Activities Banner
Download Brochure

    Chamber News
Eden Activities

Art/Craft/Markets

Turning Point GalleryTurning Point Gallery
Wood turned from local timbers - many items from recycled fence posts. There is something for everyone. See our sign and please come in, you will be very surprised at what you may find. Burl Bowls, Vases, Wall Clocks, Lamp Bases and More Also Folk Art.
Phone: 02 6496 1523

Anna Warren Art StudioAnna Warren Art Studio
Local award-winning artist Anna Warren exhibits both nationally and internationally and has a range of her recent oil paintings on display at her gallery/studio. Colourful, contemporary, marine and lanscapes with a twist of surreal, express some of the energy and stillness felt in nature. Gallery open daily 9am to 5.30pm or by appointment.
Phone: 02 6496 1144
Alternate Phone: 02 6496 2103

Wharf Road PotteryWharf Road Pottery
Pottery and gallery showing all local work.
* Opening Hours: 10am to 5.30pm
* Opposite the Eden Fishermen's Club
* Resident potter
* Most items created and fired on the premises.
Phone: 02 6496 3577

Fishing

Fishing Information

Fishing Information

Eden is renowned for its fantastic fi shing with deep water inlets and bays, crystal clear rivers, golden stretches of shoreline, strategic rock locations and reef and off-shore fishing fields.

The following locations are just a few places recommended to try your luck with rod and reel:

Eden Wharf

Many a rewarding hour can be spent by the family fisher folk at Snug Cove wharves.

To the delight of all ages, yellowtail, mackerel and trevally will always keep mum and dad occupied baiting hooks and casting lines.

Pulpit Rocks at Green Cape

A great spot for land based, dedicated fishermen. Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day. Reached by a 40km scenic road (unsealed but well cared for), this location is well inside the boundaries of the Ben Boyd National Park.

Kiah River Mouth

Anglers using live nippers may catch luderick or whiting at this popular beach fishing spot.

Aslings Beach

On the outskirts of the township, Aslings Beach is ideal during late evening for salmon.

Other popular fishing holes are at Haycock and Peninsular beaches in Ben Boyd National Park to the North and Saltwater and Bittangabee beaches to the South.

Wonboyn Lake

Situated 30km south of Eden, Wonboyn Lake is a versatile lake system and is a mecca for dusky flathead. Moon phases and conditions vary the movement of fish so it's best to seek local advice from bait and tackle shops.

Baycliff, the ocean entrance to Wonboyn Lake, is a top spot for salmon and taylor.

Quarantine Bay

Quarantine Bay is well known for its superb multi-ramp boat launching facilities, but for the holidaymaker without a vessel, this picturesque location is well worth a visit.

Situated only 3km south of Eden, just off the Princes Highway, Quarantine Bay provides picnic and swimming facilities and the most spectacular outlook. Picnic tables have been placed beneath shady eucalypts adjacent to the fishing club.

Yachts and pleasure craft are moored in the deep waters of the bay, creating an idyllic atmosphere.

Fish Species Best Baits To Use
River Blackfish: Worms, Mudeyes, Beetles, Crickets.
Brown Trout: Worms, Lures, Flies, Shrimp, Mudeyes, Grasshoppers.
Estuary Perch: Minnows, Shrimp, Bass Yabbies, Lures. Bream best baits Sandworm, Bass Yabbies, Crab, Shrimp.
Whiting: Clams, Mussels, Bass Yabbies.
Flathead: Clams, Whitebait, Pilchards, Fish Fillets, Lures and Flies.
Snapper: Bonito, Pilchards, Squid, Fresh Fish Fillets.
Gummy Shark: Same as snapper.
Garfish: Sandworms, Clams, Maggots.
Silver Trevally: Whitebait, Clams, Squid, Fish Fillets, Bass Yabbies, Pilchards.
Australian Salmon: Whitebait, Pilchards, Lures.
Yellow Kingfish: Fresh Squid Trolled, Live Fish, Lures.
Snook: Lures, Pilchards or Garfish rigged on gang hooks.

Eden Fishing ChartersEden Fishing Charters
Reef and game fishing on board 'Argus 11', a brand new 34ft catamaran which supplies all bait and tackle. No fishing licence required. Trips depart from Eden Wharf, weather permitting. Whale watching tours and leisure cruising also available. 

Game fishing - 9 hour trips.  Reef fishing - 8 and 5 hour trips. 

Bookings can be made at the Eden Visitors' Centre.
Phone: 0447488887
Email: edenfishingcharters@bigpond.com.au
Website: www.edenfishingcharters.com.au

Freedom ChartersFreedom Charters
A 38ft Randell operating out of Eden Harbour on the South Coast of NSW. Surveyed for 12 passengers and 2 crew and well equipped with all modern conveniences. Reef Fishing:All year round catching snapper, morwong, perch, flathead, leatherjackets and kingfish. Deep Sea Fishing:Catching snapper, morwong, perch, Tasmanian trumpeter and shark Game Fishing: Catching marlin, tuna, broadbill and shark.
Phone: 02 6496 1209
Email: fishing@freedomcharters.com.au
Website: www.freedomcharters.com.au

Walks/Lookouts Etc

Light To Light Walk

Light To Light Walk

Green Cape Lightstation provides an important insight into local maritime history.

Take a full day walk or two hour stroll along the 30km Light to Light Walk between Boyd’s Tower and Green Cape Lightstation. Nearby Boyd’s Tower is historic Davidson Whaling Station where relics and plaques recapture the atmosphere of that bygone era.

Access to the northern section of the park is via Haycock Road which leaves the Princes Highway, 8km north of Eden. Access to the southern section is via Edrom Road, turning off the Princes Highway, 18km south of Eden.

Enquire at the Eden Visitors’ Centre for comprehensive information and maps.


The Pinnacles

Another favourite location in north Ben Boyd National Park.

The Pinnacles is a formation which dates back some 65 million years when the soft white sand and its cap of red clay laid the foundations for the subsequent feature which now exists. Viewers can appreciate the beauty of the formation from the opposing cliff.

Other popular sites within the park include Severs Beach and Haycock Point.


Family Fun

Bike HireBike Hire
Bicycle Hire is now available at the Eden Visitor Information Centre.
2 hour Hire - $15.00
4 hour Hire - $25.00
Day Hire - $39.00 (9.30am to 4.30pm)
For more information or to make a booking
Phone: 02 6496 1953
Email: bookings@edentourism.com.au

Eden Killer Whale Museum

Eden Killer Whale Museum

Eden's history is steeped in the tradition of the sea and undoubtedly the most colourful era was that of the shore-based whaling which extended from 1828 to 1930. The Eden Killer Whale Museum, established in 1931, is one of the oldest museums in NSW, and records for posterity this incredible battle between intrepid men in rowboats, armed only with hand harpoons and the leviathans of the sea.

The whalemen were, however, assisted by a pod of killer whales and the museum contains its unique story and the skeleton of the most famous of the killer whales "Old Tom".

The skeleton is the only one on public display in the southern hemisphere.

In addition to the extensive whaling items, the museum houses a variety of exhibits depicting a range of subjects to interest everyone. Our exhibitions are constantly changing and you can be sure to find something different every time you come back.

Contact the museum to find out more about our current exhibition programme, by phone or check the website.

Phone: 02 6496 2094
Email: promo@killerwhalemuseum.com.au
Website: www.killerwhalemuseum.com.au


Whale Watching

Whale Watching

Eden is one of the few places in the world that Humpback Whales feed on their migratory route. The waters are rich with krill and the whales quite often stop and feed.

Experience the unique sight of seeing these massive giants of the sea up close. Whale watching cruises operate from late September through to late November.

There are also some great locations around Eden which allow shore-based whale watching.

The Eden Killer Whale Museum sounds a siren when whales are in close proximity to vantage points around Twofold Bay.


Cat Balou CruisesCat Balou Cruises
Whale watching cruises depart daily from late September to late November. Twofold Bay cruises available all year. Cruises depart from Main Wharf, Port of Eden - direct access with no bar crossings. All cruises subject to weather and passenger numbers.
Phone: 0427 962 027

Beaches

Whether your preference is swimming, diving, surfing or sunbaking, Eden has a wealth of beaches suitable for all water sports.

Call into the Eden Visitors’ Centre for maps and advice on all these great beaches.


Asling BeachAsling Beach
Main surf beach which is patrolled during summer school holidays. Rock pools at the southern end.

Cocora Beach
A great, quiet beach for all the family, especially the very young.

Keef's Pinch
Secluded and sheltered beach near Quarantine Bay.

Boydtown Beach
Unspoilt beach on the doorstep of the Seahorse Inn.

Nullica
Open to Twofold Bay for surfing and around the mouth of Nullica River. Good spot for the kids.

Ben Boyd National Park (north)
Severs and Barmouth Beaches
Sheltered beaches ideal for swimming. Nearby Haycock Point great for scuba diving.

Ben Boyd National Park (south)

Saltwater
Excellent for the dedicated surfer.

Bittangabee
Ideal for swimming, snorkelling or sunbaking.

Eden Swimming PoolEden Swimming Pool
Olympic size pool for lap-swimmers.

Adventure

Bike HireBike Hire
Bicycle Hire is now available at the Eden Visitor Information Centre.
2 hour Hire - $15.00
4 hour Hire - $25.00
Day Hire - $39.00 (9.30am to 4.30pm)
For more information or to make a booking
Phone: 02 6496 1953
Email: bookings@edentourism.com.au

Ocean Wilderness Sea KayakingOcean Wilderness Sea Kayaking
Kayaking adventures from Eden, Merimbula, Pambula Beach and Lake Wonboyn. Half-Day Adventures Day trips from Eden Day trips from Wonboyn Three-hour Trips Over-Night Trips All trips include a half-hour instructional session and saftey brief.
Phone: 0405529214
Website: www.oceanwilderness.com.au

Eden Wharf

Eden Wharf

Visitors to Eden invariably find themselves drawn to Snug Cove where three wharves unite as a working port with trawlers regularly on the move bringing home the day’s catch for relay to the markets.

Watch out for pelicans, dolphins and seals. Enjoy a Twofold Bay cruise, bring the camera for some great snaps, enjoy a feast of fish and chips or just a friendly chat with the local fishermen.

Several hundred metres past the wharf is the Rotary Lookout and the Seamen’s Memorial Wall.

While the lookout affords panoramic views over Twofold Bay (and is also a great whale watching location), the Memorial Wall captures the true essence of this township.

The wall was constructed in 1978 following the sinking of the “Shiralee” and carries the names of seafarers and fi shermen who have lost their lives at sea.


Davidson's Whaling Station

Davidson's Whaling Station

Situated a few minutes drive from Boyd’s Tower is the historic Davidson Whaling Station.

The station was the longest operating shore-based whaling station in Australia and the last of its kind to stand.

Strategically placed plaques capture that bygone era where captured whales were brought to shore on the Kiah River. Several relics and the original cottage residence still stand amid delightful stretches of open garden – great spot for a family picnic.


Boyd's Tower

Boyd's Tower

Boyd’s Tower was originally constructed as a lighthouse to assist the steamships which once plied the coast.

Constructed at Red Point, the structure was designed to serve as a lighthouse, but unfortunately it was never used as intended, and spent its early years as a whale spotting tower.

Spotters whiled away the hours playing chess – a stone slab with chess board carved into its surface still stands behind the tower.

It was not until 1973 that the area was declared a National Park with the tower being added to the Park in 1976.

Now a popular tourist site, brochures, maps and directions are available from the Eden Visitors’ Centre.


Explore Our National Parks

Explore Our National Parks

Flanking Eden both to the north and the south, Ben Boyd National Park contains 10,790 hectares of coastal land offering striking coastal scenery from sandy surf beaches, rocky bays and ocean platforms, to quiet campgrounds, sheltered inlets and historic lighthouses.

Named after Benjamin Boyd, a 19th century entrepreneur who played an important part in the development of the area, the park provides a wealth of things to see and do.

Swim, barbecue or picnic along the water’s edge at a variety of locations.

Watch out for Eastern Grey kangaroos, White-bellied Sea Eagles or colourful forest birds.

Visit historic Boyd’s Tower on the southern headland of Twofold Bay, or Bittangabee ruins in picturesque Bittangabee Bay.


Light To Light Walk

Light To Light Walk

Green Cape Lightstation provides an important insight into local maritime history.

Take a full day walk or two hour stroll along the 30km Light to Light Walk between Boyd’s Tower and Green Cape Lightstation. Nearby Boyd’s Tower is historic Davidson Whaling Station where relics and plaques recapture the atmosphere of that bygone era.

Access to the northern section of the park is via Haycock Road which leaves the Princes Highway, 8km north of Eden. Access to the southern section is via Edrom Road, turning off the Princes Highway, 18km south of Eden.

Enquire at the Eden Visitors’ Centre for comprehensive information and maps.


The Pinnacles

Another favourite location in north Ben Boyd National Park.

The Pinnacles is a formation which dates back some 65 million years when the soft white sand and its cap of red clay laid the foundations for the subsequent feature which now exists. Viewers can appreciate the beauty of the formation from the opposing cliff.

Other popular sites within the park include Severs Beach and Haycock Point.


Beach & Surf

Ocean Wilderness Sea KayakingOcean Wilderness Sea Kayaking
Kayaking adventures from Eden, Merimbula, Pambula Beach and Lake Wonboyn. Half-Day Adventures Day trips from Eden Day trips from Wonboyn Three-hour Trips Over-Night Trips All trips include a half-hour instructional session and saftey brief.
Phone: 0405529214
Website: www.oceanwilderness.com.au

Beaches

Whether your preference is swimming, diving, surfing or sunbaking, Eden has a wealth of beaches suitable for all water sports.

Call into the Eden Visitors’ Centre for maps and advice on all these great beaches.


Asling BeachAsling Beach
Main surf beach which is patrolled during summer school holidays. Rock pools at the southern end.

Cocora Beach
A great, quiet beach for all the family, especially the very young.

Keef's Pinch
Secluded and sheltered beach near Quarantine Bay.

Boydtown Beach
Unspoilt beach on the doorstep of the Seahorse Inn.

Nullica
Open to Twofold Bay for surfing and around the mouth of Nullica River. Good spot for the kids.

Ben Boyd National Park (north)
Severs and Barmouth Beaches
Sheltered beaches ideal for swimming. Nearby Haycock Point great for scuba diving.

Ben Boyd National Park (south)

Saltwater
Excellent for the dedicated surfer.

Bittangabee
Ideal for swimming, snorkelling or sunbaking.

Eden Swimming PoolEden Swimming Pool
Olympic size pool for lap-swimmers.

General Info

EDEN WHALE FESTIVAL
 

Church Services

Aboriginal Evangelical Church
Sunday 11.00am Corner Moorhead and Clare Streets
Pastor: Ossie Cruse Phone: 6496 2186
Youth Chaplin: Tim Maher Phone: 6496 1757

St John’s, Anglican
Sunday 10.00am Calle Calle Street
Rev. Helen Cowgill Phone: 6496 1466

Catholic
Vigil Mass Saturday 6.00pm
Our Lady Star of the Sea, Calle Calle Street
Priest: Father Peter Gannon Phone: 6495 1880
Sisters of St Joseph Convent Phone: 6496 3367

Church of Christ Sunday 6.00pm
RSL Hall, Corner Bass and Calle Calle Streets
Pastor: Brian Dixon Phone: 6496 3367

Uniting Traditional Sunday 9.30am
St George’s, Chandos Street
Pastor: Judith Dalton Phone: 6496 2501


SERVICE DIRECTORY

Emergency Services 000
Eden Ambulance 13 12 33
Pambula Hospital 6495 6002
Bega Hospital 6492 9111
Dental Surgery 6496 4222
Curalo Medical Centre 6496 3322
Police 6496 1444
Water Police 6496 0699
Fire 6496 1506
NRMA Road Service 6496 1529
Taxi 6496 1180

Picnic spots around Town:

Rotary Park Lookout
Drive along Imlay Street, past the wharf to the road’s end. Beautiful views of Edrom
Lodge. Picnic tables, toilets, barbeque and playground.

Apex Park
Bottom of Mitchell Street. Lovely picnic area with electric barbeques.

George Bass Park
On the eastern side of Cocora Street. This picnic spot overlooks “Eagles Claw”,
electric barbeques and picnic tables.

Cocora Beach Park
Picnic area, free gas barbeque, playground and great views.

Aslings Beach
Several kilometres of carefree beach strolling along the northern area of
Twofold Bay.


Picnic Spots further out

Scrubby Creek
Set amongst native bushland adjacent to the Princes Highway, 15 minutes south of
Eden. Toilets, water and barbeque.

Burrawang
An attractive forest setting at the base of Mount Imlay, an ideal spot for a picnic
before venturing up the summit. Water and barbeques available.

Ludwigs Creek
Adjacent to a small stream and forms part of the Wallagaraugh Forest. Has toilet
and barbeque.

Maxwells Flora Reserve
A beautiful place for a lovely picnic with fine examples of Lilli Pilli and Pinkwood
rainforest. Water, barbeques and toilets.

Newtons Crossing
Fireplaces, tables, campsites and fresh running water. Situated at the junction of
the Wallagaraugh River and Imlay Creek.

Imlay Road Rest Area
Located on the banks of Imlay Creek,facilities include toilets and fresh water.
A short walk downstream to a good swimming hole.


History

A Brief History of Eden

A particularly beautiful area of the NSW Far South Coast originally settled by whalers and now a fishing port and a popular, but relatively undeveloped, holiday resort town. Eden, located 476km south of Sydney, is the last town of any significance before crossing the border into north eastern Victoria. With a population of just over 3,000, it is situated 50m above sea level upon undulating land on a point that juts out into Twofold Bay. This idyllic coastal town is bounded to the north and south by National Park and by woodland to the West.

It is thought the area was inhabited by the Thawa Aborigines prior to white settlement. George Bass noted Twofold Bay in December 1797 as he traveled south down the NSW coast. On his return in early 1798 he entered the Bay he named Snug Cove for the security to shipping it afforded. It is here that the Eden Wharf now stands.

Later in 1798 Bass set off again for Van Diemen’s Land with Matthew Flinders, this time making a detailed and accurate survey of Twofold Bay. It was during this survey that Bass and Flinders made contact with local Aborigines. Flinders offered them some biscuits and received some fat (probably whale fat) in return. After tasting it Flinders recorded that while ‘watching an opportunity to spit it out when he should not be looking, I perceived him doing precisely the same thing with our biscuit’.

The early history of the Bay is closely tied to the whaling industry and it is in recognition of this that the inaugural Eden Whale Festival was held in October 1996. The first whales were killed as early as 1791. The migration of these animals (mostly Right Whales) to and from the Antarctic waters took them past Twofold Bay between May and November of each year.

Commercial exploitation commenced in the early years of the 19th Century when whaling ships took shelter in the Bay from inclement weather, subsequently using it as a base for operations.

The first white settlement was made by John Raine in 1828 when he established the first shore whaling station on mainland Australia.

In the early 1830’s the three Imlay Brothers followed suit, training local aborigines as whalemen. The Brothers, major pioneers of and landowners in the district, moved to Australia from Scotland between 1829 and 1833. Peter, the oldest and second to arrive, first visited Twofold Bay around 1833 and decided to live there. Followed by George they soon turned to cattle rearing, which they shipped to Tasmania, South Australia and, later, New Zealand. They erected Eden’s first, albeit modest, building, a small slab and bark hut at Snug Cove. Unfortunately the depression of the 1840’s broke the family financially. The Walker Brothers, merchants of Sydney, foreclosed on the Imlays’ and acquired the land.

A particular group of killer whales visited the area each year, using the south of the Bay as their base for the season. Locals, recognising them by distinctive markings, assigned them individual names and found them to be a great help in hunting and bringing whales into the Bay.

The killer whales hunted in packs like wild dogs, driving the whales into shallow water, preventing their escape to deeper waters and attempting to frustrate their attempts to take in air. Apparently the killer whales, if they detected whales about, would travel to the whaling station, make a great deal of noise, wait for the boats to launch and then lead them to the whales.

The combination increased the certainty of a kill, ensuring a meal for the killer whales. They fed almost exclusively on the lips and tongue of the whales, leaving the blubber etc for the whalers.

Eden was named after the British Secretary for the Colonies, Baron Auckland, whose family name was Eden. Although permission was given for the establishment of a township at Twofold Bay in 1834 the town was not laid out until 1843.

Apart from whaling, which died off in the late 1920’s, wattlebark (a source of tannin) and, to a lesser extent, dairying and brick making, were the main industries in the early days of white settlement.

The exploitation of timber, now a principal source of income for the town, came to prominence at the outset of the 20th Century due to the demand for railway sleepers. These were shipped to China from Snug Cove and, later, to Germany and New Zealand as well as being used locally.

Commercial fishing, now another staple industry for the township, had been carried on for many years but it was not until tuna canning commenced in 1949 that business took off.


Benjamin Boyd

Benjamin Boyd

“Benjamin Boyd (1801 - 1851), by unknown artist, courtesy of Herald & Weekly Times Portrait Collection, State Library of Victoria. H38849/448.”

Benjamin Boyd, born on the 21st August 1801 in London, was the second son of Janet and Edward Boyd, a London Merchant of Merton Hall, Wigton Shire, Scotland. Boyd spent his early years in Scotland near the small town of Newton Stewart.

In 1825 Benjamin Boyd became a member of the London Stock Exchange where for 15 years followed shipping and commercial opportunities available in the State.

On the 8th October 1840, Boyd addressed a letter to Lord John Russell stating that he had recently dispatched a vessel (the Seahorse Paddle Steamer) for the purpose of trading in Australian waters. He also stated that he intended to send other vessels and asked for certain privileges in the connection with the purchase of land at various ports he intended to establish. He received a guarded reply promising assistance, but pointing out that land could not be sold to an individual to the “exclusion or disadvantage of the public”.

Boyd’s bold response to this was to float the “Royal Bank of Australia” in hopes it would help finance his operations. The banks total nominal capital was worth around one million pounds with Boyd gaining a raised venture capital of approximately 200,000 pounds. Boyd also formed the “Australian Wool Company” within which 15,000 pounds of its in debentures were deposited with the Royal Bank.

In 1841, backed by the “Royal Bank of Australia”, accompanied by brother James Boyd, artist and friend Oswald Brierly and a crew of 14, Boyd set sail for Sydney aboard his luxury schooner the “Wanderer”, a unit of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Boyd arrived in Sydney on July 18, 1842.

Boyd lost no time launching his various enterprises and investing his own and his banks money. He quickly put the paddle steamer “Seahorse” into operation as he believed steamships were required to help serve the needs of the South Coast and that settlers’ were reliant upon sea travel. The “Seahorse” began service between Sydney, Melbourne and Launceston.

In December 1842, during a voyage from Sydney to Melbourne, Boyd and his party remained in Twofold Bay while the paddle steamer “Seahorse” returned to Sydney for repairs to a damaged piston. It was during this short stop over that Boyd recognised Twofold Bay’s potential and immediately set to work planning a self sufficient township.

Within 2 years of his arrival, Boyd had become one of the largest land holders in the colony with nearly 2.5 million acres in the Riverina and Monaro regions upon which grazed 158,000 sheep and 21,000 head of cattle.

Boyd decided that Twofold Bay would serve as the coastal base for his enterprises through which he could ship livestock, wool and tallow from the Monaro Hinterland.

In 1843 constructions of Boydtown commenced, which involved the building of a 300 foot long jetty, a lighthouse, a church, convenience stores, brick houses and an Elizabethan style Hotel. Boyd hoped that one day Boydtown would become the Capital of Australia.

Shore whaling and the related oil extraction process had been established in Twofold Bay for approximately 15 years, Boyd seeing potential in this added both of these to his list of enterprises, undertaking the settlement of East Boyd for his purpose and building a salting and boiling down works at Boydtown.

Boyd was a firm believer in low wages for his employees and due to this had difficulty finding recruits for his various enterprises. His solution was to import natives from the Pacific Islands in 1847 as a source of cheap labour. However due to objections from liberals, humanitarians, and the Australian labourers, who saw a threat to their own interest, most of the Islanders had returned home by the end of the year.

The extensive expenditures required for establishing Boydtown soon began to weigh heavily against Boyd’s assets. He had overreached himself with his investments and to make matters worse, the “Seahorse” had been irreparably damaged after striking a rock in 1843 and his other business ventures had been adversely affected by drought and the depression of the 1840’s.

By 1847 the financial situation was so serious that Boyd was removed from the control of the enterprise and by 1849 the liquidators were called in and operations in Twofold Bay ceased.

The enterprise had closed with most of the buildings (Seahorse Inn and Church) incomplete; Boyd’s whole colonial endeavour a fairly spectacular failure. On October 26, 1849 Boyd set sail on the “Wanderer” and left Sydney harbour unnoticed. In a parting legacy he writes to an associate, a parting legacy to the colony in which I had hoped for so much, and although in part succeeded, yet on the main failed through little of my own fault.

Boyd left Australia to re-establish his fortune in the Californian Goldfields, but failed. Moving on, Boyd explored various islands of the Solomon group, with the idea of establishing a Papuan Republic.

On October 15,1851, accompanied by a native he went ashore on San Cristobal Island to shoot game, and disappeared.

An investigation found only a deserted row boat, a gun and numerous footprints indicating a struggle. In 1854, after rumours circulated that Boyd was still alive and being held prisoner on the Island, an expedition was sent to make further enquiries, but they proved to be fruitless and to this day nothing has ever been proven as to his fate.

One month after Boyd disappeared, on November 13, 1851 the “Wanderer” was wrecked in a gale off Port Macquarie. One of the ships crewman noted, It seemed as though an evil fortune brooded over the yacht; and in one short month after the death of him whose pride she had been ............ the wanderings of the “Wanderer” were at an end.


The Seahorse Inn

The Seahorse Inn

The principal relic of Boyd’s adventures is the Seahorse Inn. It began construction in 1843 however, symbolic of Boydtown itself the Hotel was built of convict labour and was never fully completed.

It was abandoned in 1849 and for almost an entire century was left vacant, reduced to a mere shell due to vandalism and deterioration.

In 1936 it was purchased by the Whiter brothers who renovated it and later added a second story.

In 1975 Bruce Lyon purchased the Seahorse Inn and continued to restore it throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s.

In 2002 he closed the Inn down and spent a considerable amount of time renovating and refurbishing the old Hotel. He added the Brassiere and Conference rooms onto the original building and transformed it into the beautiful Hotel it is today, so that it could once again stand proudly on the shores of Twofold Bay.

The foundation of the Inn was made of sandstone from Pyrmont in Sydney, lugged from the shore to the site by bullock wagon. The rest of the Hotel was constructed of local stone, thousands of red brick (from clay quarried nearby) and pit sawn hardwood, with cedar and oak fittings from England.

Perched on a ridge near the Inn are the ruins of the old church. The church was built complete with shingled roof, however the bell tower and floor was never finished. It is recorded that the roof of the church was burnt in the fire of 1926. The church was never consecrated or used.


Boyd's Tower

Boyd's Tower

Boyd’s Tower built on the headland south of Twofold Bay was built between 1846 and 1848. It was intended as a lighthouse and a lookout for whales.

Like most things associated with Boyd, it was never fully completed and permission for its use as a lighthouse was refused, due to the fact that Boyd wanted to use the lighthouse for his ships only. It did however serve as a great whale spotting site, giving Boyd an edge over his competitors.

The walls and the stone work at the crest of the tower were finished, however lightening has dislodged some of the latter.

The letters B-O-Y-D are clearly chiselled into the stones forming the apex of the tower. The woodwork of the internal staircase has been destroyed.

The tower was designed by Oswald Brierly, an English artist and student of Naval Architecture, who accompanied Ben Boyd over to Australia.


Alexander Davidson

Alexander Davidson

Alexander Davidson, together with his wife Jane and seven young children, arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1842, and the following year moved from Miller’s Point Sydney, to Boydtown, in answer to an advertisement calling for carpenters and joiners to work on the Seahorse Inn.

After Boyd’s departure, Alexander worked at Inn Keeping and gold mining before the family commenced what was to become one of the most fascinating chapters in Australian maritime history.

With boats purchased from George Barclay and Solomon Solomons along with other equipment from Boyd, Alexander and his sons commenced shore based whaling by re-building an old station and try works. Located at the mouth of the Kiah inlet, they operated over four generations, eventually becoming the oldest continually run shore-based whaling station in Australia.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Twofold Bay whaling story, however, was the role played by pods of killer whales. From at least 1843 until 1930, these amazing creatures returned annually to Leather Jacket Bay and played their unique part in the whale chases of the area. Indeed, Brierly noted the presence of the killers, as they became known, in his 1843 journals.

The killers played an instrumental role in the long survival of the Davidson Station. After herding migrating whales into the Bay, these creatures then combined with the whalers to attack the prey, snapping at their body and throwing themselves over the whale’s blowhole until they finally succumbed to what was almost always an inevitable result. They were even known to alert the whalers to their quarry’s presence by flop tailing and splashing in the Bay in front of the Station. They were rewarded for their assistance with lips and tongues after the whalers had killed the prey.

The Sydney Mail reported on this strange relationship in 1903, commenting:
When a whale is passing North it is driven into Twofold Bay by whales known as the killers ..... When the whales succeed in driving the whale into the Bay they leave off the attack and wait for the whale boats to come. Any attempt the whale makes to go out to sea the killers resent with all energy by snapping pieces out of it ... all the time the killers are at work

The intelligence of the killer whales was aptly demonstrated by “Tom” in 1926 following the drowning death of Jack Davidson and two of his children. Despite a search that continued for more than a week, Jack’s body remained missing, but all the time “Tom” continued to swim around the area where their boat had capsized. It was there that the body was eventually found.

Shore-based whaling at Twofold Bay had finally ended by 1930, just over a hundred years after it commenced. The final farewell to the unique relationship between whalers and killer came in September 1930 when the last of the pod “Old Tom” was found dead in the Bay. He was eventually towed ashore, his skeleton cleaned and mounted and placed on public display. This saw the birth of the Eden Killer Whale Museum and “Tom” remains one of the most popular exhibits on show even today.


Eden Killer Whale Museum

Eden Killer Whale Museum

Eden's history is steeped in the tradition of the sea and undoubtedly the most colourful era was that of the shore-based whaling which extended from 1828 to 1930. The Eden Killer Whale Museum, established in 1931, is one of the oldest museums in NSW, and records for posterity this incredible battle between intrepid men in rowboats, armed only with hand harpoons and the leviathans of the sea.

The whalemen were, however, assisted by a pod of killer whales and the museum contains its unique story and the skeleton of the most famous of the killer whales "Old Tom".

The skeleton is the only one on public display in the southern hemisphere.

In addition to the extensive whaling items, the museum houses a variety of exhibits depicting a range of subjects to interest everyone. Our exhibitions are constantly changing and you can be sure to find something different every time you come back.

Contact the museum to find out more about our current exhibition programme, by phone or check the website.

Phone: 02 6496 2094
Email: promo@killerwhalemuseum.com.au
Website: www.killerwhalemuseum.com.au


Whale Watching

Whale Watching

Eden is one of the few places in the world that Humpback Whales feed on their migratory route. The waters are rich with krill and the whales quite often stop and feed.

Experience the unique sight of seeing these massive giants of the sea up close. Whale watching cruises operate from late September through to late November.

There are also some great locations around Eden which allow shore-based whale watching.

The Eden Killer Whale Museum sounds a siren when whales are in close proximity to vantage points around Twofold Bay.


Davidson's Whaling Station

Davidson's Whaling Station

Situated a few minutes drive from Boyd’s Tower is the historic Davidson Whaling Station.

The station was the longest operating shore-based whaling station in Australia and the last of its kind to stand.

Strategically placed plaques capture that bygone era where captured whales were brought to shore on the Kiah River. Several relics and the original cottage residence still stand amid delightful stretches of open garden – great spot for a family picnic.


Explore Our National Parks

Explore Our National Parks

Flanking Eden both to the north and the south, Ben Boyd National Park contains 10,790 hectares of coastal land offering striking coastal scenery from sandy surf beaches, rocky bays and ocean platforms, to quiet campgrounds, sheltered inlets and historic lighthouses.

Named after Benjamin Boyd, a 19th century entrepreneur who played an important part in the development of the area, the park provides a wealth of things to see and do.

Swim, barbecue or picnic along the water’s edge at a variety of locations.

Watch out for Eastern Grey kangaroos, White-bellied Sea Eagles or colourful forest birds.

Visit historic Boyd’s Tower on the southern headland of Twofold Bay, or Bittangabee ruins in picturesque Bittangabee Bay.


 

Site by Eden Stays