Tanilba Bay Walk has been created to celebrate the unique history and environment of this beautiful place.
The project was instigated by the Tanilba Foreshore Hall committee and completed with the help of the Tilligerry community association and other great community partners. This project was funded through the Port Stephens Community Grants program.
The walk is approximately 3.5km one way and takes around 35 to 45 minutes to complete. In some parts, the natural environment limits access by wheelchair and other mobility aids.
1. Sunset Park
Sunset Park is named after the spectacular sunsets viewed across the water from the point.
The traditional owners of this land, the Worimi People of Port Stephens, hunted and fished these shores. You can still see the remains of shell middens across the banks.
The stone fireplaces and seats rebuilt from lime kiln rocks were originally built by convicts assigned to Lieutenant William Caswell in about 1831. It was used for burning the oyster shell middens to make mortar used in the construction of Tanilba House. Rock for the house was also quarried from the park.
Additional stone table and seats, timber park furniture, playground, dance hall and replica stonework fireplaces and seating were designed and built by land developer Henry F. Halloran in 1932.
2. Tanilba House
Tenilba (Tanilba) is an indigenous place name. 'Tenil' means place of white flowers and 'ba' means water.
Tanilba House and its surrounds are state heritage listed. The grounds include a convict built stone wall, a gaol, a stone water tank, a wishing chair in the wisteria pergola, stone entrance pillars and a direction finder. The house is privately owned and is open for weddings, high teas and special events.
History
Lieutenant William Caswell received a 50 acre land grant for his distinguished service to the Royal Navy. In the early 1830s, Caswell and 3 assigned convicts arrived in Tanilba. His wife Susan and 2 children arrived shortly after.
The first house was just a slab hut. This was followed by a small cottage built in 1833 to accommodate their growing family.
By 1837, foundations were laid for Caswell's 'mansion on the hill' — an elegant family home built by convicts from local porphyry stone, sandstone brought in as ships ballast and lime mortar made in the kilns in Sunset Park.
They established a thriving vineyard, orchard and vegetable garden. The olive tree planted by Susan Caswell still thrives and is now one of the oldest living olive trees in Australia.
Soon after, convict labour was withdrawn and crops failed with drought. Along with many others, Caswell became insolvent. He advertised the house and grounds to let. By 1844, the family were forced to remove to the farm at Balickera where they had permanent water.
The estate was leased until it was sold to the Holmes family in 1897. Henry F. Halloran bought the estate in 1920 — he surveyed the Tanilba Estate subdivision, made additions to the house and added many stone features to the estate.