Suburb Profiles - Port Stephens

Intro

Port Stephens is a large natural harbour located about 160 km north-east of Sydney and the major city and port of Newcastle is roughly 45 km south-west of Port Stephens.

Port Stephens has a narrow entrance between two striking hills of volcanic origin. The southern headland, "Tomaree" or "South" Head, rises to 120m above mean sea level (AMSL) while "Yacaba", the northern headland, is 210m AMSL. The harbour is mostly shallow and sandy but contains sufficient deep water to accommodate large vessels; the RMS Queen Mary moored there during World War II. With an area of approximately 119 km2 Port Stephens is larger than Sydney Harbour. The southern shore of the port divide’s into two distinct areas known as the Tomaree and Tilligerry peninsulas.

History books reveal that Captain Cook named the port when he passed on 11 May 1770, honouring his personal friend Sir Philip Stephens who was Secretary of the Admiralty. 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. 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.

A number of small towns developed around the port as fishing, holiday and retirement communities and a popular tourism destination with a strong focus on aquatic activities such as whale and dolphin watching, fishing and recreational boating. The area has many local and major shopping facilities and malls plus many tourist-shopping boutiques with café’s and restaurants abound. The Port hosts many seasonal events and activities including Whale and Country Music Festivals. Improved road access from Sydney, plus the local hospital and Newcastle and Port Stephens Airport located at Williamtown the increasing popularity of coastal retirement lifestyles, has seen major expansion of these towns.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, at the time of the 2006 Census, more than 26,000 people live within 3 km of its 113 km long shoreline and more than 32,000 live within 10 km. 85% of the population around Port Stephens resided in towns and suburbs that have developed on or near the southern shores of the port. More than 22,188 people live within 3 km of the port in the suburbs of Corlette, Lemon Tree Passage, Mallabula, Nelson Bay, Oyster Cove, Salamander Bay, Shoal Bay, Soldiers Point, Tanilba Bay and Taylors Beach. Another 5,343 people live in other suburbs on the Tomaree peninsula that are within 10 km of Port Stephens. These suburbs include Anna Bay, Boat Harbour, Bobs Farm, Fingal Bay, Fishermans Bay and One Mile.

TRANSPORT:

Road

Port Stephens is connected to surrounding cities by the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (South), New England Highway (West) and the Pacific Highway (North). 160 km north-east of Sydney and Newcastle is 45 km south-west of Port Stephens.

Bus

Port Stephens Coaches travel daily between Port Stephens and Raymond Terrace, Newcastle, the Airport and Sydney.

Rail

Port Stephens Coaches travel daily to and from Newcastle Railways which are the main services in the Newcastle and Central Coast areas which has hourly train services to Sydney and more frequent services to the Central Coast. The Hunter Line has twice-hourly services to Maitland and less frequently to Scone and Dungog. Countrylink (an intercity/interstate rail service) operate two lines through the Newcastle area using Broadmeadow Station. These provide services to Moree, Armidale, Brisbane and Sydney.