The suburb is home to the RAAF Base Williamtown, which was established on 15 February 1941.
Geography
The eastern section of Williamtown is dominated by RAAF Base Williamtown and Newcastle Airport while the western section of the area is primarily semi-rural with some large-acreage residential areas scattered along Cabbage Tree Road which is a main access route to Port Stephens from the Pacific Highway. To the south Williamtown reaches Fullerton Cove, a large cove at the Hunter River. The south-eastern corner of the area reaches the Tasman Sea on Stockton Beach and access to the beach is possible at this point for off-road vehicles via Lavis Lane.
With many low-lying areas, and some swamps, flooding was not unknown; and attempts to drain the Moors was made.[8][9][10]
History
The area was home to the Worimi First Nations group, whose past presence is noted by canoe trees, ceemonial sites, and middens.[11] A 1790 shipwreck saw five convicts escape, and live with the Worimi for five years.[11]
Early European pioneers arriving in the 1840s[12] had to clear the heavily timbered lands so the grounds could be used for food cultivation.[13][14] Weaving cabbage-tree hats, the tree being plentiful in the area, was an early activity.[13] Dairy such as milk was transported to Newcastle for sale,[12] and developments such as the milk separator for producing butter were a welcome improvement.[14]
The first public school was opened in February 1869, with a larger facility opened nearby in 1925.[16] Due to population changes, the school was closed in 2008.[16]
The dairy and vegetable-producing industries were considered the best in the area by 1924, unaffected by droughts.[17] At this time, there were schools, shops, and churches, but no public hotels.[17]
Consideration of the first aerodromes was mooted in July 1928.[18] In late 1939 the Defence Department considered a 1,200 yards (1,100m) military runway on 270 acres (110ha) of Crown land.[19][20]
Population
In the 2016 Census, there were 885 people in Williamtown. 70.9% of people were born in Australia and 80.7% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion was Anglican at 22.8%.[3]
Tomago sandbeds
Most of Williamtown sits atop the Tomago sandbeds (an aquifer that is a critical source of water for the lower Hunter Region). The sandbeds are replenished primarily by rain as well as any water that leaks from Grahamstown Dam in nearby Ferodale. Water from the sandbeds and the dam is treated in Tomago.[21]
Climate
Williamtown possesses a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with very warm, wet summers and mild, relatively dry winters. Average maxima vary from 28.3°C (82.9°F) in January to 17.2°C (63.0°F) in July, while average minima fluctuate between 18.2°C (64.8°F) in January and February and 6.5°C (43.7°F) in July. Annual precipitation is moderately high (averaging 1,129.0mm (44.45in)), and is spread across 86.6 precipitation days (over 1.0mm (0.039in)). The town experiences 103.2 clear days and 127.3 cloudy days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 45.5°C (113.9°F) on 4 January 2020 and 11 February 2017 to −3.9°C (25.0°F) on 18 July 1970.[22]
↑"Williamtown". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No.16, 756. New South Wales, Australia. 28 June 1930. p.7. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Williamtown". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser. Vol.30. New South Wales, Australia. 27 June 1924. p.2. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Williamtown moor drain". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser. Vol.41. New South Wales, Australia. 28 February 1935. p.1. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
12"Obituary". Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 25 February 1930. p.4. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
12"Obituary". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser. Vol.50. New South Wales, Australia. 28 September 1944. p.2. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
12"Obituary". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser. Vol.53. New South Wales, Australia. 30 September 1948. p.2. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑"The old church at Williamtown". Raymond Terrace Examiner and Lower Hunter and Port Stephens Advertiser. Vol.45. New South Wales, Australia. 29 December 1938. p.2. Retrieved 3 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
12"Fertile district". The Newcastle Sun. No.1987. New South Wales, Australia. 9 August 1924. p.11. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Port Stephens Shire Council". Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 17 July 1928. p.4. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑"New site". The Maitland Daily Mercury. No.21, 346. New South Wales, Australia. 14 September 1939. p.5. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
↑"Flood danger discounted". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No.19, 694. New South Wales, Australia. 23 November 1939. p.10. Retrieved 2 December 2025– via National Library of Australia.
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