of Bass Point Reserve supports a variety of flora and fauna, both common and rare to the region. Today, the spectacular visual interplay of the bush vegetation, beaches, headlands, cliffs, ocean and sky makes Bass Point Reserve a scenic location for recreation visitors. Condition The natural environment of Bass Point Reserve has undergone periods of regeneration by Shellharbour Council's rangers and is in good condition. The ongoing maintenance of visitor areas has also ensured the good condition of facilities. Since the Bass Point Marine Area was identified, and specific areas classified as critical habitats and aquatic reserves, the marine environment surrounding Bass Point Reserve has remained in pristine condition. Although Bass Point Reserve has been subject to earlier archaeological investigations (in 1969/70 by Dr Sandra Bowdler and again in 1974 by Hughes & Sullivan), there is great potential for further archaeological discoveries - both terrestrial and maritime. Through Dr Bowdler's investigation, she concluded that there is potential that the individual shell midden sites on the northern shoreline could represent one single continuous midden site. It is also highly probable that there may be unrecorded Aboriginal artefact scatters and burial sites on the reserve (either individually or in association with midden sites). In regard to shipwrecks, the location of the Bertha remains undiscovered and it is also possible that there are further shipwrecks that have gone unrecorded in present documentation. Bass Point Reserve is an evolving and naturally changing landscape but its designation as a nature reserve has ensured that the site will remain a natural environment into the future while maintaining its use for recreational purposes. Modifications and dates Since pre-European contact, with archaeological evidence indicating sustained occupation of Bass Point by Aboriginal people (some 20,000 years), the following modifications have been made: 1803 - grazing and clearing rights secured by free settler, James Badgery, for land (including Bass Point) 1880 - George Laurence Fuller (proprietor and business manager) commences basalt mining on Bass Point 1885 - Fuller builds jetty for shipping of blue metal from Bass Point quarry to Sydney - Fuller improves and extends jetty to 1939-53 - Bass Point used by Australian Military Forces for various defensive, training and surveillance functions - demolition of jetty and construction of modern replacement (sited directly to the east) 1968 - construction and unveiling of memorial to Cities Service Boston shipwreck and the four lives lost during the rescue operation 1968