Introduction

During the early 1900’s a horse drawn coach service operated between Stockton to Salt Ash in the Port Stephens area.

The coach service was commenced in the early 1900’s by Richard George (George) Matthewson (1843-1913), who was the Postmaster at Salt Ash.

His son, Harold Matthweson joined his father as a proprietor of the coach operation. For several years before George’s death, Harold managed the business.

The Matthewson coaches offered both passenger and mail services to the local area and facilitated the opening up of the Port Stephens areas of Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens to tourists.

In 1907, Harold Matthewson and several other entrepreneurs partnered with the NSW Tourist Bureau in promoting the ‘Lakes Travel Route’ which provided a combined coach and boat tour from Stockton; and along the Myall River and Lakes to Forster. This proved very popular with the tourists of the day.

The Matthewson coaches were an integral part of the section of the route between Stockton and Salt Ash.

However, with increasing competition from the growing use of motor vehicles, the coach services were later discontinued around the end of the decade.

Following the end of the coach operations, Harold Matthewson moved to the Gloucester area around 1912.

The Matthewson Coaches

The story of the Matthewson coaches in the early 1900’s is told in the following photos and newspaper reports:

Harold Matthewson coach at Mitchell Street Stockton [Dalton Family Collection – University of Newcastle Living Histories Collection]

Taking delivery of Harold Matthewson’s No. 2 coach, named ‘Reliance’ built at Raymond Terrace – 1906. Sign on coach reads: ‘Newcastle – Port Stephens’ [Dalton Family Collection – University of Newcastle Living Histories Collection]

Matthewson coach at a horse change point at Williamtown General Store on the Stockton – Salt Ash route – 1906 [Dalton Family Collection – University of Newcastle Living Histories Collection]

Tourist party next to a Matthewson coach at Salt Ash outside Post Office and the Matthewson residence – 1906 [Dalton Family Collection – University of Newcastle Living Histories Collection]

A Matthewson coach from Stockton delivering travellers to a steam launch at the Salt Ash wharf, on Tilligerry Creek – 1907. The sign on the side of the coach reads: ‘Newcastle Port Stephens Coach’ – Leaves Stockton Wharf Tuesday and Friday.

Steamboat ‘Reliance’ at Tea Gardens. The Reliance often met Matthewson coach passengers at Salt Ash and conveyed them to Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens. Harold Matthewson’s No. 2 coach was named ‘Reliance‘

The Lakes Travel Route

In the early twentieth century, before the Pacific Highway was built along the NSW mid-north coast, coastal towns like Forster were mainly reached by sea. However, this changed in October 1907 when the New South Wales Government Tourist Bureau introduced a new travel route from Sydney to the mid-north coast via Port Stephens and Myall Lakes called the ‘Lakes Travel Route.’

The route consisted of five main stages for passengers traveling both ways:

1. Travel from Sydney to Newcastle, then take a ferry across to Stockton;
2. Ride by a Matthewson coach from Stockton to Salt Ash, followed by a steamer trip to Port Stephens with a stop at Tea Gardens;
3. Take a launch up the Myall River and through Myall Lakes to Bungwahl;
4. Continue by coach from Bungwahl to Wallis Lake;
5. Finish with a launch up Wallis Lake to Forster, then travel onward to Tuncurry and Taree by coach.

Four main tourist operators operated sections of this journey: Mr. Charles Bowers (Forster), Mr. Jas. Goodwin (Bungwahl), Messrs. Thurlow and Co. (Tea Gardens), and Mr. Matthewson (Stockton).

For seven years, the Lakes Route proved popular, although the rough road between Wallis Lake and Bungwahl remained a major drawback and eventually contributed to its decline as a tourism pathway.

Matthewson’s advertisement promoting the Lakes Travel Route and his coach service [Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 27 December 1907]

Further information on the Lakes Travel Route is published on this website and can be viewed at this link.

Harold Matthewson’s coach driving days

The following newspaper report in The Macleay Argus of 11 June 1952, page 2, reflects retrospectively on Harold Matthewson’s coach driving days:

‘The death of Mr. Harold Matthewson recently in the Parramatta Hospital, removed another of the early Hunter River-North Coast mail drivers.

He was born at Hawk’s Nest (Port Stephens) in 1885 and was the last member of the Matthewson family, which pioneered the coast between the Hunter and the Manning. Young Matthewson’s first occupation was that of a driver of one of the many vehicles that plied between the centres along the Great Northern Highway, then sparsely populated but, in those days, towns of importance, surrounded by industries steadily expanding.

The starting point for the passenger and mail coaches was Hexham, moving over the Hunter to Raymond Terrace, Krambach, Stroud, Ward’s River, Dungog, Gloucester, onward to the Manning. The building of the North Coast railway changed everything. The lumbering four-wheeled coaches went off the road within a few years; then the advent of the motorcar removed the once useful horse-drawn conveyance entirely.’

Concluding Comments

Both George Matthewson and his son Harold were pioneer entrepreneurs of the Port Stephens region who helped open up the area to commercial operations including tourism.

The experience of passengers on the horse drawn coaches was not pleasant as they experienced varied weather conditions with minimal protection, dust and poor bumpy roads.

EPILOGUE: The Matthewson Family

1)   Richard George Matthewson

The pioneer of the horse-drawn coaching service in Port Stephens in the early 1900’s was Richard George (George) Matthewson.

He was born in Newcastle in 1845 and died in Sydney on 24 January 1913. George married Barbara McKenzie (1844 – 1919) on 18 October 1870.

George was the Postmaster at Salt Ash from 1890-1909.

Grave of Richard George Matthewson and his wife Barbara at the Pioneer Cemetery at Raymond Terrace

The Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser of 31 January 1913, page 2, published the following obituary of George Matthewson:

‘The people of Salt Ash and adjoining districts will regret the death of Mr. George Matthewson, of Salt Ash, and proprietor of Matthewson’s line of coaches running from Salt Ash to Stockton. His death occurred under sad circumstances. He was ordered away for a change of air some three months ago by his medical adviser and went to the Blue Mountains. He was on his return from there homewards on Friday last, and had reached Sydney, and while travelling in a tram from the railway station to see his daughter at Surry Hills he collapsed in the tram. None of his relatives were with him at the time, and his identity remained unknown for some hours.

Eventually the sad news was made known to those connected with him, and his body was removed to Salt Ash on Sunday. The funeral was largely attended by sympathising friends on Monday, the remains being interred in the Presbyterian cemetery at Raymond Terrace, the Rev. W. N. Wilson officiating at the obsequies. The deceased gentleman was of estimable character, quiet and peaceable, and neighbourly, to a degree; and will be much missed from the avocation he followed. He was aged 68 years. Messrs. Archie and Harold Matthewson are sons and Mrs. A. J. Maher (Sydney), Mrs. J. Carruthers (Stockton), and Mrs. R. Carruthers (Sydney) daughters. There are 20 grandchildren.’

2)   Harold Matthewson

George Harold [(Harold) Matthewson, the youngest son of Harold and Barbara, was  born in 1885 and died on 8 May 1952 at Parramatta.

Harold married Frances “Fanny” Dalton (1887 – 1950) on 7 February 1911 at Salt Ash. They had five children.

Frances (Fanny) Dalton, second from left and her mother Eliza Jane Dalton, Thomas and Mrs. Laman [Ancestry.com]

The Gloucester Advocate of 13 May 1952, page 3, published the following obituary on Harold [Matthewson that outlined his successful business activities after he ceased the coaching operations at Port Stephens:

‘As briefly mentioned in last Friday’s issue, Mr. Matthewson died in Parramatta District Hospital the previous evening. With heart trouble and complications, he had been in the institution about a month. ….

Mr. Matthewson was born at Hawks Nest, near Salt Ash, 66 years ago [1886] — he would have been 67 next September— and was the last member of his parents’ family.

As a young man he drove a passenger and mail coaching service but came to settle in Gloucester district close upon 40 years ago [1912]. He bought a small property at Oakey Creek, near Bowman Farm, but after about five years he purchased at Avon Valley, the farm now occupied by Mr. Alec Wilson. Within a short while Mr. Matthewson came to town and started as an auctioneer, land and trucking agent. ….

The passing of this gentleman removes one of Gloucester’s best known, highly regarded, and respected residents, and successful businessmen, and not only here but in the Central North Coast District. For over 30 years he has been in business in Gloucester. From a modest beginning, through personal attention, goodwill, integrity and a very likeable personality, he built up a very lucrative connection. ….

Mr. Matthewson, too. was a keen lover of horses and liked a good one. Until a few years ago his was a familiar and well-set-up figure riding in and about the town on an attractive, well-fed and kept horse. If our memory serves us right Harold Matthewson, in his younger days, won prizes at shows as a gentleman rider. ….

The funeral of the late Mr. Matthewson held on Saturday morning, was largely attended — a respectful and worthy gesture to one of his standing in the community. Rev. F. W. Best, until lately the Methodist clergyman in Gloucester, conducted a short, impressive service and paid nicely worded tribute to the deceased. The cortege then moved on its way to Stockton Methodist Cemetery, where the interment was made. The Masonic burial service took its place in the last sad rites, for Mr. Matthewson was a member of Gloucester Masonic Lodge.

A number of cars filled with mourners and friends journeyed to the graveside, while many turned off at the south end of the town. Mr. Matthewson’s wife, who was a Miss Dalton, predeceased him by about eighteen months and, too, was buried at Stockton. Children of deceased are Iris, Mrs. Hebblewhite, of Blacktown; Eva, living at home; John, George and Archie, all of Gloucester. To the bereaved ones we extend deepest sympathy.’

W. Dalton and Harold Matthewson outside original Gloucester House, 1950 [Dalton Family Collection – University of Newcastle Living Histories Collection]

Grave of George Harold Matthewson and Frances Matthewson at Stockton Cemetery.

Researched and compiled by Kevin McGuinness

January 2026