Owned and managed by Port Authority of New South Wales, the heritage-listed Nobbys Headland is one of Newcastle's most iconic sites.
Did you know that Nobbys-Whibayganba headland was originally an island? The distinct formation was special to the local Awabakal people and was the source of a significant Dreamtime story.
The construction of Macquarie Pier began in 1818 following a proposal by the Commandant of Newcastle, Captain James Wallis, to link the headland to the mainland. The construction of Macquarie Pier continued until January 1823 when works were suspended until recommencing in 1835 with a new convict workforce. In 1836, stone was quarried from a part of the headland to complete the eastern end of the pier and the height of the island was reduced to 27 metres above sea level. Macquarie Pier was finally completed in 1846, 28 years after commencement.
Did you know that a location on Mars is named after Nobbys Head? It has also been updated by NASA to reflect its Aboriginal name, Whibayganba.
During the 1850s, locals, workers, traders and even Masters from trading ships rallied against the proposal to greatly reduce the height of Nobbys-Whibayganba headland. The government had been recommended to cut down the formation to 65 feet above the high tide mark to accommodate a lighthouse structure. Following protests, however, plans to blast the headland were abandoned. Instead, upper levels of rock were removed from Nobbys-Whibayganba's peak, reducing the height of the formation by 13 metres. The lighthouse was hence founded on the flat platform of shale this removal created in 1857, along with a small signal station and two cottages.
The lighthouse is one of the earliest surviving examples of a lighthouse on the east coast of Australia. It is associated with the work of famous colonial architects Edmund Blackett and Alexander Dawson.
During the Second World War, the lighthouse and signal station operations were controlled by military authorities. No.1 Cottage was hit by a shell fired from a Japanese submarine yet survived as the shell did not explode. The construction of the two cottages on Nobbys Headland was completed in 1942.
At the end of the war, the military vacated the cottages and signal station staff occupied the residences until the late 1990s. The signal station existing today was built in 1953 and, along with the lighthouse, remains a key piece of operational infrastructure for the safe movement of ships through Newcastle Harbour. Excerpt for the period during WWII, both the signal station and lighthouse has been owned and operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for over 150 years.
Today, Nobbys-Whibayganba Headland has one of Newcastle's best vantage points, with 360-degree views of the city, working harbour and Newcastle's stunning coastline.
Nobbys-Whibayganba Headland grounds is open to the public on weekends and public holidays from 8:00am to 4:00 pm.