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Bungaroo in the Garigal National Park, second and third campsites of this expedition.
PHILLIP'S EXPLORATION OF MIDDLE HARBOUR CREEK
Middle Harbour and the Middle Harbour Creek valley was first explored by Governor Arthur Phillip during an expedition that commenced at Manly Cove where they landed on 15 April 1788 and trekked overland to the thick forests, now named French's Forest. This was the first of many inland treks to find arable land on which to grow food for the infant colony. The following day they trekked westward, reaching the sandbanks of Middle Harbour (at Roseville Bridge) then following the waters to Bungaroo, in the heart of Garigal National Park, the place where the tidal Harbour finishes and the Creek begins – a rocky bar separates the salt waters of Middle Harbour from the fresh water of Middle Harbour Creek. Bungaroo is Aboriginal name for the Salt Water Turtle.
Governor Phillip described this section of the river as where "the flowing of the tide ceased"; John White (Surgeon General) wrote that this was in "most desert wild and solitary seclusion". The site is historically significant because Phillip's party camped here on the night of 16th April 1788. They pitched their tents beneath the forest canopy dined on their rations, which may have been supplemented with sand mullets and yabbies which inhabit the shallow pools.
Access to Bungaroo is by the Founders Way Walking Track, the entrance to which is off Hunter Avenue, St Ives. The Walk roughly follows the path taken by Phillip's party after they broke camp at Bungaroo and climbed out of the valley into "an immense wood" in what is the modern-day St Ives-Pymble area. From its highest point, about 15 miles from the coast, Phillip had "a fine view of the Mountains inland, the Northernmost of which I named Carmarthen Hills, and the Southernmost Lansdown Hills. A Mountain between I called Richmond Hill and from the rising of these Mountains, I did not doubt but that a large River would be found".
Top images: (L) Collins Flat Beach, Manly, viewed by Governor Phillip during his exploration of Manly. (R) Lovers Jump Creek,
Ku-ring-gai National Park. Courtesy of R. Scott
Side image: Bungaroo in the upper reaches of Middle Harbour. Courtesy of R. Scott
Image below from the internet: The far left yellow pin marks the Pymble Hill where he viewed the distant Carpathian Hills (the Blue Mountains) from which he knew a river and its tributaries would flow.
© Arthur Phillip Chapter of Fellowship of First Fleeters 2023 -
The approximate route of Governor Arthur Phillip's exploration of Middle Harbour and the hinterland, April 1788.
