Crows Nest: Local History and St Thomas Rest Park

Crows Nest is named after a farm and a cottage built by Edward Wollstonecraft on his 1821 land grant. St Thomas Rest Park adds its own perspective on burial and remembrance to this local history.

Local History at St Thomas Rest Park

St Thomas Rest Park is in the Crows Nest area; numerous monuments and headstones are scattered across the park. Sexton's Cottage was formerly used to lay out the deceased before their burial. The Sexton's Cottage Museum displays a reproduction mourning dress and mourning jewellery. Check the latest museum information before your visit if you are planning to see the exhibition. The two cottages relate to different themes: the cottage on Wollstonecraft's land grant explains the name Crows Nest; Sexton's Cottage is associated with the former practice of laying out the deceased.

Park Rules and Getting There

The park has a purpose-designed, fully fenced retro-style playground. Dogs are welcome at St Thomas Rest Park, but must stay at least 10 metres from the playground. If you are visiting with a dog, observe this distance rule and check the current signs on arrival. There are two separate points to consider when getting there: buses run regularly along West Street; on-street parking is available in the surrounding streets. Check current transport schedules and parking information before travelling.

More Perspectives in North Sydney Council

In the broader destination of North Sydney Council, The Coal Loader offers a different historical perspective. This heritage-listed former industrial site by the harbour brings together history, culture, industry, nature and community. Tunnel 2 is a public path leading to Balls Head. Balls Head Reserve includes an Aboriginal heritage protection area with numerous sites, including archaeological deposits, shell middens, artworks and rock engravings.

Built heritage in North Sydney Council is also interpreted in different ways. The Bradfield Park Heritage Walk is a self-guided interpretive trail through heritage-listed Bradfield Park North. Words, images and displays on the surviving building walls and foundations beneath the park tell the story of the place. The Kirribilli History Walk reveals historical layers ranging from stone houses to Art Deco apartments; despite post-war development, Kirribilli has preserved much of its built heritage.

The Gadyan Track offers a landscape and cultural perspective in North Sydney Council: this 750-metre signposted bushland loop around Berry Island is easy to walk and shares stories and legends of the Cammeraygal. Gadyan is the Sydney carpet shell, commonly found in shell middens on the island. In contrast to the built heritage focus of the Bradfield Park Heritage Walk, the Gadyan Track shares stories of the Cammeraygal.

For the broader travel overview: North Sydney Council.