Introduction

Commercial whaling operations along the NSW coast commenced soon after the establishment of the Colony. Prior to that Aboriginal fishermen were known to have undertaken some whaling activity.

The first whaling station in NSW was established at Twofold Bay in 1828. Commercial whaling peaked in the 1830’s and had reduced considerably by the 1850’s due to depleted whale stock, and the manufacturing of petroleum products which lessened the need for whale oil for lighting and machine lubrication.

During the whaling years, Port Stephens was used as a port for the replenishment of fresh provisions and where repairs could be undertaken.

A great beneficiary of the whaling industry was the Australian Agricultural Company, then situated at Carrington at the head of Port Stephens. The company benefited by selling produce supplies to the whale boats.

This paper provides an insight into the role played by Port Stephens in the early whaling industry.

A Postscript on ‘Johnny’s Well at Soldiers Point, believed to have been used by the crews of whaling and other ships to replenish their water supply, is featured.

An Appendix also provides a listing of whaling ships that called at Port Stephens in the period 1821-1861.

Port Stephens proposed as a whaling station – 1830

At the peak of the whaling industry in 1830, Port Stephens was proposed as the possible site of a whaling station. The Sydney Monitor of 9 January 1830, page 3, reported:

‘It is generally understood, that Sir Edward Parry [Commissioner of the Australian Agricultural Company, based in Port Stephens] has directions to commence a whaling establishment at Port Stephens, or on the River Manning, on a scale commensurate with so rich and extensive a Corporation, and to let all the farms and buildings at Port Stephens to farmers, who in the crews of the whalers are to find a proximate market for their meat, grain, and other produce. We consider whaling to be a rational adventure; and that while it will remunerate the Company, it will at the same time accelerate the wealth, importance, and prosperity generally of New South Wales.’

Port Stephens used as a safe refitting and refreshment port – 1837

Whaling was a dangerous and tough occupation. The Sydney Herald of 28 September 1837, page 2, reported on the difficulties faced by Captains of whaling ships to maintain a crew of skilled whalers:

‘We call the attention of merchants to a very important notice respecting the harbour of Port Stephens which appears in another column. The greatest advantage which would accrue to whalers putting into Port Stephens to refit, would be the comparative ease with which the discipline of the crew could be maintained in the absence of those banes to seamen public houses. When in Sydney masters of merchant and whaling vessels are continually losing the services of their men through their getting into gaol for assaults arising out of drunken squabbles with constables, and there are many public houses in the vicinity of the wharfs where men who are likely to have heavy ‘lays’ to receive are decoyed and kept drunk for days at a time in order that as much as possible of the money due to them may be forestalled by the publican, and if there is any predisposition on the part of the sailor to disease, the general result of these ‘sprees’ is a few weeks ‘spell’ in the hospital, the unfortunate master being in the meantime worried out of his life to procure men to refit the ship.

These evils will in a great measure be obviated at Port Stephens where there are no public houses and where the population in is small, and very differently constituted from the population of Sydney. Under these circumstances we have no doubt the recommendation of the Company’s Commissioner [Australian Agricultural Company] to masters of whalers will be found to their interests to pay attention to especially as meat and vegetables can be procured from the Company’s establishment at Carrington, and wood and water can easily be procured without expense.’

Illustration of the barque ‘Terror’ (dated 17 September 1846) which was one of many whaling ships that entered Port Stephens for repairs and provisions [Australian National Maritime Museum]

Australian Agricultural Company advertises services to whalers – 1837

The Sydney Monitor of 4 October 1837, page 3, carried the following advertisement for services offered by the Australian Agricultural Company to whaling ships:

Advertisement placed by the Australian Agricultural Company [Sydney Monitor, 4 October 1837]

It reads;

‘The attention of Owners and Captains of Whalers is hereby called to the many advantages offered by the Harbour of Port Stephens, as a place at which Vessels employed in the Southern Seas may obtain Refreshment and Supplies.

The conveniences of the Harbour, for the entry and departure of the Vessels—its perfect security the facility of obtaining Wood and Water—its proximity to Sydney—and above all—the absence of the various temptations to irregularity and licentiousness which prevail in other places, frequented by Whaling Vessels, are among the advantages alluded to.

Fresh Meat and Vegetables can be procured from the Establishment of the “Australian Agricultural Company.”

A Mail leaves Carrington on Tuesday and Friday each week, by which the owners of Whalers, or their agents residing in Sydney, may be apprised on the days following, of the arrival and wants of their ships. Vessels trading to Newcastle for Coals may be freighted at a moderate rate for the conveyance to Port Stephens of such articles or stores as may be required; and the William Fourth steamer, for a trifling sum, calls at this Port, on her Voyages to and from Port Macquarie.

The Harbour of Port Stephens, being much frequented by Black Whales, it has been thought. that a profitable Establishment might be formed near the Heads of the Harbour, in connexion with Vessels employed outside, for the capture of these Fish.

Captain Butcher, of the brig ‘NEREUS,’ recently killed a Whale measuring 75 feet long, whilst laying in Farm Cove [currently known as Fame Cove, Port Stephens].

This brig was made fast to the stump of a tree, on the margin of the steep bank of that part of the Harbour, whilst she was divested of her rigging and underwent repairs, which to undertake, elsewhere, would have required the security and shelter of a Dock.

Captain Butcher affirmed, that he performed in six weeks, labour which could not have been completed in the Bay of Islands, in six months; at the same time, that the health of his crew was completely restored, by the regularity of their habits and their exercise on shore. A Medical Officer resides at Carrington, at which place there is a commodious Hospital, in which sick men, if required may be treated at the same’, rates as are charged in the Civil Hospital of Sydney.

Should the present Notice induce Whaling Vessels to visit the Harbour of Port Stephens, in sufficient numbers to justify the adoption of more extensive arrangements for obtaining and holding in readiness, every necessary supply, such arrangements shall be promptly made.

(Signed,) H. DUMARESQ, Commissioner, for the Australian Agricultural Company. Port Stephens, 20th September, 1837.’

Whaling ship strikes a sand spit at Port Stephens – 1839

The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser of 29 April 1839, page 4, reported on the arrival of the whaling ship ‘Jane Eliza’ at Port Stephens carrying 1,450 barrels of black oil and 160 barrels of sperm oil:

‘This vessel in entering the harbour of Port Stephens, where there is neither buoy to warn the mariner of danger, nor pilot to conduct his vessel, (though becoming the refreshing port for whalers), struck upon a sand spit, and in consequence has become leaky, making 30 or 40 inches of water in 24 hours.  …. The Jane Eliza wanting about 400 or 600 barrels to fill up, is expected to refresh and refit at Port Stephens, and then proceed to England, endeavouring to fill up by the way.’

Description of a whaling crew at Port Stephens

The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer of 8 March 1929, page 7, carried an article on early recollections of Port Stephens, by a correspondent who wrote about a whaling boat that had visited Port Stephens:

‘The only occasion when I ever saw food cooked in what might be described as a blackfellow’s oven was on the occasion of a whaling vessel to the port. Capt. Rogers was skipper of the ship and his crew composed largely of Kanakas, recruited from some island in the South Pacific seas. These ravens were not Australian blacks and they used heated stones for their cooking. I remember them steaming a lot of cabbages my father had given them from the garden. They excavated a hole in which a fire was lighted. Stones were heated, and when everything was in readiness the cabbages were placed in the cavity and covered with the hot stones. When they were done they had a beautiful appearance, and I recollect my father remarking that he had never before tasted cabbage so well cooked.’

Whalemen harpooning a whale – 1857 [Wikimedia Commons]

Whalers introduce alcohol to the local Aboriginal community

An unfortunate effect of the whaling industry was the introduction of alcohol to the local aboriginal community. The captain of the survey ship HMS Beagle recorded in his journal the following comments about his visit to the Tahlee homestead, situated at the head of Port Stephens:

These fairy boats, stealing along the water on a fine calm morning, greatly enhance the beauty of the scene [at Tahlee]. They belong to a party of natives who have taken up their quarters near Tahlee, and who ….. have always been well disposed towards Europeans. Unfortunately, they are much addicted to the use of ardent spirits, having acquired the habit from the whalers who frequent the place.’

Whaling ship enters Port Stephens following the desertion of its crew – 1840

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser of 12 March 1840, page 2, reported:

 ‘The whaling barque Sir William Wallace which left this port [Sydney] about three months since was compelled to put into Port Stephens, owing to the desertion of several of the crew, and the death of the captain. She has obtained 160 barrels of sperm oil during her absence, and arrived in this port on Monday.’

The same Newspaper reported: ‘The brig Geni out 12 months [from Sydney], with 400 barrels sperm oil was refreshing at Port Stephens when the Sir William Wallace sailed.’

Concluding Comments

It is heartening to watch the yearly increase in the whale population that twice each year pass Port Stephens travelling north around May and June and south again between August and November. Those participating in recreational boating activities outside the Port Stephens Heads have reported instances where whales have now become very inquisitive and can come very close to the smaller boats.

POSTSCRIPT

On the shore of Port Stephens at Soldiers Point stands a well that is believed to have been used by the crews of whaling and other ships to replenish their water supply.

Johnny’s Well at Soldiers Point, Port Stephens [Author photo]

The plaque on the side of the restored well reads in part:

‘This construction marks the approximate location of Johnny’s Well, which was a spring located nearby. …..

“Johnny’s Well was not a well in the accepted sense but was a spring. Also, we cannot be sure of the spelling, as the name has been passed down by word of mouth only. Finally we do not know the identity of Johnny, as early references go well back in time, indications are that Johnny was very likely an aborigine.

What we do know is that the spring gave up beautiful clean water and had extraordinary keeping qualities. It kept much longer in ship’s tanks than water from other sources. Ships from all over the world refilled here. American whalers were frequent visitors.’

APPENDIX: List of Whaling Ships that called at Port Stephens

The Australian Colonial Whaling Ship Voyages Database complied by Mark Howard, and hosted on the website : whalinghistory.org, lists the following whaling ships as having called at Port Stephens between 1821 and 1861

A summary of the information for each such whaling ship is given below, stating:
date of arrival; name of ship; name of master.

1821
15 December 1821 – Woodlark 1 – Joseph Moore

1822
5 January 1822 – Woodlark 1 – Joseph Moore

1831
30 November 1831 – Cape Packet – John Edwards

1836
25 July 1836 – Lunar – John Stein
August – September 1836 – Wolf – John Evans
10 September 1836 – Jane 1 – John Barber
September 1836 – Betsy – John Irving

1837
11 March 1837 – Mary 2 – Thomas Swindells
1-4 October 1837 – Scamander – William Rogers
July – September 1837 – Nereus – Alexander Butcher
5-14 September 1837 – Mic Mac – George Bears
September – October 1837 – Tigress – William Terry

1838
February 1838 – Mic Mac – George Bears
11 Narch 1838 – Mary 2 – Thomas Swindells
14 March 1838 – Sir Francis Freeling – Joseph Bradley
March 1838 – William Stoveld – Alexander Davidson
April 1838 – Woodlark 1 – George Grimes
18 May 1838 – Governor Halket – Edward Bolger
10 June 1838 – Jane 1 – John Barber
9 July-4 September 1838 – Tigress- Charles Williams
July 1838 – William – John Firth
2 September 1838 – Lady Blackwood – Alexander Abbott

1839
early 1839 – Scamander – William Rogers
28 February 1839 – William – John Firth
19 April-early May 1939 – Jane Eliza – William Richards
23 October 1839 – Scamander – William Rogers
late 1839 – Juno – George Banks

1840
14 March 1840 – William Stoveld – Alexander Davidson
early March – 14 March 1840 – Geni – Murray
March 1840 – Sir William Wallace 1 – Thomas Beason
14 March 1840 – Australian 2 – Edward Underwood
June 1840 – Mary 1 – John Stein
July-16 August 1840 – Fame – William Sullivan
August 1840 – Caroline 3 – James S. Williamson

1841
early 1841 – Jane 1 – John Cooper
12 April 1841 – Proteus – William Thomas Fowler
6 August 1841 – Caroline 3 – John Joseph Hunter
7 August 1841 – Lucy Ann – Charles Glover Aldrich
August 1841 – Proteus – William Thomas Fowler
September 1841 – Tigress – McCarroll

1842
19 January 1842 – Maria Orr – John Scott McArthur
10 May-10 July 1842 – Nelson – Stephen Dodd Norris
30 May 1842 – Lady Rowena – John Brabyn Mills
18-31 July 1842 – Onyx – Brown
11 December 1842 – Fame – William Sullivan

1843
17 February 1843 – British Sovereign – William Sergeant
April 1843 – Woodlark 1- William Osborne Spurling
July 1843 – Woodlark 1 – William Osborne Spurling
late June-August 1843 – Genii – John Long
24 July 1843 – Jane 1 – Michael McCardill
24 July-August 1843 – Pocklington – John Hayes
20 August-November 1843 – Mary 2 – John McDonald
14-20 August 1843 – Scamander – John Horatio Nixon
12 October 1843 – Lady Blackwood – Alexander Butcher

1844
12-28 February 1844 – Bright Planet – Thomas Kyle
18 March-12 April 1844 – Lindsays – Janes S. Williamson
mid April 1844 – Clarkstone – Robert Stewart
3-9 May 1844 – Lucy Ann – Richard Lee
9 June 1844 – Clarkstone – Robert Stewart
18 June 1844 – Nimrod 1 – William Sullivan
23 June 1844 – Genii – John Long
7 August-9 September 1844 – Lindsays – James S. Williamson
10 August-12 September 1844 – British Sovereign – Richard Cooper
14-30 September 1844 – Scamander – John Horatio Nixon
20 September-2 October 1844 – Jane 2 – Robert Fairweather
7 October 1844 – Lady Blackwood – Alexander Butcher

1845
1 March 1845 – Jane 1 – William Thomas Fowler
5 July 1845 – Nimrod 1, William Sullivan
14 September 1845 – Lindsays – James S. Williamson
25 October-8 November 1845 – Lady Blackwood – John Cooper
21 December 1845 – Tigress – Michael Eury
early December – Arabian – Thomas Collins

1846
14-28 February 1846 – Edward – Thomas Jameson
28 February-April 1846 – Genii – George Blaxland
February 1846 – Terror – Thomas Swindells
February 1846 – William – William Sergeant
26 February-5 March 1846 – Scamander – Thomas Kyle
18 June-21 July 1846 – Jane 2 – William Lee
5 July 1846 – Nimrod 1 – William Sullivan
15 August-6 September 1846 – Genii – Edward Oliver
16 August-4 September 1846 – William – William Sergeant
22 September 1846 – Terror – William Henry Downes
24 November 1846 – Tigress – Michael Eury
24 November 1846 – British Sovereign – John Long
late November 1846 – Lady Blackwood – John Cooper

1847
13 July 1847 – Jane 1 – William Thomas Fowler

1848
2 January 1848 – Rebecca – John McDonald
5 February 1848 – Lindsays – John McMillan Brazier
27 February 1848 -Proteus – Richard Elliott
22 June-1 July 1848 – Pocklington – William Bolger
30 December 1848 – Jane 2 – William Lee

1849
12 May 1849 – Edward – Thomas Jameson
6 August 1849 – Flying Fox – John Chamberlain, Sen.
28 December 1849 – Lady Blackwood – John Long

1850
January 1850 – Jane 1 – William Thomas Fowler

1851
4 January 1851 – Alpha – William Lee
3 February 1851 – Daniel Watson – Robert Phelps
16 February 1851 – Alpha – William Lee
May 1851 – Jane 1 – William Thomas Fowler

1852
24 July-16 August 1852 – Proteus – Richard Elliott
20-25 August 1852 – Woodlark 2 – A. Ducker

1853
24 July 1853 – Regia – Robert Johnson

1858
late June 1858 – Caernarvon – Michael Eury

1861
January 1861 – Caernarvon – Michael Eury

Researched and compiled by Kevin McGuinness

June 2023