This local historical book is researched and written by my late mother, Beverely Runcie (BA,GRAD DIP ED, M LIB) who resided at Killcare. Mum was an active member of the Bouddi Society and I have edited her comprehensive book, contributed photographs for illustrations and updated content given she passed in 2022 and it is now 2025. My daughter, Kalena Webb has designed the book cover and created and formatted the interior design.
Signposts to the Past explores the fascinating ways places and streets have acquired their names within the Bouddi Peninsula, a coastal region bordering Broken Bay in New South Wales. Associated stories are told of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Historical images and present-day photographs illustrate the lives of people within this stunning coastal landscape.
The Bouddi Peninsula lies on the north side of the entrance to Broken Bay where the majestic Hawksbury (Deerubin) River joins with the sea, on the east coast of Australia. The history begins with some place names given to the area by Indigenous Australian people before white settlement. Then, subsequent place names were given in the twentieth century. Only a few places named by the original Aboriginal people of the Bouddi area survive. In the twentieth century some Bouddi streets were named using Aboriginal words which were not of the area. Place names and street names all have a story to tell. For instance, Turo Park was named after Turo Downes a much-loved Aboriginal man who lived in the area for many years.
The Peninsula includes the small communities of Hardys Bay, Killcare, Killcare Heights, Pretty Beach and Wagstaffe. Most of the area, however, is taken up by the 1532-hectare Bouddi National Park which begins at south MacMasters Beach and stretches to Box Head, about 10 kilometres in distance.
Street names and places are presented alphabetically with historical details about their beginning and subsequent history.
Even though Mum is not physically with us, it has felt like the three of us have been working together as a trio with her fascinating and beautiful book.
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beverley Joan Runcie (BA, Grad.Dip.Ed, M.Lib, ALIA) — a visionary educator, historian, and storyteller whose final work now finds its place in the hands and hearts of her community.
Beverley’s career was defined by excellence and leadership, culminating in her role as Head Senior Teacher and Acting Assistant Principal at Sydney Technical College’s Department of TAFE. But retirement in Killcare marked not an end, but a new beginning — one filled with discovery, creativity, and deep connection to place.
Her passion for genealogy and local history led to extraordinary contributions, including the 350-page biographical work Reflections (2012), chronicling the life of her cousin Anna Wellington (b. 1929), and the foundational Bouddi History Project publication European Settlers and Their Land, available via the Bouddi Society.
📖 Signposts to the Past is Beverley’s final gift — a beautifully researched and lovingly written exploration of the origins of place names across the Bouddi Peninsula. Completed posthumously by her daughter Myfanwy Webb and granddaughter Kalena Webb, this book is more than a historical record; it’s a celebration of memory, meaning, and the stories that shape our landscape.
Beverley was a cherished member of Killcare’s cultural and intellectual life, actively engaged with The Bouddi Society, the Society of Australian Genealogists, John Nichols Central Coast Family Society, Central Coast Family History Society, and local poetry and book clubs. Her legacy is one of curiosity, generosity, and a deep love for community.
Signposts to the Past, reflects not only a book, but a life lived in pursuit of knowledge, connection, and beauty. Beverley’s voice echoes through these pages — guiding us, inspiring us, and reminding us that every street and every name hold a story worth telling.
BOOK LAUNCH 23rd November 2025 Wagstaffe Hall, Wagstaffe
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