Billy Blue only had two years left of his sentence. He soon started working on the harbour, using boats and selling oysters. His kind nature and funny conversations made him very popular, and he became a well-known local character.
Billy Blue's Ferry Service
In 1805, Billy Blue married Elizabeth Williams, who was also a convict from England. By 1807, he was the only person officially allowed to run a ferry service across Sydney Harbour. Governor Macquarie liked Billy Blue so much that he called him "The Old Commodore." Billy Blue would run his ferry dressed in a blue naval officer's coat and a top hat!
His ferry business grew quite a lot, eventually having a fleet of 11 boats. In 1817, Governor Macquarie gave Billy Blue about 80 acres (around 32 hectares) of land at what we now call Blues Point. Billy Blue passed away in 1834 at his home in North Sydney.
