WALKABOUT WATSONS BAY with Ruth

Walkabout Watsons Bay

with Ruth

Source: www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au

Lady Bay Beach

HMAS Watson

In this July Ed 31, I walk from Watson's Bay Pilot and head towards Green Point, Camp Cove, pointing out historical plaques and landmarks along the way. During this COVID lockdown, exercise is important.. so walk your local area and follow my walks. And STAY SAFE!

My walk starts at The Pilot Station. Initially, there was just one pilot and he was required to go aboard an incoming vessel to guide it to safe anchorage. The service grew with shipping, the pilots using whale boats with a crew of 46 men-Portuguese and South Sea Islanders were often employed. In 1862, the competitive system of pilotage was abolished in favour of a Government operation using two schooners - the station was located on the site of the previous Vaucluse Police Station.

In the centre of Watsons Bay is Robertson Park which has associations with the earliest days of the colony. The Aboriginal group who lived around Watsons Bay and South Head is believed to have been the Birrabirragal people. Physical evidence of their occupation remains in the form of shell middens and rock art around the harbour’s edge. Two years after Europeans first arrived at Sydney Cove, a Lookout Post was established in January 1790 at South Head. Although there are no physical remains of the houses and gardens built for the signalmen assigned to the post, it is thought that they were located in the grounds of present day Robertson Park.

Camp Cove Beach

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Green Pt Reserve

Cliff St

Pacific St

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Robertson Park

Watsons Bay

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Clovelly St

The Gap

Robertson Park was also used as a lookout base during WWII. Trenches were dug on the western side of the park for protection during an attack. Newspaper cuttings from 1940s reveal that the Council organised a series of 'children's days' to celebrate peace following the end of World War II. It included a fancy dress parade, treasure hunt, and athletic and sailing events. There are many plaques and monuments in this park, so take time to view them.

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I pass Dunbar House, which was built in 1837 by Mortimer Lewis, a colonial architect. It was later taken over by Pieter Laurentz Campbell, a colonial treasurer, who called it Zandoliet. The house was named Dunbar House in the 1950's, following a resolution of Woollahra Council. The most famous owner was Henry Billing, who created an exotic zoo there. He had a Bengal tiger called Hercules, leopards, Egyptian sheep, golden pheasants and English ferrets. There is a mystery as to what happened to all those animals. Dunbar House is now a restaurant and function centre. Watsons Bay is also famous for Doyles Restaurant. The Doyle family trace their restaurant’s history back to 1885 when Henry Newton and his wife Hannah opened tea rooms in Watsons Bay.

The tea rooms evidently blew down in 1907 and the following year their daughter, Eva, opened the two-storey Ozone Cafe on the same site. During the Great Depression, the business folded, but after WWII Alice Doyle and her husband Jack re-opened the dining room. In 1948, their grand-daughter Alice Doyle revived the business, which became known as Doyles Restaurant, famous for its seafood.

Next door was once The Palace Hotel, built in 1886, designed by architect John Kirkpartick in Victorian Italianate 'Boom' style. It was replaced in 1939 by the present Watsons Bay Hotel, a very fine Art Deco structure, designed by architects Scott, Green and Scott. Walking down the esplanade take the steps up to Pacific St. At 14 Pacific St, there is a plaque dedicated to novelist Christina Stead who lived there from 1911 to 1928.

The establishment of Robertson Park was after the death of Sir John Robertson, five times premier of NSW. Sir Robertson and his wife Lady Margaret Emma Robertson lived in Clovelly from 1864 and purchased the property in 1878. Robertson died at Clovelly in 1891 and the house remained in private ownership until it was no longer fit for human habitation. In 1902 it was demolished and the archaeological survey of Robertson Park identified what appeared to be some physical remains of Clovelly House and outbuildings in the northeastern corner of the Park.

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We end the walk at the carpark at the southern end of Camp Cove. A path takes you to a stone obelisk which stands at Green Point, erected in 1850s, at what was then known as Laings Point, as a navigational marker for early navigation into Port Jackson. Green Point was also the southern end of the cross-harbour boom net extending 1,480 metres to Georges Head, which was built during World War 2. It caught one of the Japanese midget submarines that entered Sydney Harbour in May 1942. Also at Green Point is the Marine Biological Station, built in 1881 by architect John Kirkpatrick Baron Nicolai de Miklouho-Maclay, a leading scientist and humanitarian who had done pioneering work in New Guinea. The station was resumed by the Army in 1886. He married a daughter of Sir John Robertson, left Australia in 1887 and died back in Russia a year later.

Talking and teaching Tarot

with Ruth Marks

Hello to all my ESL friends,

Once again, we are facing a COVID outbreak. Please stay safe and be well and most importantly be positive. We will get through this.

We are now coming into the Star Signs of CANCER & LEO and the TAROT CARDS relating to them.

If you need any advice or decisions to make please dont hesitate to phone Ruth Marks 0414 273 104.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22) THE TAROT CARD is THE CHARIOT The Chariot is drawn by two horses. It indicates that a time of struggling has been overcome and there are changes ahead for the best.

The Chariot says you are moving away from disappointments and into another realm, again depending where the card lies in your individual reading and what card it is surrounded by. The Chariot also suggests you must think with a clear mind particularly in emotional matters. It is a card of success through tenacity.

Lucky Gemstones: MOONSTONE & PEARLS Lucky Numbers: 6, 15, 33. Lucky Colours: CREAM, WHITE, SILVER

LEO (July 23 - Aug 22) THE STRENGTH card has an angel patting a Lion. This indicates you have the ability to face life and change in difficult circumstances. You are blessed with inner strength and courage. This card says if you committed to someone or something it signifies you have the courage to face any inner fears you may have. Leo is a strong star sign and in many cases Leo's have managerial positions or run their own businesses. They can move in different directions and deal with any difficulties.

Lucky Gemstones: GOLD & TIGER EYE Lucky Numbers: 11, 14, 23 Lucky Colours: ORANGE, YELLOW, GOLD & RED

Love and Light to all... Stay safe, be positive...

RUTH MARKS

TAROT CARD READER

0414 273 104

Google Ruth Marks Tarot Card Reader Tarot Card lessons available

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Lifestyle tips to help prevent hearing loss

Manage your blood pressure and cardiac

health as high blood pressure and heart disease can damage the fragile mechanisms of the ear.

Stop smoking and vaping, and limit drinking, as these can have a big negative impact on hearing health.

Keep diabetes under control, as diabetes can damage the cells in your inner ears.

Exercise and practice stress reduction, as exercise improves blood flow around your body including your ears.

Eat foods high in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, E and folate, potassium and magnesium. A vitamin/mineral rich diet is recommended.

Know your family history.

A family history of hearing loss may give you advanced notice and allow you to reduce your risk of the negative impacts of hearing loss, such as cognitive decline, depression and social isolation.

Be aware of drugs that cause hearing loss.

Talk to your GP if you are worried about drug impact on hearing. If there is a risk, you may be able to take an alternative drug to reduce your risk of drug-related hearing loss.

If you are concerned about your hearing, then contact Edgecliff Hearing:

9327 8280 hearing@edgecliffhearing.com.au

Located on Level 3 of the Edgecliff Centre (above the Edgecliff Post Office).

your Sydney hearing experts

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We are independent from the hearing device manufacturers and ear, nose & throat specialists with whom we work closely.

Our clinics are located in Edgecliff, Bella Vista, and a visiting clinic in Penrith. We have a sister clinic in Campbelltown.

Edgecliff Hearing combines leading-edge hearing technology and hearing rehabilitation practice. Our audiologists are discreet, caring experts with the highest ethical standards, and are backed by friendly and efficient support staff.

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EDGECLIFF HEARING

SUITE 301, EDGECLIFF CENTRE, 203-233 NEW SOUTH HEAD ROAD, EDGECLIFF hearing@edgecliffhearing.com.au www.edgecliffhearing.com.au

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