Watsons Bay has long been associated with Sea Pilots and with their watermen. The official 'first' pilot is given as Robert Watson but pilotage existed before 1805 and some say as early as 1792. The early Pilots were commercial operators whose fees paid for themselves and the operations of their boat's crews. After the tragic loss of the ship Dunbar at South Head in 1857 official effort was made to improve and further control the port's pilotage. Join past and present Sea Pilots as we explore the history of Sea Pilotage and the important job they undertook around the Ports of Australia.