Port of Yamba Historical Society
newsletter
We acknowledge the Yaegl people as the traditional custodians of the land on which Yamba Museum is located and recognise their continuing connection to Country. We pay respect to Yaegl Elders past, present and emerging.
Greetings and welcome to summer, as well as to the latest edition of the Yamba Historical Society newsletter. We invite you to relax while we share the most recent updates, events and historical insights from our society. Look forward to engaging stories, upcoming activities, and important information about Yamba's rich history. We appreciate your involvement in our community and hope you find this newsletter enjoyable.
President's Report
Wow, how quickly the summer months have swept into our lives. All committee members and active volunteers have been busy with increased visitor numbers (including more internationals seeking us out), increased coach tours, donations and collection management, and constant enquiries and bookings for hire of the Old Kirk and Function Room. You can read more about the various events and activities held during the past three months later in this newsletter.
Revamp of Permanent Museum Exhibition
Museum Advisor Dr Kate Gahan lead another 2-hour workshop for Committee and members on Wednesday 13 November from 10-12noon, where we got right into the practical options for repositioning Billy Black’s skiff inside the museum (currently stored outside, fully protected), and also creating a cinema experience with the proposed donation by Yamba Cinema owner Debbie McCredie of several equipment items from decades ago – projector, reel platter, seating, posters, signage. We have lots of work to do to accommodate the cinema donation, including changes to the Flinders Room, and this will be on-going over the next couple of months. We have
2 more workshops diaried for February and March. If you’d like to be part of this revamp, please contact me via the Society’s email: yambamuseumnsw@gmail.com.
Yaegl Cultural Garden booklet
At last I can announce the publication of our small booklet on the bush tucker plants/shrubs, cultural references and motifs of the Language Poles and mosaic totems in the Yaegl Cultural Garden. Many of you have been asking for a while about the names and traditional use of certain plants by the Yaegl community, particularly now that the garden is more established and flourishing. The booklet is lightweight, A5 size with coloured photos of 30 plants. It will be available for purchase just before Christmas at a cost of $10 from front desk volunteers during opening hours.
My thanks go to Graeme East for compiling the botanical information and descriptions, Yaegl artists Frances Belle Parker, Aneika Kapeen and Leeanne Kennedy for giving permission to publish their thoughts behind their creative designs, and designer Adam Woodleigh for his care and patience. You may recall that the Society won a prestigious award for this garden - the 2020 IMAGinE Award from Museums & Galleries NSW – so this booklet is a record of a much-commented on enhancement to our museum precinct.
Vale Joyce Clague MBE
In September we paid respect to the passing of First Nations activist and Yaegl Elder Joyce Clague, aged 85. Aunty Joyce had grown up on Ulgundahi Island in the Clarence River, with English as her second language; she was the first indigenous person to represent Australia at a UNESCO conference in 1966. Federal MP Linda Burney spoke in Parliament of Joyce’s resilience and strength in fighting against racism, notably as a key campaigner for the YES vote for the 1967 Constitutional referendum, and as part of the legal process that led to the 2017 historic recognition of native title over 90 kms of coast and sea in NSW. Our Society appreciated her involvement and benefited when Aunty Joyce agreed to support our application with a personal statement and photo in our successful application for the very significant grant for the 2020/2021 enhancement projects – building of the Function Room, Yaegl Cultural Garden and improved carpark.
Vacant Secretary Position
It is with regret that Anne Dinham has advised she will resign from the position of Secretary at the end of December 2024. Anne will continue as a Committee member, responsible for coordination of membership and group tours, and she’ll also continue to facilitate the 40th Birthday Planning Group to celebrate the opening of Yamba Museum 40 years ago in March 1985 – more details on this later. We’ll still be able to call on her significant skills, interest and knowledge of historical matters and capacity for thorough work but she will be very much missed at the Executive level.
If you feel you could fill this position and support the Society at the committee level, please contact me by email (yambamuseumnsw@gmail.com), or encourage someone you know (perhaps recently moved to Yamba) to come and chat about how the Society functions.
Summer Holiday Closures
We will close Yamba Museum on Sunday 22nd December and re-open on Saturday 4th January 2025 – this is a very welcome break for all front desk roster volunteers.
Christmas Wishes
We’re again having lunch and a seasonal drink at the Wobbly Chook on Friday 20th December, from 12 noon at the outside tables. There’ll be two special gifts as door prizes. Please respond to the email from Secretary Anne Dinham to secure your seat, or email yambamuseumnsw@gmail.com.
My warmest wishes to all members and their families for a safe and joyous time of Christmas 2025 festivities.
Committee Members 2025 - 2026
Lesley Pickering (President), Brenda Salisbury (Vice President), Kerry Hulm (Treasurer)
Jan Angelo, Sue Hughes, Anne Dinham, Margaret Lawrence and Jude McBean.
Book Launch Invitation
January 2026
Yamba Across Two World Wars 1914 - 1945 - John McNamara
Discover Yamba’s Fascinating Past!
Step back in time to early 20th-century Yamba — a small coastal town of just 500 people that transformed into a thriving holiday destination between the two World Wars.
This new publication captures Yamba’s remarkable growth from 1914 to 1945 — a period when, new facilities rose, and the town’s character began to take shape. With glimpses into earlier years, it’s a must-read for history lovers and locals alike.
Come and celebrate Yamba’s rich heritage — meet the author, enjoy light refreshments, and get your signed copy!
Back Then ... Photograph of Yamba Lighthouse and Pilot Hill
This is a view showing Yamba Lighthouse and surrounding buildings on Pilot Hill. The Pilot’s residence in a fenced compound is shown on the right. The lighthouse and signal station can be seen at rear with the boatmen’s cottages scattered around the site. The inset photograph was taken at the same time and shows a closer view of the lighthouse with a group of officials standing in front and a man looking through a mounted telescope. Three of the officials can faintly be seen in the main photograph immediately to the left of the fence.
The photographs were clearly taken before 1903 as all of the boatmen’s cottages were replaced between 1903 and 1907. Neatly penciled on the back of the main photo is the note “State Archives Photo Early Pilot Hill
Settlement c1900”. The note on the back of the inset photo adds further – “Early Lighthouse Days Official visit from Syd. State Archives Photo”.
Are these details correct, and can the date of the photos be better established?
A copy of the inset photograph is also held by the NSW State Library contained in a collection labelled “Searcy Albums: Lighthouses in New
South Wales, 1902”. The photograph is labelled “Clarence Head” and beside the label is pencilled “NSW 1902”.
On 23 rd October 1900, Yamba Pilot McAuley recorded in his log “Captain Edie inspected Station today”. The Clarence River Advocate of 26 th
reported “OFFICIAL VISIT. – Captain Edie, Superintendent of the Department of Navigation, and Mr. C.W. Darley, Engineer-in-Chief of the
Public Works Department, arrived here on Tuesday by the Government steamer Thetis on a visit of inspection. Captain Edie visited the
lighthouse and pilot station. He also visited the dwelling houses of the pilot’s men.”
However, these inspections were annual events and further tours were recorded in the Pilot’s log on 10th September, 1901 and 13th September, 1902. The 1903 inspection happened at night. It appears likely that these photographs were taken during one of these
inspections, but the evidence is inconclusive. The best we can do is accept the penciled notation on the back of the photograph as c1900.
Rob Knight
Strolling across the grassy threshold of Pilot Hill towards the lighthouse you feel you are entering a timeless realm steeped in history and unspoilt natural beauty. The stark white tower is a spectacular sight up close, especially when you look up at it against a bright blue sky; it defies its humble beginning.
When the Pilot Station was established in 1854 crossing the river bar was a major obstacle to navigation. In 1862, when the Department of Harbours and Rivers commenced the river mouth improvements, a fixed signal to passing ships was created using a kerosene lamp attached to a pole near the edge of the headland and separated from the Pilot’s house by dense scrub. One of the Pilot boatmen, William Walker, supervised the light. The Pilot’s daughter Jane Freeburn was born in March 1859 (the first white child born at Yamba) and she also tended it as a child, making her way through the brush on the headland with a bodyguard of
Aborigines to protect her from possible predators. The local indigenous people were numerous at this time but the Pilot, Captain Francis Freeeburn, managed to gain their confidence and affection and they referred to him as "Budgeree Billy Barlow" up to his death.
Sailing masters made a deputation in 1865 to the Colonial Treasurer for a better system. A beacon, comprising a large fixed red kerosene light placed on a bench in a small wooden sentry box whose shutters could be opened at night to dispense the rays 10 to 13 kilometres out to sea, was erected in the same position as the light pole for £120.
In 1877 moves were made to construct a proper lighthouse and the Colonial Architect, James Johnstone Barnet, was assigned the design, construction and supervision of it. The style was derived from that of Francis Greenway, designer of the first Macquarie Lighthouse at South Head, Sydney. A Grafton building contractor, William Kinnear, was awarded the contract for £1097 and completed the structure in 1879.
William Walker was appointed as the first lighthouse keeper and held the position for 40 years. Quarters were constructed for him adjacent to the lighthouse in 1905. The keeper’s job was a demanding one as lives depended on the correct functioning of the light. The light was converted to fully automatic in 1925.
The construction of the Pacific Hotel in mid 1934 affected the ray viewing from out at sea and a suggestion was made to rebuild
the lighthouse on the extreme eastern point of the headland. The Boulder Construction Company began work in late February 1955 and the new lighthouse was first lit on 22 December 1955. Standing 17 metres high, it is supported by 5 metres of reinforced concrete foundation imbedded in bedrock and has 3 flashes of one second each, repeated every 10 seconds.
The original lighthouse was then demolished. Blocks from the lighthouse were used to construct a retaining wall which still exists today along the side of 40 Yamba Street on the corner of Campbells Lane. A concrete water reservoir was completed on the site in 1957 and replaced by the existing adjacent reservoir in 1986.
In 1987, The Lower Clarence Media Co-operative Society announced a proposal to build a one third size replica of the first Yamba Lighthouse on the site of the old water reservoir to house a production studio, on- air studio and reception area as a bicentennial project. The society raised $20,000 in funds and materials. The building was constructed by volunteer labour and first used in 1989. Plans to complete the replica were announced in May 2010. A local businessman, Howard Hall, instigated a search for a suitable lantern which was located by local lighthouse enthusiast and author John Ibbotson. He contacted the Australian Maritime
Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Australian Maritime Systems (AMS) who donated a 19th century Fresnel lens and Lamp house. These were installed on 17 November 2011.
When you next see the lighthouse, standing firm against the battering of fierce winds and stormy weather remember how it epitomises the ‘mastery of man over nature’ to safely guide those at sea around the protruding headland and rocks and into the dangerous river entrance.
John McNamara and Sue Spence, Port of Yamba Historical Society.
Light on the Hill
Cottage at 3 River Street Yamba - More Information
One of our members Lynette Weir has a direct connection to this cottage featured in the last newsletter - it belonged to her grandparents Marie and George Perkins and was renovated by her father Colin Perkins in 1973. Lynette contributed to the Spring Newsletter 2025 article and for more in depth information about this cottage click on the link https://acottagebytheseayamba.com/
Kearn's Boatshed Story and a New Donation
Over the years, people have asked me what the significance of the old derelict shed on the river side of Yamba Road adjacent to the Anglers’ Club.
From the Heritage Submission in 2004, it was originally built in 1950 by John Herbert “Jack” Kearns, a dairy farmer of Brushgrove. Jack was doing some work on the shed at the time at the time of the disastrous fire which burnt out The Ritz private hotel in Queen Street, It consisted of a weatherboard single room boatshed with iron roof and small verandah on the eastern side. A separate toilet with a corrugated iron water tank sitting on top was attached to the verandah. An attached jetty ran out into the Clarence River. It illustrates a time when Australians were seemingly much freer than they are now and bureaucracy was more of a help than a mire of red tape.
Approval was obtained from the Department of Lands for the construction to be undertaken below the high tide mark, and for the purpose of use as a boatshed. At the time there were practically no other buildings further west in Yamba and Yamba Road had a rough gravel surface.
As can be seen from the photo, another boatshed was built alongside by Lav Davis of Palmers Channel (father of Ruby Kearns – Doug’s wife) but was pulled down at a later date.
The shed was used for around 12-15 years for a boatshed doubling as a weekender and holiday “shack” by the Kearns family. The shed inside (as well as housing a wooden boat) consisted of a partition that divided the main “living” area from a sleeping area. There was not much room for the boat!!!
The lease of the boatshed was eventually sold to Fred Phillips of Yamba in the late 1960s who had the intention of using it as a bait selling place but it was never used for that purpose. The lease eventually lapsed and NSW Crown Lands is now the owner of the structure and is responsible for its maintenance and conservation.
The boat shed is listed as a heritage item in the Clarence Valley Local Environmental Plan 2011.
Council has received numerous letters from members of the community over several years raising concerns about the lack of maintenance of this structure. The Rotary Club of Yamba expressed interest at one time to restore the building for use as a resting place along the adjoining pathway, but were daunted by the rigid requirements of the Heritage Act.
Yamba developed as a "local" holiday and recreation centre for the Clarence area. The character and traditional values of such buildings are part of Yamba and deserve to be retained for future generations. This boatshed has withstood all that physical and cultural forces could throw against it including flood, cyclone and urban development - and has survived. It deserves to stay but is fast deteriorating due to lack of maintenance even though there are obligations for its preservation by State Authorities under the Heritage Act 1977.
John McNamara
Research Officer, Port of Yamba Historical Society.
Gallery will automatically start or simply click on the image to see a full screen view
A year before his passing in 2004, Stuart Lee asked me if I would take over his role as Research Officer for the Port of Yamba Historical Society. I accepted the challenge and set about compiling a precise history of Yamba and district from newspaper reports and, after 22 years and over 50,000 entries, the index is now up-to-date.
I soon realised that much of the information in society publications was anecdotal mainly because the computer resources of today were not available. The Grafton Regional Library donated a surplus microfilm reader and microfilms containing images of the Clarence and Richmond Examiner commencing 1869 were purchased through donations by the late Trevor Phillip and book sale profits. After a number of years, fellow member Robin Knight devised Microsoft Excel spreadsheet Newspaper-InputSheet, allowing entry of a summarised version of each relevant article. Image 1
These inputs were then entered into another Excel spreadsheet called PYHS Newspaper Index Master. Image 2
This program has proved to be fast and efficient for searching and retrieving articles containing a word or phrase being sought from the thousands of newspaper articles.
Meanwhile, in 2008, the National Library of Australia released a website called “Trove”, which displays copies of the majority of national and regional newspapers from 1803 to the end of 1954, making them readily accessible online. From this, records of the discovery of the Big River (Clarence River) dating back to the 1830s could be added to the index. The Government Gazettes were also scanned from the website. There was now no necessity for the PYHS to purchase microfilms.
Accessing newspaper reports from 1954 onwards involved numerous visits to Schaeffer House and the City Library at Grafton. Hardcopies of the Daily Examiner and Coastal Views from 1954 to 1911 were available at Schaeffer House and microfilms from 1911 to June 2020 at Grafton City Library. The Clarence Valley Independent donated a full set of hardcopies of the Lower Clarence Review from 1994 to 2004, Lower Clarence Review from 2004 to 2015 and the Clarence Valley Independent to the present day.
It has been enhanced by adding research material and extracts from publications, providing a comprehensive and factual history of Yamba and district. The index has allowed me to compile articles and several publications for the Society.
The Newspaper Index has been added to the “One Stop Shop” computer database at Yamba Museum and is available for public viewing.
John M McNamara, Research Officer
September 2025
Research Index Project
FROM INTERIOR STYLIST TO CREATIVE ARTIST
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Sue Godfrey presents ‘Mixed Impressions’ at The Old Kirk Gallery, Yamba Museum opening 5:30pm Friday 28th November to Sunday 21st
December.
Sue’s state-of-the art work is inspired by current décor trends derived from her background as an interior stylist. A variety of
mediums are used, however, her favourite is acrylic ink for the vibrancy of colour - “sometimes I mix this with watercolour to get a
special effect”, said Sue. “I believe that everyone should be able to own an original piece of art connecting the spaces people live and
work in – something unique, meaningful and tailored to their environment, not just settle for mass produced prints. My art suits
all palettes, interiors and furnishings, whether for a cosy home or a vibrant business space.”
Each piece is framed and affordably priced.
Sue has a background in textiles and textile design working with silks, ribbons and acrylics and exhibiting at the ‘Di Watt Gallery’ on
Tamborine Mountain, QLD. Building a reputation as an interior stylist she found herself creating large artworks to suit the décor, drawing
inspiration from cushions, rugs, etc, connecting the client to their surroundings. Her styling and artwork was featured at the ‘Songbird’ Restaurant.
Sue Godfrey moved to Yamba in December 2024 from Macleay Island and no doubt our beautiful area will bring her much inspiration: “Painting
allows you to put on canvas/paper whatever is in your imagination!” We welcome Sue to the area and wish her success with her exhibition.
Gai Pritchett
Can You Help ?
Volunteers: We Need You!
Bev Mansfield our Roster Officer is always looking for new volunteers to help
welcome visitors at the Front Desk. Flexibility is key and Bev is happy to
discuss options that may suit you. Call or email Bev, so our museum can be enjoyed
by everyone who wishes to visit.
Mobile: 049 958 8137 Email: bevmans67@gmail.com