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 of the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia on a peninsula south-east of the towns of Toronto and Carey Bay, on the western side of Lake Macquarie.

History

Coal mining was performed at Ebenezer Colliery Coal Point from 1841 to around 1906. The first coal mine was operated by Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld, a missionary to the Awabakal people, local entrepreneur and the first European landholder of 'Punte', the Coal Point to Toronto area. The explorer Ludwig Leichhardt visited the mine in 1842.

A public school opened in 1955.

The area has a reputation for being a high socioeconomic demographic, which relates to the initial historical subdivision of the Toronto Estate by the Excelsior Land Investment and Building Company in 1887. The creation of this estate required the resumption of the 100 ft waterfront reserve that encircled Lake Macquarie. Five reserves were created on Coal Point to compensate for the loss of public land. The Toronto Estate was marketed to the well-to-do of the time.

In 1946 the Coal Point Progress Association was established to work for the betterment of the community. The founding members raised money to purchase a block of land and build Progress Hall, one of the last remaining community-owned halls in Lake Macquarie.