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Points of Interests Vaucluse Bay
Vaucluse Bay
The name Vaucluse Bay originated from the latin word 'vallis clausa' meaning an enclosed valley. It was named so by Sir Henry Hayes who was convicted for abducting an heiress. His sentence of death commuted to transportation for life. In 1802, he was allowed to buy land by Governor King. Sir Hayes took to farming and the 'gentleman convict turned gentleman farmer' also built a house there called Vaucluse House. It is also believed Sir Henry Browne Hayes, who relished the works of the 14th century poet Petrarch, named his charming cottage after Petrarch's famous poem on Fontaine de Vaucluse. From Sir Hayes the cottage passed several hands and underwent several modifications. Now the house, in the 1830s Gothic style, situates on 27 acres of gardens, has fifteen bedrooms and presents a beautiful view across the Sydney Harbour. The house is now open to the public.
Vaucluse is located on the South Head between Sydney Harbour on the west and Pacific Ocean on the east.
