Ballast Point, New South Wales - History

History

Between 1788 and 1800, the point was used as a fishing and hunting ground for European settlers and as a source of ballast for ships returning unladen to Europe, hence the name Ballast Point.

In 1800 the point was part of a 550 acre (2.2 km²) grant to colonial surgeon Dr William Balmain (1762-1803) made by Governor John Hunter. A year later, Balmain sold his entire holding to John Gilchrist for 5 shillings and the area then became known as Gilchrist’s place.

In 1833, Gilchrist transferred power of attorney to Frederick Parbury who 3 years later commissioned surveyor John Armstrong to lay out sub divisions. This survey formed the basis of sales between 1836 and 1841.

Ballast Point was sold by Parbury to Cooper (NSW Controller of Customs and later Superintendent of Distilleries) and McLean in 1840 but a default in the mortgage saw the land transfer to James Tod Goodsir in February 1841 for 700 pounds. Only 7 months later, Ballast Point was sold to Andrew Blowers Smith and Henry Smith for 500 pounds. The land was advertised for sale in 1842 but severe colonial depression forced withdrawal of the sale.

Merchant and draper Thomas Perkins, purchased the 5-acre (20,000 m2) site for 300 pounds in 1852 and in 1864 built the only house thought to have existed on the site, Menevia. From this point until 1875 the site was known as Menevia Point after the residence and from 1884 to 1928 was known as Perkins Point after Mrs Perkins who lived in the house.

In 1905 the land passed to Henry Thomas Perkins, a barrister living in Surrey, England, who never took up residence at the site.

From 1893 to at least 1915 Menevia was used as a boarding house and possibly still operated as such in the early 1920s.

By 1928, Menevia had fallen into disrepair and the site was purchased by Texaco (later Caltex) who demolished the house to make way for a fuel depot, manufacturing and packaging facility. Ballast Point formed Texaco’s major distribution point in Sydney and continued until the 1990s.

In September 2002, the derelict site was returned to public ownership after compulsory purchase for A$24m by the Government of New South Wales. Caltex had planned to sell the site to the Walker Corporation for development of residential units. A legal disputed ensued over the amount paid for the purchase but an initial win by the developers was overturned by the NSW Court of Appeal.

Significant community support for public ownership had occurred with the activist group Save Ballast Point, which was formed in 1984, claiming to have in excess of 500 members.