Cronulla Fisheries Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cronulla Fisheries Centre |
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The Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre in 1923
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| Location | 202 Nicholson Parade, Cronulla, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1904– |
| Owner | NSW Department of Primary Industries |
| Official name: Cronulla Fisheries Centre, The; Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre; Hungry Point Reserve; NSW Fisheries Research Institute; CSIR Fisheries Division; CSIRO Division of Fisheries & Oceanography | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1011 |
| Type | Other - Scientific Facilities |
| Category | Scientific Facilities |
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The Cronulla Fisheries Centre was once a very important place for studying fish and ocean life. It is located in Cronulla, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. The centre was built starting in 1904. It is also known by other names like The Cronulla Fisheries Centre and Hungry Point Reserve.
This site has special heritage-listed buildings and ancient Australian Aboriginal sites. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. For many years, scientists here did amazing research that was known all over the world.
In 2011, the Government of New South Wales decided to move the centre's work and staff to other places. This decision caused some debate. A special inquiry was held in 2012, and its chairman, Fred Nile, said that the centre should stay open. However, in December 2012, the government decided to close it anyway. The centre officially closed in 2013.
In 2014, the government promised to keep the land for public use. A group called the Hungry Point Reserve Trust was created to look after the area. Today, parts of the old centre are used by Marine Rescue NSW, the Water Police, and Roads & Maritime Services.
Contents
Location
The Cronulla Fisheries Centre, now called Hungry Point Reserve, covers about 3 hectares (7.4 acres). It is at the very end of the Cronulla Peninsula. From here, you can see Salmon Haul Bay and Gunnamatta Bay on Port Hacking. It is also across from Bundeena in the Royal National Park.
History
Indigenous History
The Gwiyaga people, a clan of the Dharawal tribe, are the traditional owners of this land. They hunted and fished in the areas between Botany Bay and Port Hacking. They spoke the Dharawal language. Scientists believe Aboriginal people were using this area at least 7,500 years ago.
The coast here offered lots of food and shelter for the people. Shellfish like Sydney rock whelk and Sydney rock oyster were a big part of their diet. They also ate fish like snapper and bream. Both men and women spent a lot of time fishing. They also gathered plants like bracken fern, wattle seeds, and geebung fruit.
In the early 1960s, an archaeologist named Ian Sim recorded ancient rock carvings in the Darook Park area, which is next to the Fisheries site. Some of these carvings might still be there today.
Colonial History
The first European to describe this area was explorer Matthew Flinders in 1814. Explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders camped near Salmon Haul Bay in 1776. They met some local Aboriginal people, which was an early example of friendly contact.
The name Cronulla comes from the Aboriginal word "kurranulla," which means "the place of pink seashells." In 1840, the beach was known as Kurranulla. The area was officially named Cronulla in 1908.
When the railway came to Sutherland in 1884, Cronulla became a popular spot for picnics. It has a great ocean surfing beach and the beautiful Gunnamatta Bay. Before 1939, people had to take a steam tram from Sutherland to get to Cronulla.
Development of the Fisheries Research Centre
Hungry Point and the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre
Scientists have studied fish at the Cronulla location for over 110 years. The research aquaria (tanks for keeping aquatic animals) were built in 1904. This was the first research facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Professor Tony Pitcher, a fisheries scientist, said it has a "long and distinguished international reputation."
The first research here was done by Harald Kristian Dannevig, who later became Australia's Director of Fisheries. He was helped by David George Stead. In the late 1800s, the NSW Government was worried about too many fish being caught and pollution in Sydney Harbour. They wanted to raise fish in special farms to help fish numbers grow.
In 1902, Harald Dannevig, a Norwegian expert, was chosen to lead the new fisheries work in Sydney. He had built and run fish hatcheries in other countries. Dannevig carefully picked the Cronulla site for the new hatchery. He oversaw its building and operation.
The Cronulla hatchery, experimental pool, and laboratory were built in 1904. They started working fully in 1906. They tried to raise fish like whiting, red bream, and flathead. They had good success with flounder from Tasmania, releasing 20 million young fish into nearby waters. The hatchery closed in 1914.
After World War I, fisheries research in Australia slowed down. It picked up again when the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR, later CSIRO) was created in 1926. In 1937, Dr. Harold Thompson became the first head of the CSIR Fisheries Investigations Section. This group was renamed the CSIRO Division of Fisheries and Oceanography in 1956.
The CSIRO Fisheries main building was finished in 1938. They studied tuna, whales, dolphins, and ocean conditions. Over the years, they expanded their research to many areas of oceanography and fish biology.
Cronulla Migrant Hostel (1949-1967)
In 1949, a migrant hostel was built on the eastern side of the site. This was to house people who came to Australia after World War II, many of whom were "Displaced Persons" from Eastern Europe.
The hostel had eighteen buildings, made of wood with corrugated metal roofs. It was sometimes called "Balt Camp" because many families from Baltic countries stayed there. The hostel closed in 1967. Most of the buildings were taken down in the 1970s. Only two of these original buildings remain today. They are important because they show what early migrant accommodation was like.
Research
Until 2012, scientists at the centre studied many things. This included bull sharks, prawns, and giant cuttlefish. They also looked at recreational fishing and commercial fisheries. Other research focused on how climate change affects NSW waters. They also studied threats to marine biodiversity and how to manage fish populations.
Services
The centre provided important services related to wild fish research and how to manage fishing. It was also involved in community programs:
- The NSW Shark Meshing (Beach Protection) Program.
- Shark Aerial Surveys.
- 'Get Hooked' - a primary school education program.
- The Fishcare volunteer program.
In 1984, the CSIRO Marine Laboratories moved to Hobart after 47 years of research at Cronulla. This research was very important for understanding Australia's oceans and fish. In 1985, the Cronulla facilities were given back to the NSW Government for fisheries research. It was renamed the NSW Fisheries Research Institute.
Research continued on fish populations and the effects of human activities on waterways. This included studying the impact of the third runway at Sydney Airport and fishing over seagrass. In 2004, NSW Fisheries joined other departments to form the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
In 2005, the centre celebrated 100 years of aquatic research. In 2007, a new laboratory was opened. It was named the 'H.C. Dannevig Fisheries Laboratory' after Harald Dannevig, who started the centre. The centre worked as a "Fisheries Centre of Excellence" until it closed in 2011.
Before it closed, the centre had 152 staff members, including scientists and managers. It also supported many postgraduate students.
Parliamentary Inquiry
A special inquiry was set up in 2012 to look into the closure of the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre. The committee was led by Fred Nile. They held public meetings and heard from many people, including the Minister responsible for the closure.
The Minister said the closure would save money. However, the committee found that the decision was made without proper economic analysis. They also found that the government did not talk to many important groups before deciding.
Findings and Recommendations
The committee's report was released in October 2012. The chairman, Fred Nile, said:
"The Committee has concluded that there is an overwhelming case to retain the scientific staff, facilities and support personnel at the Centre and we have recommended that the Government reverse its decision. "
The committee recommended that the NSW Government should not close the centre. They said the government's failure to do an economic study before closing the centre was "unacceptable." They also noted that the government did not talk to its own Chief Scientist about the decision.
Government Response
In September 2011, the government announced the centre's closure. Staff and the community started a campaign to save it. In December 2012, the government rejected the main recommendation from the inquiry. They decided to go ahead with closing the centre.
However, the government did promise that the site would remain public. In April 2013, the Hungry Point Reserve Trust Board was created to manage the area. Today, Marine Rescue NSW, NSW Water Police, and Roads & Maritime Services use some of the existing buildings.
Description
The Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre is a special research facility on a headland in Cronulla. It was the first marine research centre in Australia. The entire site is heritage listed, as are some of its individual parts. These include the old hatchery building, the boat shed, and the aquaria. There are also three Aboriginal middens (ancient shell and food waste piles) on the site that are heritage listed.
Elements of the Site Include
- Former hatchery building
This is an L-shaped brick building. It used to be a laboratory and a hall with fish tanks. It has brick walls and a new metal roof. Parts of the inside have been changed for office use.
- Boat shed
This building has wooden walls and a metal roof. It is located on the edge of Port Hacking. It used to store boats and marine equipment.
- Fish pond
This is a concrete pool measuring 30 by 12 by 2 metres (98.4 ft × 39.4 ft × 6.6 ft) (about 98 x 39 x 6.5 feet). It has a concrete sea wall and filter units.
- Aboriginal middens
- A rock shelter with midden deposits below it.
- A small midden area near the holding pens on the western side.
- A large midden area along the southeastern edge of the site.
These middens show that Aboriginal people lived here and used the rich marine resources for food. They ate shellfish and fish like snapper and bream. They fished from bark canoes using hooks made from shells.
- Littoral Rainforest Remnant
A small patch of special forest remains on the site in Darook Park. This type of forest is an endangered ecological community in NSW. It includes trees like Port Jackson figs and other plants.
Condition
As of 2000, the Aboriginal middens are important for archaeology and need to be protected.
Further Information
Future plans for the site aim to keep the original parts of the buildings. This will help people understand how they were used in the past.
Heritage Listing
As of March 2010, the Cronulla Fisheries Centre site is very important for Australia's history. It was the first marine research place in Australia, starting in 1904. It has always been linked to fisheries research by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments. The site is connected to Harald Dannevig, the first Director of fisheries investigations. Three original buildings still stand and are considered very important.
The Cronulla Fisheries Centre was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
See also
- National Marine Science Centre, Australia
