Introduction

It is said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. In a similar vein, it is said ‘a photo is the first draft of history’.

The photographs in this paper record aspects of the history of Nelson Bay. They complement many of the papers published on this website about the history of Nelson Bay and surrounding areas. Where appropriate, the description in some of the photos contains a link to these papers.

The dates of some photos are unknown, and estimates have been used to place then in a chronological order.

The Photographs

Early engraving of Nelson Bay, circa 1880. The fish processing facilities of the New South Wales Fish Company and associated wharf, are shown on the left of the picture. Huts of fishermen are shown at the bottom of the picture. The wharf at the bottom of the hill was constructed in 1880.

Facilities comprising accommodation and a factory of the New South Wales Fish Company at Nelson Bay as illustrated by an Australian Museum expedition member, 1881. The steamer ‘Prince of Wales’ is shown in the forefront adjacent to the new ‘T’ shaped wharf. The seven room managers house, which included two rooms rented to the government as the Nelson Bay post and telegraph office, are not shown in the illustration [Australian Town and Country Journal, 5 February 1881].

An Aboriginal lobster diving party at Port Stephens, 1884. The boat was provided by the NSW Government [The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 12 April 1884]

Inner lighthouse and attached lightkeeper’s cottage, Nelson Bay, circa 1880. The Inner Light, on the left of the picture became operational in 1872, and the cottage was built in 1875.

The Nelson Bay long wharf, circa 1890.

Looking east from the village green at Nelson Bay, towards Fly Point, circa 1890. A flagstaff is at the left of the photo.

The long wharf at Nelson Bay, circa 1890.

Nelson Bay Public School, circa 1890.

First Sea Breeze Hotel in Laman Street, Nelson Bay, circa 1890.

Second Nelson Bay Wharf, circa 1900

Nelson Bay, circa 1900. Two wharves and waterside buildings are shown. The long wharf on the left-hand side of the photo had served to needs of the former New South Wales Fish Company. An excursion boat for holiday makers from either Newcastle or Sydney is moored at the second wharf.

Nelson Bay, circa 1900. The two wharves are shown, taken on the same day, as above, from a different perspective.

The two wharves of Nelson Bay, circa 1900.

The original long wharf and shed – Nelson Bay, circa 1900

Fishermen at work adjacent to the original long wharf – Nelson Bay, circa 1900.

Excursionists on the Nelson Bay wharf with a steamboat, circa 1900.

State Fishing Office and Customs Office at Fly Point – Nelson Bay, circa 1900.

Stockton Street – Nelson Bay, looking south, circa 1900.

Nelson Bay long wharf – 1905.

Steamship Reliance at the Nelson Bay wharf with excursionists – 1906.

Eliza Dalton standing on the steps of the recently completed Nelson Bay Methodist Church, on the corner of Laman Street and Church Street – 1909. A porch would later be built over the front door. [Dalton Family Archives – University of Newcastle Library Living Histories Collection]

Photo (as coloured) of the Nelson Bay long wharf with buildings on Government Road, including the second Sea Breeze Hotel, circa 1910.

Nelson Bay long wharf, circa 1910.

View from Nelson Bay looking east, circa 1910. A small steam ship is sailing from the port [University of Newcastle Library Living Histories Collection]

Excursionists rest in the village green opposite the Sea Breeze hotel, Nelson Bay, circa 1910. Victoria Parade is a dirt track.

SS Hunter at the Nelson Bay wharf carrying holiday makers, circa 1920.

Hunter River Steam Ship Co. paddle steamer at the Nelson Bay wharf, carrying holiday makers – 1920.

Steam ship in the port on its way to the Nelson Bay wharf, circa 1920.

Second Sea Breeze Hotel, corner of Government Road and Stockton Street, Nelson Bay, circa 1920.

Second Sea Breeze Hotel – 1927

View of Port Stephens from the village green, Nelson Bay, circa 1920

View of Port Stephens from the village green – Nelson Bay, circa 1920

View of the port, Nelson Bay, circa 1920. The original swimming baths (centre right ) with the long wharf is in the foreground.

View of Nelson Bay from a surrounding hill, circa 1920.

Stockton Street, Nelson Bay, circa 1920, looking south.

Original swimming baths at Nelson Bay – 1923

Reconstructed swimming baths at Nelson Bay, circa 1925.

Looking uphill on Government Road, west of the Sea Breeze Hotel- 1926. The Ocean View Guesthouse is at the top right.

Bather at the reconstructed Nelson Bay Swimming Baths – 1927

Myra Diemar on the Nelson Bay War Memorial Steps, opposite the wharf – 1929. The tennis court is in the background.

View of Nelson Bay with the swimming baths in the foreground, circa 1930

Dirt road to the Nelson Bay wharf, circa 1930. The recently opened Memorial Steps are on the left. Fishing equipment is on the shore.

Raymond Terrace Town Band outside the Ocean View Accommodation House at Nelson Bay, circa 1930

Methodist Church overlooking Nelson Bay, 1933. An oil fuelled streetlamp stands on the road next to the church ground. An entrance porch now stands at the front door.

The Nelson Bay village green with the tennis court on the right – 1934. Entrance to the Memorial Steps are seen in the middle(right) of the photo [State Archives NSW]

Swimming baths at Nelson Bay with dressing sheds in the background – 1935. [E. l. Button Collection, University of Newcastle Library Living Histories]

Overlooking the port from the village green – Nelson Bay, 1935 [University of Newcastle Library Living Histories Collection]

Excursionists at village green – Nelson Bay, circa 1935 [Tomaree Family Hiistory Group Collection]

The port at Nelson Bay, circa 1935.

New road connecting the township of Nelson Bay with Little Beach and the Inner Lighthouse – 1936

Inner Lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s cottage – 1937

Nelson Bay, looking west, 1940. Camping tents erected by tourists line the shore.

Entrance to the new swimming baths at Nelson Bay, circa 1940.

Long wharf at Nelson Bay, circa 1940.

Boat shed at Nelson Bay, circa 1940.

Fisherman preparing his nets, Nelson Bay, circa 1940.

Main entrance to the HMAS Assault Military Base at Fly Point, Nelson Bay, circa 1943 [Australian War Memorial] .

American navy officer inspecting wastewater pipes from the HMAS Assault Military Base at Little Beach, Nelson Bay, circa 1943 [NSW State Archives Office]

Military tents at the Gan Gan Military Camp, Nelson Bay, circa 1943 [NSW State Library]

Soldier at Gan Gan Military Camp, Nelson Bay, circa 1943 [NSW State Library]

Ocean View Guesthouse behind the bougainvillea, in Government Road, Nelson Bay – 1944. The second Sea Breeze Hotel was situated close by down the hill.

The waterfront of Nelson Bay, circa 1945.

Looking east from Nelson Bay, circa 1945.

Little Beach, Nelson Bay, showing the new military wharf and fishermen’s huts – 1945.

Kennedy’s boatshed at Nelson Bay – 1947

Cycle riders on their way back to Nelson Bay in the Nelson Bay to Stockton and return road race – 1947.

Former military buildings on the Nelson Bay shore – 1948. Photo taken from Kennedy’s boatshed.

Kennedy’s hire boats at Nelson Bay – 1949

Kindergarten children of nine nationalities take a stroll around the Nelson Bay Migrant Hostel, on the site of the former HMAS Assault Military Base at Fly Point, circa 1948 [National Archives of Australia – Commonwealth Migrant Workers’ Hostels -1951]

Government Road at Nelson Bay as a dirt track and showing fishermen huts on the shore, circa 1950.

View looking towards Nelson Bay township, circa 1950.

Entrance to Halifax Park, Little Beach, the first official camping ground at Nelson Bay, circa 1950.

Stockton Street, Nelson Bay looking towards the port with two petrol stations in view, circa 1950.

Fishing fleet sails up the bay, Nelson Bay, circa 1950.

The village green at Nelson Bay, with the tennis court and rotunda in the background, circa 1950.

Nelson Bay swimming baths, circa 1950

Little Beach, Nelson Bay, circa 1954, showing the military wharf and five remaining fishermen’s huts, circa 1954.

Wharf area – Nelson Bay, circa 1960.

Nelson Bay harbour – 1960. The former military wharf facilities at centre and tourist huts along the shore in teh background.

The port from Nelson Bay, circa 1960. The water is choppy.

Tourists enjoy the water at Nelson Bay, circa 1960.

Fish processing shed and wharf at Nelson Bay, circa 1960.

Dutchies Beach, Nelson Bay, circa 1960 [University of Newcastle Library Living Histories Collection]

Apex Park, Nelson Bay, 1960 [University of Newcastle Library Living Histories Collection]

Nelson Bay Memorial Steps leading to Apex Park, Nelson Bay – 1960

Church Street, Nelson Bay, with the residence ‘Westward Ho’ at left and the former Methodist Church on the right, 1960. ‘Westward Ho’ was the house built by Captain Dalton in 1882. The first stage of the Methodist Church was built in 1909.

Nelson Bay Swimming Baths, circa 1960.

 Part of the fishing fleet based at Nelson Bay, circa 1960

Tourists enjoying the sun at Nelson Bay, circa 1960.

Tourists taking in signage at Apex Park on Victoria Avenue, Nelson Bay, circa 1960. The rotunda is in the background.

Aerial photo of Nelson Bay CBD with the Sea Breeze Hotel at centre and Apex Park at right – 1966.

Aerial photo of the Foreshore of Nelson Bay adjacent to Apex Park (at centre) and the Sea Breeze Hotel (top Centre) – 1966.

Shed on Nelson Bay Wharf, circa 1970

View of the port at Nelson Bay, circa 1970

Construction of new wharf facilities at Nelson Bay – 1974. The bow section of the large MV Sygna, a Norwegian bulk carrier that foundered on Stockton Beach in November 1974 is moored in the background.

Stockton Street, Nelson Bay, looking towards the port, with the bow of the MV Sygna wreck, moored in the background – 1974. Four service stations were operating in the street.

Magnus Street, Nelson Bay with Post Office on the right – circa 1980.

The Nelson Bay shore prior to the construction of the d’Albora Marina – circa 1980

View of the port, Nelson Bay, circa 1980. The swimming baths building is in the foreground.

Concluding Comments

The selected photos in this paper aim to provide an insight into the development of Nelson Bay, from its modest beginnings to its status as a significant tourist and commercial hub on the NSW Mid-North Coast.

The paper entitled ‘A Reflection on the Beauty of Port Stephens – 1954‘ demonstrates the excitement that tourists  experienced when seeing beauty of Nelson Bay and surrounding areas. The photos therein complement the story of this beauty.

We are seeking further photographs relating to the history of Nelson Bay and the wider Port Stephens area.

If you have any photos pertaining to the history of Port Stephens, I would appreciate receiving a copy/copies which I will consider publishing.

I can be contacted by email at the following link on the ‘About‘ page of this website.

Researched and compiled by Kevin McGuinness

June 2025