Batemans Bay History
The history of Batemans Bay and the Clyde River
Named after Nathanial Bateman in 1770 by Captain James Cook, Batemans Bay prospered from timber harvesting and oyster farming.
It was 1770 when Captain James Cook named Batemans Bay. In 1821 Lt Johnson visited Batemans Bay with Hamilton Hume and Major Mitchell, and it was he who named the Clyde River. He also named Snapper island after his vessel Snapper. The islands at the mouth were named by Thomas Hoddle, Government Surveyor, as the Toll House and the Toll Gate now known as The Tollgates.
However more permanent development of the area occurred in the 1860’s with sawmilling and farming. During the days of the early settlers, sawmills dotted the coast from Batemans Bay to Narooma with Perry’s Mill of Batemans Bay one of the first and largest. Timber was shipped from the mouth of the Clyde River and Nelligen wharf became the home of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company.
Oyster farming was a significant commercial operation in Batemans Bay’s history and it is still an important industry to the region today. Local oysters of the highest quality are supplied to the discerning markets of Sydney and Melbourne.
While we now only have to wait a few minutes for the Batemans Bay Bridge to open and close twice a day, spare a thought for the visitors and locals using punts in the early days to cross the river at Batemans Bay and Nelligen.
The Old Courthouse Museum, located at Museum Place, Batemans Bay, has a large collection of artefacts and historical information on the Batemans Bay and Clyde River areas, and is well worth a visit. The Museum is open Tuesday and Thursday 12-3pm and Sunday mornings 9am-noon, other times by arrangement.
