“Pause for a moment” I say as we gather around this spot in White Bay Park. This plaque is a window into a vibrant past. It speaks of industry. It whispers stories of transformation.
White Bay Park wasn’t always a green space. For many years this area was at the heart of Sydney’s industrial activity. In 1854 John Booth’s Steam Saw Mills dominated the White Bay shoreline. For fifty years it was Sydney’s primary timber and joinery works.
Later in 1895 William Lever established a soap production site. He reclaimed part of the White Bay shoreline. His company became the Unilever conglomerate. By 1988 the complex stretched from Booth Street to Reynolds Street.
In 1912 the New South Wales Railway Commissioners began building the White Bay Power Station. This massive structure powered the local rail network. The location provided access to rail and dock facilities for coal delivery. It also had unlimited access to circulating water. The White Bay Power Station is historically significant. It is the only existing power station with original machinery. The equipment demonstrates how electricity was produced before the 1950s.
Containerisation marked the next phase of White Bay’s development. In 1966 the Maritime Services Board planned new container berths. The facility opened in 1969. It processed car imports for many years.
Despite protests from residents blasting cut the rocky hillside down. Many homes were damaged.
In 1982 part of Booth’s sawmill was transformed. Leichhardt Council created a landscaped park. The park opened as White Bay Park. It was later renamed Birrung Park. Birrung means “star” acknowledging the area’s original people.
White Bay Park stands as a testament to change. It is a reminder of the area’s industrial past. It provides green open space for the community. The White Bay Park Plaque is a tribute to the area’s rich history. It links the past to the present. It invites us to reflect on the ever-evolving story of White Bay.