Stockton, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Stockton is a suburb of Newcastle
, New South Wales
, Australia
, located 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) from Newcastle's central business district
. It is the only suburb of Newcastle that lies north of the Hunter River.
at the east. On the eastern side are sand dunes and surfing
beaches, with numerous shipwrecks at its north, while on the western side there are marsh
es, where many migratory birds can be spotted. There are numerous spots at Stockton suitable for recreational fishing.
For many years, Stockton was linked to Newcastle's Central Business District
("Overtown" or "Over Seas" in Stocktonite parlance) at the south by passenger and vehicular ferry
services. While there is still a passenger ferry service, vehicular traffic is now connected by the Stockton Bridge, built in 1971 as part of a northern detour to the outside world.
(the southern tip of the peninsula is still known as Pirate Point); but for much of the 19th century it served as an industrial and mining base. In 1896 tragedy struck the local colliery, in which a gas leak killed 11 people. It has become a working-class dormitory suburb during the 20th century, and remains so today for its 5000 residents.
Stocktonites are particularly proud of Dave Sands
, a local resident and champion boxer during the years immediately after World War II
. Like the Colliery Disaster, the short life of Sands was commemorated by some of the numerous memorials across this seaside village.
Stockton Beach is also known as the location of the 1989 rape and murder of Newcastle High School student and Fern Bay resident Leigh Leigh
. A play, Blackrock
(written by Australian playwright Nick Enright
), and also a movie of the same name
, were inspired by this event.
, Stockton has a country town atmosphere because of its isolation. It has its own shops, churches, two clubhouses, three pubs, a swimming pool, and a caravan
park. It also has a large residential unit for people with developmental disability
and a public (primary) school. High school students catch the ferry or bus to go to schools in the city of Newcastle.
Although a town with a million-dollar view, Stockton is proudly a working-class suburb. Its popular surfing culture has in the past given the town a somewhat tarnished image
. In recent years, however, the town has begun to re-invent itself with a push for young professionals to move in from other centres such as Sydney
. This practice has led to an increase in real estate prices, a cause for resentment amongst some locals.
Plans to Attract wealthier property investors into the area have somewhat lapsed with the August 2011 Hexavalent Chromium leak directly affecting the suburb, continuing safety issues with the Ammonia plant in neighbouring Suburb Kooragang do little to assuage residents or property investors.
Stockton holds a representative board that makes recommendations to the local Newcastle council.
Stockton Beach is 32 km (20 mi) long, stretching from Stockton in the South to Anna Bay
at its north-eastern end. In some areas it is as much as 1 km wide and has sand dunes over 30 metres high although at the Stockton end it is at its narrowest.
Four-wheel drive
s are permitted to drive on most areas of Stockton Beach but are excluded from the extreme ends of the beach.
Entry to the beach is vand the main road and a permit needs to be purchased before entering the beach. Drivers must also ensure that they respect the natural habitat of the beach and refrain from driving on the plants and grasses on dune structure.
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) from Newcastle's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. It is the only suburb of Newcastle that lies north of the Hunter River.
Geography
Stockton is a peninsula, with the Hunter River at the south and south-west and the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
at the east. On the eastern side are sand dunes and surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
beaches, with numerous shipwrecks at its north, while on the western side there are marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es, where many migratory birds can be spotted. There are numerous spots at Stockton suitable for recreational fishing.
For many years, Stockton was linked to Newcastle's Central Business District
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
("Overtown" or "Over Seas" in Stocktonite parlance) at the south by passenger and vehicular ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
services. While there is still a passenger ferry service, vehicular traffic is now connected by the Stockton Bridge, built in 1971 as part of a northern detour to the outside world.
History
Stockton was settled almost as soon as the foundation of Newcastle in 1797. At first it was a notorious hideout for piratesPiracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
(the southern tip of the peninsula is still known as Pirate Point); but for much of the 19th century it served as an industrial and mining base. In 1896 tragedy struck the local colliery, in which a gas leak killed 11 people. It has become a working-class dormitory suburb during the 20th century, and remains so today for its 5000 residents.
Stocktonites are particularly proud of Dave Sands
Dave Sands
Dave Sands, born David Ritchie, was an Australian Aborigine boxer. He established himself as a leading contender for the World Middleweight Title, only to die prematurely in a motor vehicle accident at the age of 26....
, a local resident and champion boxer during the years immediately after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Like the Colliery Disaster, the short life of Sands was commemorated by some of the numerous memorials across this seaside village.
Stockton Beach is also known as the location of the 1989 rape and murder of Newcastle High School student and Fern Bay resident Leigh Leigh
Murder of Leigh Leigh
The murder of Leigh Leigh is a case concerning the rape and murder of Leigh Leigh, a 14-year-old girl from Stockton, Australia, in 1989.Leigh Leigh's body was found in sand dunes at Stockton Beach following a 16-year-old boy's birthday party. Her body had severe genital damage and a crushed skull...
. A play, Blackrock
Blackrock (play)
Blackrock is a play by Australian playwright Nick Enright. It was inspired by the real-life rape and murder of schoolgirl Leigh Leigh in Stockton, near Newcastle, Australia on 3 November 1989.It won the 1996 AWGIE Award for Best Play.-Origins:...
(written by Australian playwright Nick Enright
Nick Enright
-Life:He was drama captain of St Ignatius' College, Riverview in 1964, where, like Gerard Windsor and Justin Fleming, he was taught by Melvyn Morrow. At that school, he won the 1sts Debating Premiership in both 1966 and 1967....
), and also a movie of the same name
Blackrock (film)
Blackrock is a 1997 Australian film directed by Steven Vidler and written by Nick Enright. Internationally, it is best remembered as the first prominent role of actor Heath Ledger.-Origin:...
, were inspired by this event.
Culture
Despite being technically an inner-city suburb of NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Stockton has a country town atmosphere because of its isolation. It has its own shops, churches, two clubhouses, three pubs, a swimming pool, and a caravan
Travel trailer
A travel trailer or caravan is towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent . It provides the means for people to have their own home on a journey or a vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, and enables them to stay in places...
park. It also has a large residential unit for people with developmental disability
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
and a public (primary) school. High school students catch the ferry or bus to go to schools in the city of Newcastle.
Although a town with a million-dollar view, Stockton is proudly a working-class suburb. Its popular surfing culture has in the past given the town a somewhat tarnished image
Blackrock (film)
Blackrock is a 1997 Australian film directed by Steven Vidler and written by Nick Enright. Internationally, it is best remembered as the first prominent role of actor Heath Ledger.-Origin:...
. In recent years, however, the town has begun to re-invent itself with a push for young professionals to move in from other centres such as Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. This practice has led to an increase in real estate prices, a cause for resentment amongst some locals.
Plans to Attract wealthier property investors into the area have somewhat lapsed with the August 2011 Hexavalent Chromium leak directly affecting the suburb, continuing safety issues with the Ammonia plant in neighbouring Suburb Kooragang do little to assuage residents or property investors.
Stockton holds a representative board that makes recommendations to the local Newcastle council.
Stockton Beach
Stockton Beach is 32 km (20 mi) long, stretching from Stockton in the South to Anna Bay
Anna Bay, New South Wales
Anna Bay is the name of a suburb, a town and a bay in the Port Stephens Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is immediately adjacent to the north-eastern end of Stockton Beach and the town provides one of the major entry points to the beach here...
at its north-eastern end. In some areas it is as much as 1 km wide and has sand dunes over 30 metres high although at the Stockton end it is at its narrowest.
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
s are permitted to drive on most areas of Stockton Beach but are excluded from the extreme ends of the beach.
Entry to the beach is vand the main road and a permit needs to be purchased before entering the beach. Drivers must also ensure that they respect the natural habitat of the beach and refrain from driving on the plants and grasses on dune structure.