Captain Cook noted the fine sheltered harbour in 1770, as he sailed up the coast after leaving his recommended settlement site, Botany Bay, which later turned out to be a dud. On the way up he'd also noted Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), which turned out to be the 'best harbour in the world' and which became the actual 1788 settlement. But if he hadn't, then Port Stephens might have become Sydney instead. The harbour is the same size, and geographically as complicated. It's not as deep though.
We enjoyed our visit to the volunteer-staffed marine rescue centre, near the mouth of the harbour. In the 20th century, when the newly federated Australia was looking for a site for its permanent capital, Port Stephens was one of the contenders. Walter Burley Griffin even drew up plans for a capital city, looking rather Canberra-like of course. It never got built, and one reason I heard for it not being chosen was that it could have been too easy to invade from the sea. (It's also not somewhere between arch rivals Sydney and Melbourne.)
Here's a link to a Newcastle Herald piece showing 'Pindimar City', which could have been the 'New York of Australia', overlaid on Google Maps: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1412468/topics-pindimar-city-now-figment-of-google/
Below: the marina at Nelson Bay
No comments:
Post a Comment