BaramiBarabuguWalkTour_v3

14 / Sydney’s Aboriginal Journey 15 / Early Contact
04
Dawes Point/Tar-Ra,
05
The Rocks
The Aboriginal name for the peninsula on
the western side of Sydney Cove is Tar-Ra.
It is also known as Dawes Point because
it was the site of an observatory built in
April 1788 by Lieutenant William Dawes
of the First Fleet. He lived and worked
here, and with a young Aboriginal woman
Patyegarang, compiled the first dictionary
of the local Aboriginal language of Sydney.
Large flat rocks at the tip of the peninsula,
directly underneath the southern approach
of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, were said to
have been used by local Aboriginal people
as a place to cook fish.
Bennelong Point /
Dubbagullee, Sydney
Dubbagullee, the peninsula on the
eastern side of Sydney Cove, was the
site of a brick hut built for Bennelong
by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1790.
Within two years, Bennelong set sail
for England with his young kinsman
Yemmerrawanne and Governor Phillip.
Shortly after his return three years later,
Bennelong’s house was torn down.
This peninsula, named in honour of
Bennelong, has retained significance
as a gathering place for Aboriginal
people.
Parish Map of St Philip showing Dawes Point in 1835
(image courtesy State Records of NSW – AO Map 286)
Bennelong Point
viewed from
Dawes Point in
c1804 (image
courtesy Mitchell
Library, State
Library of NSW –
V1 / 1810 / 1)