Seal Rocks, New South Wales

Suburbs around Seal Rocks:
Bungwahl, Smith's Lake	Smith's Lake	Tasman Sea
Bungwahl, Yagon	Seal Rocks	Tasman Sea
Yagon	Tasman Sea	Tasman Sea

Seal Rocks is a small coastal settlement in the Great Lakes Council Local Government Area, in the Mid North Coast/Hunter regions of New South Wales, Australia, 275 kilometres (171 mi) north-north-east of Sydney.^[2]^[6] It is famous for its many premier surfing beaches (including Lighthouse Beach, Treachery and Yagon), and also for being the home of Seal Rocks lighthouse, officially known as Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. At the 2006 census, the area had a population of 131 persons.^[1]

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse

Main article: Sugarloaf Point Light

The construction of Sugarloaf Lighthouse was completed in 1875, ten years after it was recommended a light be placed to highlight the treacherous Seal Rocks. It was originally intended to place the light on Seal Rocks but landing was difficult the proposition was abandoned.

The tower is constructed of brick, rendered and painted white. Also constructed were three adjoining cottages, various outbuildings, the construction of the road from Bungwahl, and a 460-metre (1,509 ft) long jetty which was used to land some 1,829 tonnes (1,800 long tons) of building supplies and materials.

The light was upgraded in 1923 and was converted from kerosene to acetylene gas. Electricity was introduced in 1966 and the light was kept manned for many years despite automation in 1987.

The Sugarloaf lighthouse is the second-most easterly one in Australia, after the Byron Bay lighthouse, and offers accommodation in three cottages. ^[7]

One of Australia's biggest shipping disasters occurred off Sugarloaf Point; the wreck of the SS Catterthun in 1895 when bound from Sydney to China with the loss of thirty one lives. Although some reports state that 55 persons lost their lives, the NSW marine board of inquiry listed 31 as the correct number.

References

^ ^a ^b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Seal Rocks (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC18761&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 22 February 2010. Map
^ ^a ^b ^c "Suburb Search - Local Council Boundaries - Hunter (HT) - Great Lakes Council". New South Wales Department of Local Government. http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_Regions.asp?regiontype=2&slacode=3400&region=HT. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Geographical Names Register Extract: Seal Rocks". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/name_search/extract?id=MnKqXtsEuj. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
^ "Myall Lakes". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 24 March 2007. http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/state_government_elections/electoral_districts/all_districts_/myall_lakes. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
^ "Paterson". Australian Electoral Commission. 19 October 2007. http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Paterson&filterby=Electorate. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
^ "Seal Rocks". Land and Property Management Authority - Spatial Information eXchange. New South Wales Land and Property Management Authority. http://imagery.maps.nsw.gov.au/?role=mysuburb&search=suburb&suburb=Seal%20Rocks. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
^ Australia’s iconic lighthouses, Australian Geographic, 26 July 2010

Towns, suburbs and localities of Great Lakes Council \| Hunter & Mid North Coast Regions \| New South Wales

Towns, suburbs & localities	Alderley Alderley Creek Allworth Bennetts Head Blueys Beach Bombah Point Boolambayte Boomerang Beach Booral Booti Booti Bulahdelah Bulby Brush Bundabah Bungwahl Bunyah Bunyah Upper Burgess Beach Burraduc Cape Hawke Carrington Charlottes Bay Clareval Coolongolook Coomba Coomba Bay Coomba Park Craven Crawford River Cureeki Creek Darawank Dewrang Dirty Creek Dungog Elizabeth Beach Failford Fernhill Forster Forster Keys Forster Waters Friendship Key Gereeba Island Girvan Green Point Hawks Nest Johnsons Creek Karuah Legges Camp Lime Kiln Limeburners Creek Markwell Mayers Flat Milbrook Mill Creek Upper Minimbah Monkerai Mungo Brush Myall Lakes Myall Upper Nabiac Nerong New Forster Newells Creek Nooroo North Arm Cove North Pindimar Nugra Nugramudgee Pacific Palms Pindimar Pioneer Park Pipers Bay Rosenthal Sandbar Seal Rocks Smiths Lake South Pindimar Stroud Stroud Road Sugarloaf Point Tahlee Tamboy Tarbuck Bay Tea Gardens Telegherry Terreel The Branch Tiona Topi Topi Tuncurry Upper Karuah River Upper Monkerai Violet Hill Wallamba Island Wallingat Wallingat River Wallis Island Wallis Lake Wards River Warranulla Washpool Wattley Hill Weismantels Whoota Willina Winda Woppa Wootton Yagon Yagon Beach

Other places & points of interest	Booti Booti National Park Broughton Island Cape Hawke Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park Karuah River Manning River Myall Lakes Myall Lakes National Park Myall River Port Stephens Singing Bridge Tahlee historic property Tops to Myall Heritage Trail Wallingat National Park