NSWPort & river
La Perouse
The headland that watched over Botany Bay.
1788French expedition camps on the headland
WHAT STARTED IT
The northern headland at the entrance to Botany Bay was where La Pérouse’s French expedition camped for six weeks in 1788. Its position over the bay entrance later made it a lookout against smugglers and a site for coastal defences.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
A watchtower was built in 1822, the first telegraph cable to New Zealand was laid from here in 1876, and Bare Island was fortified from 1881. By 1885 an Aboriginal reserve had been declared here, the only one in Sydney, and the tram from 1902 made the headland a popular day-trip destination.
TURNING POINTS
1788La Pérouse’s ships anchor in Botany Bay and the expedition camps for six weeks.
1822A stone watchtower is built on the headland to watch for smugglers.
1876Cable ships begin laying the telegraph cable to New Zealand from La Perouse.
1881Work begins on fortifying Bare Island.
1885By this year seven acres at La Perouse have been declared a reserve for Aboriginal people.
1902The coastal tram line to La Perouse is officially opened.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A small bayside suburb beside the La Perouse section of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, with the Bare Island fort, the old watchtower and a museum in the former cable station.