Milsons Point, New South Wales

Milsons Point is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of North Sydney Council.

Milsons Point is also the geographical feature that juts into Sydney Harbour from the northern side, directly opposite Sydney Cove, the spot where the first European settlement was established in 1788.

Milsons Point was named after James Milson (1783–1872), one of the earliest settlers.

Earliest detailed map of Milsons Point (left) and Kirribilli Point (right): an 1840s subdivision map for the Estate of Robert Campbell (1769-1846). Improvements shown on the map are Milson's dairy and orchard located to the north of Milsons Point.^[2]

History

Postcard of Milsons Point. The caption reads: "Milson’s Point – Probably in the early Seventies [1870s]. Kirribilli on the farther shore. Eastern Road Wharf is front. Alfred St to the right, the Arcade and clock are within (illegible)ing distance of the spreading tree."

Sketch map^[3] of the Kirribilli area first published in 1955 in the book "The Life and Times of James Milson"^[4] showing approximate location of Milson's residence and that of his son-in-law William Shairp who married Milson's daughter Sophia in 1827.^[5] The perforated line marks the approximate boundary between Milson's 50 acres in the north and Campbell's 120 acres in the south.

Milsons Point was named after James Milson (1783–1872), a free settler originally from Lincolnshire.

Milson settled in the area near Milsons Point and established a profitable business supplying ships with stone ballast, fresh water, and the produce of his dairy, orchard, and vegetable gardens.

• In the early 1820s^[6] Milson settled in the vicinity of Jeffrey Street, Kirribilli, on 120 acres of land he leased from Robert Campbell (1769–1846).^[7]
• In 1824 Milson received a 50 acre grant of his own adjoining Campbell's land^[8] (which is marked on the 1840s map above).
• In 1826 a bushfire raged through the area destroying Milson's home, orchard and dairy and farm^[9] which he subsequently rebuilt (refer to 1840s map above).
• In 1831 Campbell was involved with Milson in a court action over Milson's non-payment of the lease of the 120 acres.^[7]
• Milson lived in the vicinity of Jeffrey Street until 1831 when he built a new home, "Brisbane House", on his 50 acres facing Lavender Bay. The next home he built, also on his 50 acres, was called "Grantham".^[10][11]
• By the 1840s Milson was leasing only the portion Campbell's 120 acres that contained Milson's orchard in the vicinity of Jeffrey Street.^[2]
• In 1872 Milson died at home at "Gratham" in the modern suburb of Milsons Point in what was then called the Municipality of East St Leonards.^[12]

Aerial view of Milsons Point during construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The last of the family's holdings in the lower North Shore area were resumed in the early 1920s for the construction of the Harbour Bridge and associated roadways.^[13]

Access stairs and underpass tunnel for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Milsons Point

Transport

Milsons Point supports the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Milsons Point is well connected with the CBD of Sydney by the bridge, ferries and trains. The Warringah Freeway provides a link south to the Sydney CBD and north to Chatswood.

Milsons Point railway station is on the northern approach to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Milsons Point ferry wharf, serviced by the Balmain, Pyrmont Bay and Rydalmere ferry lines, is located to the west of the bridge in the south-west part of the suburb. In addition to rail services, Milson's Point is serviced by buses that run to the Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches. School Buses leave from Bradfield Park to transport students to schools in North Sydney.

Lavender Bay(left) and Milsons Point (right) with North Sydney skyline in the background

Commercial area

Milsons Point has a mixture of residential and commercial developments. High density developments are located close to the railway station and include a number of restaurants and shops.

Notable Residents

• Michael Stutchbury*
• Mike Gibson*

Sport and recreation

Chinese Christian Church Sydney uses a previously Congregational Church building in Milsons Point

Milsons Point has the entertainment centre Luna Park and the North Sydney Olympic Pool,

Schools

Schools in the area include the Catholic schools Loreto Kirribilli for girls and St Aloysius' College for boys.

Churches

• Chinese Christian Church

References

External links

• Milsons Point in Dictionary of Sydney

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Milsons Point, New South Wales.

Coordinates: 33°50′52″S 151°12′43″E / 33.84765°S 151.21201°E / -33.84765; 151.21201