Built immediately after the Second World War, as the country’s energy needs were growing, Wangi Power Station serviced the state and local community for 30 years. It was also deeply connected to the largest coastal saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Read an oral history from those who knew the place best.
Author: Heath Killen
Heath Killen is the founder and editor of On A Floating World. Born and raised in Newcastle, he is passionate about the coastline and waterways surrounding his home. Elsewhere he helps people develop brands, campaigns, and projects based on their passions.
On Fingal Bay with John Clarke
John Clarke is a local legend in Port Stephens, a man who has dedicated 40 years to preserving its culture and protecting its environment for the future. Read about his journey into these waters and the many great stories he has collected along the way.
The Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea
In 1997, nearly five million pieces of Lego spilled into the ocean from a container ship hit by a rogue wave, washing up on the beaches of Cornwall. Tracey Williams has been collecting and writing about them ever since.
Max Dupain’s Slaughtered Mangroves
In 1969, celebrated Australian photographer Max Dupain visited Newcastle’s industrial harbour for an assignment to photograph BHP Steelworks. While he was there, he was struck by the ecological devastation that had occurred on the other side of the river.
On Styx Creek with Mark MacLean
Ten years ago, Mark MacLean chased his dog into the stormwater drains of Hamilton North. What he discovered there was wildlife, garbage, eccentric characters, graffiti artists, and a profound new appreciation for water.
Cold Tea Creek & Belmont Lagoon
With a creek originally constructed as an anti-tank defense line during the war and a lagoon that holds significant Aboriginal cultural connections, this easily accessible part of Lake Macquarie is an overlooked treasure.
The Tale of Pirate Point
The HM Norfolk is well known for being the first ship to circumnavigate Tasmania and prove the existence of the Bass Strait, but what happened after this mission is a truly wild but largely forgotten story from the history of Newcastle.
On Stockton Beach with Willow Forsyth
The unique peninsula suburb of Stockton is famous for its long golden coastline and beach culture, however its future is now under threat from erosion. Local resident Willlow Forsyth explains how things got so bad, the impact of the crisis, and a possible way forward.
Gardemeles Museum
Rosey Priestman is an artist who lives and works on Sanday, one of the northern isles of Orkney, in an old stone house overlooking the sea. This is not just her home, but a museum of found objects, from shark vertebrate to whale bones, lost toys to curious shells. A true Atlantic wunderkammer.
The Slums of Hexham
“It’s a hard life, but free”. This is how one resident of Hexham described the place in 1941, a time in which this little suburb — built from driftwood, mud, and fishing wire — seemed to emerge from straight out of the estuary.