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Wattamolla

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This article is about the location in the Royal National Park. For the locality in the City of Shoalhaven, see Wattamolla, New South Wales.

Wattamolla
Beach
Wattamolla lagoon, looking towards the Tasman Sea, with Wattamolla Beach in the distance and the waterfall in the foreground
Wattamolla lagoon, looking towards the Tasman Sea, with Wattamolla Beach in the distance and the waterfall in the foreground
Map
Coordinates: 34°08′15″S 151°07′04″E / 34.13750°S 151.11778°E / -34.13750; 151.11778
LocationRoyal National Park, New South Wales, Australia
Dimensions
 • Length150 m
Hazard rating4/10 (moderately hazardous)
Access
  • Wattamolla Road (transport)
  • Royal National Park Coast Track (foot)

Wattamolla, also known as Wattamolla Beach, is a cove, lagoon, and beach on the New South Wales coast south of Sydney, within the Royal National Park.

History

Wattamolla is the local Aboriginal name of the area, meaning "place near running water".[1] That name was recorded as Watta-Mowlee by Matthew Flinders, but is today spelt Wattamolla.

Matthew Flinders, George Bass and a boy, William Martin had been exploring the south-coast from Port Jackson as far as Lake Illawarra, in a small boat named Tom Thumb. Returning on the evening of 29 March 1796, a southerly gale forced them to seek shelter.

At ten 'o'clock, the wind, which had been unsettled and driving electric clouds in all directions, burst out in a gale at south, and obliged us to get up the anchor immediately, and run before it. Matthew Flinders

Flinders, "steering with an oar", thought the dark outline of cliffs ended and believed he saw breakers, so he turned the boat towards shore. Catching a large wave, they "shot across a sandbar" and in moments were in the calm sheltered water of the lagoon, which in relief they named Providential Cove.[2]

On 15 May 1797, three members of the crew of the Sydney Cove were spotted by a fisherman on Wattamolla Beach, having trekked from the Ninety Mile Beach Victoria on route to Sydney, to seek help rescuing their crew.[3]

The Headland Perversely recorded as "Providential Head" was renamed "Martin Head"- And "Martin Point" was then renamed "Providential Point".[4]

  • Panorama of Wattamolla. Click to enlarge.
    Panorama of Wattamolla. Click to enlarge.
  • Waterfall
    Waterfall
  • Lagoon with beach in background.
    Lagoon with beach in background.
  • Closeup of lagoon
    Closeup of lagoon
  • The beach
    The beach

See also

References

  1. ^ Sutherland Shire place names, fact sheet by the Sutherland Shire Council, August 2003
  2. ^ The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders, by Ernest Scott at Project Gutenberg
  3. ^ "Sydney Cove shipwreck an epic tale of adventure and survival in 1797". ABC News. Australia. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. ^ "NSW Place and Road Naming Proposals System".
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