Palm trees and elegant buildings in Port Stephens Road, Raymond Terrace

Raymond Terrace (including Tomago and Williamtown)
Small town on the Hunter River with interesting historic buildings
Raymond Terrace, the administrative centre of the Port Stephens Shire, is located 177 km north of Sydney via the Pacific Highway and 12 m above sea-level. It is now virtually a commuter belt township attached to Newcastle, 23 km to the south. Its population in 1991 was 11,159.

The area was originally occupied by the Worimi Aborigines. The town's name comes from a member of Lieutenant John Shortland's party, by the name of Raymond, who explored the area in 1797 and described the 'terraced' appearance of the trees. Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson, then Lieutenant Governor of NSW, stepped ashore at the river junction in 1801 while on a survey expedition of the Hunter.

Governor Macquarie visited the site in 1812 and 1818 with a view to establishing a new settlement to the north, referring to the site as Raymond Terrace in his journal. Cedar-getters were the first Europeans to inhabit the area and they were soon followed by farmers.

The townsite was surveyed in 1822-23. In 1828, James King was granted 1920 acres 8 km north of present-day Raymond Terrace. Naming his Australian property Irrawang he cleared the land, cultivated wheat, began grazing cattle, bred horses and, from 1833-34, built a homestead. In 1831 he started an experimental vineyard from French, Portuguese and Spanish vines and began making pottery. Both enterprises were soon flourishing. He started more vineyards at Tomago and Seaham and built a winery in 1836. King obtained 100 acres by the Hunter River at Raymond Terrace to facilitate the shipment of his supplies. He became a principal founder of the Hunter River Vineyard Association in 1847.

Raymond Terrace was gazetted in 1837 and land sales began in 1838. A courthouse, police station, steam-driven flour mill and punt were soon established. It became an important shipping centre in the 1840s for wool carted by road from New England. In 1848 there were 263 recorded inhabitants.

Shipping continued into the 1920s but the town had long been in decline by then as traffic was diverted to New England when the Hunter River began silting up. The railway to Maitland also bypassed the town, the wheat was hit by wheat rust and the winegrowers moved on to better pastures elsewhere in the Hunter Valley.

The arrival of industry in the 1930s revived the local economy. The construction of an aluminium smelter at Tomago in the 1980s increased the local population. Tomago, 14 km to the south, was essentially a coal mining village until a rayon plant was built there in 1950. An RAAF base and civil airport was established at Williamtown in 1941.

Things to see:  

St Brigids Catholic Church

William Street
If you are approaching Raymond Terrace from the south turn right at the traffic lights into William St, the main shopping strip. Just as you complete the turn, to your immediate left, is a good parking spot opposite the Uniting Church and adjacent a vacant lot. Just beyond you, to the left, is the Catholic Presbytery (1891), restored and extended in 1971. It has a lovely verandah with cast-iron lacework atop ornamental pillars. Two doors along is St Brigid's Catholic Church (1860-62), built of local sandstone in the Gothic style. Boomerang Park opposite was formerly the site of a local quarry which furnished the sandstone for many early buildings.

Muree Cemetery is on the other side of the park. The oldest headstone dates from 1845 and belonged to Ann Macansh who, it is claimed, was a direct descendant of the Haig family, the famous whiskey distillers. It is said that she left Scotland in disgust when a Scottish law forbade her (as a woman) inheriting a fortune related to the Haig estate.

Walk across the highway to the other side of William St. Next door to the courthouse are the council offices where you can obtain a heritage tour pamphlet. The rendered brick courthouse (1841) was designed by Mortimer Lewis, colonial architect from 1835 to 1850. Of particular note are the gable-roofed courtroom and the front verandah supported by columns with cast-iron filigree brackets.

Historic verandahed buildings in King Street

King Street
Walk down William St towards the river. Take the last right into King St, the business centre of Raymond Terrace from 1840 until the 1955 flood immersed it and shifted trade around the corner. A telegraph pole along the street to your right, opposite the old Masonic centre (now a neighbourhood centre), indicates the level to which the flood rose - about 3.5 m above street-level.

The attractive 19th-century timber buildings with post-supported verandahs are very well preserved. Some date back to the 1840s. The two large trees halfway along the street, to the left, are, the sign says, 'marriage trees'. These trees were used by the locals for weddings prior to the establishment of the town's churches.

Riverbank Park
Return to William St and follow it the few metres to Riverbank Park, adjacent the Hunter River, located on the site formerly occupied by a large group of stone buildings, some relating to James King's pottery business. His wharf and the last of the buildings were demolished in the 1960s. The park has play facilities and is a very pleasant spot.

On the corner of William and Hunter Sts is the Junction Inn. The oldest portion dates from 1836 when it served as King's Hotel, a post office and King's business premises. Although little of the original building remains it is considered the second-oldest hotel in NSW. At 3 Hunter St is Windeyer Cottage (c.1880), an attractive timber building. At 7 Hunter Street is Geer House, built of sandstone for James Cadell in 1845.

Glenelg Street
The first crossroad is Glenelg St. Another telegraph pole bears a flood marker. If you turn right and walk to the water's edge you will find yourself at Colonel Paterson's original 1801 landing site. Return along Glenelg St. Duck down Port Stephens St on your left. On the right-hand side of the road is an old stone cottage and the 1880 government post office, currently vacant.

Return along Port Stephens St to Glenelg.On the corner is a piece of heavy artillery adjacent a war memorial which includes the names of numerous locals who died in the Boer War. Two doors along is St John's Parish Hall. The original building was the town's first Anglican church, a slab structure built in 1841. Sandstone was erected around the original structure in 1862. A few doors further along Glenelg St is an old stone cottage, originally the rectory of St John's Parish (c.1841). At the intersection with Sturgeon St is another old stone cottage in an excellent state of preservation. Thought to have been built before 1862 it now houses the post office. A little further down, and on the opposite side of the road is another stone cottage, again well preserved and dating from the 1860s.

Return south along Sturgeon St across Glenelg St. On the left is St John's Anglican Church, erected in 1862 according to a design of Edmund Blacket, noted for his work on the churches of Sydney and some of the University of Sydney buildings. It is built in the Gothic Revival style out of sandstone from the local quarry. The separate and larger bellcote was added later. The current bell is from the wreck of the Ceres off North Head in 1835. A few doors south along Sturgeon St, and on the opposite side of the road, is the rectory (1862). The building is almost on a corner block so duck around the corner into Jacaranda Ave if you wish to see the facade. There are two gigantic pine trees in the grounds

Sketchley Pioneer Cottage Museum
Return along Jacaranda Ave into Sturgeon St. At the corner with Swan St is 'Slade House', a two-storey cottage dating from 1890 and erected on the site of a cottage owned by a Colonel Snodgrass, acting governer of NSW from 1837-1838. Now known as 'Coo-ee' this is a rather beautiful building with ornate cast-iron curlicues along the verandah and balcony, gorgeous stained-glass windows about the doorway and particularly impressive window frames.

Head along Swan St back to the highway and turn right. After 150 m you will come to Sketchley Pioneer Cottage Museum. Now the precinct of the local historical society this rare surviving example of an early colonial pit-sawn split-slab farmhouse. It was built in c.1850 by ex-convict William Sketchley who was transported in 1830. After his release he bought land 8 km north of Raymond Terrace and its was there that the cottage was built. Although twice covered by floodwaters Sketchley's descendants remained in the house until the mid-twentieth century and still reside in the district. Today it contains early Australian examples of farm equipment, furniture, handicrafts and fine linen. It is open Sundays from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: (02) 4988 6425. Adjacent is a park with appropriate facilities and a jet fighter plane suspended atop a stand.

Hunter Botanic Gardens
4.5 km south along the highway, to the left, are the Hunter Botanic Gardens. These beautiful grounds were developed and are maintained, remarkably, on a volunteer basis, hence donations are non-compulsory but welcome. Walks have been established through the wildflowers and other native vegetation. The visitors' centre has a botanic library and the Gardens host a Spring Fair each September.

Tomago House
Continue south for another 2.5 km and take the left turn into Tomago Rd following the signposts to Williamtown and Nelson Bay. 4 km along this road you will see a small sandstone chapel in an open field to your right. Just beyond it a brown signpost indicates the entry to Tomago House, built for barrister Richard Windeyer who bought up 30 000 acres of land in the Hunter Valley between 1838 and 1842. Becoming a member of the first Legislative Council in 1843 he was also an eager participant in social welfare groups, including the Aboriginal Protection Society. Planning an elaborate agricultural estate he purchased 850 acres in the area, drained the swamps near Grahamstown, planted grape vines, sugar cane and wheat, grazed cattle, horses and pigs and began work on the construction of the centrepiece, Tomago House, in 1843. It became the property of the National Trust in 1986.

Tomago House is a gracious and elegant mansion of finely-tooled sandstone shipped by barge from the Raymond Terrace quarry. Its highlights include a marble fireplace, ornate cornices, a central hall with raised roof, sandstone carving about the exterior, frosted glass panels surrounding the door and outstanding plasterwork and cedar joinery. The drawing room and dining room are particularly impressive with gorgeous bay windows looking out across pleasant grounds and French doors opening out to a flagged sandstone verandah with delicate cast-iron columns.

The modest chapel was designed by Maria Windeyer and her sister and built of sandstone rubble left over from the house's construction. It was intended for the worship of her family, neighbours and the estate-workers. The cedar pews, lectern and joinery are original. Plaques on the wall memorialise Maria, her family and descendants. Their ashes were scattered nearby.

These buildings are open every Sunday from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Being run by volunteers the house will open at other times for groups if an appointment is made and some cover charge paid, tel: (02) 4964 8123. Necessary restorations are paid for by fund-raising so the house and chapel can be hired for weddings and other functions.

Tomago Sandbeds Water Supply Scheme
About 3 km along to the left is the Tomago Sandbeds Water Supply Scheme. The sandbeds are situated on an impervious shingle bed and retain water like a sponge. Wells were dug here from the very early days of European settlement and the water shipped to Newcastle. Horse-driven pumps were installed in the 1860s to draw the water and fill two 20 000-gallon wooden tanks which were carried to Newcastle by two steamers. The beds also support a rich and varied flora especially when the wildflowers bloom in spring.

Fort William
Continue along this road for another 10.5 km then turn left at the T-intersection into Nelson Bay Rd, following the sign for Nelson Bay and Williamtown. After another kilometre you can turn left into Sandeman Rd if you wish to visit the Monarch Historical Museum at 'Fort William', an unusual castellated building which is plainly visible from the highway. tel: (02) 4965 1641. It is owned by noted cartoonist Monty Wedd and houses a diverse and interesting collection of historical memorabilia, some dating back to early last century.

Fighter World
You are now in Williamtown, as the persistent and deafening roar of passing fighter planes would suggest. The RAAF base was established in 1941 and a parachute training school was set up in 1951, utilizing the Tilligerry Peninsula (see entry on Port Stephens) as the drop area.

Also at the base is Fighter World which is very popular with young children.. Continue along Nelson Bay Rd for 300 m to the roundabout and take a left into Medowie Rd and the entrance is 500 m along to your left.There are nine fighter aircraft on display that can be inspected at close quarters, several actual cockpits set up for the young to sit in, a very large display of entirely accurate miniature wooden aircraft models, missiles, weapons and other military items. There is also a viewing platform from which to watch the base's hornets come in to land, an eatery, souvenirs and a video. They are open every day from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., tel: (02) 4965 1810.

Tomteland
At 173 Nelson Bay Rd, Wiliamtown, is Tomteland Fun Park which is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Attractions include substantial water rides, bumper cars, a craft village and craft workshops, large-scale carnival rides, mini-golf, a laser runner maze, a carousel, a small ferris wheel and other young children's amusements, along with a natural lake with ducks, a picnic area with barbecue facilities, a restaurant, a cafe and an ice-creamery. For further information ring (02) 4965 1500 or eail them at admin@tomteland.com.au. Their website is www.tomteland.com.au

Sand Safaris Active Adventure Tours operate from the same premises (tel: 02 4965 0215 or info@sandsafaris.com.au).

River Activities and Grahamstown Lake
Raymond Terrace's riverbank location makes it a good spot for waterskiing, boating and riverside picnics. There are two boat ramps in town: one off Riverside Park in Hunter St and another on the northern side of the Fitzgerald Bridge which is a good place to have a look at the river junction. The Oz Ski races (one of the world's richest waterskiing tournaments) are held each March and the town's Twin Rivers Festival in October.

Grahamstown Lake is adjacent the Pacific Highway just northeast of Raymond Terrace and is really very beautiful. It is less developed and populated than Lake Macquarie with quiet, gentle foreshores and lengthy periods without a sole or a residence in sight. There is a picnic area by Richardson Rd which runs off the highway along the lake's southern shore.

	Tourist Information
	Port Stephens Visitors' Centre Victoria Parade Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4981 1579
	Motels
	Kingston Motel 51 Kingston Pde Motto Farm Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 49831643 or 015-250065
	Motto Farm Homestead Motel Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 1211 Rating: ***
	Raymond Terrace Motor Inn Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2321 Rating: ***1/2
	Sir Francis Drake Inn 204 Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 1444 Rating: ****
	Williamstown Airport Motel 10 Slades Rd Williamstown Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4965 1617 Rating: **
	Colonial Terrace Motor Inn 130 Adelaide St Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2244 Rating: ***1/2
	Hotels
	Clare Castle Hotel Cnr William & Port Stephens St Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 4444
	Spinning Wheel Hotel 82 Port Stephens St Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2381
	The Junction Inn Hotel 2 William St Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2014
	Cottages & Cabins
	Eksdale Cottages Nelsons Plains Rd Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4988 6207
	Caravan Parks
	Pacific Gardens Caravan Park 278 Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2224 Rating: ***
	Ponderosa Caravan Park Pacific Hwy & Tomago Rd Tomago Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4964 8066
	Bellhaven Caravan Park Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2423 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Bamboo Terrace Restaurant Terrace Shopping Village Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2080
	Best Western Colonial Motel Restaurant 130 Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2244
	Biondis Restaurant Shop 4 The Close Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 4618
	Golden Terrace Chinese Restaurant Pacific Gardens Caravan Park 278 Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4983 1515
	Muree Golf Club Chinese Restaurant Walkers Cres. Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 6433
	Raymond Terrace Motor Inn Restaurant Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 2321
	Sir Francis Drake Motor Inn Restaurant 204 Pacific Hwy Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 1444
	The Heritage Restaurant 238 Pacific Hwy Motto Farm Raymond Terrace NSW 2324 Telephone: (02) 4987 1328