Yurulbin Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yurulbin Park
Yurulbin Park, pictured in 2006
Type	Urban park
Location	Birchgrove, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Area	0.61 hectares (1.5 acres)
Operated by	Inner West Council
Status	Open all year

Yurulbin Park, once known as Long Nose Park, is a lovely public park in Birchgrove, Sydney, Australia. It covers about 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres). You can find it at the very tip of Yurulbin Point, on the Balmain Peninsula.

What is Yurulbin Park Like?

Yurulbin Point stretches about 500 meters (1,640 feet) into Port Jackson, also known as Sydney Harbour. It is located at the northern end of the Balmain Peninsula. Louisa Road runs along the point, offering amazing views. From here, you can see the Sydney central business district and the beautiful Sydney Harbour.

This park is special because it used to be an old industrial site. In the 1970s, it was changed into the beautiful park you see today. It even won an award from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. The park's edge along the water gives you wide views. You can see Snails Bay, Goat Island, and the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Inside the park, you will find special signs. These signs tell you about the traditional names of places in the harbour. They also share the history of the area.

A Look Back: Park History

Before Europeans arrived, this area was home to Aboriginal people. It was close to the lands of the Gadigal and Wanegal clans. These clans were part of the Eora nation. It is believed that Yurulbin Point was just inside Wanegal land. Evidence like etchings and shell middens (old piles of shells from meals) show that people used this spot for fishing and feasts.

In 1792, Europeans settled here. George Whitfield was given land at the north-eastern end of the Balmain Peninsula. Over time, this area became known as Long Nose Point. Because of its location, it was likely used as a place for boats to land on the harbour.

The land at the end of Long Nose Point was first used for industry. A man named Alexander Cormack built a factory here. It made things from galvanised iron. Later, the Wallace Powerboat Building Company worked here from 1917 to 1920.

In 1923, a company called Morrison & Sinclair Ltd moved to this site. They built and repaired many kinds of ships. This included government boats, navy ships, and trading vessels. They also built many Sydney Ferries and yachts. One famous yacht, called Morna (later Kurrewa IV), was built here. It won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race seven times! Morrison & Sinclair Ltd stopped working in 1970.

On June 17, 1971, the government bought the land. Bruce Mackenzie & Associates then designed the park. In 1981, the park, then called Long Nose Park, was put under the care of Leichhardt Council. The park won an award in 1986 for its design.

On July 8, 1994, both Long Nose Point and the park changed their names. They took on the traditional Aboriginal name Yurulbin. This name means 'Swift Running Water'.

Gallery

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  Yurulbin Park with Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background

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  Interpretative sign