Sydney Cove

History

The Eora name for Sydney Cove was recorded by several early settlers of the First Fleet variously spelt as Warrane, War-ran, Warrang and Wee-rong. The spot is of great significance, as the first meeting place between Eora people and Europeans. Before colonisation of the area, Eora men speared fish from the shoreline, and women line-fished from their nowies (canoes).

Sydney Cove was named after the British Home Secretary, the 1st Baron Sydney (who was later created 1st Viscount Sydney in 1789). It was the site chosen by Captain Arthur Phillip, RN between 21 and 23 January 1788 for the British penal settlement which is now the city of Sydney, and where possession of New South Wales was formally declared on 26 January (now commemorated as Australia Day). Today, the exact site where the flag was planted is unmarked, being a spot near the bottom of Bethel Steps, The Rocks (behind the south end of the present Overseas Passenger Terminal) This site on the west side of the Cove is confirmed by a 1789 letter by John Campbell.

Phillip had been instructed to establish the settlement at Botany Bay, a large bay further south of Sydney Cove which had been discovered by Lieutenant James Cook during his voyage of discovery in 1770, and was recommended by the eminent botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who had accompanied Cook, as a suitable site for a settlement. But Phillip discovered that Botany Bay offered neither a secure anchorage nor a reliable source of fresh water. Sydney Cove offered both of these, being serviced by a freshwater creek which was soon to be known as the Tank Stream.

The site of the settlement was Sydney Cove. It was one of the smaller inlets, chosen because it had fresh water and good anchorage for ships close into the land. The Governor's working party had cleared a camping ground beside the creek, which stole silently along through a very thick wood, the stillness of which had then for the first time since the Creation, been interrupted by the rude sound of the labourer's axe.{{cite book |last1=Eldershaw |first1=Flora |author1-link=Flora Eldershaw |last2=Barnard |first2=Marjorie |author2-link=Marjorie Barnard

Sydney Cove Medallion

A sample of the dark grey clay of Sydney Cove was collected by Governor Phillip and given to Sir Joseph Banks, who gave it to pottery maker Josiah Wedgwood to test for suitability for making pottery. Wedgwood found it excellent and made a commemorative medal that became known as the Sydney Cove Medallion.

Today

The cove is dual-named as Warrane, the name by which it was known by the Eora people.

The Tank Stream is encased in a concrete drain beneath the streets of the central business district and all native bushland has been cleared. The head of the cove is occupied by the Circular Quay ferry terminal. On Bennelong Point at the northern end of the eastern shore of the cove stands the Sydney Opera House. On the western shore is the historic district known as The Rocks.{{cite book

Sydney Cove is a focal point for community celebrations, due to its central Sydney location between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also one of the main congregation points for Sydney New Year's Eve and Australia Day events.

References

References

1. "Sydney Cove".
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3. [http://www.discoversydney.com.au/sydney/history.html Discover Sydney: Sydney's European History]. TravelOnline.com. Retrieved 10 May 2018
4. Barlass, Tim. (2022-07-16). "Why the City of Sydney pays for a British flag to fly near Circular Quay".
5. [https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/john-campbell-letter-his-parents-9-august-1789 NSW State Library]
6. [https://www.sydneywater.com.au/web/groups/publicwebcontent/documents/document/zgrf/mdq0/~edisp/dd_044108.pdf Sydney Water: The Tank Stream], 2010 leaflet
7. [http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/landmarks/colonial_foundations/#Sydney Josiah Wedgwood's Sydney Cove Medallion] {{Webarchive. link. (21 March 2012 , [[National Museum of Australia]].)
8. [http://www.nma.gov.au/collections-search/display?irn=73354 National Museum of Australia] Sydney Cove Medallion from the museum's Collections Search.
9. Robert J. King, "'Etruria': the Great Seal of New South Wales", Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia, vol.5, October 1990, pp.3-8. [http://www.numismatics.org.au/pdfjournal/Vol5/Vol%205%20Article%201.pdf] {{Webarchive. link. (29 March 2020)
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11. Hoh, Amanda.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-07/inside-the-sydney-tank-stream/7998412 The Tank Stream: A historical walk along Sydney's first water supply]. [[ABC News (Australia). ABC News]], 7 November 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2018
12. Gorrey, Megan. (2021-12-09). "Harbour city to shine beneath New Year's Eve fireworks".
13. "What was on".