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Lavender Bay Parklands:

Clark Park, Watt Park, Quibaree Park, and the Lavender Bay Foreshore

Download NSC_parks_reserves_complete.pdf Parks and Reserves Map (817KB)

The Lavender Bay Parklands comprise Clark Park to the east, Watt Park to the west, Quibaree Park to the south and the Lavender Bay foreshore. The Lower Walker Street Steps and the King George Street Road Reserve are also part of the Parklands, as is Wendy's Garden, an area of state rail land situated below Clark Park, currently leased to Council for the purposes of public open space.

Significant features of the Parklands include elements of heritage significance, spectacular harbour views, mature tree plantings and direct access to Sydney Harbour.

lavenderHistory
Prior to European settlement and well into the 19th century the Quibaree Clan, part of the larger Kuringgai Tribe, occupied Lavender Bay.

In 1805 Robert Campbell purchased a large section of land on the waterfront of the North Shore, between Lavender Bay and Careening Cove. James Milson settled on this land in 1806.

During the 1850's, subdivision and sale led to increased settlement in the Lavender Bay and Milsons Point area. A large number of stately homes were built overlooking the Bay, including 'Quiberee', 'Neepsend' and 'Hellespont'. From 1881 to 1975 the Lavender Bay (formerly Cavill's) bath-house and baths operated from the now reclaimed land adjacent to the rail viaduct in Quibaree Park.

Much of the land in the subdivision was reserved for the construction of the railway in 1893, after which it was largely given over to parkland; becoming Watt Park and Quibaree Park. Watt Park is named after Alderman Charles W. Watt, the Mayor of North Sydney from 1923 - 1926, and an alderman from 1907 - 1936. Charles Watt conducted a ship's contractors business at McMahons Point for many years. Clark Park commemorates the name of his predecessor, Alderman E. M. Clark, Mayor of North Sydney from 1918 - 1919.

Quibaree Park was created following a residential development at the end of King George Street. This Park acknowledges the importance of the former boat building operations in Lavender Bay, including the remains of the Nepture Engineering Company's slipway, and the former Aboriginal name for the Bay - Quiberie - meaning a spring of fresh water. The Metropolitan Aboriginal Lands Council approved the naming of this new Park in 1995 with the suggested appropriate spelling as 'Quibaree'.

Access
The Lavender Bay Parklands are located within walking distance of the North Sydney CBD, North Sydney station, Milsons Point station and Milsons Point ferry wharf. Lavender Bay wharf is a small Council-owned wharf that is available for public use.

To the east, the Parklands connect to Luna Park, Milsons Point wharf, the North Sydney Olympic Pool and Bradfield Park via a well-established and well-utilised pedestrian and cycle network. To the west, the Parklands connect via the King George Street road Reserve to Waiwera Street, which meets McMahon's Point wharf and Blues Point Reserve in the south.

lavenderClark Park

This outward looking park features spectacular views over Lavender Bay, across the harbour and to the Harbour Bridge. It is an open grassy park with a number of established trees and feature sandstone walling. The Park also contains a flagpole and a number of sculptures.

Facilities
Clark Park contains picnic tables and benches and a variety of pedestrian pathways. The Park serves a memorial function, and is often the gathering point for groups involved in memorial commemorations.

A significant upgrading of Clark Park, in accordance with the Lavender Bay Parklands Master Plan 2007, was completed in 2008.

lavenderWatt Park

This introspective park is suitable for quiet reflection and relaxation. It is characterised by mature trees of stately proportions; specimens surviving from the gardens of early mansions in the area that were demolished for the railway. The Park contains an historic well, and the sandstone rock escarpment is an important landscape feature.

The railway viaduct forms the southern border of the park and acts as a gateway to the harbour: connecting Watt Park with the waterfront Quibaree Park.

Facilities - > Watt Park playground
Watt Park contains a custom-designed children's playground as well as a number of park benches, picnic tables and pedestrian pathways.

lavenderQuibaree Park

This narrow strip of waterfront land bounded by the water's edge and the railway viaduct represents a significant land-water interface. The foreshore is a mixture of historic slipway, functioning boat ramp, sea wall and rubble wall. The Park affords excellent views of the harbour and the city and there are open, grassed areas for sitting and relaxing.

Facilities
Quibaree Park contains a small, functioning boat ramp, and there is also access to the water from a beach area, a jetty and stairs. There is also a public amenities building, and interpretive signage along the foreshore details the history of North Sydney's boat building heritage.

lavenderLavender Bay foreshore

This narrow strip of waterfront land functions as an important pedestrian and cycle link between Quibaree Park and Luna Park, with the Harbour Bridge and Bradfield Park beyond. It consists of a broad timber boardwalk, associated green space (including the recently upgraded Art Barton Park) and sculpture gardens. The area provides expansive views over the harbour, to Luna Park and to the city.

Walker Street Road Reserve and King George Street Reserve
These two road reserves function as gateways to the Lavender Bay Parklands. Vegetation within these reserves provides some screening of the railway viaduct, and there are limited water views.

Wendys GardenWendy's Garden
The area of state rail land situated between Clark Park and the railway lines/viaduct has been transformed from a weed-infested, neglected area into an intimate and attractive garden space which is an integral part of the Lavender Bay Parklands. Council currently leases this land from Railcorp, for the purposes of public open space.