Pre-colonial history The
Awabakal people were the inhabitants of Newcastle (Muloobinba) living around the harbour and foreshore prior to European contact. Discarded shells of
shellfish harvested by local clans for thousands of years formed enormous
middens which were burned by Europeans to produce lime for building purposes. The first commercial shipment was recorded in 1799. In July 2016, Port Hunter was officially dual named Yohaaba, its local Indigenous name.
Shipwrecks It has been estimated that over 200 vessels have been lost entering or leaving the Port of Newcastle. Vessels have been recorded lost in and around the areas of Port Hunter,
Hunter River,
Nobbys Head, Stockton Bight, Stockton Beach (Newcastle Beach), Oyster Bank,
Williams River and inland
Raymond Terrace. File:Shipwreck of the Regent Murray.jpg|Shipwreck of the
Regent Murray, Newcastle Harbour, NSW, 4 April 1899 File:Shipwrecks Regent Murray Wendouree Lindus 1899.jpg|Shipwrecks
Regent Murray,
Wendouree and
Lindus, Newcastle Harbour, NSW, 1899 File:Bretagne 1915.jpg|
Bretagne in Newcastle Harbour, NSW, 1915 ==See also==