I could do what most other folk do on PBase, and separate all their pics and place them in their own category, but I like to have plenty of variety in my galleries. Kind of like a little outing all of its own each time someone looks at them. A historic mining village, Catherine Hill Bay heritage village and its bush and heathland location beside a 2km long beach were protected by Lake Macquarie City Council in 2004 as a Heritage Conservation Area. The village comprises the oldest group of buildings in Lake Macquarie City and its natural environment is largely unchanged since before Captain Cook sailed past. For more than a century people have been visiting Catherine Hill Bay and writing about it in terms of magnificent views, picturesque locations, interesting pub, a great surfing beach and healthy air invigorated by sea breezes.
The settlement was first made after land was purchased on 1 April 1865. The town of Cowper was created, to serve as a base for coal mining by the New Wallsend Company in 1873 with the first shipment on 17 December of that year. The name Catherine Hill was adopted to commemorate the schooner Catherine Hill that had run aground in 1867. The Catherine Hill coal loader has been photographed by numerous photographers, professional and amateur.
Margaret Bay was named after MARGARET of the AWABAKAL (c.1829-1894). Little is known of the circumstances of Margaret’s birth, her parentage and the fate of her forebears. As a child, the Rev Lancelot Threlkeld had introduced her to Christianity and English education at Bahtahbah Mission on the shores of Lake Macquarie at present day Belmont. She retained some association with him over her lifetime. She is known for having been a fringe-dweller of Swansea, with her husband Ned, “about half a mile south of the Swansea Bridge and on the western side of the road”. Ned and Margaret were in possession of a garden plot, pigs and poultry, next to what is now known as Margaret’s Bay.