the area was originally inhabited by the wodiwodi aboriginal clan of the tharawal people. it was traversed by 3 shipwrecked sailors in an epic journey of survival along hundreds of miles of coastline until rescued at wattamolla, north of stanwell park. two of their companions were unable to negotiate the coal cliffs where the sea cliff bridge is today, and their remains were found by explorer george bass, who also reported on the rich coal seam apparent in the cliffs.