Coal Point, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coal Point New South Wales
Coal Point Location in the Hunter-Central Coast Region
Population	1,749 (2021 census)
• Density	1,350/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2283
Area	1.3 km2 (0.5 sq mi)
Location	4 km (2 mi) SE of Toronto
LGA(s)	City of Lake Macquarie
Parish	Awaba
State electorate(s)	Lake Macquarie
Federal Division(s)	Hunter
Suburbs around Coal Point: Carey Bay Lake Macquarie Coal Point Lake Macquarie Lake Macquarie

Coal Point is a suburb located in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie. You can find it on a piece of land that sticks out into Lake Macquarie. It's on the western side of the lake, south-east of the towns of Toronto and Carey Bay.

A Glimpse into History

Coal Point has an interesting past, especially when it comes to mining and how the community grew.

Early Coal Mining

From 1841 until about 1906, people mined coal at a place called Ebenezer Colliery in Coal Point. The very first coal mine here was started by Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld. He was a missionary, which means he worked to spread his religious beliefs. He also helped the local Awabakal community. Reverend Threlkeld was a clever businessman and the first European to own land in the area from Coal Point to Toronto, which was known as 'Punte'. A famous explorer named Ludwig Leichhardt even visited this mine in 1842.

Community Growth

As the area grew, a public school opened in Coal Point in 1955. This was an important step for local families.

How Coal Point Developed

Coal Point is known for being a well-off area. This goes back to 1887 when a company called Excelsior Land Investment and Building Company divided up the land. They created the "Toronto Estate." To do this, they had to take back a 100-foot strip of land along the waterfront of Lake Macquarie that was meant for public use. To make up for this, five special public areas were created in Coal Point. The Toronto Estate was then sold to wealthy people of that time.

The Progress Association

In 1946, the Coal Point Progress Association was formed. This group was created to help make the community better. The people who started it worked hard to raise money. They bought a piece of land and built the Progress Hall. This hall is special because it's one of the few community-owned halls left in the Lake Macquarie area. It shows how much the community cares about working together.