Of course you do.
But did you know that it was once called Stripe Point. The reason for the early name has been lost in the mists of time. But who was Stokes?
Stokes was described as a tall, handsome man who lived on the beach near the point and who became a boatbuilder of some renown. Oddly enough he had been, of all things, a ladies' shoemaker in London, a business which required very careful work which, it is said, he translated into his boats. So why did he have a criminal record like most of the residents at that time? His story was that in London he had been seized in a crowd and searched. A handkerchief which he claimed he had never seen before had been found in his pocket, put there by a pickpocket who thus saved himself from apprehension. As Stokes could not give a satisfactory account of how it came in his possession, he was convicted and transported to Australia, one of many innocent men - and women - who each did their share in the country's development.
In time, given his freedom, Stokes managed to move some of his possessions to
Sydney. These included a stylish bottle green coast he treasured highly. Even as
a courteous old man he was a dapper figure. It was reported that every Sunday he
wore his treasured bottle green coat with large buttons and a remarkably tall
hat - remnants of his bygone London city days when they were the latest style.
One morning he arrived, a vision of bottle green splendour with hat well brushed
and buttons glistening in the sunshine, to visit a neighbour. When he enquired
where the husband was he was told he was at work.
"On a Sunday! At work!" he said.
"But," the wife replied. "Today is not Sunday. It's only Friday!"
"Well! Well!," said the old spark. "Dash my buttons! Time does go slow on
Pittwater!"
And isn't it still the truth?