- Stockton, New South Wales
Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Stockton
city = Newcastle
state = nsw
caption = Panorama of Stockton
lga = City of Newcastle
postcode = 2295
pop = 4208 (2006 census)
area = 3.6
est =
parish = Stockton
stategov = Newcastle
fedgov = Newcastle
dist1 = 1
dir1 = N
location1= Newcastle (via ferry)
near-nw =Kooragang Island
near-n = Fern Bay
near-ne = "Pacific Ocean "
near-w = Carrington
near-e = "Pacific Ocean "
near-sw = Newcastle
near-s = Newcastle
near-se = Newcastle EastStockton is a suburb of Newcastle,
New South Wales ,Australia , located convert|1|km|mi|1|lk=on|abbr=on from Newcastle'scentral business district . 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 Ocean at the east. On the eastern side are sand dunes andsurfing beaches, with numerous shipwrecks at its north, while on the western side there aremarsh es, where manymigratory bird s 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 vehicularferry services. While there is still a passenger ferry service, vehicular traffic is now connected by the Stockton Bridge, built in1971 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 pirates (the southern tip of the peninsula is still known as Pirate Point); but for much of the19th Century it served as an industrial and mining base. In1896 tragedy struck the local colliery, in which a gas leak killed 11 people. It has become a working-class dormitory suburb during the20th Century , and remains so today for its 5,000 residents.Stocktonites are particularly proud of
Dave Sands , a local resident and champion boxer during the years immediately afterWorld War II . Like the Colliery Disaster, the tragically short life of Sands was commemorated by some of the numerous memorials across this seaside village.North 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. There is now a play, "Blackrock" (written by Australian playwright
Nick Enright ), and also a movie of the same name starringHeath Ledger , that were inspired by this event.Culture
Despite being technically an inner-city suburb of Newcastle, Stockton has a country town atmosphere because of its isolation. It has its own shops, churches, two clubhouses, three
pub s, a swimming pool, and a caravan park. It also has a large residential unit for people withdevelopmental 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.tockton Beach
Stockton Beach is convert|32|km|mi|0|lk=on|abbr=on long, stretching from Stockton in the South to Anna Bay at its north-eastern end. In some areas it is as much as 1km 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 via Lavis Lane or Anna Bay 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.
Getting there
There is a frequent passenger ferry service to Stockton from Queens Wharf, close to the Newcastle Railway Station. The ferry journey takes about five minutes. Wheelchair access is available, and you can take a bicycle onto the ferry for free. Driving to Stockton from Newcastle requires following the many signs to Port Stephens that can be found on the main roads. These will eventually lead to the Stockton bridge and a turn-off to the suburb itself.
Gallery
References
*DoL suburb image|name=Stockton|codename=same|accessdate=2008-05-14
External links
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