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Stockton Beach is located north of the Hunter River in New South Wales, Australia. It is 32 km (20 mi) long and stretches from Stockton, to Anna Bay. Over many years Stockton Beach has been the site of numerous shipwrecks and aircraft crash sites. In World War II it was fortified against a possible attack by Imperial Japanese forces. During that time it served as a bombing and gunnery range as well as a dumping area for unused bombs by aircraft returning from training sorties. The length of the beach, its generally hard surface and numerous items of interest along the beach make it popular with four-wheel drive (4WD) enthusiasts. Four-wheel drive vehicles are "sometimes" permitted to drive on Stockton Beach provided the vehicles are in possession of valid permits. The beach is also popular with fishermen and several different varieties of fish may be caught.

Geography

Stockton Beach, on the Tasman Sea, starts on the northern side of the break wall that protects the entrance to Newcastle harbour in Stockton, Newcastle's northern most suburb, and stretches for 32 km (20 mi) in an approximate north-easterly direction to Anna Bay in Port Stephens. In some areas it is as much as 1 km (0.6 mi) wide and has sand dunes over 30 metres (98 ft) high although at the Stockton end it is at its narrowest with no dunes. Each year the dunes move north by approximately 4 m (13 ft). The sand on Stockton Beach varies from hard to soft packed and changes daily with the changing winds and weather. The dunes are the largest (and getting smaller due to mining) continuous mobile sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.

Beach endpoint coordinates

• Southern - 32°55′1″S 151°47′25″E / 32.91694°S 151.79028°E / -32.91694; 151.79028
• Northern - 32°47′7″S 152°4′27″E / 32.78528°S 152.07417°E / -32.78528; 152.07417

Worimi conservation lands

A large part of Stockton Beach lies within the Worimi conservation lands, which stretch from south-west of the wreck of the MV Sygna, north-east along Stockton Beach to just west of the end of the beach at Anna Bay. The lands consist of the 1,826 ha (4,512-acre) Worimi National Park, 1,042 ha (2,575-acre) Worimi State Conservation Area and 1,568 ha (3,875-acre) Worimi Regional Park. Day to day management of the Worimi conservation lands is undertaken by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

History

External images
Aboriginal middens
Aerial shot of Tin City
Shack at Tin City

The earliest inhabitants of the Port Stephens region and particularly the land close to Port Stephens itself were the members of the Worimi Aboriginal tribe and their middens may be seen at many points along the beach. These middens, which are up to 12,000 years old, consist mainly of the remnants of pipis and whelk shells. As the beach is constantly reshaped by the winds some middens are concealed while new ones are revealed. A midden conservation area, where beach driving is not permitted dueto the cultural significance of the middens, has been established on the beach.

In the late 19th century shipwrecks on Stockton Beach were so common that two tin sheds were constructed on a part of the beach in what is now Bobs Farm near Salt Ash to hold provisions for shipwrecked sailors. Why the shacks were situated at Bobs Farm 4km inland from the beach and to the west of Salt Ash which is between Bobs Farm and the beach shall remain a secret known only to the tour guides. Allegedly during the Great Depression of the 1930s a group of squatters constructed a series of tin shacks at the site which is approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) south west of Anna Bay. This location is about 3km from a main road through the bush and nowhere near shops, with drifting sand that cannot support gardens for vegetables and the building materials for the shacks would have been restricted to native vegetation and driftwood. The living conditions would have been during the day cold, during the night freezing in winter and hot during the day and again freezing during the night in summer. Essentially a desert climate with a shipwreck survivors existence. Allegedly during World War II the shacks were torn down to make way for an Army camp but no records exist of such camp. According to Salt Ash residents no shacks were rebuilt after the war was over as they did not exist. A military map of the area dated 1942 shows no structures on Stockton Beach. Today, 11 of the shacks, constructed supposedly in the 1970's known collectively as "Tin City", remain but no new shacks may be built. Nor can existing shacks be rebuilt if they are destroyed by the elements (namely drifting sand). Residents of Tin City will tell you that without a bulldozer the shacks will be lost, but if Tin City is truly a part of Stockton Beach history what marvellous means did the out of work depression victims use that has been lost in history that was equal in technological power to that of the bulldozer? According to a resident, quoted in a blog, (see reference 12) Tin City was used for several scenes in the 1979 movie Mad Max. But this is part of the myth along with the "colourful origins" of a collection of fishing shacks who's occupants were in danger of being evicted when a National Park was being created.

World War II resulted in fortifications against a possible amphibious assault by Imperial Japanese forces being installed along the beach. Many of these fortifications, in the form of barbed wire entanglements and concrete pyramid shaped blocks, commonly known tetrahedrons or tank traps, may be seen along the beach. Some of the tank traps from the northern end of the beach have been removed by sand mining companies and relocated to near the parking area at Birubi Point in Anna Bay while most from the southern end of the beach may be found outside Fort Wallace in Stockton. Some of the tank traps remain submerged and pose a hazard to swimmers.

During World War II the beach was used as a military bombing range and Air Force pilots used to regularly drop unused bombs on the beach before landing at RAAF Base Williamtown. To this day it is occasionally possible to see exposed bombs in the sand.

Stockton Beach is less than 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from RAAF Base Williamtown and is subjected to many overflights by both RAAF and civilian aircraft. On 10 February 1960 a CAC CA-27 Sabre from RAAF Base Williamtown crashed on the beach after overshooting its approach. The pilot was killed.

In 1989 Newcastle High School student and Fern Bay resident Leigh Leigh was brutally raped and murdered on a section of the beach near Stockton known as North Stockton Beach. The attack was so vicious that it was spoken about at length in the Parliament of New South Wales and referred to for years after the event. A play, Blackrock (written by Australian playwright Nick Enright), and also a movie of the same name, were both inspired by the event.

A series of campaigns by local environmental groups and activists did not result in parts of Stockton Beach being declared a National Park in 2001, but royalties from sand mining and beach permits were to be used to employ members of the indigenous land claimants after the original owners of the beach were recognised and the land returned to them. Without the successful land claim, without the consent of the indigenous owners, without creating the National park to allow continued access by the public to the beach a company owned by the Mayor of Port Stephens may never have been able to commence removal of $1.5 billion worth of sand (over possibly the next 60 years) from Stockton Beach.This clearly would not be the aim shared by environmental groups. Prior to the National park and land claim the beach was turned upside down, to extract minerals, from Stockton to Williamtown with no talk of a land claim until the day mining ceased.

Shipwrecks

Stockton Beach has been the site of numerous shipwrecks over the past 200 years but especially since the late part of the 19th century. Wreckage from many shipwrecks continues to wash ashore periodically but the most well known, recognisable and permanent of the wrecks are the Uralla and the MV Sygna.

The Uralla was a 537-tonne (529-long-ton), 46.4 m (152.2 ft) long steamer that ran aground during a gale on 14 June 1928 approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) down the beach from Anna Bay. There was no loss of life but after the vessel was eventually refloated it drifted ashore and broke up. Its remains may be seen occasionally at low tide.

The MV Sygna was a 53,000 t (52,163 long tons) Norwegian bulk carrier that ran aground during a major storm on 26 May 1974. Attempts to refloat the ship were unsuccessful. The ship broke its back and the stern now lies off Stockton Beach where it is slowly decaying in the elements. The bow section (which had been unsuccessfully re floated?) was eventually towed (dragged by submarine) to Taiwan and broken up. The ship is approximately 8.8 km (5.5 mi) from the southern end of the beach and usually easily visible from the Stockton breakwall. On a clear day the ship is easily visible from both ends of the beach.

Tourism

The beach is a popular camping area, at times there can be 200 camp sites with 2,000 people camped along the dunes. During the day, up to 4,000 people and thousands of cars can be on the beach, so it's no wonder 4WD vehicles have restricted access due to erosion of the sand dunes!

Vehicular access

No vehicular access is possible at the southern end of the beach. Instead, all vehicles must enter the beach through the Worimi Conservation Lands in the Port Stephens local government area. Vehicle entry to the beach is via Lavis Lane in Williamtown or Gan Gan Road in Anna Bay. A permit needs to be purchased before entering the beach. Drivers must ensure that they respect the natural habitat of the beach and refrain from driving on the plants, grasses and pedestrians and other vehicles on dune structure. Access to the recreational vehicle area is subject to restrictions.

The beach is at its widest near the Lavis Lane entrance.

Sand mining

Sand mining is practised on Stockton beach. This has led to a significant loss of tertiary vegetation in the hind dunes of the beach which has led to a noticeable decrease in the numbers of native species sightings, for example the Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Sugar glider. It has also led to the loss of "some" sand.

Wildlife

The waters just off Stockton Beach form part of a larger nursery for Great white sharks. The Great white sharks in the nursery are thought to range in size from 1.5 to 3 m (4.9 to 9.8 ft). Humpback whales can be spotted from the beach near the two shacks at Bobs Farm as they pass through Salt Ash each year during the migration season. If you listen you can hear the whale song of a great species that once knew trees with koalas, mountainous sand dunes and the freedom to visit this unique place without fear of being knocked down by a 4WD or told that after generations of free access the "owners" now want the land back when there is money to be made by destroying "their" land? Is this the new wildlife after the old is forgotten? ?

Big Beach Challenge

Since 2010, an annual event called the "Big Beach Challenge" is held which sees competitors travel the entire length of Stockton Beach from Birubi to Stockton Surf Club. Some of the top runners manage to cover this in under three hours, whilst those who walk the distance finish in around seven. A shorter 16 km (10 mi) event from Stockton to the shipwreck of the Sygna and back is also held at the same time. The Big Beach Challenge helps raise money for local Stockton charity, Harry's House.

Images of Stockton Beach

External images
Wreck of the Uralla
Various aerial photos of the beach
A gallery of 72 photographs of the beach

• Wreck of the MV Sygna as seen from southern end of the beach, approximately 8.8km to the south-west
• World War II tank traps surrounding lower car park at the northern end of the beach in Anna Bay
• A Tin City shack

References

1. ^ "Dunes at Stockton Beach". Port Stephens Council. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
2. ^ "Camping on Stockton Beach". Retrieved 28 August 2007.
3. ^ "Worimi Conservation Lands - beach driving". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
4. "Stockton Beach Sand Dunes" (PDF). Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
5. "Plan Your Visit". Worimi Conservation Lands. National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
6. "Worimi National Park". Worimi National Park. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
7. "Worimi State Conservation area". Worimi State Conservation area. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
8. "Worimi Regional Park". Worimi Regional Park. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
9. ^ "The Hunter Region: Sand castles on Stockton Beach". NRMA. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
10. "Midden Conservation Area". worimiconservationlands.com. National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
11. ^ "Tin City Sand Dune Adventure Tour". Retrieved 12 September 2007.
12. "Tin City Dweller". Ted Szukalski. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
13. "Stockton Beach". Retrieved 12 September 2007.
14. "STOCKTON BIGHT NATIONAL PARK PROPOSAL". Parliament of New South Wales. 28 November 2000.
15. "ADF Aircraft Serial Numbers". Retrieved 12 September 2007.
16. "Commonwealth Sabre". 5 September 2002.
17. "In Remembrance". Injured Service Persons Association Inc. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
18. "Death of Leigh Leigh". Parliament of New South Wales. 15 October 1996.
19. "Death of Leigh Leigh". Parliament of New South Wales. 31 March 1998.
20. "Stockton Bight". NSW Parliamentary Hansard. Parliament of New South Wales. 28 March 2001. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
21. "National Shipwrecks database". Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
22. "National Shipwrecks database - wreck details". Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
23. "SHIPWRECKS of the NEWCASTLE REGION including OYSTER BANK and the HUNTER RIVER". Retrieved 12 September 2007.
24. "Sygna Shipwreck Adventure Tour". cruiseportstephens.com.au. Dawson Scenic Tours. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
25. Gregory, Carl. "Stockton dunes to introduce camping fee". Radio station 2NC (1233kHz). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
26. "Recreational Vehicle Area". worimiconservationlands.com. National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
27. "$1.5bn sand mine, but none for Port Stephens council". The Newcastle Herald. 20March 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. 118. Bragg J.G., Taylor J.E. & Fox B.J. (2005). Distribution of lizard species across edges delimiting open-forest and sand-mining areas. Austral Ecology 29: 188-200
29. ^ "Great white shark nursery". Great white shark nursery. Australian Geographic Magazine. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
30. "Shark expert surprised by great white attack on woman". Shark expert surprised by great white attack on woma. Australian Broadcasting Commission (Newcastle). Retrieved 12 February 2012.
31. "Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park". Marine Parks Authority. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
32. "Big Beach Challenge homepage". Retrieved 19 September 2011.

External links

• "Tin City". Today Tonight. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
• Worimi Conservation Lands website

• Use dmy dates from January 2012
• Newcastle, New South Wales
• Port Stephens Council
• Beaches of New South Wales