Kamay Botany Bay National Park is a magnificent headland site that bounds the mouth of Botany Bay, Sydney. The Kurnell Precinct of Kamay Botany Bay National Park is located on the southern headland of Botany Bay.
The place is highly significant for Australia as it is the site of contact in 1770 between Aboriginal Australians and the crew the HMB Endeavour. It is also the place of the last sighting of the French explorer Compte de La Perouse in 1788 and the locality for many of the plant species first collected by Banks and Solander, and contains important samples of endangered ecological communities.
The Kamay 2020 Project is a joint Australian and NSW government project to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the encounter between Aboriginal Australians and the crew of the HMB Endeavour at Kurnell. This significant project has been informed by the Kamay Botany Bay National Park Kurnell: Master Plan and plan of management to deliver improved visitor amenity and access, provide new experiences and acknowledge the diversity of stories associated with this place.
The 250th anniversary of contact between Aboriginal Australians and the crew of the HMB Endeavour provides a unique opportunity to take a fresh look at this nationally significant place as one that respects and interprets many layers of history. To commemorate the anniversary in 2020, 3 bronze sculptures were installed along the Kurnell foreshore to share stories from the perspective of the local Aboriginal community.
What's happening at Kurnell?
A number of activities have been carried out to implement the master plan since Implementation of Stage 1 of the master plan commenced in 2019 as part of the joint Australian and NSW governments' funding program.
Kurnell Visitor Centre
Construction of the new Kurnell Visitor Centre is underway. The new building will offer improved visitor facilities, an exhibition space, education and learning areas, meeting rooms and park operations offices. Consultation in 2016 revealed wide support for a new centre and in particular greater recognition of Aboriginal history and culture in this facility. Demolition of the old centre took place in November 2024 and completion of the new building is scheduled for 2026.
Foreshore revetment
A new revetment along the Botany Bay foreshore will replace the sandbags which have been in place since 2018, when a major storm event threatened to erode the foreshore. A revetment is a permanent structure which protects the foreshore from storm surges and tides. This work will provide permanent and stable protection to the foreshore between the new wharf and Commemoration Flat.
Construction works have commenced and are scheduled to be completed in early 2026. There will be some closures and restrictions to visitor access along the foreshore during the construction period.
Commemoration Flat
Construction of new pathways within Commemoration Flat have been completed, creating an accessible connection from Monument Track and the Botany Bay foreshore to the Commemoration Flat carpark, new visitor centre and upgraded Cricket Pitch precinct.
In addition, reconstruction of the Commemoration Flat carpark has commenced and is scheduled to be completed in early 2026. During this period, new barbecues and picnic shelters will also be installed to replace the aged ones at Commemoration Flat.
Cricket Pitch
Upgrades to the Cricket Pitch precinct were completed in April 2025. These improvements include:
- reconstruction of the car park to provide 34 additional car spaces
- replacement of the current amenities with a new building similar to the Commemoration Flat amenities completed in 2024
- new water refill station
- rehabilitation of the freshwater stream
- construction of a new pathway to connect the Cricket Pitch precinct to the new Visitor Centre and foreshore have also been completed.
Other works
Completed works carried out as part of this project include:
- installation of the 3 commemorative sculptures (completed April 2020) at Kurnell
- conservation works to monuments including the 1870 Cook Obelisk (completed April 2020)
- restoration of historic Alpha House (completed November 2020)
- upgrade of the Cape Solander whale-watching facilities, including new whale-watching platforms, footpaths, wheelchair accessibility and safety improvements. These new facilities were opened in December 2022
- an amenity building and water refill station at Commemoration Flat.
Signage and interpretation
Interpretation is about increasing visitors’ awareness and understanding of why a place is significant by explaining natural and cultural values through signage and other devices. An interpretation plan for the Kurnell area of Kamay Botany Bay National Park was prepared and placed on public exhibition earlier in 2025. The plan has developed a sustainable, respectful and consistent approach to revising and refreshing interpretation and storytelling at Kamay.
Following public comment on the interpretation plan, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has now appointed a specialist interpretation company to develop the concepts described in the plan into updated and revised designs for interpretation.
Although formal consultation has closed, you can still view the Kamay Botany Bay National Park interpretation plan 2025, and questions or comments are welcome at any time. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has also reviewed wayfinding signage and will be rolling out an updated package to help visitors find their way around the park.
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Whale sculptures in Kurnell Area, Kamay Botany Bay National Park -
Detail of the The Eyes of the Land and the Sea bronze sculpture at Kurnell, Kamay Botany Bay National Park -
The Eyes of the Land and the Sea sculpture, Kamay Botany Bay National Park -
The Eyes of the Land and the Sea sculpture, Kamay Botany Bay National Park -
The Nuwi-Canoe sculptures along the foreshore in Kurnell, Kamay Botany Bay National Park -
The Nuwi-Canoe sculptures, Kurnell Area, Kamay Botany Bay National Park -
Whale sculptures detail in Kurnell, Kamay Botany Bay National Park -
Whale sculptures in Kurnell, Kamay Botany Bay National Park
The Kamay 2020 Project is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service under the guidance of the Kamay 2020 Project Board.
Funding has been provided by the Australian and New South Wales Governments. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is also working with partner organisations to deliver this project, including Transport for NSW.
The Kurnell headland has been a special place to Aboriginal Australians for thousands of years. It is a place of meeting, of ceremony and of plenty.
As the landing place of the HMB Endeavour, Kurnell represents a significant place in Australia's history and represents the early contact between Aboriginal Australians and European explorers.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service was given responsibility of Kurnell in 1967, and the Botany Bay National Park, including La Perouse, was gazetted in 1988. In 2016, 'Kamay' was added to the name of the national park to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Gweagal.
The Kamay 2020 Project was informed by the master plan and plan of management which were developed to protect, enhance and share the special values of the national park:
- The master plan will improve the Kurnell precinct, with new visitor facilities and quality visitor experiences that respect and highlight the cultural importance of this place.
- An updated plan of management for the whole park defines how the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will look after special places and values, provide opportunities for visitors, and work with the community to manage this park. The values identified in the plan of management inform what improvements can occur in the park.
During the development of these plans, community engagement was undertaken with Aboriginal communities, the local Kurnell community, park users, visitors and school and education users, among others involved in this process. The full summary of the engagement activities during this process can be found in the Summary of community and stakeholder engagement: Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell.
Due to COVID-19 related public health orders, planned activities to respectfully commemorate the 250th anniversary of the meeting of cultures at Kamay Botany Bay National Park unfortunately were unable to go ahead.
Kamay Botany Bay National Park is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register. A conservation management plan for the Meeting Place Precinct at Kurnell was prepared in 2008 and endorsed by the NSW Heritage Council. Any major site works will be subject to rigorous environmental planning procedures in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and formal approval of the NSW Heritage Council under the Heritage Act 1977. The site is also recorded on the National Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
As part of the Kamay 2020 Project, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has partnered with Transport NSW to deliver ferry infrastructure to connect La Perouse and Kurnell across the bay. Funding for Kamay 2020 will contribute to this project, and more information will be circulated as the project progresses.
Randwick City Council is responsible for the La Perouse Museum and has been undertaking a separate project focused on this area. More information on this project can be found on the council website.
Public feedback was sought from 30 April to 2 August 2018 on the Kamay Botany Bay National Park Kurnell: Draft Master Plan and the Kamay Botany Bay National Park Draft Plan of Management as part of the Kamay 2020 Project. The master plan was finalised in February 2019, and the plan of management adopted in December 2019.
Updates on Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Construction of the Kurnell seawall will start soon, and the visitor centre is progressing.
An interpretation plan has been released for public comment, and construction of the visitor centre is progressing.
The upgraded Cricket Pitch precinct has been reopened, and work has started on other areas of the park.
The new visitor amenities building at Commemoration Flat has opened.
This update includes news about progress on the Commemoration Flat amenities building, proposed visitor centre and heritage approvals.
Look for us at Alpha House and check out the restorations.
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Download
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell Master Plan
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park Plan of Management
- Review of environmental factors: Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park Planning Considerations
- Meeting Place Precinct Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell: Conservation Management Plan