Stockton, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stockton Newcastle, New South Wales
The northern breakwater in Stockton at the entrance to Newcastle Harbour
Stockton Location in the Hunter-Central Coast Region
Population	4,160 (2016 census)
• Density	1,133.8/km2 (2,937/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2295
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Area	3.7 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	16 km (10 mi) N of Newcastle (by road) 1 km (1 mi) N of Newcastle (via ferry)
LGA(s)	City of Newcastle
Region	Hunter
County	Gloucester
Parish	Stockton
State electorate(s)	Newcastle
Federal Division(s)	Newcastle
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.8 °C 71 °F 14.2 °C 58 °F 1,131.3 mm 44.5 in
Suburbs around Stockton: Kooragang Fern Bay Pacific Ocean Carrington Stockton Pacific Ocean Newcastle Newcastle Newcastle East

Stockton is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located 600 m (0.4 mi) from Newcastle's central business district. It is the only residential suburb of the City of Newcastle that lies north of the Hunter River.

Geography

Stockton is a peninsula, with the Hunter River at the south and south-west and the Pacific Ocean at the east. On the eastern side are sand dunes and surfing beaches, with numerous shipwrecks at its north, while on the western side there are marshes, where many migratory birds can be spotted. There are numerous spots at Stockton suitable for recreational fishing.

For many years, Stockton was linked to Newcastle's Central Business District ("Overtown" or "Over Seas" in Stocktonian parlance) at the south by passenger and vehicular ferry services. While there is still a passenger ferry service, vehicular traffic is now connected by the Stockton Bridge, built in 1971 as part of a northern detour to the outside world.

History

Stockton was settled almost as soon as the foundation of Newcastle in 1797. It was originally called "Pirates Point" as the result of escaped convicts being shipwrecked on the peninsula in 1800. The southern tip of the peninsula, near the northern breakwater is still known as "Pirate Point". For much of the 19th century it served as an industrial and mining base. In 1896 tragedy struck the local colliery, in which a gas leak killed 11 people. It has become a working-class dormitory suburb during the 20th century, and remains so today for its 4,200 residents.

Stocktonians are particularly proud of Dave Sands, a local resident and champion boxer during the years immediately after World War II. Like the Colliery Disaster, the short life of Sands was commemorated by some of the numerous memorials across this seaside village.

Education

There are two primary level schools, Stockton Public School and the Catholic St Peter's Primary School. Stockton falls under the catchment area for Newcastle High School.

Culture

A family pictured in Stockton in 1902

Despite being technically an inner-city suburb of Newcastle, Stockton has a country town atmosphere because of its isolation. It has its own shops, churches, two clubhouses, three pubs, a swimming pool, and a caravan park. Before it was closed it also had a large residential unit for people with developmental disability known as the Stockton Centre,

Stockton was traditionally a working-class suburb. The Leigh Leigh murder caused "irreparable psychological damage" to the community of Stockton. The crime has been described as a barely healed wound for Stockton, one that is easily punctured. In recent years, however, the town has begun to re-invent itself with a push for young professionals to move in from other centres such as Sydney. This practice has led to an increase in real estate prices.

Notable people

• Daniel Ammann – boxer
• Eric Barbour – doctor and cricketer
• Vera Deacon – historian, writer and philanthropist
• Ray Jackson – footballer
• Robert Lynn – politician
• Justin Norris – Olympic swimmer
• Ray Robinson – cricketer
• Dave Sands – boxer
• Johnny Slade – rugby league footballer
• Percival Stacy Waddy – Anglican priest

Sport

Stockton includes a district cricket team. It also has an active soccer club, the Stockton Sharks Soccer Club. The Stockton Rugby League club participates in the Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League C Grade competition. Surfing is a big part of Stockton life and is based from the Stockton Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC). Activities around the SLSC include paddle boarding, surf swimming, surf ski, as well as surf life saving beach patrols. Port Hunter 16 Foot Sailing Skiff Club sails on Newcastle harbour.

Stockton Beach

Southern end of Stockton Beach from Shipwreck walk

Stockton Beach is 32 km (20 mi) long, stretching from Stockton in the south to Anna Bay at its north-eastern end. In some areas it is as much as 1 km wide and has sand dunes over 30 metres high although at the Stockton end it is at its narrowest.

Four-wheel drives are permitted to drive on most areas of Stockton Beach but are excluded from the extreme ends of the beach.

Stockton Colliery disaster 1896 rescuers

Entry to the beach is via Lavis Lane or Anna Bay and a permit needs to be purchased before entering the beach. Drivers must also ensure that they respect the natural habitat of the beach and refrain from driving on the plants and grasses on the dune structures.

Maritime disasters

Over the years Stockton Beach has been the site of a large number of shipwrecks, ship collisions and groundings. These include but not limited to:

• Norfolk (1798 sloop)
• SS Cawarra
• SS Colonist (1889)
• SS Lindus (1881)
• Wendouree (1882)
• Adolphe (ship)
• The Bluebell Collision
• MV Sygna

Transport

Ferry

Ferry Shortland travelling between Stockton and Newcastle

Prior to the opening of the Stockton Bridge in 1971, the main transport access to Stockton was a system of vehicular and passenger ferries.

Today there is the frequent Stockton ferry service to Stockton from Queens Wharf, close to the former Newcastle railway station. The ferry journey takes about three minutes. Driving to Stockton from Newcastle requires following the many signs to Port Stephens that can be found on the main roads. These will eventually lead to the Stockton Bridge and a turn-off to the suburb itself.

Road

Stockton Bridge

There is one road into Stockton. This road offers two options for travel, to the east over the Stockton Bridge via Koorgang Island connects travelers to Newcastle, while the northern option connects travelers to Hexham, Williamtown, Raymond Terrace, Nelson Bay and the Pacific Highway.

Buses

Stockton is served by Hunter Valley Buses route 136 to Raymond Terrace.