Events in the History of
1770 Captain Cook sailing 4-5 km off shore recorded "..a small clump of an island lying close to shore." (Coal Island, later Nobby's).
1780 The area now called
the Hunter Region inhabited by the Awabakal, Worimi, Waranua, Geawegal, Birbai and Darkinung Aboriginal tribes.
1797 Lt John Shortland is the first European to discover the waterway
he named
1799 First coal exported
from the Hunter for Bengal in
1801 Penal colony
established, but abandoned within 12 months after convict mutiny. First cedar
cut for export from the Hunter.
1804 The name
1818 Governor Macquarie
ordered start of breakwater to join
1822 Surveyor, Henry Dangar, commissioned to draw up plans for a township.
1823
1824 Australian
Agricultural (A.A.) Company set up by charter in
1826 A.A. Company took
over coal mining from the Government.
1831 Original William the Fourth paddle
steamer launched at Clarence Town.
1839 Hunter River Steam
Navigation Company formed to be
1845 First dredging of
the
1846 Nobbys Breakwater
completed. Ferry service between
1850 Obelisk, replacing a
windmill, erected on 'The Hill' as a landmark for shipping.
1858 First dredging of
1865
1866 SS Cawarra shipwrecked off
1886
1904 The Adolphe wrecked on the Oyster Bank, near
1914 Walsh Island
Dockyard commenced operations (closed 1933).
1915 BHP Steelworks began
production in
1939 World War II caused
huge development of heavy industry in
1942 Construction of the State Dockyard at the Dyke End.
1951 Hunter River Islands
Reclamation Scheme began (the joining of Dempsey, Walsh and
1962 Contracts let for harbour
dredging.
1966 Maritime Services
Board began
1967 Basin Coal Loader
began operations.
1974 The Sygna runs aground on
1976 Port Waratah Coal
Services Coal Loader began exporting.
1977 Harbour dredging
program ($103 million) began.
1978 Floating Dock 'Muloobinba' commissioned.
1982
1984 Kooragang
Coal Loader shipped its first coal.
1987 Closure of Newcastle State Dockyard.
1988 Newcastle Harbour
Foreshore Development opened by Queen Elizabeth II during
1990 Merger of Port Waratah Coal Services Ltd. with Kooragang
Coal Loader Ltd.
1994 Port Waratah Coal
Services (PWCS) announced $100 million plan to expand the Kooragang
Coal Terminal.
1995 Commencement of the
Basin redevelopment for general cargo facilities at a cost of $1.6 million
1996 The 315 metre Iron
Pacific loads 183,904 tonnes of coal at Kooragang
Coal Terminal to be the largest ship to visit
1997 Total exports of 60.6 million tonnes, up 13% on the
previous year. Corporation
undertakes Port side community projects valued at over $4million as part of the
Newcastle Bicenentary Gifts program.
1998 Kooragang's
new berth K6 is opened. Total
throughput for Port in 1997/1998 Financial Year a record 77.06 million tonnes,
making
1999 Newcastle retains
position as
2000 In a
first for
2001 Vessel
Traffic Information Centre opened. PWCS installs third coal shiploader
and support systems at Kooragang to lift port coal capacity to 89mtpa.
2002 P&O/GrainCorp open Agriterminal on
2003 New
import records for alumina, cement and iron & steel
2004 New trade
record of 82.7 million tonnes.
2005 One of
the world’s top 10 luxury yacht manufacturers, Sensation Yachts, establishes
Australian facility in
2006 Coal
exports exceed 80 million tonnes for the first time. Trade throughout valued at
more than $8 billion.
2007 Pasha Bulker runs aground Nobby’s Beach. Plans announced to develop former
State Dockyard at Dyke Point into a super luxury yacht manufacturing facility
for Azzura Marine.
Thanks
to Keith from