Ballast Point, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Ballast Point is a 2.6 hectare area located in Birchgrove
at the tip of the Balmain Peninsula in the Municipality of Leichhardt
in Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia
. It is located between Snails Bay and Mort Bay in Port Jackson
.
for ships returning unladen to Europe, hence the name Ballast Point.
In 1800 the point was part of a 550 acre (2.2 km²) grant to colonial surgeon Dr William Balmain
(1762-1803) made by Governor John Hunter
. A year later, Balmain sold his entire holding to John Gilchrist for 5 shillings and the area then became known as Gilchrist’s place.
In 1833, Gilchrist transferred power of attorney
to Frederick Parbury who 3 years later commissioned surveyor John Armstrong to lay out sub divisions. This survey formed the basis of sales between 1836 and 1841.
Ballast Point was sold by Parbury to Cooper (NSW Controller of Customs and later Superintendent of Distilleries) and McLean in 1840 but a default in the mortgage saw the land transfer to James Tod Goodsir in February 1841 for 700 pounds. Only 7 months later, Ballast Point was sold to Andrew Blowers Smith and Henry Smith for 500 pounds. The land was advertised for sale in 1842 but severe colonial depression forced withdrawal of the sale.
Merchant and draper Thomas Perkins, purchased the 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) site for 300 pounds in 1852 and in 1864 built the only house thought to have existed on the site, Menevia. From this point until 1875 the site was known as Menevia Point after the residence and from 1884 to 1928 was known as Perkins Point after Mrs Perkins who lived in the house.
In 1905 the land passed to Henry Thomas Perkins, a barrister living in Surrey
, England
, who never took up residence at the site.
From 1893 to at least 1915 Menevia was used as a boarding house and possibly still operated as such in the early 1920s.
By 1928, Menevia had fallen into disrepair and the site was purchased by Texaco
(later Caltex
) who demolished the house to make way for a fuel depot, manufacturing and packaging facility. Ballast Point formed Texaco’s major distribution point in Sydney and continued until the 1990s.
In September 2002, the derelict site was returned to public ownership after compulsory purchase for A$24m by the Government of New South Wales
. Caltex had planned to sell the site to the Walker Corporation for development of residential units. A legal disputed ensued over the amount paid for the purchase but an initial win by the developers was overturned by the NSW Court of Appeal.
Significant community support for public ownership had occurred with the activist group Save Ballast Point, which was formed in 1984, claiming to have in excess of 500 members.
and has been redeveloped into a public recreation space. Ballast Point Park opened to the public on Saturday, 11 July 2009. The opening was attended by local state member Verity Firth
and NSW Premier Nathan Rees
.
The A$16m project included demolition and decontamination of the existing derelict industrial site and construction of new wharves, pergola and gardens.
Birchgrove, New South Wales
Birchgrove is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Birchgrove is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
at the tip of the Balmain Peninsula in the Municipality of Leichhardt
Municipality of Leichhardt
The Municipality of Leichhardt is a Local Government Area in the inner-west of Sydney, in state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The Municipality of Leichhardt stands on land that traditionally belonged to the Gadigal and Wangal people, of the Eora nation...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located between Snails Bay and Mort Bay in Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
.
History
Between 1788 and 1800, the point was used as a fishing and hunting ground for European settlers and as a source of ballastSailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
for ships returning unladen to Europe, hence the name Ballast Point.
In 1800 the point was part of a 550 acre (2.2 km²) grant to colonial surgeon Dr William Balmain
William Balmain
William Balmain was a British naval surgeon who sailed as an assistant surgeon with the First Fleet to establish the first European settlement in Australia, and later became its principal surgeon.-Early life and career:...
(1762-1803) made by Governor John Hunter
John Hunter (New South Wales)
Vice-Admiral John Hunter, RN was a British naval officer, explorer, naturalist and colonial administrator who succeeded Arthur Phillip as the second governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1795 to 1800.-Overview:...
. A year later, Balmain sold his entire holding to John Gilchrist for 5 shillings and the area then became known as Gilchrist’s place.
In 1833, Gilchrist transferred power of attorney
Power of attorney
A power of attorney or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter...
to Frederick Parbury who 3 years later commissioned surveyor John Armstrong to lay out sub divisions. This survey formed the basis of sales between 1836 and 1841.
Merchant and draper Thomas Perkins, purchased the 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) site for 300 pounds in 1852 and in 1864 built the only house thought to have existed on the site, Menevia. From this point until 1875 the site was known as Menevia Point after the residence and from 1884 to 1928 was known as Perkins Point after Mrs Perkins who lived in the house.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, who never took up residence at the site.
From 1893 to at least 1915 Menevia was used as a boarding house and possibly still operated as such in the early 1920s.
By 1928, Menevia had fallen into disrepair and the site was purchased by Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
(later Caltex
Caltex
Caltex is a petroleum brand name of Chevron Corporation used in more than 60 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and southern Africa.-History:...
) who demolished the house to make way for a fuel depot, manufacturing and packaging facility. Ballast Point formed Texaco’s major distribution point in Sydney and continued until the 1990s.
In September 2002, the derelict site was returned to public ownership after compulsory purchase for A$24m by the Government of New South Wales
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
. Caltex had planned to sell the site to the Walker Corporation for development of residential units. A legal disputed ensued over the amount paid for the purchase but an initial win by the developers was overturned by the NSW Court of Appeal.
Significant community support for public ownership had occurred with the activist group Save Ballast Point, which was formed in 1984, claiming to have in excess of 500 members.
Current use
The point is now owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore AuthoritySydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is a statutory authority set up by the Government of New South Wales in order to maintain the Port Jackson foreshore area. It maintains 4 km² of waterfront real estate in the foreshore area including Darling Harbour and The Rocks...
and has been redeveloped into a public recreation space. Ballast Point Park opened to the public on Saturday, 11 July 2009. The opening was attended by local state member Verity Firth
Verity Firth
Verity Helen Firth is the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Education Foundation in Australia and a former politician....
and NSW Premier Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees MP, , an Australian politician, was the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Australian Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009...
.
The A$16m project included demolition and decontamination of the existing derelict industrial site and construction of new wharves, pergola and gardens.
See also
- The nearby suburbs BalmainBalmain, New South WalesBalmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located slightly west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
and RozelleRozelle, New South WalesRozelle is a suburb in the inner west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 4 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
both located on the Balmain Peninsula. - Thomas Sutcliffe MortThomas Sutcliffe MortThomas Sutcliffe Mort was an Australian industrialist responsible for improving refrigeration of meat. He was renowned for speculation in the local pastoral industry as well as industrial activities such as his Ice-Works in Sydney's Darling Harbour and dry dock and engineering works at...
, co-founder of the Dry Dock and Engineering WorksMort's DockMort's Dock is a former dry dock, slipway, and shipyard in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia. It was the first dry dock in Australia, opening for business in 1855 and closing more than a century later in 1959.-Sydney's first dry dock:...
at nearby Mort Bay.