Umina Beach, New South Wales

Umina Beach
Central CoastNew South Wales

Umina Beach from Mount Ettalong, showing Gosford in the distance
Population: 15,392 (2006 census)
Postcode: 2257
Area: 7.2 km² (2.8 sq mi)
Location:
LGA: City of Gosford
Parish: Patonga
State District: Gosford
Federal Division: Robertson
Suburbs around Umina Beach:
Brisbane Water National Park Woy Woy Blackwall
Brisbane Water National Park Umina Beach Ettalong Beach
Pearl Beach Broken Bay Broken Bay

Umina Beach is a suburb within the City of Gosford local government area on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

By road, it is 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Sydney and 111 kilometres (69 mi) south of Newcastle.

Umina Beach is locally known on the Central Coast as being on 'The Peninsula' (or ‘Woy Woy Peninsula'). A natural peninsula that includes the towns of Umina Beach, Pearl Beach, Patonga, Little Wobby, Woy Woy, Blackwall, Booker Bay and Ettalong Beach.

The Suburb of Umina officially begins where Woy Woy and Ettalong end - at Veron Road, Winifred Avenue and Springwood Street.

Contents

Geography

Umina Beach has one unbroken sand shoreline that has been divided in name only: Umina Beach (south western section) and Ocean Beach (north eastern section). Both beaches have their own Surf Life Saving Club (refer to Sports Clubs section). The only other type of shoreline is located at Umina Point (Mt Ettymalong), a Hawkesbury Sandstone headland that adjoins to the south western end of Umina Beach.

Umina Beach is geographically located on the north side of Broken Bay at the river mouth of Hawkesbury River. The formation of Umina Beach and 'The Peninsula' is due to sand deposition that has been influenced by (and not limited to) climatic conditions, soil-binding flora, Hawkesbury Sandstone formations (eg; Box Head, Barrenjoey and Umina Point), wave patterns and tidal amplitude from the Tasman Sea, Hawkesbury River and Brisbane Water.

Schools

Umina Beach is served by two public schools, Umina Public School[1] and Brisbane Water Secondary College[2].

Opened on 3 February 1956, Umina Public School's population approximates 800 students and 50 staff. It currently has 29 classes from kindergarten to year 6.[1]

History

The word "Umina" was derived from the Australian Aboriginal word meaning Place of sleep[3].

The Woy Woy and Umina district was home to the Guringai Australian Aboriginal tribe. This tribe stretched from the north side of Port Jackson, north through Pittwater, Broken Bay and Brisbane Water, to the southern end of Lake Macquarie.[4]

European entry to the region was first recorded in March 1788 when Governor Arthur Phillip landed with a party at Ettalong Beach. In June 1789, a more thorough investigation of Brisbane Water was conducted. A rest stop was made at Ettalong Beach before the group passed through 'The Rip' (a dangerous passage leading into Brisbane Water). On return, the party camped at Ettalong Beach before sailing to Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury River.[4]

Media

Community Papers:

Radio Broadcasting:

Umina Beach is locally serviced by the national public broadcaster, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, via ABC Local Radio 2BL/T 92.5 FM.

Commercial licenses covering Umina Beach are[8]:

(Call Sign/On-Air Identification/Licensee/Parent Company)

2CCH, Hits N Country 94.1 FM, owned by Central Coast Broadcasters Ltd, ceased operation on 21 November 2007 when their last Community Radio Broadcaster licence expired. They withdrew an application to renew the licence[14].

Analogue FM and AM signals can be received from Sydney and Newcastle. As a result, Umina Beach is located within the most saturated radio market in Australia.

As of August 2010, there was no launch date known for Digital Radio services for the Central Coast[15][16].

Sports Fields

Umina Oval, located at the end southern end of Melbourne Avenue, is the home ground for four pitch team sports: Soccer, Rugby League, Cricket[17] and Tennis[18].

McEvoy Oval, located at the western end of McEvoy Avenue, is used for Track and Field Athletics, Touch Football and Cricket[17].

Sports Clubs

Ocean Beach Malibu Club[19].

Ocean Beach Surf Live Saving Club is located at the southern end of Trafalgar Avenue, Umina Beach[20].

Ocean Beach Surfers Association[21].

Club Umina RSL Bowls Club is located in Melbourne Avenue, Umina Beach, within the Club Umina complex[22]. Membership is available to ex and existing Servicemen of the Australian Defence Force and its allies who are financial members of both Club Umina and either Full or Associate Members of Merrylands RSL Club Sub-Branch.

Umina Beach "Bunnies" Rugby League Football Club[23] is based at Umina Oval and play on the Col Gooley Field[24]. The club is affiliated with the Central Coast Division of Country Rugby League[25] (refer also to Country Rugby League) within the New South Wales Rugby League. The Bunnies team sheet has included Australian Kangaroos experience: Mark Geyer in 1993 and Cliff Lyons as Captain-Coach in 2001.

Umina "Bunnies" Junior Rugby League Football Club[26] is based at Umina Oval and play on the Col Gooley Field[27]. The club is affiliated with the Central Coast Division Junior Rugby League[28] which is part of the Central Coast Division of Country Rugby League[25] (refer also to Country Rugby League) within the New South Wales Rugby League.

Umina Beach "Bunnies" Netball Club are emotionally linked to Umina Junior Rugby League Football Club[29] and do not have a physical presence in Umina Beach. The club conducts committee meetings at Woy Woy Leagues Club, Blackwall Road, Woy Woy, has a postal address in Ettalong Beach and plays in the Woy Woy Peninsula Netball Associations competition[30], located in Lagoon Street, Ettalong Beach[31].

Umina Boardriders[32].

Umina "Devils" Cricket Club[33] is based at Umina Oval and has 2 cricket fields. The main cricket field, Field 1, is located on the eastern side of the oval, on Col Gooley Field, and has multiple grass pitches. Field 2 is located on the western side of the oval and has one artificial cricket pitch. The club caters for both senior and junior players from 5 years of age.

Umina Surf Live Saving Club is located at the southern end of Ocean Beach Road, Umina Beach[34].

Umina United "Eagles" Soccer Club is based at Umina Oval[35]. The club caters for both senior and junior players from 5 years of age. The club is affiliated with Central Coast Football[36].

Woy Woy Peninsula Little Athletics Centre is based at McEvoy Oval. The club is affiliated with Central Coast Little Athletics[37]. The club caters for junior athletes from 6 years of age[38].

Notable residents

Belinda Emmett (1974–2006), actress and singer, grew up in Umina Beach.

Eric Worrell MBE (1924–1987), zoologist and writer.

References

  1. ^ a b Umina Public School Official website
  2. ^ Brisbane Water Secondary College Official website
  3. ^ Pratt, Eileen Placenames of the Central Coast: origins and meanings, B.W.H.S. (Gosford 1978)
  4. ^ a b History of Woy Woy at Gosford City Council
  5. ^ Peninsula News Official website
  6. ^ Cumberland Courier Newspapers Official website
  7. ^ List of newspapers in Australia Wikipedia
  8. ^ ACMA Commercial & Community Radio Broadcasters Official website
  9. ^ Coast FM 96.3 Official website
  10. ^ Sea FM 101.3 Official website
  11. ^ 2GO Official website
  12. ^ Star FM 104.5 Official website
  13. ^ Radio Five-O-Plus Official website
  14. ^ ACMA Media Release Official website
  15. ^ Digital Radio Plus Official website
  16. ^ Digital Radio in Australia Wikipedia
  17. ^ a b Gosford City Council Grounds and Seasonal Activities Official website
  18. ^ Gosford City Council Tennis Courts Official website
  19. ^ Ocean Beach Malibu Club Official website
  20. ^ Ocean Beach Surf Live Saving Club Official website
  21. ^ Ocean Beach Surfers Association Official website
  22. ^ Umina Beach Bowling Club Ltd Official website
  23. ^ Umina Beach Rugby League Football Club Official website
  24. ^ Gosford City Council Media Release "Col Gooley Field official opening" Official website
  25. ^ a b Central Coast Division Rugby League Official website
  26. ^ Umina Junior Rugby League Football Club Official website
  27. ^ Gosford City Council Media Release "Col Gooley Field official opening" Official website
  28. ^ Central Coast Division Junior Rugby League Official website
  29. ^ Umina Beach Netball Club Official website
  30. ^ Umina Beach "Bunnies" Netball Club Registration & Club Information Official website
  31. ^ Woy Woy Peninsula Netball Associations Official website Netball NSW
  32. ^ Umina Boardriders Official website
  33. ^ Umina Cricket Club Official website
  34. ^ Umina Beach Surf Live Saving Club Official website
  35. ^ Umina United Soccer Club Official website
  36. ^ Central Coast Football Official website
  37. ^ Central Coast Little Athletics Official website
  38. ^ Woy Woy Peninsula Little Athletics Centre Official website

External links