| The history of Sydney Harbour stretches back | | | | especially with an off-shore westerly blowing. The old |
| 40,000 years or more. The area surrounding Port | | | | time sailing ships couldn't beat to windward very |
| Jackson was home to many aboriginal tribes. Most | | | | efficiently - they tended to "crab" sideways a lot. |
| evidence of early aboriginal settlement has been | | | | The harbour entrance was even more dangerous |
| destroyed in the two hundred and twenty one years | | | | when approached on a dark night. There was a |
| that Australia has been settled by Europeans but | | | | lighthouse at South Head - Macquarie Light - its still |
| there are still hundreds of rock carvings in sandstone | | | | there but it is some way from the heads. |
| in several locations. If you want to have a look at | | | | There was a spectacular and sad wreck in 1857 |
| some of these sites there are several | | | | when the sailing ship "Dunbar", 81 days out of |
| aboriginal-themed Sydney Harbour cruises at your | | | | London, approached the entrance to Sydney Harbour |
| disposal. And they are staffed by Australian | | | | from the south at night, in heavy rain and a strong |
| aboriginals. | | | | gale. It is surmised that the ship's captain, believing he |
| One could argue that the first Sydney Harbour Cruise | | | | had already passed South Head, turned the ship into |
| occurred on 20th January, 1788 when Captain Arthur | | | | the cliff-face. The ship was destroyed and all 121 |
| Phillip sailed three longboats from his flagship of the | | | | passengers and crew were drowned except for one |
| The First Fleet, Sirius, into the harbour from Botany | | | | crewman who managed to climb part way up the |
| Bay - which Captain James Cook had recommended | | | | cliff. The Dunbar had been built three years before, |
| as a safe anchorage for ships. The Endeavor had | | | | specifically for the Gold-Rush trade. It was one of |
| noted the entrance to Port Jackson (Sydney | | | | the largest and fastest ships of its time. How tragic |
| Harbour) but for some reason had not entered. Quite | | | | for the passengers and crew to have safely |
| an oversight on Cook's behalf. | | | | navigated half-way around the world and to be |
| Captain John Hunter of the Sirius wrote: | | | | wrecked at the entrance to the port. |
| "A large opening, or bay, about three leagues and a | | | | The site selected for the First Fleet's anchorage at |
| half to the northward of Cape Banks, was the first | | | | the head of the harbour had deep water close to the |
| place we looked into: it had rather an unpromising | | | | shore, was sheltered, and had a small stream flowing |
| appearance, on entering between the outer heads or | | | | into it. Phillip named it Sydney Cove but it's now |
| capes that form its entrance, which are high, rugged, | | | | known as Circular Quay and is a harbour ferry port. |
| and perpendicular cliffs; but we had not gone far in, | | | | Superyachts also use it as an anchorage alongside a |
| before we discovered a large branch extending to | | | | luxury hotel on the Western shore. |
| the southward; into this we went, and soon found | | | | Nowadays you can take a variety of vessels for a |
| ourselves perfectly land-locked, with a good depth of | | | | Sydney harbour cruise - from small water taxis to a |
| water." | | | | 125 foot superyacht. And you can get your charter |
| Those cliffs at the entrance to Sydney Harbour can | | | | boat to drop you off at Watson's Bay to pay your |
| still be seen today. The harbour could be a | | | | respects to the early emigrants who drowned in the |
| treacherous place for a sailing vessel to enter - | | | | Dunbar wreck. |