Port Hacking. What images does that name conjure for you? Perhaps sun-drenched shores. Maybe the gentle lapping of waves. Or even the thrill of water sports.
Port Hacking is a tide-dominated drowned valley estuary. It sits about 30 kilometers south of Sydney’s central business district. Much smaller than Sydney Harbour, Port Hacking begins in the Hacking River’s upper reaches. Several smaller creeks feed into it. This waterway also marks the Royal National Park’s northern boundary.
Known to the Dharawal People as Djeebahn, Port Hacking has long been a significant place. Aboriginal people favored it as a camping ground. Rock shelters bear witness to their presence. They are locally styled as gunyahs along its shores. In 1918, tragedy struck when one of these shelters collapsed. It caused the worst loss of life in the Port Hacking area.
Sadly, suburbia’s creep has destroyed or vandalized many shelters. Landscaping has covered others. Dreaming stories, told through rock art, were how information was archived and passed down. Animals feature prominently in these stories. The Orca, or Killer Whale, dominates the coastal peoples’ narratives.
Despite losses, some engravings, carvings, and midden sites remain. They provide a source for research. Stories, songs, and dances continue to pass down knowledge. Middens can be seen along Port Hacking River shores. Little Moon and Great Moon Bays reveal Aboriginal life and history. Archaeologists have found flints, skulls, and bone implements at Yowie Point. Spear sharpening grooves are visible on rocks near creeks. Overhangs still bear smoke stains from Aboriginal cooking fires.
Warumbul, in the Royal National Park, was a gathering place. Here the Law would be told. Clear indications of its importance in passing down local peoples’ stories remain. Archaeological relics are most easily found where European disturbance is minimal. The Royal National Park holds well-recorded rock art, paintings, and burial sites. Some are easily viewed.
To protect Aboriginal culture on Port Hacking’s rock faces, site locations aren’t widely shared. However, some sites, like those on Jibbon Headland near Bundeena, are signposted. If bushwalking, and you come across rock art or occupation sites, stop and look. But please leave them as you found them.
Matthew Flinders and George Bass explored Port Hacking in early April 1796. They named it after Henry Hacking. He was the principal game hunter in the colony. Hacking first told them of a large inland river he’d seen on kangaroo hunting expeditions. Despite Hacking’s later murder conviction, the name stuck.
Today, Port Hacking forms Sydney’s southern suburban boundary. The north bank features suburbs like Cronulla and Lilli Pilli. The south bank remains largely undeveloped. It lies within the Royal National Park. Bundeena and Maianbar are small communities there. Cronulla and National Park Ferry Cruises connects Cronulla and Bundeena. They also offer cruises along Port Hacking.
Port Hacking is a popular recreational area. Swimming, fishing, and boating are enjoyed here. Water sports like wakeboarding and scuba diving are common. Shiprock, a distinctive shore feature, sits above Port Hacking’s only aquatic reserve. This reserve is protected for its unique marine life.
So, the next time you hear the name Port Hacking, remember its rich history. From ancient Aboriginal stories to modern-day recreation. Port Hacking offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural significance. A place where the past and present meet.