Dawes Point, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dawes Point Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney Harbour Bridge, viewed from Observatory Hill
Dawes Point Location in New South Wales
Postcode(s)	2000
Area	0.1 km2 (0.0 sq mi)
Location	1 km (1 mi) north of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Sydney
Parish	St. Philip
State electorate(s)	Sydney
Federal Division(s)	Sydney
Suburbs around Dawes Point: Port Jackson Kirribilli / Milsons Point Port Jackson Port Jackson Dawes Point Port Jackson Millers Point The Rocks Sydney Cove

Dawes Point is a small area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's right next to The Rocks and sits at the southern end of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sometimes, people think of Dawes Point as part of The Rocks or even Millers Point. It's a key spot on the north-western edge of Sydney's main city area.

History of Dawes Point

Dawes Point is located on land that belongs to the Gadigal people, who are the traditional owners. The area was originally known by the Aboriginal names Tar-ra and Tullagalla.

Early European Settlement

When the First Fleet arrived in 1788, Lieutenant William Dawes, an astronomer, set up the country's first observatory here. He used it to study the stars. The point was first named Point Maskelyne, after a British astronomer, but was later renamed in honour of Dawes himself.

In 2002, the area was officially given a dual name: Dawes Point / Tar-Ra. This recognises both its Aboriginal heritage and its European history.

First Guns and Port Facilities

Dawes Point was also important for defence. In 1788, the first guns in Sydney were placed here. Later, it became home to the Dawes Point Battery, a military defence post.

Nearby Walsh Bay became a busy port for Sydney. Over time, the old wharves have been changed into modern apartments, theatres, restaurants, and hotels.

Dawes Point and Sydney Cove from the Sydney Harbour Bridge shortly after its opening in March 1932

Community Life and Changes

By the 1840s, Dawes Point and Millers Point were home to a mix of people. Wealthy wharf owners and traders lived alongside the workers who loaded and unloaded ships. This made it a unique community in Sydney.

However, by the late 1800s, the area became less popular. In the early 1900s, the government bought all the private wharves and homes in Dawes Point, The Rocks, and Millers Point. They built new, modern wharves and homes for the workers.

Protecting the Area: Green Bans

In the 1960s and 1970s, there were plans to build tall office buildings in the area. But local communities and unions worked together in what were called "Green Bans." These were protests that stopped the new buildings from being built.

One famous protest was called "The Battle for The Rocks." Because of these efforts, urban planning started to include more input from the community. A building called the Sirius Building was built to provide homes for people who had lived in The Rocks, Dawes Point, and Millers Point for many years.

More recently, some of the older homes in the area have been sold.

Historic Places in Dawes Point

Dawes Point has many places that are listed for their historical importance. These include:

• Dawesleigh at 37 Lower Fort Street
• The Sydney Harbour Bridge itself
• Darling House at 8–12 Trinity Avenue, built around 1833–1842
• Milton Terrace at 1–19 Lower Fort Street
• Nicholson's Cottages at 21–23 Lower Fort Street
• Linsley Terrace at 25–33 Lower Fort Street
• Major House at 35 Lower Fort Street
• John Verge Townhouses at 39–41 Lower Fort Street
• Bligh House (Clydebank) at 43 Lower Fort Street
• Palermo Terrace at 47–53 Lower Fort Street
• Flavelle Terrace at 57–61 Lower Fort Street
• The Hero of Waterloo Hotel at 81 Lower Fort Street

Population of Dawes Point

In the 2021 census, there were 385 people living in Dawes Point.

A few years earlier, in the 2016 census, there were 357 people. Most people (63.8%) were born in Australia, and 76.2% spoke only English at home. The most common response for religion was "No Religion" (39.9%).

Culture and Arts

Dawes Point is a hub for arts and culture. The Sydney Theatre and The Wharf Theatre are both located here. These theatres are part of the Sydney Theatre Company, which puts on many plays and performances.

Images for kids

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  The Sydney Theatre and The Wharf Theatre, which are part of the Sydney Theatre Company, are located in Dawes Point

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  Pier One on Walsh Bay

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  Walsh Bay ferry wharf

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  Southern approach of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with Dawes Point to the right.

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  Terraces, Pottinger Street (c. 2007)

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  Terraces, Pottinger Street (c. 2007)

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  The Sydney Opera House seen from Dawes Point

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  Aerial view of Dawes point in the 1930s