Williamtown, New South Wales

Geography

The eastern section of Williamtown is dominated by RAAF Base Williamtown and Newcastle Airport while the western section of the area is primarily semi-rural with some large-acreage residential areas scattered along Cabbage Tree Road which is a main access route to Port Stephens from the Pacific Highway. To the south Williamtown reaches Fullerton Cove, a large cove at the Hunter River. The south-eastern corner of the area reaches the Tasman Sea on Stockton Beach and access to the beach is possible at this point for off-road vehicles via Lavis Lane.

With many low-lying areas, and some swamps, flooding was not unknown; and attempts to drain the Moors was made.

History

The area was home to the Worimi First Nations group, whose past presence is noted by canoe trees, ceemonial sites, and middens. A 1790 shipwreck saw five convicts escape, and live with the Worimi for five years.

Early European pioneers arriving in the 1840s had to clear the heavily timbered lands so the grounds could be used for food cultivation. Weaving cabbage-tree hats, the tree being plentiful in the area, was an early activity. Dairy such as milk was transported to Newcastle for sale, and developments such as the milk separator for producing butter were a welcome improvement.

A Wesleyan Church was built by July 1863 at Williamtown.

The first public school was opened in February 1869, with a larger facility opened nearby in 1925. Due to population changes, the school was closed in 2008.

The dairy and vegetable-producing industries were considered the best in the area by 1924, unaffected by droughts. At this time, there were schools, shops, and churches, but no public hotels.

Consideration of the first aerodromes was mooted in July 1928. In late 1939 the Defence Department considered a 1200 yd military runway on 270 acres of Crown land.

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 885 people in Williamtown. 70.9% of people were born in Australia and 80.7% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion was Anglican at 22.8%.

Tomago sandbeds

Most of Williamtown sits atop the Tomago sandbeds (an aquifer that is a critical source of water for the lower Hunter Region). The sandbeds are replenished primarily by rain as well as any water that leaks from Grahamstown Dam in nearby Ferodale. Water from the sandbeds and the dam is treated in Tomago.

Climate

Williamtown possesses a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with very warm, wet summers and mild, relatively dry winters. Average maxima vary from 28.3 C in January to 17.2 C in July, while average minima fluctuate between 18.2 C in January and February and 6.5 C in July. Annual precipitation is moderately high (averaging 1129.0 mm), and is spread across 86.6 precipitation days (over 1.0 mm). The town experiences 103.2 clear days and 127.3 cloudy days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 45.5 C on 4 January 2020 and 11 February 2017 to -3.9 C on 18 July 1970. |Jan record high C = 45.5 |Feb record high C = 45.5 |Mar record high C = 40.7 |Apr record high C = 37.0 |May record high C = 29.6 |Jun record high C = 26.6 |Jul record high C = 27.8 |Aug record high C = 30.5 |Sep record high C = 36.4 |Oct record high C = 39.4 |Nov record high C = 43.2 |Dec record high C = 43.7 |Jan record low C = 9.4 |Feb record low C = 9.6 |Mar record low C = 8.6 |Apr record low C = 2.1 |May record low C = -0.6 |Jun record low C = -1.8 |Jul record low C = -3.9 |Aug record low C = -1.9 |Sep record low C = 0.4 |Oct record low C = 3.0 |Nov record low C = 5.1 |Dec record low C = 7.9 |Jan dew point C = 17.0 |Feb dew point C = 17.6 |Mar dew point C = 16.2 |Apr dew point C = 13.3 |May dew point C = 10.6 |Jun dew point C = 8.4 |Jul dew point C = 6.3 |Aug dew point C = 6.2 |Sep dew point C = 8.2 |Oct dew point C = 10.8 |Nov dew point C = 13.1 |Dec dew point C = 15.2

Notes

References

References

1. {{Census 2016 AUS
2. "Suburb Search – Local Council Boundaries – Hunter (HT) – Port Stephens". [[New South Wales Division of Local Government]].
3. "Williamtown".
4. "Port Stephens". [[New South Wales Electoral Commission]].
5. "Williamtown RAAF Climate Statistics (1942–2024)". [[Bureau of Meteorology]].
6. "Williamtown". Australian Explorer.
7. {{DoL suburb image
8. (28 June 1930). "Williamtown". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate.
9. (27 June 1924). "Williamtown". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser.
10. (28 February 1935). "Williamtown moor drain". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser.
11. "History of our area".
12. (25 February 1930). "Obituary". Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser.
13. (28 September 1944). "Obituary". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser.
14. (30 September 1948). "Obituary". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser.
15. (29 December 1938). "The old church at Williamtown". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser.
16. (13 March 2024). "Early History of Williamtown Public School".
17. (9 August 1924). "Fertile district". [[The Newcastle Sun]].
18. (17 July 1928). "Port Stephens Shire Council". Dungog Chronicle : Durham and Gloucester Advertiser.
19. (14 September 1939). "New site". [[The Maitland Daily Mercury]].
20. (23 November 1939). "Flood danger discounted". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate.
21. "Tomagos & Anna Bay Sandbeds". [[Hunter Water]].
22. "Williamtown RAAF Climate (1942–2024)".