Tanilba Bay House
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Tanilba Bay Sunset (by Elizabeth Whalan)
Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
Tanilba Bay Wall
Tanilba Bay Wall
Tanilba bay_4415
Paperbark trees growing along the foreshore at Tanilba Bay, NSW Australia.
Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
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At Tanilba Bay
From left - Stephen Matthews, Edna May Lilley nee Jenkinson, Frederick Norman Lilley and Edna Ivy Elizabeth Matthews, nee Lilley
Tanilba Bay Mooring - Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
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Tanilba Bay Sunset (by Elizabeth Whalan)
Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
At Tanilba Bay
Frederick and Edna Lilley (nee Jenkinson), Scott Harvie and Norman Lilley
Crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) (29 – 34 centimetres) - Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens, Hunter (Newcastle) Region, NSW, Australia
Port Stephens, an open youthful tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi) located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.
Port Stephens lies within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park and is situated about 160 kilometres (99 mi) north-east of Sydney. The harbour lies wholly within the local government area of Port Stephens; although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Mid-Coast local government areas.
Port Stephens is formed through the confluence of the Myall and Karuah rivers, Tilligerry Creek, and the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. The lower port has a predominantly marine ecology and the upper port an estuarine ecology. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds.
A narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin marks the opening of Port Stephens to the sea. The southern headland, Tomaree or South Head, rises to 120 metres (390 ft) above mean sea level (AMSL) while Yacaaba, the northern headland, is 210 m (690 ft) AMSL. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels. After its recovery from the wreck site in 1974 the bow of the MV Sygna, a 53,000 tonnes (52,163 long tons) Norwegian bulk carrier that was shipwrecked on Stockton Beach earlier that year, was moored in Port Stephens, at Salamander Bay, for almost two years.
With an area of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi), Port Stephens is larger than Sydney Harbour. Port Stephens extends approximately 24 km (15 mi) inland from the Tasman Sea and at its widest point, between Tanilba Bay and Tahlee, it is 6.5 km (4 mi) across. The narrowest point is between Soldiers Point and Pindimar where the distance is only 1.1 km (0.7 mi). Between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens, in the most well known section of the port, it is 3.8 km (2.4 mi) wide.
The port was named by Captain Cook when he passed on 11 May 1770, honouring Sir Philip Stephens, who was Secretary to the Admiralty. Stephens was a personal friend of Cook and had recommended him for command of the voyage. It seems Cook's initial choice had actually been Point Keppel and Keppel Bay, but instead he used Keppel Bay later.
The first ship to enter the port was the Salamander, a ship of the Third Fleet that later gave the suburb of Salamander Bay its name, in 1791. In that same year escaped convicts, then known as 'bolters', discovered coal in the area.
In 1795 the crew of HMS Providence discovered a group of escaped convicts, living with the Worimi people. Port Stephens became a popular haven for escaped convicts and so in 1820 a garrison of soldiers was established at what is now known as Soldiers Point.
The 63 tonnes (62 long tons) cutter Lambton, commanded by Captain James Corlette, began shipping timber and wool out of the port in 1816. The suburb of Corlette was named after the captain.
Port Stephens has rather poor soil for the most part, and has limited agricultural potential. For this reason, no large towns developed there historically and it was never developed as a significant port. The major city and port of Newcastle developed at the mouth of the Hunter River, about 45 km (28 mi) south-west of Port Stephens.
Despite this, in 1920 there was a push for Port Stephens to be the capital city of a new state in a proposal originating from the country newspaper The Daily Observer. The proposal was the Observer's editor Victor Charles Thompson's idea in response to continuing rural Australian antipathy at the Sydney-centralised funding and governance that many rural newspapers claimed had neglected to aid rural Australian towns.
During World War II, the remoteness and lack of any significant civilian population led to the Royal Australian Navy establishing HMAS Assault, an amphibious landing training establishment, at Nelson Bay. The sick bay from HMAS Assault still stands and is used by the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre.
A number of small towns developed around the port as fishing, holiday and retirement communities. Since the 1970s, with improved road access from Sydney, and the increasing popularity of coastal retirement lifestyles, there has been major expansion of these towns.
Source: Wikipedia
Tree doing pushups
Tanilba Bay
Tanilba Bay Boardwalk
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Noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala) (24 – 27 centimetres) - Lighthouse Hill, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
Port Stephens, an open youthful tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi) located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.
Port Stephens lies within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park and is situated about 160 kilometres (99 mi) north-east of Sydney. The harbour lies wholly within the local government area of Port Stephens; although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Mid-Coast local government areas.
Port Stephens is formed through the confluence of the Myall and Karuah rivers, Tilligerry Creek, and the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. The lower port has a predominantly marine ecology and the upper port an estuarine ecology. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds.
A narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin marks the opening of Port Stephens to the sea. The southern headland, Tomaree or South Head, rises to 120 metres (390 ft) above mean sea level (AMSL) while Yacaaba, the northern headland, is 210 m (690 ft) AMSL. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels. After its recovery from the wreck site in 1974 the bow of the MV Sygna, a 53,000 tonnes (52,163 long tons) Norwegian bulk carrier that was shipwrecked on Stockton Beach earlier that year, was moored in Port Stephens, at Salamander Bay, for almost two years.
With an area of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi), Port Stephens is larger than Sydney Harbour. Port Stephens extends approximately 24 km (15 mi) inland from the Tasman Sea and at its widest point, between Tanilba Bay and Tahlee, it is 6.5 km (4 mi) across. The narrowest point is between Soldiers Point and Pindimar where the distance is only 1.1 km (0.7 mi). Between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens, in the most well known section of the port, it is 3.8 km (2.4 mi) wide.
The port was named by Captain Cook when he passed on 11 May 1770, honouring Sir Philip Stephens, who was Secretary to the Admiralty. Stephens was a personal friend of Cook and had recommended him for command of the voyage. It seems Cook's initial choice had actually been Point Keppel and Keppel Bay, but instead he used Keppel Bay later.
The first ship to enter the port was the Salamander, a ship of the Third Fleet that later gave the suburb of Salamander Bay its name, in 1791. In that same year escaped convicts, then known as 'bolters', discovered coal in the area.
In 1795 the crew of HMS Providence discovered a group of escaped convicts, living with the Worimi people. Port Stephens became a popular haven for escaped convicts and so in 1820 a garrison of soldiers was established at what is now known as Soldiers Point.
The 63 tonnes (62 long tons) cutter Lambton, commanded by Captain James Corlette, began shipping timber and wool out of the port in 1816. The suburb of Corlette was named after the captain.
Port Stephens has rather poor soil for the most part, and has limited agricultural potential. For this reason, no large towns developed there historically and it was never developed as a significant port. The major city and port of Newcastle developed at the mouth of the Hunter River, about 45 km (28 mi) south-west of Port Stephens.
Despite this, in 1920 there was a push for Port Stephens to be the capital city of a new state in a proposal originating from the country newspaper The Daily Observer. The proposal was the Observer's editor Victor Charles Thompson's idea in response to continuing rural Australian antipathy at the Sydney-centralised funding and governance that many rural newspapers claimed had neglected to aid rural Australian towns.
During World War II, the remoteness and lack of any significant civilian population led to the Royal Australian Navy establishing HMAS Assault, an amphibious landing training establishment, at Nelson Bay. The sick bay from HMAS Assault still stands and is used by the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre.
A number of small towns developed around the port as fishing, holiday and retirement communities. Since the 1970s, with improved road access from Sydney, and the increasing popularity of coastal retirement lifestyles, there has been major expansion of these towns.
Source: Wikipedia
Nelson Bay. Tomaree Head and Shaol Bay.
Port Stephens.
Port Stephens was named but not explored by Captain James Cook in 1770. This region of great natural beauty, surrounded by national parks and reserves is actually the submerged estuary of the Myall and Karuah Rivers. One of the ships from the third fleet to bring convicts to Sydney entered Port Stephens in 1791. Escaped convicts came to Port Stephens in the 1790s and in 1816 the first of the Australian Red Cedar timber fellers arrived. Land grants begin after 1820. One of the first settled sites was at Tanilba Bay. Heritage listed Tanilba House, privately owned, is the oldest building on Port Stephens. In 1831 Lieutenant William Caswell was granted 50 acres and some assigned convicts to clear the land. He soon planted grave vines and olive trees on his land. Caswell, his wife and eleven children left the house when assigned convicts were stopped in the early 1840s. The derelict house was restored in the 1890s and has been occupied since. There are many little settlement around Port Stephens including Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, Bundabah, Carrington, Karuah, Tanilba Bay, Soldiers Point, Salamander Bay and Nelson Bay. But one local land developer had grand ideas to create Port Stephens City in 1918. Henry Haloran purchased land and commissioned Walter Burley Griffin who designed Canberra to design his port city. He hoped that it would became the major port of NSW. He selected a site opposite Soldiers Point on North Arm. The city plan reflected many of Walter Burley Griffins ideas used on Canberra but land sales did not eventuate and the city never developed. Look on Google Earth and you can see the outline of this failed city in the current street pattern at North Arm Cove.
Nelson Bay.
The main area around Port Stephens that did develop was at Nelson Bay. Remember in 1801 Lieutenant James Grant explored here in the Lady Nelson ship and he was also the naval officer who also first sighted Mt Gambier and named it in 1800. The town was not surveyed until 1874 just two years after the Nelson Head lighthouse was erected. The first school opened in 1879 and by the mid-1880s a small village for fishermen existed. The town really grew during world War Two when American and Australia armed forces were trained here. The hospital from the training base is now the Community Arts Centre. Today it is a booming tourist and retirement town with around 12,000 residents. Apart from having a lunch break you could visit the Port Stephens Community Art Centre, The Artisans Collective gallery, Stitches and Art shop etc. On the way to Nelson bay we passed Williamtown. The RAAF base was established there on 15th February 1941. Near Nelson Bay is the spectacular coast and National Park with Shoal Bay, Tomaree Headland and Fingal Bay.
Tanilba Pelicans.1
Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia
Unidentified - Gan Gan Hill, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
Port Stephens, an open youthful tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi) located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.
Port Stephens lies within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park and is situated about 160 kilometres (99 mi) north-east of Sydney. The harbour lies wholly within the local government area of Port Stephens; although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Mid-Coast local government areas.
Port Stephens is formed through the confluence of the Myall and Karuah rivers, Tilligerry Creek, and the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. The lower port has a predominantly marine ecology and the upper port an estuarine ecology. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds.
A narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin marks the opening of Port Stephens to the sea. The southern headland, Tomaree or South Head, rises to 120 metres (390 ft) above mean sea level (AMSL) while Yacaaba, the northern headland, is 210 m (690 ft) AMSL. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels. After its recovery from the wreck site in 1974 the bow of the MV Sygna, a 53,000 tonnes (52,163 long tons) Norwegian bulk carrier that was shipwrecked on Stockton Beach earlier that year, was moored in Port Stephens, at Salamander Bay, for almost two years.
With an area of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi), Port Stephens is larger than Sydney Harbour. Port Stephens extends approximately 24 km (15 mi) inland from the Tasman Sea and at its widest point, between Tanilba Bay and Tahlee, it is 6.5 km (4 mi) across. The narrowest point is between Soldiers Point and Pindimar where the distance is only 1.1 km (0.7 mi). Between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens, in the most well known section of the port, it is 3.8 km (2.4 mi) wide.
The port was named by Captain Cook when he passed on 11 May 1770, honouring Sir Philip Stephens, who was Secretary to the Admiralty. Stephens was a personal friend of Cook and had recommended him for command of the voyage. It seems Cook's initial choice had actually been Point Keppel and Keppel Bay, but instead he used Keppel Bay later.
The first ship to enter the port was the Salamander, a ship of the Third Fleet that later gave the suburb of Salamander Bay its name, in 1791. In that same year escaped convicts, then known as 'bolters', discovered coal in the area.
In 1795 the crew of HMS Providence discovered a group of escaped convicts, living with the Worimi people. Port Stephens became a popular haven for escaped convicts and so in 1820 a garrison of soldiers was established at what is now known as Soldiers Point.
The 63 tonnes (62 long tons) cutter Lambton, commanded by Captain James Corlette, began shipping timber and wool out of the port in 1816. The suburb of Corlette was named after the captain.
Port Stephens has rather poor soil for the most part, and has limited agricultural potential. For this reason, no large towns developed there historically and it was never developed as a significant port. The major city and port of Newcastle developed at the mouth of the Hunter River, about 45 km (28 mi) south-west of Port Stephens.
Despite this, in 1920 there was a push for Port Stephens to be the capital city of a new state in a proposal originating from the country newspaper The Daily Observer. The proposal was the Observer's editor Victor Charles Thompson's idea in response to continuing rural Australian antipathy at the Sydney-centralised funding and governance that many rural newspapers claimed had neglected to aid rural Australian towns.
During World War II, the remoteness and lack of any significant civilian population led to the Royal Australian Navy establishing HMAS Assault, an amphibious landing training establishment, at Nelson Bay. The sick bay from HMAS Assault still stands and is used by the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre.
A number of small towns developed around the port as fishing, holiday and retirement communities. Since the 1970s, with improved road access from Sydney, and the increasing popularity of coastal retirement lifestyles, there has been major expansion of these towns.
Source: Wikipedia
Port Stephens and the bay and the coast.. From Williamtown Airport flight..
Port Stephens.
Port Stephens was named but not explored by Captain James Cook in 1770. This region of great natural beauty, surrounded by national parks and reserves is actually the submerged estuary of the Myall and Karuah Rivers. One of the ships from the third fleet to bring convicts to Sydney entered Port Stephens in 1791. Escaped convicts came to Port Stephens in the 1790s and in 1816 the first of the Australian Red Cedar timber fellers arrived. Land grants begin after 1820. One of the first settled sites was at Tanilba Bay. Heritage listed Tanilba House, privately owned, is the oldest building on Port Stephens. In 1831 Lieutenant William Caswell was granted 50 acres and some assigned convicts to clear the land. He soon planted grave vines and olive trees on his land. Caswell, his wife and eleven children left the house when assigned convicts were stopped in the early 1840s. The derelict house was restored in the 1890s and has been occupied since. There are many little settlement around Port Stephens including Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, Bundabah, Carrington, Karuah, Tanilba Bay, Soldiers Point, Salamander Bay and Nelson Bay. But one local land developer had grand ideas to create Port Stephens City in 1918. Henry Haloran purchased land and commissioned Walter Burley Griffin who designed Canberra to design his port city. He hoped that it would became the major port of NSW. He selected a site opposite Soldiers Point on North Arm. The city plan reflected many of Walter Burley Griffins ideas used on Canberra but land sales did not eventuate and the city never developed. Look on Google Earth and you can see the outline of this failed city in the current street pattern at North Arm Cove.
Fingal Bay near Nelson Bay. Burnt out scrub at Barry Park Lookout.
Port Stephens.
Port Stephens was named but not explored by Captain James Cook in 1770. This region of great natural beauty, surrounded by national parks and reserves is actually the submerged estuary of the Myall and Karuah Rivers. One of the ships from the third fleet to bring convicts to Sydney entered Port Stephens in 1791. Escaped convicts came to Port Stephens in the 1790s and in 1816 the first of the Australian Red Cedar timber fellers arrived. Land grants begin after 1820. One of the first settled sites was at Tanilba Bay. Heritage listed Tanilba House, privately owned, is the oldest building on Port Stephens. In 1831 Lieutenant William Caswell was granted 50 acres and some assigned convicts to clear the land. He soon planted grave vines and olive trees on his land. Caswell, his wife and eleven children left the house when assigned convicts were stopped in the early 1840s. The derelict house was restored in the 1890s and has been occupied since. There are many little settlement around Port Stephens including Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, Bundabah, Carrington, Karuah, Tanilba Bay, Soldiers Point, Salamander Bay and Nelson Bay. But one local land developer had grand ideas to create Port Stephens City in 1918. Henry Haloran purchased land and commissioned Walter Burley Griffin who designed Canberra to design his port city. He hoped that it would became the major port of NSW. He selected a site opposite Soldiers Point on North Arm. The city plan reflected many of Walter Burley Griffins ideas used on Canberra but land sales did not eventuate and the city never developed. Look on Google Earth and you can see the outline of this failed city in the current street pattern at North Arm Cove.
Nelson Bay.
The main area around Port Stephens that did develop was at Nelson Bay. Remember in 1801 Lieutenant James Grant explored here in the Lady Nelson ship and he was also the naval officer who also first sighted Mt Gambier and named it in 1800. The town was not surveyed until 1874 just two years after the Nelson Head lighthouse was erected. The first school opened in 1879 and by the mid-1880s a small village for fishermen existed. The town really grew during world War Two when American and Australia armed forces were trained here. The hospital from the training base is now the Community Arts Centre. Today it is a booming tourist and retirement town with around 12,000 residents. Apart from having a lunch break you could visit the Port Stephens Community Art Centre, The Artisans Collective gallery, Stitches and Art shop etc. On the way to Nelson bay we passed Williamtown. The RAAF base was established there on 15th February 1941. Near Nelson Bay is the spectacular coast and National Park with Shoal Bay, Tomaree Headland and Fingal Bay.
Port Stephens Weather Station - Lighthouse Hill, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia.01
Port Stephens, an open youthful tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi) located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.
Port Stephens lies within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park and is situated about 160 kilometres (99 mi) north-east of Sydney. The harbour lies wholly within the local government area of Port Stephens; although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Mid-Coast local government areas.
Port Stephens is formed through the confluence of the Myall and Karuah rivers, Tilligerry Creek, and the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. The lower port has a predominantly marine ecology and the upper port an estuarine ecology. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds.
A narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin marks the opening of Port Stephens to the sea. The southern headland, Tomaree or South Head, rises to 120 metres (390 ft) above mean sea level (AMSL) while Yacaaba, the northern headland, is 210 m (690 ft) AMSL. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels. After its recovery from the wreck site in 1974 the bow of the MV Sygna, a 53,000 tonnes (52,163 long tons) Norwegian bulk carrier that was shipwrecked on Stockton Beach earlier that year, was moored in Port Stephens, at Salamander Bay, for almost two years.
With an area of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi), Port Stephens is larger than Sydney Harbour. Port Stephens extends approximately 24 km (15 mi) inland from the Tasman Sea and at its widest point, between Tanilba Bay and Tahlee, it is 6.5 km (4 mi) across. The narrowest point is between Soldiers Point and Pindimar where the distance is only 1.1 km (0.7 mi). Between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens, in the most well known section of the port, it is 3.8 km (2.4 mi) wide.
The port was named by Captain Cook when he passed on 11 May 1770, honouring Sir Philip Stephens, who was Secretary to the Admiralty. Stephens was a personal friend of Cook and had recommended him for command of the voyage. It seems Cook's initial choice had actually been Point Keppel and Keppel Bay, but instead he used Keppel Bay later.
The first ship to enter the port was the Salamander, a ship of the Third Fleet that later gave the suburb of Salamander Bay its name, in 1791. In that same year escaped convicts, then known as 'bolters', discovered coal in the area.
In 1795 the crew of HMS Providence discovered a group of escaped convicts, living with the Worimi people. Port Stephens became a popular haven for escaped convicts and so in 1820 a garrison of soldiers was established at what is now known as Soldiers Point.
The 63 tonnes (62 long tons) cutter Lambton, commanded by Captain James Corlette, began shipping timber and wool out of the port in 1816. The suburb of Corlette was named after the captain.
Port Stephens has rather poor soil for the most part, and has limited agricultural potential. For this reason, no large towns developed there historically and it was never developed as a significant port. The major city and port of Newcastle developed at the mouth of the Hunter River, about 45 km (28 mi) south-west of Port Stephens.
Despite this, in 1920 there was a push for Port Stephens to be the capital city of a new state in a proposal originating from the country newspaper The Daily Observer. The proposal was the Observer's editor Victor Charles Thompson's idea in response to continuing rural Australian antipathy at the Sydney-centralised funding and governance that many rural newspapers claimed had neglected to aid rural Australian towns.
During World War II, the remoteness and lack of any significant civilian population led to the Royal Australian Navy establishing HMAS Assault, an amphibious landing training establishment, at Nelson Bay. The sick bay from HMAS Assault still stands and is used by the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre.
A number of small towns developed around the port as fishing, holiday and retirement communities. Since the 1970s, with improved road access from Sydney, and the increasing popularity of coastal retirement lifestyles, there has been major expansion of these towns.
Source: Wikipedia
Tanilba Bay Sunset (by Elizabeth Whalan)
Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia
(Canon EOS700D with Canon EF-s 18-200 lens)
Windswept shoreline, Boatharbour, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
Port Stephens, an open youthful tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi) located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.
Port Stephens lies within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park and is situated about 160 kilometres (99 mi) north-east of Sydney. The harbour lies wholly within the local government area of Port Stephens; although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Mid-Coast local government areas.
Port Stephens is formed through the confluence of the Myall and Karuah rivers, Tilligerry Creek, and the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. The lower port has a predominantly marine ecology and the upper port an estuarine ecology. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds.
A narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin marks the opening of Port Stephens to the sea. The southern headland, Tomaree or South Head, rises to 120 metres (390 ft) above mean sea level (AMSL) while Yacaaba, the northern headland, is 210 m (690 ft) AMSL. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels. After its recovery from the wreck site in 1974 the bow of the MV Sygna, a 53,000 tonnes (52,163 long tons) Norwegian bulk carrier that was shipwrecked on Stockton Beach earlier that year, was moored in Port Stephens, at Salamander Bay, for almost two years.
With an area of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi), Port Stephens is larger than Sydney Harbour. Port Stephens extends approximately 24 km (15 mi) inland from the Tasman Sea and at its widest point, between Tanilba Bay and Tahlee, it is 6.5 km (4 mi) across. The narrowest point is between Soldiers Point and Pindimar where the distance is only 1.1 km (0.7 mi). Between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens, in the most well known section of the port, it is 3.8 km (2.4 mi) wide.
The port was named by Captain Cook when he passed on 11 May 1770, honouring Sir Philip Stephens, who was Secretary to the Admiralty. Stephens was a personal friend of Cook and had recommended him for command of the voyage. It seems Cook's initial choice had actually been Point Keppel and Keppel Bay, but instead he used Keppel Bay later.
The first ship to enter the port was the Salamander, a ship of the Third Fleet that later gave the suburb of Salamander Bay its name, in 1791. In that same year escaped convicts, then known as 'bolters', discovered coal in the area.
In 1795 the crew of HMS Providence discovered a group of escaped convicts, living with the Worimi people. Port Stephens became a popular haven for escaped convicts and so in 1820 a garrison of soldiers was established at what is now known as Soldiers Point.
The 63 tonnes (62 long tons) cutter Lambton, commanded by Captain James Corlette, began shipping timber and wool out of the port in 1816. The suburb of Corlette was named after the captain.
Port Stephens has rather poor soil for the most part, and has limited agricultural potential. For this reason, no large towns developed there historically and it was never developed as a significant port. The major city and port of Newcastle developed at the mouth of the Hunter River, about 45 km (28 mi) south-west of Port Stephens.
Despite this, in 1920 there was a push for Port Stephens to be the capital city of a new state in a proposal originating from the country newspaper The Daily Observer. The proposal was the Observer's editor Victor Charles Thompson's idea in response to continuing rural Australian antipathy at the Sydney-centralised funding and governance that many rural newspapers claimed had neglected to aid rural Australian towns.
During World War II, the remoteness and lack of any significant civilian population led to the Royal Australian Navy establishing HMAS Assault, an amphibious landing training establishment, at Nelson Bay. The sick bay from HMAS Assault still stands and is used by the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre.
A number of small towns developed around the port as fishing, holiday and retirement communities. Since the 1970s, with improved road access from Sydney, and the increasing popularity of coastal retirement lifestyles, there has been major expansion of these towns.
Source: Wikipedia
Nelson Bay. The marina with yachts. NSW
Port Stephens.
Port Stephens was named but not explored by Captain James Cook in 1770. This region of great natural beauty, surrounded by national parks and reserves is actually the submerged estuary of the Myall and Karuah Rivers. One of the ships from the third fleet to bring convicts to Sydney entered Port Stephens in 1791. Escaped convicts came to Port Stephens in the 1790s and in 1816 the first of the Australian Red Cedar timber fellers arrived. Land grants begin after 1820. One of the first settled sites was at Tanilba Bay. Heritage listed Tanilba House, privately owned, is the oldest building on Port Stephens. In 1831 Lieutenant William Caswell was granted 50 acres and some assigned convicts to clear the land. He soon planted grave vines and olive trees on his land. Caswell, his wife and eleven children left the house when assigned convicts were stopped in the early 1840s. The derelict house was restored in the 1890s and has been occupied since. There are many little settlement around Port Stephens including Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, Bundabah, Carrington, Karuah, Tanilba Bay, Soldiers Point, Salamander Bay and Nelson Bay. But one local land developer had grand ideas to create Port Stephens City in 1918. Henry Haloran purchased land and commissioned Walter Burley Griffin who designed Canberra to design his port city. He hoped that it would became the major port of NSW. He selected a site opposite Soldiers Point on North Arm. The city plan reflected many of Walter Burley Griffins ideas used on Canberra but land sales did not eventuate and the city never developed. Look on Google Earth and you can see the outline of this failed city in the current street pattern at North Arm Cove.
Nelson Bay.
The main area around Port Stephens that did develop was at Nelson Bay. Remember in 1801 Lieutenant James Grant explored here in the Lady Nelson ship and he was also the naval officer who also first sighted Mt Gambier and named it in 1800. The town was not surveyed until 1874 just two years after the Nelson Head lighthouse was erected. The first school opened in 1879 and by the mid-1880s a small village for fishermen existed. The town really grew during world War Two when American and Australia armed forces were trained here. The hospital from the training base is now the Community Arts Centre. Today it is a booming tourist and retirement town with around 12,000 residents. Apart from having a lunch break you could visit the Port Stephens Community Art Centre, The Artisans Collective gallery, Stitches and Art shop etc. On the way to Nelson bay we passed Williamstown. The RAAF base was established there on 15th February 1941.
Sunset
Sunset over Tanilba Bay
Sunset Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens, NSW.30 November 2014.01
15912428865_2e1f1888d5_k
English
