Cunnel was located in Gweagal, Dharawal and was home to the Gweagal people. The Gweagal people were the guardians of sacred white clay pits on their territorial land. The white clay had a multitude of uses and was used to line the bottom of the canoes to make a base for the fires and it was used as the white body paint. The clay was tinted with berries to produce brightly coloured paint for ceremonies and corrobories. It was eaten as a medicine and antacid, and it was mixed with geebungs and other local berries and eaten as a dietary supplement.
On 29 April 1770, James Cook, whilst navigating his way up the East Coast on the Endeavour, landed at Cunnel, making first European contact with the Gweagal people. Two Gweagal men challenged the landing and gestured with their spears. Cook’s party attempted to communicate their desire for water, but the men continued to oppose the landing. Cook fired a shot which wounded one of the men and forced them to flee.
Cook and his men stayed at Cunnel for a period of eight days. During their time there they collected botanical specimens and mapped the area. When Cook reported back to England he said that the land was suitable for agriculture and was lightly wooded.
The name of the region was Anglicised to Kurnell.
