On Wednesday 11 November 2020, Dieter, Tinker and myself met Tinker’s son Peter at Sydney Boathouse at Rozelle. Peter is one of a staff of about 14 people who look after the boats of the rich and famous! It is located on Rozelle Bay with the beautiful Anzac Bridge as a backdrop. A very notable presence at Sydney Boathouse is the yacht Ichi Ban which was the overall and handicap winner of the 75^th Sydney to Hobart race in 2019!

Peter very kindly spent well over an hour with us and shared much about the operations of the Boathouse. We were able to board an old timber boat being refurbished and watched a massive fork lift extricate a five tonne boat from the water to be placed in the boat shed. Photos show not only this operation but also the huge boat shed where the boats are stored. The Boathouse not only has dry boat storage (boat shed), but also on-water marina berths. They service the engines and repair the boats. Sydney Boathouse also has an onsite waterfront cafe, general store, showrooms, offices, as well as a chandlery.

Peter shared some interesting information with us. Sir Frank Lowy, Australian-Israeli businessman who created and developed Westfield Corporation, moors a number of his boats at the Boathouse. Some months ago, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (close friend of Frank Lowy) arrived at the Boathouse to spend a day on the harbour with Frank. Multiple black limousines and police vehicles drove through the premises so Peter and other staff members decided to go and take a look. When they reached Frank Lowy's $800,000 boat, they were told in no uncertain terms to leave the area. Peter identified three snipers with rifles on buildings on the other side of the bay. You don't want to mess with the rich and famous!

We had fish and chips for lunch at the café before a short drive to Punt Road, Gladesville to view Rockend Cottage. 

Banjo Paterson lived at and visited Rockend Cottage on and off following his school years.  It was not only the residence of his grandmother Emily Mary Barton, but also of her unmarried daughters and, following the death of Banjo Paterson's father in 1889, became the residence of Banjo's mother Emily Paterson.

Banjo Paterson, original name Andrew Barton Paterson, was born February 17, 1864 at Narrambla, New South Wales, and died February 5, 1941, in Sydney. He was a poet and journalist noted for his composition of the internationally famous song "Waltzing Matilda." He achieved great success in Australia with The Man from Snowy River and other Verses (1895), which sold more than 100,000 copies before his death. 

After viewing Rockend Cottage, we walked a short distance to enjoy the views at Bedlam Point. We could see Cabarita Park and baths (where I spent much of my childhood) and Canada Bay in the distance. We also observed a Rivercat silently meander along Parramatta River to Abbotsford Rowing Club on its return journey from Darling Harbour. 

Bedlam Point is between Looking Glass Bay and Bedlam Bay and was chosen in the 1820s as the place where The Great North Road, which linked Sydney to the Hunter Valley, would cross the Parramatta River. A punt service which took travellers across the river at Bedlam Point was established in 1832.

There is a story about Bedlam Point. The area was named Bethlem Point as early as 1820 and was officially called Bedlam Point soon afterwards. Bedlam is a corruption of Bethlam / Bethlehem which was the name of England's first lunatic asylum. Although the origins of local naming are unclear, it certainly predates the building of the nearby Tarban Creek Lunatic Asylum in 1838. 

The distance between Bedlam Point and Abbotsford is 200 metres and is the narrowest point of the Parramatta River below Homebush Bay. A cable-driven punt was established in 1832 from Abbotsford to Bedlam Point, to ferry people, produce, livestock and carriages across the river. It was the only river crossing for some thirty years before being decommissioned in 1860's. 

Like myself, Tinker has a great love of history. Neither myself or Dieter were aware of Rockend Cottage or Bedlam Point even though both of us had lived in the area (myself Concord and Dieter Gladesville) at various stages in our lives. 

We arrived home safely after a very enjoyable day of fellowship together. Something very special about brothers in Christ spending time together! Already planning a future trip to Barangaroo via Rivercat from Parramatta!