Wattamolla

Wattamolla (coord|34|08|15|S|151|07|04|E|) is a cove and lagoon on the New South Wales coast south of Sydney, within the Royal National Park.

Wattamolla is the local Aboriginal name, meaning "place near running water" [ [http://www.sutherland.nsw.gov.au/ssc/rwpattach.nsf/0/Factsheet_6_FINAL_20030728.pdf/$file/Factsheet_6_FINAL_20030728.pdf Sutherland Shire place names] , fact sheet by the Sutherland Shire Council, August 2003] . That name was recorded as Watta-Mowlee by Matthew Flinders, but is today spelt Wattamolla. Flinders, George Bass and a boy, William Martin, stopped there in their boat the "Tom Thumb II" on the evening of 29 March 1796. They had been pushed northwards in the boat along the high cliffs there by a southerly gale and wanted to find a cove of some sort for shelter. At about 10pm they came upon breaking waves and Flinders thought the dark outline of cliffs ended and so turned the boat towards shore. They had found Wattamolla and in just moments were in the calm sheltered water of the lagoon. Such was their relief that they were going to call it Providential Cove until learning later of its Aboriginal name. [gutenberg|no=12929|name=A Voyage to Terra Australis by Matthew Flinders] [gutenberg|no=7304|name=The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders, by Ernest Scott]

References

External links

* [http://www.pictureaustralia.org/apps/pictureaustralia?action=PASearch&mode=subject&complete1=true&attribute1=subject&term1=Wattamolla+%28Royal+National+Park%29 Wattamolla pictues] at Picture Australia