Place Meanings

Bobs Farm - Named after a convict servant who acted as stock- man to a land-holder called "Gentleman Smith". After long admiring a tract of property he wished to acquire when he was "out of his time', Bob died before his ambition was achieved. Eventually, Magnus Cromarty bought Smith 's herd and became owner of the land coveted by the stockman, and ever after referred to it as "Bobs Farm".

Salt Ash - Early Port Stephens settlement site, and supposedly named after counterpart British place-name. Once a busy road-water transport connection point, and a timber mill used to be situated there on Tilligerry Creek.

Lemon Tree Passage - So named because lemon trees (origin of which remains mystery), were found by early settlers to be growing on the point. Tanilba-Site of Tanilba House and interesting Halloran Development scheme.

Tahlee and Carrington - Site of A.A. Co. headquarters and settlement. Tahlee House, Church, cemetery and general layout of settlement still remain very much as they used to be in the past.

North Arm Cove - Site of proposed city planned by H. F. Halloran and Co. which has never taken shape.

Pindimar - Aboriginal name meaning "Black Possum." Site in past of state-run fishery, a shark fishing plant, and of an ambitious city proposal plan.

Tea Gardens - A place associated with early timber and fishing industries, and birth of commercial enterprise in Port Stephens. Named after abortive A.A. Co. attempts to grow tea there.

Winda Woppa - Once site of largest timber mill in Port Stephens area.

Hawks Nest - So named because apparently a large tree near the former hotel was a favourite nesting place for hawks and was used as a navigational marker. History of Hawks Nest closely associated with that of Tea Gardens.

Fingal Bay
Originally called False Bay. The entrance was often in days of sail and steam mistaken for the entrance into Port Stephens.

Shoal Bay
Supposedly named by Governor Lachlan Macquarie because of the sand shoals that exist there.

Nelson Head
Inner Lighthouse situated here.

Little Beach - Bark taken from trees standing opposite the beach once used by aborigines for making canoes.

Halifax Park
Named in memory of the W. W. 2 aeroplane of the same name, situated in the vicinity and established by Geoffrey Wikner in 1947.

Fly Point
Once the site of Chinese fish-curing facilities, customs buildings and first school. During W. W. 2 established as armed forces personnel base. Today sports oval, high school and hospital situated here. Name derived from a nautical term meaning safe anchorage with protection from winds.

Anna Bay
Derivation of Hannah Bay, and so named, according to tradition, in memory of a boat, the Hannah, which was alleged to have been wrecked there. Teramby School, Birubi Point Cemetery and a conical-shaped well standing on land owned in the late 1800s by a pioneer called William Eagleton, are three historical interest points in the area.

Nelson Bay
Referred to by Sir Edward Parry, A.A. Co. Commissioner, as Nelson's Bay. Origin of name controversial. Possibly named in tribute to Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson or perhaps in memory of the boat the Lady Nelson, in which Governor Macquarie travelled to Port Stephens.

Salamander Bay
Named after the Salamander, the first boat to enter the Port. Once proposed as site for naval base and for heavy industry. Mrs Cromarty's grave situated in Seaview Crescent and Johnny's Well can be seen near the Salamander Hotel.

Soldiers Point
Named after the Corporal's Guard once stationed there. Site of Cromarty land grant. Formerly called Friendship Point.

Taylors Beach
Once called Banks Farm after Captain Banks who was the first to settle there. Now site of N.S.W. Fisheries Research Station.