Tuggerah Lakes has been a popular holiday destination for tourists at Easter time since the early 1900s. The town of Wyong and the surrounding area began to grow with the expansion of the northern railway, and holidaymakers travelled by train from Sydney or Newcastle to the new station at Wyong and then took a launch down the Wyong River to settlements around the lake shore.
Early postcard highlighting some of the lovely sights to be seen at Wyong [Photo source: Gary Gavenlock]
Holidaymakers waiting at the Wyong River to catch a ferry to The Entrance and other parts of Tuggerah Lakes [Photo source: Gary Gavenlock]
Tuggerah Lakes ferries launched from the river bank on Wyong River early last century [Photo source: Gary Gavenlock]
Easter Rush to Wyong
WYONG, Saturday.— There has been a record influx of tourists to The Entrance. A noticeable feature is the increase of tourists from Newcastle and the towns between. Large marquees have been erected on The Entrance camping ground, and every foot of suitable space is occupied by tent and camp. The place has the appearance of a tented field for the accommodation of an army.
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Camping at the Entrance early last century [Photo source: Gary Gavenlock]
Easter Campers Throng to Wyong
Tents, gunyahs and brush shelters decorate the whole of the camping area at The Entrance. Easter is the big holiday for tourists, and this year, despite the big Sydney attractions, it has been a record. Ideal weather has attracted thousands. The railway records outdistance any previous year, and the ferries from Wyong have been working overtime — running day and night.
Similar conditions prevail at all the adjoining tourist resorts. At Wallarah Point. Noraville, and at Dora Creek tents dot the landscape. Newcastle has sent its quota. Since Thursday evening the trains that stop at Wyong have been crowded from Newcastle and Sydney. On Thursday night and early on Friday morning “there was not room for a flea,’ to quote a railway official.
The up-trains to Sydney on Good Friday were crowded on their arrival at Wyong from Newcastle. On the platforms, standing in the aisles of first and second class carriages, were men, women, and children. No extra provision had been made for the rush to the city. as from the city. Railway officials did their best, but that was of little avail in the congested state of the carriages. That no fatal accidents resulted between here and Newcastle is considered by travellers to be due more to good luck than any precautionary measures. Of the latter there were reported to be none.
Fishing at the Entrance channel early last century [Photo source: Gary Gavenlock]
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SOURCES: Wyong Museum & Historical Society Archives; TROVE newspaper archive; Historic Wyong Shire DVD by Gary Gavenlock.
Wyong District Pioneers Association 