Bare Island (New South Wales)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bare Island is a small island in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located about 16km south east of the Sydney central business district, close to the northern headland of Botany Bay.
Bare Island is connected by a footbridge to the suburb of La Perouse. The historic military fort and tunnels can only be visited by guided tour. The waters around the island are popular with scuba divers.
[edit] History
Bare Island was part of the traditional land of the Gweagal and Kameygal Aboriginal tribes. In 1770, it was described as ‘a small bare island’ by early explorer, Captain James Cook.
Bare Island was fortified in 1885 according to a design by colonial architect, James Barnet (1827-1904). In 1912, Bare Island became a retirement home for war veterans. It continued to operate until 1963 when it was handed over to the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service for use as a museum and tourist attraction.
[edit] References
- The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8
