Kirribili Point / Mattawunga

“Kiara-billi,” the old fisherman muttered, casting his line into the swirling waters off Kirribili Point. “A good fishing spot, just like the old stories said.” Kirribili Point, also known as Mattawunga, juts out into Sydney Harbour like a weathered finger, pointing towards the bustling city skyline. This unassuming piece of land holds a history as rich and layered as the sandstone cliffs that line its shores. Kirribili Point was once a vital fishing ground for the Cammeraygal people. Their name for it, “Kiara-billi,” meant “good fishing spot,” a testament to the bounty these waters provided. Later, in the 18th century, this land became a part of the story of early colonial Sydney. One of the first land grants on the North Shore, a 30-acre plot opposite Sydney Cove, was given to Samuel Lightfoot in 1794. Lightfoot, an ex-convict who arrived with the First Fleet, found himself the owner of prime real estate. This land then passed into the hands of Robert Campbell, a wealthy merchant who established Australia’s first shipbuilding yards right here in Kirribili in 1807. Imagine the clang of hammers and the scent of fresh-cut timber filling the air. Today, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron stands on the site of Campbell’s bustling shipyard. Kirribili Point has borne witness to dramatic change over the centuries. From Indigenous fishing grounds to colonial settlement, from shipyards to the elegant residences that now grace its slopes, its story reflects the evolution of Sydney itself. In 1854, a merchant named Adolphus Frederic Feez built Kirribilli House, a picturesque Gothic-style cottage ornée, on land purchased from the owner of Wotonga House (now part of Admiralty House). This “cottage,” with its steeply pitched roofs and ornate bargeboards, would eventually become the official Sydney residence of the Prime Minister of Australia. Kirribili Point also played a role in the grand infrastructure project that would reshape Sydney Harbour: the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The bridge’s northern end is anchored here, forever linking Kirribili Point to the city center and solidifying its place in Sydney’s history. As you stand on Kirribili Point today, take a moment to absorb the echoes of the past. The whispers of the Cammeraygal, the ambition of the early settlers, the clang of shipbuilders’ hammers, and the footsteps of prime ministers and governors-general. From “Kiara-billi” to Kirribili Point, this small point of land has seen it all. It remains a powerful reminder of the layers of history that lie beneath the surface of modern Sydney.