Michael is joined each week by Aussie historian, author & entertainer Jim Haynes, for his unique knowledge of the not-so-famous characters from Australia’s history.

This week Jim shines the spotlight on Billy Blue – ‘The Old Commodore’.

William Blue (c. 1767 – 7 May 1834) was an Australian convict who was probably born in Jamaica and claimed to have served with the British army in the American war of independence.

After completing his sentence, became a boatman providing one of the first services to take people across Sydney Harbour and was also made a water bailiff watching boat traffic on Port Jackson from a special tower.

In 1817, Governor Macquarie granted Billy Blue 80 acres (320,000 m2) at what is now Blues Point, which was named after him.

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