Tank Stream Bridge And Head Of Sydney Cove

Bridge Street, Northern Side, Between George And Pitt Steeets

In October 1788, A Timber Bridge Was Built To Span The Tank Stream, Which Was Then The Head Of Sydney Cove. 

When Governor Phillip Inspected Port Jackson In January 1788 He Was Unduced To Start Settlement There Because Of A Rivulet At The Head Of Sydney Cove Where WiLd Celery, Paraley and Aponach Flourished - Healthy Vegetablesn For Scurvy Patients. A Swampy Spring, one Mile Away In Today's Hyde Park, Was The Birthplace Of This Rivulet, Which Fell One Hundred Feet As It Wandered Eastward Over Sandstone Rocks To King Street. Thence Nourished By Two Springs, One At King Street And Another At Spring Street, It Glowed To Bridge Street, The Head Of The  Estuary. 

To Save The Lifestream, Governor Phillip InMarch 1788 Wisely Decreed That "The Run Of Water Which Supplies The SettlementQas Observed To Be Only. A Drain Grom The Swamp. To Protect It From The Sun, The Governor Forbids The Cutting DownOf Any Tree Within Fifty Feet Of The Run, then Which There Has Not Been A Finer Found In Any One Kf The Coves In The Harbour. 

In October 1788 A Timber bridge was built to span the tank stream at this spot, which was then The Head Of Sydney Cove. in 1803 -1804 the structure was replaced by Stonebridge. 

When Governor Philip inspected Port Jackson in January 1788 he was induced to start a settlement there because Of A Rivulet At The Head Of Sydney Cove Where Wild celery parsley & spinach flourished - healthy vegetables for scurvy patients. A Swampy Spring 1 mile away, in the centre of Today's Hyde Park, Was The Birthplace Of This a Rivulet,which fell 100 feet as it wandered Eastward Over sandstone Rocks To King Street.  Then nourished by two springs, one at  King Street and another at Spring Street It Flowed to Bridge Street The Head Of The tidal estuary.

To save the live stream, Governor Philip in March 1788 wisely decreed that 

"the run of water which supplies the settlement was observed to be only a drain from the swamp. To protect it from the sun, the governor forbids the cutting down of any tree within 50 feet of the run, than which there has not been a finer found in any one of the coves of the harbour."

in February 1791 surveyor Alt deepened the stream Near Bridge Street and in April 1792 the governor had ditches dug flanking the rivulet. A paling fence was erected to keep out stock and cherish the shrubs growing on its Bank.

The Rivulet was christened the tank stream in May 1792 after his Excellency had convicts Hew a tank from sandstone which held 8000 gallons of water.

Bridge Street where the 10th stream turned into the tidal waters Of Sydney Cove became the main link between East and West Sydney Collins in October 1788 stated that again Of convicts were employed enrolling timber together to form a bridge over the stream at the head of the Cove soon footbridge spans the rushing mortars followed later By Of E he Curcular Bridge alas and overloaded Bullock wagon broke through the decking and put the breach out of action