sandstone quarry

is located in Sydney Harbour, at the junction of Darling Harbour and close to the suburb of Balmain East. The island has been has served as a sandstone quarry, convict stockade, explosives store, police station, fire station, boatyard and film set. This view is from Ballast Point at Birchgrove. The Sydney Harbour Bridge can be seen in the background, behind the island. It was known as Memill by indigenous people and there is considerable debate about how the name was derived. One interpretation is that early settlers thought, if viewed from the air, it may appear to look like a goat.