Very proud to be part of the making of this film and helpers of the wider Stories of Our Town film production project. You guys are a dream come true for Newcastle and the Region. Having such professional film makers, who know their craft, working alongside with local people and our cultural and historical institutions to tell these incredible stories of this place and its people is just great. Thanks so much.
A great big thanks to the Our Town Film Production team and its sponsors. It was an absolute privilege and an honour to have been part of this sensational documentary. Thank you Glenn & Tony and congratulations, you have put it together so skilfully. This will help raise the profile of our proud history and increase community awareness regarding the importance of the maritime collection. Our maritime heritage is "special" because it is about us. It has made us who we are today and brought great prosperity to our region. Each individual item in the extensive collection tells its unique story and is the last remaining link to the past. So that makes it "very special". In 2018 the Maritime Centre at Honeysuckle was closed and the collection went into storage. Our maritime collection now needs your help to find it a new home in 2025. I am quietly confident that it will again be placed on display for all to enjoy and learn, for our past deserves a future, for us to enjoy it in the present. Thank you for taking the time to watch our documentary. Please help save the Maritime Collection and keep that history alive.
Bill Hillier is a good friend of my family and a true gentleman. He and his wife Julie, so kindly help to take care of my elderly mother so I am eternally grateful to them. When I first got to know Bill, he told me how he managed to find the ship's bell that belonged to The Adolphe, which somehow ended up in New Zealand. It was a fascinating story and I hope that one day, he will recount it in a video like this one.
What a great history lesson on Newcastle and the dangers of the sea, and of early and more recent shipwrecks. I was living at Stockton with my wife and elderly grandmother when the Sygna went aground during that enormous storm event. We were not game to go to bed that night, and the wind and rain threatened to tear the old house apart. We assed any damage in the morning, and found the ancient outside laundry and toilet shed blown off it’s foundations, leaving only the fixtures still there, and water spraying in the air from the taps that had the piping torn away. There were also lots of debris from neighbours yards, etc., and an entire timber shed from somewhere. After cleaning up a little, I took my old BSA motor bike up to the beach to try and get up close to the wreck. I got to within 100m of the wreck but was prevented from going further by a huge washout on the beach. I was able to see all the activity going on, but the incessant rain did not allow me a really clear view. I went home and watched the rescue of those on board and the general mayhem the wreck had caused on TV. To this day, I will never forget that night, and what followed. In later years I did a lot of fishing around that wreck, with great catches to take home. Great documentary guys, which will bring back memories for a lot of people!
Interesting story Gary , wreck pretty much disappeared now , I live in Stockon now and love the place and people. Do the raffle at the washtub for the prawners .
@ - Hi Aaron! My memories of Stockton are many. I was born there in 1952, in what was then the hospital on the corner of Monmouth & Mitchell St. and started school at the public school in Monmouth St, which was just across the road from home. We lived with my grandparents until my parents moved into a new house at Cardiff South when I was about 8yo. We visited my grandparents often, and when I was old enough to catch the bus on my own, I would make the trip by bus and ferry to stay at ‘grandma’s’ almost every weekend. My memories of my early years, and later my teenage years spent surfing at Stockton are never far from my thoughts. I often reminisce about the great times I had as a young boy, and all the friends I made in the surfing community in later years at my ‘home town’. My Father, Keith Lawless, was the surf club secretary there when I was very young, and the family spent almost every spare moment at the beach. I have quite a few old photos in an album somewhere, including I think, an old photo of me being held on the front of a surf boat by my Father as we came into the beach. We also fished off the old breakwater wreck often. I visited my grandmother often after my grandfather passed, and she eventually came to live with us at South Cardiff when her age started to affect her mobility. So many memories from so long ago, and Stockton will always have a place in my heart.
@@garylawless3608 how fantastic is is for me to read that Gary . My mates father was doctor there “ Harvey “ , I am also fisherman , and here right now in Monmouth st having beers fire bbq , just on cnr opposite school. Such a wonderful community. ❤️
@@aaronwelch6790 - Sounds like a great night Aaron. It looks like you are not far from my old grandparents house on the corner of Monmouth and Roxburgh Streets. I wrote a piece for the Newcastle Herald ‘Topics’ page a while back that has a picture of me and my father at the beach. I can’t recall what prompted me to write it, and I haven’t read it for a while, but I am sure it was something about the Signa wreck, or some event concerning Stockton. Let me know and I will look it up and give you a link from the Herald website if you wish. The Topic page was a great avenue of expression, and I wrote many articles for it over the years. It was an outlet for satirical stories, as well as local history, but sadly it now includes articles the new editor deems more relevant, but could be published as news elsewhere in the paper. Anyway have a great night, and have a beer or Bourbon for me. Great to talk to you my friend!
I've always known it as the Plimsoll line but didn't know where the name came from or that the sinking of the Cawarra was the catalyst for establishing this draught line.
Thanks folks! A marvellous production. I lived in the Newcastle region, Tanilba Bay in 1974 when the Signa went aground on Stockton Beach and that storm was horrendous. I thought our little 2 bedroom cottage would be destroyed in the wind! We survived!😊
Did most of the tunnels under Fort Scratchy before they where sealed off with brick sometimes double and triple brick because of the junkies they had entrances under James Fletcher and the fort including some of the old houses on the hill. Most amazing explore I did was under the naval base at Stockton (not quite legally) and I can attest to at least one of the tunnels that ran under the harbor to the fort, it was sealed by waterproofing gaskets and locked down and big enough to drive a truck through but you could see the water ingress seeping and salty to the taste making me think that both tunnels are flooded and are not folk lore and where built during the second world war maybe. I also know that they are constantly maintained and there are massive pumps machinery and a full operating electrical system at the location I accessed . Its since been locked down with tech and naval access only . Last there at the naval base 2010 or so many years at the fort tunnels around two decades ago. May I add was there when during that storm that beached the pasha bulka and there when she left the beach was definitely a sight to see indeed, closed my eyes and thought back where you belong it was somewhat emotional had been there for every attempt to refloat and there where a few each high tide and finally on your way with the sparks flying as the salvage cables where cut and dropped and she was pulled on the sea anchors and cables back to her element. . Sorry my comment was off topic but it stirred quite a few great memories of exploring Newcastle long before urban exploring became a thingy.
As a kid we was always told about the tunnels and can still get down sum of them but the one going Underwater from Stockton to nobbys I never got to go into that one maybe one day I take a jack hammer and go get into them myself cause there's so many fun ones all up around there and also down catho way they have a heap just like in Newy they all closed aswell now tho its sad cause it's one the best things to do go down into them and explore
I’ve lived in newcastle area all my life ,wow this was educational Why the council don’t allow you to reuse the old shed on the foreshore near the museum
Lived in Newcastle my whole life was born in west waratah 1990 onky a youngin but this doco was so interesting in kearning about my own town the funny part is ive also spearfished for over 20yrs and youd be surprised how many wrecks are still off our coast that ive seen ay expecially down catho ways its always a good dive anybwreck because they hokd the best fish 😂
Very proud to be part of the making of this film and helpers of the wider Stories of Our Town film production project. You guys are a dream come true for Newcastle and the Region. Having such professional film makers, who know their craft, working alongside with local people and our cultural and historical institutions to tell these incredible stories of this place and its people is just great. Thanks so much.
A great big thanks to the Our Town Film Production team and its sponsors. It was an absolute privilege and an honour to have been part of this sensational documentary. Thank you Glenn & Tony and congratulations, you have put it together so skilfully. This will help raise the profile of our proud history and increase community awareness regarding the importance of the maritime collection.
Our maritime heritage is "special" because it is about us.
It has made us who we are today and brought great prosperity to our region. Each individual item in the extensive collection tells its unique story and is the last remaining link to the past. So that makes it "very special".
In 2018 the Maritime Centre at Honeysuckle was closed and the collection went into storage.
Our maritime collection now needs your help to find it a new home in 2025. I am quietly confident that it will again be placed on display for all to enjoy and learn, for our past deserves a future, for us to enjoy it in the present.
Thank you for taking the time to watch our documentary.
Please help save the Maritime Collection and keep that history alive.
Bill Hillier is a good friend of my family and a true gentleman. He and his wife Julie, so kindly help to take care of my elderly mother so I am eternally grateful to them. When I first got to know Bill, he told me how he managed to find the ship's bell that belonged to The Adolphe, which somehow ended up in New Zealand. It was a fascinating story and I hope that one day, he will recount it in a video like this one.
What a great history lesson on Newcastle and the dangers of the sea, and of early and more recent shipwrecks. I was living at Stockton with my wife and elderly grandmother when the Sygna went aground during that enormous storm event. We were not game to go to bed that night, and the wind and rain threatened to tear the old house apart. We assed any damage in the morning, and found the ancient outside laundry and toilet shed blown off it’s foundations, leaving only the fixtures still there, and water spraying in the air from the taps that had the piping torn away. There were also lots of debris from neighbours yards, etc., and an entire timber shed from somewhere. After cleaning up a little, I took my old BSA motor bike up to the beach to try and get up close to the wreck. I got to within 100m of the wreck but was prevented from going further by a huge washout on the beach. I was able to see all the activity going on, but the incessant rain did not allow me a really clear view. I went home and watched the rescue of those on board and the general mayhem the wreck had caused on TV. To this day, I will never forget that night, and what followed. In later years I did a lot of fishing around that wreck, with great catches to take home.
Great documentary guys, which will bring back memories for a lot of people!
Interesting story Gary , wreck pretty much disappeared now , I live in Stockon now and love the place and people. Do the raffle at the washtub for the prawners .
Beautifully written thank you
@ -
Hi Aaron! My memories of Stockton are many. I was born there in 1952, in what was then the hospital on the corner of Monmouth & Mitchell St. and started school at the public school in Monmouth St, which was just across the road from home. We lived with my grandparents until my parents moved into a new house at Cardiff South when I was about 8yo. We visited my grandparents often, and when I was old enough to catch the bus on my own, I would make the trip by bus and ferry to stay at ‘grandma’s’ almost every weekend. My memories of my early years, and later my teenage years spent surfing at Stockton are never far from my thoughts. I often reminisce about the great times I had as a young boy, and all the friends I made in the surfing community in later years at my ‘home town’.
My Father, Keith Lawless, was the surf club secretary there when I was very young, and the family spent almost every spare moment at the beach. I have quite a few old photos in an album somewhere, including I think, an old photo of me being held on the front of a surf boat by my Father as we came into the beach. We also fished off the old breakwater wreck often. I visited my grandmother often after my grandfather passed, and she eventually came to live with us at South Cardiff when her age started to affect her mobility.
So many memories from so long ago, and Stockton will always have a place in my heart.
@@garylawless3608 how fantastic is is for me to read that Gary .
My mates father was doctor there “ Harvey “ , I am also fisherman , and here right now in Monmouth st having beers fire bbq , just on cnr opposite school. Such a wonderful community. ❤️
@@aaronwelch6790 -
Sounds like a great night Aaron. It looks like you are not far from my old grandparents house on the corner of Monmouth and Roxburgh Streets. I wrote a piece for the Newcastle Herald ‘Topics’ page a while back that has a picture of me and my father at the beach. I can’t recall what prompted me to write it, and I haven’t read it for a while, but I am sure it was something about the Signa wreck, or some event concerning Stockton. Let me know and I will look it up and give you a link from the Herald website if you wish. The Topic page was a great avenue of expression, and I wrote many articles for it over the years. It was an outlet for satirical stories, as well as local history, but sadly it now includes articles the new editor deems more relevant, but could be published as news elsewhere in the paper. Anyway have a great night, and have a beer or Bourbon for me. Great to talk to you my friend!
Almost 30 years at sea and never heard of the Plimsol Line, we called it DRAFT LINE. Great history lesson.
I've always known it as the Plimsoll line but didn't know where the name came from or that the sinking of the Cawarra was the catalyst for establishing this draught line.
Thanks folks! A marvellous production.
I lived in the Newcastle region, Tanilba Bay in 1974 when the Signa went aground on Stockton Beach and that storm was horrendous. I thought our little 2 bedroom cottage would be destroyed in the wind!
We survived!😊
Keep up the great work
I’ve lived in the Newcastle region for over 70yrs but I’ve learnt so much in this docco . Brilliant! Thank you.
Have ancestor mariners perished off nsw coast last century
Excellent mini documentary great
So much marine history untold.
Wonderful production ! Thank you all for a history lesson
Great doco, really interesting well put together
Thanks for the footage 5:27 Penny.
Quite a few wrecks featured I was unaware of. Excellent production, thank you.
GREAT WORK GUYS AN GALS!!💥💪👊
Very interesting 👍
Did most of the tunnels under Fort Scratchy before they where sealed off with brick sometimes double and triple brick because of the junkies they had entrances under James Fletcher and the fort including some of the old houses on the hill. Most amazing explore I did was under the naval base at Stockton (not quite legally) and I can attest to at least one of the tunnels that ran under the harbor to the fort, it was sealed by waterproofing gaskets and locked down and big enough to drive a truck through but you could see the water ingress seeping and salty to the taste making me think that both tunnels are flooded and are not folk lore and where built during the second world war maybe. I also know that they are constantly maintained and there are massive pumps machinery and a full operating electrical system at the location I accessed . Its since been locked down with tech and naval access only . Last there at the naval base 2010 or so many years at the fort tunnels around two decades ago. May I add was there when during that storm that beached the pasha bulka and there when she left the beach was definitely a sight to see indeed, closed my eyes and thought back where you belong it was somewhat emotional had been there for every attempt to refloat and there where a few each high tide and finally on your way with the sparks flying as the salvage cables where cut and dropped and she was pulled on the sea anchors and cables back to her element. . Sorry my comment was off topic but it stirred quite a few great memories of exploring Newcastle long before urban exploring became a thingy.
I've never heard of this. Very interesting 👌
As a kid we was always told about the tunnels and can still get down sum of them but the one going Underwater from Stockton to nobbys I never got to go into that one maybe one day I take a jack hammer and go get into them myself cause there's so many fun ones all up around there and also down catho way they have a heap just like in Newy they all closed aswell now tho its sad cause it's one the best things to do go down into them and explore
Outstanding video. I had little knowledge of the heroes that manned those life boats, and rocket brigades. Unbelievable bravery
This is fantastic! I was completely unaware there were so many wrecks around Newcastle. Well done to all involved in this documentary.
What an amazing and fascinating documentary. Thankyou. 👍👍
Excellent work. Thank you to all involved.
Great documentary 👏
Brilliant!
I've been waiting to this! There's so many
Magnificent!
Such a great video for someone who has been here a couple of years but doesn’t have all the history!!
Great.
What an interesting and fascinating doco. Loved it
Interesting watch need to go exploring
I loved this I remember the rusty ship on the beach I saw in th early 70’s thanks so much ❤️
Great documentary I love the history
What a great documentary.
It's great to see you giving your insight Chris Simmons , i remember our days of surfing the 'Spot' at Nobbys beach .
Great work all involved... proud history for Novocastrians one and all.
Out of respect I make no seamen jokes... 👍🇦🇺
Absolutely fascinating. Thanks to all those involved. I'm just not clear though - is there a Newcastle maritime museum?
Rise o' the Toon✌️✅️
I’ve lived in newcastle area all my life ,wow this was educational
Why the council don’t allow you to reuse the old shed on the foreshore near the museum
Lived in Newcastle my whole life was born in west waratah 1990 onky a youngin but this doco was so interesting in kearning about my own town the funny part is ive also spearfished for over 20yrs and youd be surprised how many wrecks are still off our coast that ive seen ay expecially down catho ways its always a good dive anybwreck because they hokd the best fish 😂
IT'S NEW-CASTLE NOT NEW-CASSEL!
nah mate, new-carsel is the way :)
That was a Seppo. It's the accent.
@@thatowensbloke😅😅
@@thatowensblokeWANKER or WANKAH
@@buzz5969 definitely wankah 👍🏻