Captain Cook and Kurnell

 On the 29th of April, 1770, Captain James Cook sailed into what became known as Botany Bay and changed the continent forever. He picked a landing spot close to the entrance of the bay which was protected from the prevailing wind by a hill.

Kurnell at the southern side of the entrance to the Bay.

I took a train to Cronulla which is a beach suburb to the south of Kurnell and then a bus to the park that commemorates where Cook landed.

Kurnell was the site of an oil refinery that closed in 2012. The jetty was used by oil tankers. You might notice the plane on its approach to Sydney Airport. If you fly into Sydney from the USA in the early morning, there is a good chance you will be following the same path.

The rocks are where Cook anchored his ship, the Endeavor. The hill to the right would have provided protection from the sea wind.

Plaques denote significant locations.

The landing spot.

Presumably the shape of the ship.

I did not walk out there on the rocks.

The obelisk.

In the distance are the cranes for the shipping port at Botany bay. Cargo ships come here instead of Sydney Harbour.

It's a very pleasant walk.

Exposed rock.

Growing up in Australia, the presence of the First Nation's People (Aborigines) was mostly ignored. That attitude has changed dramatically and the next blog will feature what really happened.

A century ago, a ferry would bring day trippers from La Perouse which lies on the northern side to the entrance to Botany Bay. This shed comes from that time period.

Local vegetation on the hill.

A group of children lining up for a race. 

This was used as a holiday house.

One of Cook's sailors died here. Cook was particular about making sure his sailors ate food that contained vitamin C to prevent scurvy so the death rate on board was much lower than for most other ships.

A memorial to Joseph Banks, a wealthy botanist who went on the voyage. He was the person who recommended Botany Bay as the place to send convicts.

I had a few minutes to wait for the bus so I wandered across and got a gelato.

I think Kurnell would be a good place to live if you didn't have to commute into the center of Sydney. The houses look fine with bigger yards than what you would find in nearby  Cronulla which is filled with apartment blocks.