The following extract comes from “Yarns and Photos – Beautiful Old Berowra, Hornsby to the Hawkesbury” by Mick Joffe. This is an essential read for all residents, families and friends, especially the section on Berowra Creek – Tributary of the Hawkesbury River.

The small community of Berowra Waters ‘live at the water’s edge’ in a picturesque environment. For thousands of years the Aboriginal people lived in complete harmony with the river, evidenced by a rich collection of rock carvings, cave painting and middens, which they had a strong attachment to and from which they drew inspiration.

Within weeks of the landing of the First Fleet in 1788, smallpox was recorded among the native people and many died. The epidemic continued for two years and the tribes of the northern side of the harbour, including the Dhurag and Guringai were halved, and then halved again by influenza and syphilis. One of the last Aborigines to live on Berowra Creek was Granny Lewis at Marramarra Creek.

In 1789 Captain Hunter surveyed and charted Berowra Creek and by 1895 timber-getting was one of the main commercial activities on the Hawkesbury. Sailing boats ventured right up to Crosslands. In 1829 The Government Assistant Surveyor William Govett traced Berowra Creek to its source. From 1833 the first land grants on Berowra Creek were made to George Murphy of 50 acres, land at Marramarra to John Grace, at Peats Bight (now a wonderful restaurant) 50 acres to George Peat, 30 acres to George Sullivan and 16 years later to John Crumpton, whose descendants lived here until 2016.

George Collingridge a poet, artist, wood engraver, founder of the Royal Art Society of NSW, publisher and teacher, took up a selection of 88 acres on Berowra Creek in 1886. Now known as Collingridge Point he built a stone cottage “Capo di Monte”, which still stands today. He lived there from 1883 to 1887.

Later, in 1898, Jack Smith built a boat shed (now the most historic building in the vicinity), held fishing competitions, and ran a small hand operated punt for pedestrians and horse drawn vehicles. As the punt grew popular, the roadwork to the Creek began in earnest.

Edward Windybank converted the paddle steamer “General Gordon” into two houseboats in the 1890’s. During the same time, the Fretus Family, well known hoteliers, purchased 40 acres and a reserved road to the point overlooking Calabash Bay. When the license was removed from a hotel they owned in Sans Souci, John Fretus decided to build a hotel/guest house at Calabash Point. This decision was based on the understanding that a partly surveyed road would be completed from Berowra Station to Cunio Point (opposite Calabash also known as Todd’s Point) and would link it to Calabash Bay by ferry and on to Berrilee via the reserved road. The Dept. of Works and Main Roads decided it was less expensive to wind the road down directly to the Creek and the ferry commenced running across to Dusthole Bay and onto Berrilee via Bay Road. This left the Fretus Hotel without road access and it became a private home, eventually falling at the hands of vandals and bushfires.

Rex Jones, a young local man, had returned from the war and in the 1920’s began hiring out row boats and development took off! The Berowra Waters Kiosk was built (later known as the Teahouse), Jack Smith’s Boatshed added a small shop, the Silverwater Estate land was auctioned in 1926 and motor boat hiring began.

Rex Jones was tragically drowned in 1936 and a memorial in honour of this man stands near our post boxes. This is a tribute to one of the many wonderful people who shaped the development of Berowra Waters as it is now known.

In the 30’s Arthur Lubeck conveyed tourists in his beautiful boat “Enterprise” to the guest houses that now fronted the Creek; ”Koala Flats” is still here today, “The Pacific’ later to become Berowra Waters Inn, “The Riverview”, “Norwick” and “Wymalla Flats”. Everyone enjoyed the Creek!

The history of Berowra and Berowra Creek is fascinating, established by people of strength, humour and vision, surrounded by bush, water and ridges, National Parks and walking trails, small beaches, shops and schools, and only an hour from the city of Sydney. This makes Berowra Creek a unique place