NSWPort & river
Pyrmont
A sandstone peninsula quarried, wharfed and worked for a century.
1806Macarthur’s estate named Pyrmont
WHAT STARTED IT
The peninsula between Darling Harbour and Blackwattle Bay was John Macarthur’s estate, named Pyrmont at a picnic in December 1806 after a German spa town, for its fresh spring. Its deep-water shores suited wharves and shipyards, and its yellow sandstone was quarried to build much of Victorian Sydney.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Little changed until the land was subdivided in 1839, after which shipbuilders, an iron works and quarrymen moved in. A toll bridge across Darling Harbour opened in 1858, and from 1860 cattle were driven through the streets to the Glebe Island abattoirs. Wharves, the Colonial Sugar Refinery, foundries and a power station later crowded out housing, and the population fell through the 20th century.
TURNING POINTS
1806A party of 21 visitors from Parramatta picnics on Captain Macarthur’s estate in Cockle Bay and names it Pyrmont.
1839The Pyrmont estate is subdivided for sale.
1855A patent slip on Darling Island is repairing ships of up to 2,000 tons.
1858Pyrmont Bridge opens across Darling Harbour on 17 March, free to the public for the day.
1860The Glebe Island abattoirs open, and herds of cattle are driven through Pyrmont to slaughter.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A dense suburb of apartments, offices and a casino on old industrial land. Faces of the old sandstone quarries still show between the buildings.