Wharfside memories
For generations, the original wharves at La Perouse and Kurnell were more than just places to catch a ferry. Locals and visitors fished, swam, picnicked, dove for coins, and watched local wildlife. Tourists arrived by tram and ferry, drawn to the sights, stories and seaside charm.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people please be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material.
Transport for NSW (Transport) received some of this information from members of the public by way of voluntary submission. The information provided is a collection of individual experiences and is not a comprehensive history of the wharves or account for everyone’s recollection. Transport may have shortened stories to comply with publishing requirements.
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Transport has been granted permission by those who supplied the information to share their stories, pictures and videos. If you have any content concerns, please contact us at kamayferrywharves@transport.nsw.gov.au
Transport thanks the community for sharing their memories and photos of the former wharves.
Community memories
My memories of the La Perouse wharf start as a young teenager fishing in 1959. At 13, I became a deckhand on a trawler. I learned to drive an FJ Holden to carry a 44-gallon drum onto the wharf to refuel the boat. Some weekends I’d join my Aboriginal mates diving for coins thrown in by tourists. —Kevin Kearns
Between 1960 and 1964, we’d wait on the wharf for tourists arriving by tram. They’d ride the ferry to Kurnell, then walk around La Perouse and watch the snake man’s afternoon show. While they waited, we’d dive for coins they tossed into the water. We never dove for halfpennies – not worth it! We’d save up for a big bottle of soft drink and hot chips. — Michael Andrew
Once a year, the sunfish would come. The older kids would yell, ‘They’re here!’ They swam under the wharf and put on a show. One year, a sunfish died and the Paragon hauled it up. A newspaper took a photo of it with two cousins standing on top. The older boys yelled not to cook it. The restaurant said they’d take it out to sea and lay it to rest. I haven’t seen them since - maybe now, with the new wharf, they’ll come back. — Marion Russell
In the holidays, Uncle Gussy would drop us off at Kurnell to swim and picnic. I remember the rocks and shells, it got busy in summer. — Marion Russell
Next to the La Perouse Wharf stood the Paragon Café and boatshed, a favourite spot for seafood and views. In May 1974, a violent storm destroyed the wharves and the Paragon.
The Paragon tea rooms were on the wharf itself... The fish and chip shop was down under the wharf. We’d soak the chips in vinegar and eat them on the beach. — Michael Andrew
Kids would jump off the wharf and swim. We’d buy fish from the Paragon and bread to make lunch, then lay out in the sun near the wall. — Marion Russell