Point Stephens - NSW

‘Point Stephens’ is the location of the historic Port Stephens lighthouse that was opened in 1862 after local petitioning since the late 1830s, along with a lightkeepers residence. Also referred to as the ‘outer’ lighthouse (the Port Stephens ‘inner’ lighthouse at Nelsons Bay was later erected in 1872) was only built after the coastline surrounding the entrance to Port Stephens had already claimed 24 ships.

Point Stephens was originally connected to the mainland via a 180 metre wide, and above storm surge four-metre high vegetation-covered land bridge, until it was destroyed and washed away by the devastating Maitland Gale in 1891 becoming the intermittent sand spit visible today.

Although it has been sometimes accessible at low tide, the two-kilometre journey to the lighthouse via the spit has claimed 15 lives so it is no longer permitted and the only safe way to access the island is by checking the tides and travelling there by kayak or boat. Storms and erosion are constantly impacting and changing the spit, one day it will appear intact, and following a storm, it may be completely gone. The tumultuous, untamed waters only need someone to be attempt the crossing from knee-deep to carry one to their end on one of its fatal currents.