Kurnell

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HistoryThe first land grant was made in 1815 to Captain James Birnie who although establishing a farm and homestead did not occupy. John Connell was also granted land in 1821. By 1838 he was to also gain Birnie's land. The land was cleared for timber and after Connell's death was later bought by pioneer Thomas Holt which added to his considerable holdings known as the Sutherland Estate and which became the primary source of land in the creation of Sutherland Shire in 1906. Kurnell became a popular area for fishing from the 1880s. From the 1920s it was well known for the cliff dwellings of Tabbigai near Cape Solander which were occupied by fishermen. Camps and humpies were also established in areas such as Boat Harbour in the depression years. Road access was difficult made up of a series of dirt tracks. Sand mining and the establishment of an oil refinery as primary industries on the peninsula resulted in the making a road by the refinery in the 1950s. This was to become part of Captain Cook Drive. From this time a village grew to the township of today.

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