Watson's Bay

Watsons Bay Sydney, New South Wales
Camp Cove beach in Watsons Bay
Population	918 (2011 census)
• Density	1,530/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2030
Area	0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Location	11 km (7 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Woollahra
State electorate(s)	Vaucluse
Federal Division(s)	Wentworth
Suburbs around Watsons Bay: Clifton Gardens Manly Mosman Watsons Bay Vaucluse Vaucluse Tasman Sea

Watsons Bay is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Watsons Bay is located 11 km north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra.

Watsons Bay sits on the end of the South Head peninsula and takes its name from the sheltered bay and anchorage on its western side, in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour). It provides views across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Gap is an ocean cliff on the eastern side with views to Manly at North Head and the Pacific Ocean. Vaucluse is the only adjacent suburb, to the south.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now known as Watsons Bay, were the Cadigal people. The Cadigal referred to the area as Kutti. This indigenous group of people fished and collected shellfish in the waters and bays off South Head. They acquired their resources from Camp Cove and carved rock engravings there, which have since eroded from the cliff faces and rock surfaces that line the coastline.

Watson's Bay was named after Robert Watson (1756–1819), formerly of HMS Sirius, when he had to beach his three vessels at Camp Cove for many years because of their being potentially sold by the Provost Marshal. Watson was appointed harbour pilot and harbourmaster of the port of Sydney in 1811 and the first superintendent of Macquarie Lighthouse in 1816.