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Sydney’s southern suburbs began surrounding it in the first half of the 20th century, although much of its shoreline is industrial, including major oil refineries, warehouses, factories and Kingsford Smith International Airport with runways reaching out into the bay.

Sydney’s southern suburbs began surrounding it in the first half of the 20th century, although much of its shoreline is industrial, including major oil refineries, warehouses, factories and Kingsford Smith International Airport with runways reaching out into the bay.

It is the site of the first known [[Europe]]an contact with eastern Australia  when [[James Cook]] made landfall just inside its southern headland in 1770. He named it ''“Stingray Bay”'' then, as the botanists on board his ship, '“Endeavour”'', began collecting the many hitherto unknown species of flora from the surrounding area, ''“Botanist’s Bay”'', before finally settling on its current name.

It is the site of the first known [[Europe]]an contact with eastern Australia  when [[James Cook]] made landfall just inside its southern headland in 1770. He named it ''“Stingray Bay”'' then, as the botanists on board his ship, ''Endeavour'', began collecting the many hitherto unknown species of flora from the surrounding area, ''“Botanist’s Bay”'', before finally settling on its current name.

Cook’s reports of the area made it the intended destination for the [[First Fleet]] in 1788. It was found unsuitable for a major settlement, however, (much of the surrounding ground was low, extremely sandy or swamp) and the venture was moved to Port Jackson which Cook had noted as an inlet without entering the Heads and discovering its qualities.  

Cook’s reports of the area made it the intended destination for the [[First Fleet]] in 1788. It was found unsuitable for a major settlement, however, (much of the surrounding ground was low, extremely sandy or swamp) and the venture was moved to Port Jackson which Cook had noted as an inlet without entering the Heads and discovering its qualities.  

It holds a place in the Australian ethos with words of the old song still widely known:

It holds a place in the Australian ethos with words of the old song (actually a [[Sea Shanty]], still widely known:

:''Farewell to old England forever''

:''Farewell to old England forever''

:''Farewell to my rum culls as well''

:''Farewell to my rum culls as well''