The Sutherland Shire is a large local government area of approximately 230,000 residents, located on the southern fringe of Sydney. The Shire’s natural boundaries are the Royal National Park and the Port Hacking river to the south, The Pacific Ocean to the east and Botany Bay and the Georges River to the north. A unique claim is that Lieutenant James Cook made his first landing and exploration of the east coast of the Australian continent in April 1770 on his first voyage of discovery in the Pacific Ocean. Cook’s visit of 9 days marked the first contact with the Aboriginal inhabitants.
At daylight on Saturday 28th April, 1770 the Endeavour sailed into what is now known as Botany Bay. A million years or so before the Endeavour anchored in Botany Bay, Kurnell was an island, and an ancient river flowed into the sea in an area now known as Boat Harbour. This was at a time when the level of the Pacific Ocean was much further out to sea than it is today.
Lieutenant James Cook landed on a 2-kilometre stretch of sand on a promontory on the southern side of Botany Bay which is called Kurnell. . At the southern end of this strip, there was a mangrove swamp, known today as Quibray and Weeney Bays, which were snake infested swamps and a favourite resort of ducks, swans and other birds as well as crabs, oysters, mussels and other sea life. These were great sources of food to the local Indigenous people who called the area Gwea. They were members of the Eora / Dharawal people and lived in the area for thousands of years.
Forby Sutherland is generally acknowledged as the first European to die on Australian soil, Forby Sutherland was
the 1st European to be buried on the east coast, at Kurnell during the visit of the Endeavour in 1770. According to James Cook's journal, Sutherland died and was buried on the 1st May 1770 - Cook named Point Sutherland after Forby Sutherland.
Joseph Banks, a botanist with Cook’s expedition, was so impressed with the natural features that he recommended Botany Bay as a site for a penal colony when investigations of suitable sites was conducted.. The establishment of a colony in New South Wales was authorized by Lord Sydney in August 1786. The first fleet of 11 ships carrying 759 convicts left Spithead on the 13th May 1787 and arrived at Botany Bay on the 18th January 1788. Finding Botany Bay unsuitable, the colony relocated a few kilometers north. The 26th January, was the day that the British flag was raised at Sydney Cove. This marks the beginning of European settlement and is now celebrated as Australia Day. Sydney is the largest Australian city with a population of approximately 4.5 million. The name’ Australia’ did not come into popular usage until around 1815.
Though first European contact was made in the present day Sutherland Shire, it was largely ignored for the next 100 years. A few settlers took up isolated land holdings but other locations proved easier to settle. In 1861, Thomas Holt, a wealthy land owner and politician began to purchase large tracts of land and by 1868, owned most of the present land area of the Shire. He tried many pursuits including timber cutting, oyster farming, sheep and cattle raising and coal exploration but most were unsuccessful.
The proclamation of large area south of the Port Hacking River as Australia’s first National Park (the world’s second), provided a boost to local tourism and infrastructure development.
The opening of a railway line in 1886 improved access but punts on the Georges River meant that vehicular access was slow. It wasn’t until 1929 that a bridge was built across the Georges River at Sylvania. This greatly improved access.
When local government was established in 1906 there were only about 1500 residents in the Sutherland Shire and it remained a largely rural area for the first half of the twentieth century. After the Second World War the population boomed with many young homemakers looking for cheap land. Building restrictions meant that most housing was modest, using fibro as an economical cladding. Sewage, schools, roads and other community facilities were developed as the population grew.
Though mainly residential, three industrial areas were set aside. Though these provide considerable employment, many residents commute to the city or other areas for employment.
Today, the Sutherland Shire is amongst the top dozen socio-economic local government areas in Australia and residents enjoy an excellent quality of life.
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
Cook's Landing
Place plaque |
Sutherland's monument |
|
| |
|
|
|
