Did you know that the naming of Rozelle Bay might come from a bird or a plant? It is more likely the Rosella plant. Other names in the area have botanic origins too. We’re standing at Rozelle Bay Lookout. From here, we can take in the sights and imagine its past.
Rozelle Bay is south of Glebe Island. It sits west of Blackwattle Bay. Both are on Sydney Harbour. The bay’s history is tied to the suburb of Rozelle. Rozelle is 4 kilometres west of Sydney’s central business district. It is part of the Inner West Council.
Back in 1877, Balmain West was growing fast. The Balmain post office couldn’t keep up. Residents wanted their own post office. So, in 1880, the Balmain West post office opened. It was in Joseph Gosling’s grocery shop. This shop was at Weston Road and Withecombe Street. The population continued to grow. By 1891, work began on a new post office. It was at Weston Road and Darling Street.
Before the new post office opened, something changed. In December 1892, the Postmaster-General made an announcement. Balmain West post office would now be called Rozelle. The name came from Rozelle Bay. The new Rozelle post office opened in 1894. By the early 1900s, both the suburb and its residents used the name Rozelle.
The names Rozelle and Rozelle Bay have an interesting origin. Old maps sometimes show “Rozella Bay”. The name comes from parrots. These parrots were abundant at Rose Hill. Rose Hill is near Parramatta. It was Sydney’s first suburb. It was a prime farming area for the new colony. The parrots were also common in the inner west bay area of Sydney. People called them “Rose Hill parrots” or “Rose-hillers”. Eventually, they became known as Rosellas.
Rozelle Bay itself has a few features worth noting. Johnstons Creek and Whites Creek flow into it. The Sydney Heritage Fleet’s dockyard is on the bay’s western shore. You can even catch a light rail to the bay. The Dulwich Hill Line has a station named after it.
Look around at Rozelle Bay. Imagine the parrots that once filled this area. Think about the history in this place. From a simple bay to a suburb’s namesake, Rozelle Bay has a rich story.