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Great Lakes Museum

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Great Lakes Museum

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The Great Lakes Historical & Maritime Museum is located in Tuncurry on the Mid North Coast of NSW. Soon to expand with future renovations.

A local community social history museum engaged in collecting, researching, preserving, exhibiting artifacts and documentary material relating to the area. When Tuncurry celebrated its centenary in 1975 the organizers saw the need for a local museum. A steering committee was setup and the first meeting of the “Wallamba District Historical Society”, now the “Great Lakes Historical Co-Operative Society Ltd”, was held on March 1st 1976. Land was acquired in Capel Street Tuncurry and the old National Bank building in Forster was transported across the bridge in two pieces to become the museum proper, housing a growing collection of artifacts. Over the years the Great Lakes Museum has expanded to include the original Tuncurry school building, Cheers Cottage, Police lockup, a working windmill as well as other outdoor displays. Inside, the Museum’s collection is now housed in new display cabinets, new carpet laid, ceiling has been replaced and the whole room repainted. Meanwhile this makeover has enabled the area’s maritime history to be expanded and highlighted.

30/10/2026

REGENT THEATRE FORSTER.
Stroud Shire Council on receiving an application for a picture theatre, approved plans and specifications in February 1937. The theatre was built during the grand old era of movies and was officially opened on Saturday 11th September, 1937 by Mr C T Abbott, Shire President.
Mr F G Treasure from the Hunter region was the builder and the foreman was Mr Col Rasmussen, a well known local. The theatre had a seating capacity of 600. The lessee was Mr Jim Colliton, who while holidaying in Forster became impressed with its beauty and the possibility that the district warranted an up to date picture theatre. It is believed that Mr Colliton was connected with the Regent Theatre in Sydney and so the Forster Theatre's name was sealed. The opening was a gala event and featured the movie "I Met Him in Paris" starring Claudette Colbert, Melvin Douglas and Robert Young. The associate feature of the night was "Turn Off the Moon" with light entertainment provided with Popeye The Sailor Man. In the beginning the Theatre was opened every Saturday and Wednesday nights. Mr Stan Croad who was with the Regent for 40 years, recalled when Cinemascope was introduced to the Theatre in 1959.
In the early days before the sand dunes were contained it was possible for the people to walk off the dunes onto the roof of the theatre toilets. Of course, the toilets which were situated at the rear of the Regent, would have always been covered with sand.
In November 1980 Forster's grand old Regent Theatre, which stood on the corner of Head and Beach Street was demolished to make way for progress. The Regent has disappeared but the memories still live on.
The Regent Theatre advertising billboard was located next door to O'Brian's store in Blow's Lane across from the Kumbak Cafe.
Memories: Who remembers sitting in the theatre, waiting with anticipation for the movie to start and the Jaffas start rolling down the isle.
AND I think we all know someone who didn't eat their jaffas!

Great Lakes Museum.
1 Capel Street,
Tuncurry.
Open Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm.

15/10/2026

CHARLOTTE BAY.
THE WAY WE WERE.
Among the first settlers in the Great Lakes were those at Charlotte Bay, at the southern end of Wallis Lake and now part of Pacific Palms. Four Pioneering families had the greatest impact on its settlement, the Brambles, Godwin's, Newman's and the Gogerly's. After John Robertson Land Act in 1861 settlers were able to secure small areas of land on which to live and those settlers were quick to do so. William Bramble and his family played a big part in populating Bungwahl and the Charlotte Bay area. The family moved to Kataway Bay in 1854. They worked as fishermen, timber workers, bullockies and farmers. George Godwin and family being the first white settlers in Forster, and as history shows in 1863 purchased Lot 2 40 acres in the area of Mark, Little and South Street Forster. In 1874, George after becoming tired of farming moved his family to the 40 acre property he purchased at Wamwarra- Bungwahl Flat. In 1876 Elizabeth Godwin married Murdoch McIntosh and they became the first landowners in Charlotte Bay. Murdoch also owned Lot 1 40 acres which included Helen, Robert, Bruce Street from the lake to McIntosh Street Forster. James Godwin made his name in travel and tourism at the Bay as a coachman and boarding house proprietor on the Lakes Way and Luke John Godwin settled at Sugar Creek. Most Godwin's were involved in the timber industry, cutting logs, hauling them by bullock team to log heaps on Wallis Lake or Croll's Mill at Bungwahl. The Newman family arrived in 1866 and took up land just past Yarric and spread around the lake. The eldest son John, married Harriet Cape Godwin, the first white child born in Forster. The Gogerly family were the last of the pioneering families to enter the district. They descended from Charles and Charlotte Gogerly, free settler and businessman in Sydney in the early 1800's. In 1883/84 John Fredrick, after the death of his father arrived and took up land at Booti Booti and Whoota. Members of these four pioneering families still live in the area.
CHARLOTTE BAY SCHOOL: On May 25th 1937 Leo Toomey, the newly appointed teacher opened Charlotte Bay School. There had been subsidised schools in the area before at Yarric which functioned for 15 years mainly serving the Godwin and Gogerly families. The second subsidised school served the itinerant fishing families and struggling new settlers who came with the depression, those being the Lauff, Quinn and Foley families who were dissatisfied with fishing conditions in the Tuggerah Lakes. The building used was the waiting shed by the creek, left over by the coach run from Bungwahl, and also used by the fishermen camping overnight packing fish. However in 1936 there was no school and a progress association was formed to approach the Department of Education. Mr F Ravenscroft, the District School Inspector was sympathetic and 2 acres were set aside to proceed with the construction of the school. Credit was granted to the association by Thomas Miles of Bungwahl and Wrights of Tuncurry and with Henry Gogerly as guarantor. Fundraising went on at a great pace and by May 1937 a sound little school house was ready. Fish boxes were used as seats and cupboards until the new furniture arrived. The school was a social centre and Friday afternoons saw the children clear furniture and prepare the floor with beeswax and sawdust for the dances held to raise funds to pay off the school. The first teacher, Mr Toomey was sadly killed in WW11 (1939-1945.) In 1979 the school was transferred to Boomerang Beach. For 40 years the little school, standing proudly by the creek was the heart of the community.

Great Lakes Museum.
1 Capel Street, Tuncurry.
Open Hours,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm.

02/10/2026

MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS.

The Museum is dedicated to the collecting and preservation of family and community history. The well known buildings of the museum has an extensive display of memorabilia each with their own interesting history.
THE SCHOOL HOUSE PIANO.
In the 1890's Donald McKinnon, a teacher at Coolongolook school, needed a piano for the school concerts. He approached his sisters at Glen Ora, Nabiac and they agreed to lend theirs. Donald's brother, Charlie and sister Annie, later Mrs Harry Miles, put the piano on their double oared rowing boat and rowed it down the Wallamba River to the cut and then up the Coolongolook River a distance of 36kms. It was then unloaded and taken to the school on a dray. After a successful concert the piano was returned to Nabiac, again by rowing boat. The piano, one of the first in the area was later stored for many years in the old house that once was the doctors surgery opposite the showground in Nabiac. With nothing more than a wipe down and 120 years later, the piano in 2007 once again underwent the arduous journey, but this time on a trailer to its destination at the school house in the grounds of the Great Lake Museum. The McKinnon descendants donated the piano, which made a timely addition to the museums authentic and excellent schoolhouse display.
THE ANCHORS.
The two anchors at the front of the museum has history with the local fishing industry. The anchor to the left of the entrance was caught up in the trawl net of "Tinker Bell" in 1976. Skippered by Chris Dilosa and operating in about 16 fathoms of water off Seven Mile Beach south of Forster. The anchor was believed to be from the brigantine "Mary Campbell," built in 1869 and lost in that area in April, 1889.
The anchor on the right was caught in the trawl net of "Katie Maree" in 1970, skippered by Col Bakes with deckhand Bob Brown. They were operating in 16 fathoms of water Southeast of Cape Hawke in two-metre swell. When the net could not be dislodged the heavy anchor was winched onboard and before the men could get it on deck, because of the big swell the anchor wrecked half the wheelhouse. The anchor, believed to be from the schooner "Samoa," a 160-ton vessel built in Sweden in 1866, owned by Goodlet and Smith, sawmillers of Coolongolook. The boat went down in the area on July,1893.
THE SAMOA: Whilst researching the South Coast Historical Society and the Burns, Philp Company history shows: On the 5th July,1893 the Samoa was in Kiola Bay near Ulladulla, partly loaded with a cargo of timber, when a heavy sea set in and parted her from the moorings. She was driven onto reef/rocks at Butlers Point becoming shipwrecked. Historical records indicate that in February,1920 the vessel was purchased at auction in Double Bay, Sydney by Burns, Philp & Co. an Australian shipping line and merchant powerhouse that dominated trade across the South Pacific. April,1925 the Samoa while carrying a full cargo of copra and general stores, went down in heavy seas between Nassau and the Ellise Group now Tovalu.
QUESTION: From what shipwrecked vessel did the anchor, standing proudly in the grounds of the museum, for 50 years and having history with the "Katie Maree" come from?

Great Lakes Museum
1 Capel Street,
Tuncurry.
Open Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm

05/09/2026

HISTORY OF NABIAC.
WILD FIG TREE

The area was originally included in the Australian Agricultural Company grant, but returned to Crown Land after a report by Sir Edward Parry as not being suitable for sheep. The first land grant in the Nabiac area was 115 acres on the northern side of the river, purchased by Henry Carmichael at a sale at Dungog July 1855. In 1857 William McClymont bought two blocks of land totaling 139 acres. After the Sir John Robertson Act of 1861, other settlers followed along Wollomba (Wallamba by local use) River and became known as the Cape Hawke Settlement. It was described as a small agricultural and timber cutting settlement and in 1890 the village of Wollomba was proclaimed.
POST OFFICE. In March 1869 the settlers along the Wallamba River sent a petition to the authorities asking for a post office. The request was that the Post Office be established near the crossing-place of the government road on the Wallamba River at Clarkson's crossing. A postal inspector made a comprehensive survey of the location, travelling the proposed route ensuring that it was suitable for heavily laden pack horses carrying mail bags. The result was the first Post Office opened in May 1870 and was called Cape Hawke Post Office. Charles Smith, teacher appointed to the two half time schools, the Upper Wallamba and the Lower Wallamba became the first Post Master. In 1880 the name was changed to Clarkson's Crossing and on June 1st 1894 was changed again to become Nabiac Post Office.
FIRST HOTEL. Henry and Annie Beisler came from Germany, living at Wang Wauk and Henry was working for John Booth the timber man. Henry, whilst riding noticed an outcrop of red soil around the area and thought it would be suitable for vineyards. In 1879 he took up the land, planted over 200 grapevines and named the selection "Fern Hill." Around 1882 the Beislers took out a w**e licence and opened a shop and later obtained a hotel licence. This being Nabiac's first hotel named the "Fern Hill Hotel."
FIRST SHOPS. In the earliest times on the river, the nearest shops were at Tinonee and settlers made the long journey there. The position improved somewhat when Albert Ehlefeldt began running his dealer's boat up the river, heralding his arrival by means of a bullock horn. Hugh Breckinridge also had a store boat on the river. The first store in Nabiac was commenced by James Bowers in connection with the Post Office. John Breckinridge's Burnside Store was run by James Miles between about 1882-1888 and in 1887 Charles Wooster's store was in operation running a cart in conjunction with the store.
HEALTH SERVICES. In the district the sick and injured were first nursed by the members of the community with some knowledge of healing. In 1903 William Parramore came to Nabiac as the first resident doctor and in 1910 the "Doctor's House" was erected in Showground Lane. The first hospital was opened in 1909 by Mrs Jane Bidner (Nurse Nixon) and in 1915 she also opened the new hospital which become the Wallamba District War Memorial Hospital. The certified nurse on the Wallamba was Louisa Jane Newell. During the pneumonic influenza epidemic in 1919, the school, School of Arts, Agricultural Hall and Maybury's place were all converted into emergency hospitals as Mrs Bidners hospital was overcrowded.

Great Lakes Museum
1 Capel Street,
Tuncurry.
Open Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm

20/08/2026

Cape Hawke Census 1885.
In 1885 the Legislative Assembly listed the farmers of the Cape Hawke District on the first census of the area. The following farmers in this article are by no means the total mentioned in the Census, but those will give an insight to the size of the holdings and the names of the pioneers.
James Hadley, mill worker for J W Breckenridge had taken up 100 acres named Bennett's Head running 6 horses, 40 head of cattle and 1 pig.
On the other side of the valley local School teacher George Underwood, had 100 acres called Sea View. He grazed 3 horses, 16 head of cattle and 2 pigs. Later his eldest son set up a dairy on the eastern slopes of Reservoir Hill, down from where Pioneer Estate is today. A killing depot (abattoir) was set up east of the present day golf clubhouse and there they retailed meat to the public and milk from the dairy. The family butcher shop later operated in Little Street.
Out on the Hawke between the "the two hillocks" as Captain Cook described, ran Dunn's Creek. Thomas Dunn occupied 100 acres but being a sick man not actively farming, merely occupying the place until Thomas McBride took it over in 1888.
Thomas McBride was in charge of the transport for the Hudson Brothers Mill at Neranie and lived at Tarbuck Brush. He had 10 acres and was carrying some 20 head of horses and 17 head of cattle. The horses, no doubt being used to transport the timber from up around Booti Booti to Smiths Lake. After 23 years of service he terminated his commitments to the company and moved to his property at Cape Hawke, known as Fair View, raising horses and cattle and specialising in different varieties of fruit.
Beside Dunn on the Hawke William Mulconey held 40 acres, William Frazer held 20 acres and Lachlan Frazer further down held 90 acres, dairy farming on the property known as Green Hills.
Pioneer pastoralists Robert and Thomas Dunn had holdings of 549 acres at Coomba Coomba running 70 horses, 420 head of cattle as well as sheep and pigs and 1220 acres at Burrah Beak holding 120 head of cattle, horses, sheep and pigs.
Mrs Jessie Steinmetz, Forster pub keeper and wife of Leonard, of Fresh Water Creek in Coomba Bay held a total of 200 acres carrying 4 horses and 30 head of cattle.
Herds of cattle may have varied from beef stock to dairy cattle on these properties supplying meat and milk for home consumption as well as being sold to supplement the family income. Pig herds were commercial propositions and eventually brought the formation of the Co-operative Bacon Factory in Wingham.
Horses were, of course the means of transport, riding, light sulky or buggy travel etc but farmers holding larger stock numbers would be used for heavy transport, haulage for ploughs and other farming implements.

Great Lakes Museum
1 Capel Street,
Tuncurry.
Open hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm.

06/08/2026

EARLY MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.

From the earliest days of settlement in the Cape Hawke district those needing urgent medical attention had an arduous journey to Taree. The early roads to Taree before the highway was built wound through the hills, down gullies, across creeks and steep climbs following the tracks of the bullock drays. The Manning River District Hospital was constructed in 1888 on the site in York Street. The building, of noble dimensions and striking architecture for an infant town was designed by architects Bolster and Hotson and built by John Rye.
The official opening was January 23 1889.
It opened with 16 beds, but from the outset was inadequate for the needs of the fast-developing valley and surrounding districts. During the 1930's extensions and renovations were made but it wasn't until 1947 that major reconstruction on the site got under way. While a major redevelopment phase for a new five storey building began in 1949, the original main hospital footprint and adjacent kitchen block remained in active use until they were torn down in 1955 to clear space for the completion of the new facilities. The new modern Manning River District Hospital opened to the public in 1957.
In 1957 renowned Australian illustrator and author, Pixie Harris, painted a series of 25 murals for the children's ward depicting scenes from stories including Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Robin Hood. Pixie and her brother Olaf a talented painter, attended the opening of the hospital in September 1957.
THE VICTORIA FEVER WARD was located in a quadrangle, surrounded by the new building of the Manning River District Hospital. Built in 1897 was named in honour of then, Australia's longest serving monarch on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee. Typically fever or isolation wards of the 1800's were built as separate structures from the main hospital so patients with contagious diseases could be isolated. During WWII the ward accommodated patients with various outbreaks of disease, from the army camps located in the Manning Valley. Tuberculosis was documented as being a prominent cause of death.
Last year 2025 with the major redevelopment of the now Manning Base Hospital the rusty old building of the Fever Ward was demolished.

Great Lakes Museum
1 Capel Street, Tuncurry.
Open hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm

23/07/2026

MUSEUM HISTORY
The Great Lakes Museum has a vast display of history, one such item is the flagpole being connected to the early Tuncurry fishing industry.
S.S JOHN GOLLAN.
Was built at Mill Creek at Tinonee on the Manning River from 1888-1889 by Captain Hector Gollan. She was launched at Tinonee on the 23rd March 1889 and by the 15th October 1889 the tug was completed with engines and boiler and was christened by Mrs G Clarke of Tinonee. The well known tug and pilot vessel safely guided many coastal ships across the difficult bar at Harrington into the Manning River for their journey up to Taree and Wingham to offload the produce. She was moored at the coal loader wharf at Harrington, close to the pilot station. In February 1902 Hector Gollan sold the vessel to Thomas Miles (T&H Miles partnership) who continued to operate her as a subsidised tug servicing the Manning River. On the death of Thomas Miles the new firm 'Henry Miles' and Sons bought out all interests of the tugs Forster, the John Gollan and Undaunted from Port Macquarie. On 28th December 1939, the Henry Miles was launched to take the place of the John Gollan and after over 48 years the tug was broken up at the Miles Shipyard at Forster. Originally when built the John Gollan had two masts, and earlier in her life the rear mast was removed by Haden's slipways at Taree. The mast was donated by the late Hector Haden and erected in Horace Dean Park in Tinonee, as the flagpole.
THE EL DORADO 11
In the 1940's Jimmy Nicholson purchased the forward mast of the John Gollan from Henry Miles and built it into his trawler the EL Dorado 1 Years later the mast was installed, along with the motor which was a 44hp. German B.U.B. diesel in the new boat EL Dorado 11. This was still the era before the ship to shore radios were introduced so sail was still carried in case of emergency.
This boat was built on the foreshore at Tuncurry by Jimmy Nicholson and his two sons Laurie and John in 1946. This was mainly a trap and line vessel, fishing for snapper and lobsters, but with the capability of towing a single pocket net for prawns. The trawler operated until 1977 when ill health forced the family to sell the boat. The new owner cut the mast off at the deck line (shortened by around 4 feet) and it was rescued by the Sutherland Family, and built into the Mildred Joyce Sutherland, the trawler operating out of Tuncurry. After a major refit of the trawler, the mast was donated by the Nicholson Family to the Wallamba District Historical Society where it now stands proudly in the grounds of the museum today, as the flagpole.
Reference: L Nicholson letters 1977.

Great Lakes Museum.
1 Capel Street,
Tuncurry.
Open hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm.

09/07/2026

WATER

The early settlers in Forster Tuncurry dug wells tapping the plentiful supply of underground water. The water was brackish and varied in quality from one well to another. Along the northern side of Tuncurry House a well was dug, carefully timbered down to prevent the loose sand falling and filling it up, reaching water about 14 feet. The top was timbered over and a "donkey tail" pump was installed, this being the Tuncurry water supply however like all swamp water it was cloudy in appearance, smelled and tasted "swampy". If the season was dry and the house tanks low what else did they have? There were several wells in Forster, the better known being Bennett's Head well at the Tanks which James Hadley and his boys dug. George Underwood had a well up near the golf course and Ehlefeldt's well down Little Street, from which pipes carried water out to the end of his two-tiered wharf and supplied ships with fresh water. These wells gave good service to supplying water to the settlement together with the settlers rain water tanks.
The house tanks at the beginning before corrugated galvanised iron were known as "ship tanks". Cubicle in shape and built of sheet steel and riveted down the corners, were able to hold 2.7 cubic metres or around 600 gallons of water. Set up on a wooden stand beside the dwelling with necessary guttering they caught rain water that ran from the tin roof, drained into the tank and although always a little salty the water was reasonably pure. John Wright often looked out to the west at the hills among which the Wallamba rose and talked about damming the stream up there and running water down to the village, but nothing came of it. But this scheme was seriously considered at one time, when it could be seen that the growth of the community was making some sort of water supply an urgent need. Samples were taken from the Wallamba above salt level and it was found to have a very high chloride level and a hardness of degree higher than desired for domestic supply. In 1927 when the Cape Hawke Rural Co-operative Dairy Society began to supply electricity, the establishment of spearpoints, tapping the fresh water under the sand became the best source of supply.

Great Lakes Museum
1 Capel Street,
Tuncurry.
Open Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm.

01/07/2026

BUNGWAHL.
The village of Bungwahl, at first known as Bungwahl Flats, owes its existence to Alexander Croll, who went there to set up a mill in 1870. With his good friends John Wright and John Rodgers they built a mill and a general store. Crolls business and influence dominated the area. In 1875 John Wright decided to set out on his own and came to Forster, saw the potential of the North Shore (Tuncurry.) John Rodgers commenced milling in Laurieton. The first school was built on Croll land near the church in 1870 and John Green was the first teacher. Another school operated close by Hudson's Sawmill at Neranie but a recession in timber milling around 1893 caused a fall in attendance and the school operated part time with Seal Rocks until its closure in 1908. At one time Bungwahl had two hotels. The Caledonia Hotel owned by George and Sarah Bramble, situated on the hill near the church, eventually burnt down. The Court House Hotel operated under various licensees over the years became a boarding house before being demolished by the then owner Richard Payne. The timber was then used to construct a shop directly opposite which was owned and run by the family of his brother, William Payne. The Police Station, lock up and stables was situated on Seal Rocks Road and closed during the 1920's. The Church of England church, built on Croll land, still stands on the hill overlooking the Myall Lake. The School of Arts was the cultural centre of the district, holding many dances, balls and concerts.
The general store, bakehouse and butchers was near the Post Office and all supplied by goods which came back to the town on "back loads" after timber had been delivered. The slaughter house supplying the butcher was at Huntley some miles away.
The town had three cemeteries. Neranie now a NSW Heritage Site, early Bungwahl Flat cemetery on the steep hill behind the Anglican Church and the present day cemetery on the Lakes Way west of the village.
The Blacksmith's shop was a very important business of the town. All the ironwork for the bullock teams had to be made or mended as well as making horseshoes and repairing farm equipment. Bungwahl had a racetrack and regular meetings were held, culminating in a dance at the School of Arts in the evening. Brumbies roamed the area and the Palmer brothers, Lincoln, Jim, Will and Tom caught many and these horses which were then broken in and trained for racing.
The Bungwahl football team, hard working men, timber getters, fishermen, bullock drivers and dairy hands played in the Wallamba League travelling to Forster Tuncurry, Purfleet, Krambach, Nabiac, Wootton and Bulahdelah. The team trained in a cow paddock and travelled to the games crowded on the back of Kelly Paynes truck.
Bungwahl was a hub of activity, the roads were very basic and the lake was the main avenue of transport. It was said by the locals that the district echoed with the sounds of bullock drivers shouting and cracking whips and the ring of the timber cutters axes.

Great Lakes Museum.
1 Capel Street, Tuncurry.
Open Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm.

11/06/2026

WHAT'S IN A NAME.
LINCOLN STREET - PALMER STREET.
Alfred Edwin Palmer 1889-1965 known as Lincoln, was a defining figure in the early development of Forster. Born in Bibby Harbour to Septimus and Lydia Palmer, daughter of William and Lydia Bramble, pioneers prominent in the Bungwahl area. One of 9 siblings Lincoln, along with his 3 brothers, James, William and Thomas (Uncle Tom) worked on the family cattle property at Kataway (Neranie) and caught and broke wild brumbies which they sold. The boys had bullock teams and pulled in timber to the mills, mainly Croll's at Bungwahl. After Alexander Croll died, Alexander Jr in early 1920's sold the mill site to Lincoln who also purchased 40 hectares of land behind the Bungwahl Church. The mill was later sold to William and Edward Thomas. Lincoln married Ida Lillias Gray daughter of Charles and Lillias Gray, on the 11th December 1916. Lincoln and Ida moved to Forster purchasing James and Christina Hadley's 100 acres and established a major dairy farm at Bennett's Head, a coastal landmark in Forster. Lincoln also purchased another large parcel of land known today as the Fairways incorporating Strand and Boundary Street. The family farm was a primary source of milk for the growing Forster Tuncurry settlement. During this era, the Palmer family also operated bullock teams, which were essential for transporting timber from the surrounding forests to the local mills. As Forster evolved from a rural outpost into a holiday destination the vast dairy tracts of the area were eventually sub-divided. These subdivisions facilitated the residential expansion of the town towards the coast. Alfred Edwin and Ida Lillias Palmer raised 9 children and are buried together at the Forster Cemetery.
As a matter of interest: In the 1950-60's the goat herd roaming Bennett's Head was a very popular tourist attraction, originally belonged to the Palmer's farm. The goats were eventually transferred to Regatta Island and then on to Tarbuck Bay.
THE "PALMER ROAD." The rugged track leading up to the headland from the main township of Forster was referred to by locals as Palmers Road before it was formally registered and modernised as Bennett's Head Road.

GREAT LAKES MUSEUM
1 Capel Street,
Tuncurry.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-1pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm.+

Address

1 Capel Street
Tuncurry, NSW
2428

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 1pm
Wednesday	10am - 1pm
Friday	10am - 1pm
Sunday	1pm - 3pm

Telephone

026554 6275

Website

http://www.greatlakesmuseum.com.au/

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