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            COTTAGE POINT
                
          H
ISTORY
 

 

 

....is one of Sydney’s smallest, yet most scenic, and unspoilt suburbs.

 

Located at the junction of Cowan Creek and Coal & Candle Creek, Cottage Point was only reached by boat until 1934 when a

bridle track to Akuna Bay was formed.

 

Cottage Point is listed as a heritage conservation area

supporting a wide variety of native flora and fauna. 

 
 


 
 
Cottage Point is entirely enclosed by Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, which protects 14,712ha of rugged bushland, and by two waterways Cowan Creek and Coal & Candle Creek. Cottage Point is also listed as a Heritage Conservation area by Warringah Council due to significant buildings which highlight the leisure related development of the area.

Cottage Point was found ...

the first European exploration was made by Governor Phillip on 5 March 1788 in which he noted 'several coves and good depth of water all the way up'. Cowan Creek was also a favourite route for smugglers in the early days. In 1842 a timbergetter came upon 200 casks of rum that had been secretly landed from the Fair Barbadian.

However, the area has not always been known by the quaint name of Cottage Point. In about 1880 it was known as Terry's Point named after James Terry who built a holiday cottage there although in 1884 it was known as Gerrard Point.

One of the earliest inhabitants along Cowan Creek was Edward Windybank in 1890. He built his home in Waratah Bay (a few bays round from Cottage Point) where he lived with his family. Whilst quite isolated this did not stop the shrewd businessman who saw opportunities for holiday makers. He built a fleet of 60 row boats which he hired out and is also believed to have been the first person to make moored houseboats available for hire. He bought old steamers, cut them in half and converted them to make accomodation for holiday makers - rent for a week was three pounds (approx. six dollars).

In 1934 a bridle track from Akuna Bay allowed holiday enthusiasts access to Cottage Point. Although it wasn't until 1968 that Cottage Point received its first sealed road replacing the rough and unsealed road. Surprisingly most people continued visit Cottage Point by boat.

In 1974 residents packed away their generators as electricity was made available to the cottages and houses.

Today there is about 50 properties in this small community. Most of the properties are used as weekenders or holiday homes with an increasing number taking up permanent residence. There are a number of historically significant sandstone and timber cottages along Cottage Point's foreshore that provide a stark contrast with their large modern neighbours.

A tale...

Opposite Cowan Waters you will see Looking Glass Bay and to the right is Looking Glass Rock which glows brightly with the dawn sun in summer. It is said that the local Aborigines believed that if the rock ever became submerged then it would be a sign that the Europeans would depart!!

 

 
 
 
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