Seal Rocks, New South Wales

Seal Rocks is a small coastal settlement in the Mid-Coast Council local government area, in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, 275 kilometres (171 mi) north-north-east of Sydney.[2][6] It is famous for its many premier surfing beaches (including Lighthouse Beach, Treachery and Yagon), and also for being the home of Seal Rocks lighthouse, officially known as Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. At the 2006 census, the area had a population of 131 persons.[1]

Seal Rocks
New South Wales
Seal rocks beach
Seal Rocks
Coordinates32°25′13″S 152°30′27″E
Population131 (2006)[1] Note1
Postcode(s)2423
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST)AEDT (UTC+11)
Location
  • 275 km (171 mi) NNE of Sydney
  • 46.6 km (29 mi) SSE of Tuncurry
  • 107 km (66 mi) SSE of Taree
  • 136 km (85 mi) NNE of Newcastle
LGA(s)Mid-Coast Council[2]
RegionMid North Coast[2]
CountyGloucester[3]
ParishForster[3]
State electorate(s)Myall Lakes[4]
Federal Division(s)Lyne[5]
Suburbs around Seal Rocks:
Bungwahl, Smith's Lake Smith's Lake Tasman Sea
Bungwahl, Yagon Seal Rocks Tasman Sea
Yagon Tasman Sea Tasman Sea

History

Prior to European settlement, the area that is now Seal Rocks was occupied by the Worimi Aboriginal people

In 1864, the Rainbow was wrecked on Seal Rocks.

The Sugarloaf Point Light was installed and light on 1 December 1875. In 1923, the lighthouse converted from kerosene to acetylene gas. The lighthouse was electrified in June 1966. By 1987, the lighthouse had been de-manned and automated.

In 1895 the SS Catterthun, heading for China from Sydney, was wrecked on the rocks and 55 (31?) over passengers and crew drowned.

Heritage listings

Seal Rocks has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Resistance to commercialisation
Seal rocks save seal rocks

Seal Rocks is well known for its peaceful resistance to attempts by developers to commercialise the small picturesque fishing village. On entering the town by the road, the slogan "Save Seal Rocks The Last Frontier" can be seen painted on the road itself, this has been continually repainted for over 30 years. Currently the local council is making an attempt to commercialise the small caravan park, and a movement is once again growing against this.[8]

The 2013 movie Adore was filmed at this location.

Seal colony

Seal Rocks was named after the Australian fur seals that were often seen on the rocks near the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. There is some evidence that a breeding colony of seals once existed at Seal Rocks, although the species no longer breeds in NSW and the colony was lost.[9] However, more recently sightings have been increasing in the Port Stephens area.[10]

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
Main article: Sugarloaf Point Light

The construction of Sugarloaf Lighthouse was completed in 1875, ten years after it was recommended a light be placed to highlight the treacherous Seal Rocks. It was originally intended to place the light on Seal Rocks but landing was difficult and so the proposition was abandoned.

The tower is constructed of brick, rendered and painted white. Also constructed were three adjoining cottages, various outbuildings, the construction of the road from Bungwahl, and a 460-metre (1,509 ft) long jetty which was used to land some 1,829 tonnes (1,800 long tons) of building supplies and materials.

The light was upgraded in 1923 and was converted from kerosene to acetylene gas. Electricity was introduced in 1966 and the light was kept manned for many years despite automation in 1987.

The Sugarloaf lighthouse is the second-most easterly one in Australia, after the Byron Bay lighthouse, and offers accommodation in three cottages.[11]

One of Australia's biggest shipping disasters occurred off Sugarloaf Point; the wreck of the SS Catterthun in 1895 when bound from Sydney to China with the loss of thirty one lives. Although some reports state that 55 persons lost their lives, the NSW marine board of inquiry listed 31 as the correct number.

gollark: ++delete <@319753218592866315> (unnecessary deletions of messages?)
gollark: No, I think I would get advice at about the same speed.
gollark: but WHAT DIFFERENT COLORS ÆÆÆÆÆÆææææææææææææaa
gollark: I was thinking a more varied palette would be good, but I don't know how to pick nice ones.
gollark: But this is not ideal.

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Seal Rocks (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 February 2010. Map
  2. "Suburb Search - Local Council Boundaries - Hunter (HT) - Great Lakes Council". New South Wales Division of Local Government. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  3. "Seal Rocks". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  4. "Myall Lakes". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  5. "Paterson". Australian Electoral Commission. 19 October 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  6. "Seal Rocks". Land and Property Management Authority - Spatial Information eXchange. New South Wales Land and Property Information. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  7. "Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H02025. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  8. Seal Rocks fights for serenity, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 May 2010
  9. "Australian fur-seal - vulnerable species listing". NSW Office of Environment & Heritage. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  10. David Harasti. "Fur-Seals". Wild about whales blog. National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales). Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  11. Australia’s iconic lighthouses, Australian Geographic, 26 July 2010
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.