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1. Eraring  foreshore 1940

2. Lambert's property looking back towards Dr. Leighton Jones' monkey cages

3. Eraring School

Lieutenant Percy Simpson was officially Granted two thousand acres of land at Eraring in April of 1838. This had followed a lengthy wait while paperwork was approved as it was in lieu of selected land that had been mistakenly granted to another settler. In addition, two thousand acres at 'Dory Creek' -  commencing at the southern extreme of the Western boundary line at 'Dory Creek' was granted by Governor Brisbane on 20 September 1825. (1) This was Simpson's 'Kourumbung grant.  Percy Simpson was appointed Police Magistrate at Patrick Plains in 1832, and with financial difficulties and a large family to support, sold his 2,000 acres at Eraring. He had been dissatisfied with the land, considering it barren scrub lacking adequate water.

'Newport

Mr. Smart will sell by auction at his rooms in George street Sydney on Thursday 30th July at Twelve o'clock

A few Allotments of the above Township

The Township of Newport, forming part of the Bourke Estate, will be found, on reference to the map, the midway station between the Brisbane Water and the Maitland or Newcastle districts having the Hawkesbury and the Wollombi Ranges in the west and the extensive and picturesque Lake Macquarie with its fertile banks and the sea on the east.

Among the many natural advantages of its position for which it was selected as a grant by one of the early commandants, who was also an eminent surveyor or engineer, the following may be enumerated -

Newport is contiguous to that part of the coast known as Reid's Mistake or Lake Macquarie and the resort  of fishing boats from Sydney and Newcastle, the entrance at certain seasons of the year admitting also vessels of larger tonnage. The borders of this lake are famed for the inexhaustible source of investigation which the numerous specimens of minerals and the continuation of the coal strata from Newcastle have so repeatedly presented to the geologist and the lover of science.

Newport has in  its vicinity forests of the best Colonial timber especially cedar of the finest quality quantities of which have been for years cut in the district and the trade is at this time carried on it its full vigor.

The selection of Newport as a township has been greatly approved of by Colonists of experience as well a engineers and surveyors, while by several of the first families of the Hunters River districts it is looked forward to with some degree of expectation as the only means of relieving them from the serious inconvenience of a long and perilous night voyage by steam, during the more tempestuous seasons of the year. Added to its mid way position between the above important districts the road is with a few immaterial exceptions not only direct but level. The distance of the Township is computed by the government and private surveyors to be only about 25 miles from Maitland or Newcastle and East Gosford, the township of Brisbane Water, from which  place the steamer at present running makes the trip to Sydney in three or four hours; by means of which communication it is evident not only residents on the Hunter but their flocks and herds will be enabled to travel with ease certainly and dispatch so that sales will be effected without subjecting stockholders to the dearth and high cost of agistment, or grazing round Sydney and the more serious losses of delays of the present circuitous routes from those districts to the metropolis.

The scenery of the lakes which front Newport is considered by travellers who have visited them to resemble some of the most beautiful on the Continent of Europe and requiring only the industry of man to perfect such resemblance, The soil of the township and the adjacent lands will vie in comparison with any that can be selected from the most alluvial parts of the Colony and favored as this spot is with coast rains at all seasons as well a s abundant natural supplies of water, Newport will assuredly be found a place of comfort and repose for the traveller to and from the Hunter - a delightful and healthy retreat for the invalid and to the capitalist of every description as well as the emigrant of industry and enterprise a township adapted by nature and especially its relative position between Sydney and the Hunter for the immediate and unlimited employment of capital talent and energy.'(4)

"It is a great advantage to the inhabitants of these districts, that the new road from Maitland to Gosford, discovered by Mr. W.H. Wells, proves so excellent a one. It avoids the hilly range of Wyee, and the Sugar Loaf mountain, and is also shorter than the road lately in use. It is, our readers will observe, upon this new road that the town of Newport is situated, having Lake Macquarie on the one side and the road on the other. A bridge has been constructed, nearly a furlong in length, across a small arm of the lake; by crossing which, and also by means of a punt at Dora Creek, a saving of eight miles will be effected.
The public will further hear with interest, that the entrance from the sea to Lake Macquarie, an entrance which is commonly called “Reid’s Mistake,” is discovered to be navigable. An inlet for shipping is thus given into a most safe and beautiful harbour, 300 miles in circumference; the only located spot of which, at present, is the aforesaid town of Newport. It seems obvious that the settlers on Jerry’s Plains will, instead of going out of their way to Newcastle or Maitland, bring down their wool to Newport direct, as shipping can lie within a cable’s length of the shore.
The Kangaroo will shortly be engaged to perform a trip from Sydney to Newport, passing through the Strait called “Reid’s Mistake;” and affording the passengers a view, almost for the first time since the existence of the colony, of Lake Macquarie in its entire beauty. We shall hope to learn that these new project, having in their end so important a benefit, are prospering in a manner which they so well deserve.

By 1841 an inn was operating at Newport. Innkeeper William Thomas Mitchell was married to Mrs. Jane Sherlock on the 10th August that year by visiting Minister the Reverend Edward Rogers. (7) It seems Mrs. Sherlock's husband, a shingle splitter, had been drowned on the lake the previous June when out on a pleasure cruise with three others. He was at the time building the hotel together with Mr. Mitchell. Perhaps it was this inn that a Mr. Ainsworth was selling liquor from later(5) This inn was closed down when Ainsworth was found guilty of selling liquor without waiting for his license to be approved. The Police Magistrate at Brisbane Water seized all the liquors he had in stock effectively closing him down. There was said to be a need for an Inn for travellers apparently often passed that way on the way between Maitland and Brisbane Water.

In October 1841 the Monitor reported that a school house was about to be built at Newport. The funds were being raised by subscription with the government to contribute towards its support an equal sum.

In July 1841 the Australian once again reported on the potential of Lake Macquarie – 'We are informed that a vessel has at length arrived from Lake Macquarie with coals. This is an occurrence of some interest, as it establishes the fact of the entrance to the Lake (commonly called Reid’s Mistake) being navigable. The Ann, of Newport (the vessel in which the coals arrived), is one of twenty tons burden, but it is said that vessels of much greater size can effect an entrance. If such be the case, it really is a most important circumstance. Lake Macquarie is of no mean extent. It might, indeed, from its dimensions, be almost, with propriety, be termed a sea; whilst, not the extreme beauty of its scenery merely, but the remarkable fertility of the land on its banks, entitles it to the attention of every new settler. Were small farms laid out on its margin, being, as it is, upwards of three hundred miles in circumference, we are certain they would be bought up with avidity, and to the great advantage of the Colonial exchequer. Every one knows at what a high rate small patches of land sell, having frontage to the Hawkesbury, and that solely on account of their possessing the advantage of water carriage to Sydney. Nor is the fertility of its banks the only recommendation of this fine Lake. Shingle wood, in many parts, abounds; whilst, at the head of Dora Creek (the southern boundary of the Newport property)’ timber of the more valuable kinds, but particularly cedar, is to be met with in abundance. Aware of the richness of the land on this fine creek, which is about five hundred feet wide, Government has lately withdrawn from sale a section on its south bank, to some parties well known, by the name of Stingaree Point; but the extensive estates in the immediate neighbourhood – those of Mrs. Hely, Mr. Campbell, and John Terry Hughes, Esq. – have all of them more than an average proportion of good soil. Much good land, too, is not yet taken up. It is a pity these estates are not apportioned to small and industrious settlers, who would make them far more availably useful than they at present are, as mere fields for grazing. We trust the adjacent Crown Lands will be put up in small portions, within the means of the little industrious settler to purchase, and we are much mistaken if the result be not of the most flattering description.'

In 1842 the Sydney Herald reported favourably once again noting that the area was at length beginning to develop its true resources although slowly owing to poor financial times. They noted that a fair trade had sprung up in the shingle business.

'  The entrance of the lake is still believed to be un - navigable, notwithstanding shingles being are being sent from the place, both to Newcastle and Sydney. Time however must eventually remove this prejudice, and as shingle wood (which is getting so scarce in other quarters) is to be had on the Lake without carting, (in almost any quantity), a considerable trade may be expected to arise eventually. One or two active, stirring folk, would do well in this line. They might get their shingles into Sydney market several shillings a thousand cheaper than they can be had elsewhere, where the ground is more beaten.  Beautiful little farms are springing up on the banks of the Lake, and the small settlers seem, on the whole, pleased with their prospects. There would be plenty to do here for a steamer, to run between Newport and the entrance. There is a sailing vessel for the purpose, but a small steamer would answer better. It is said, the East Gosford Packet is to be put on for this place, to run regularly between it and Sydney. She would do well enough certainly, but several such will be wanted before long. Nothing can exceed the great beauty of the scenery in this neighbourhood, and should bathing-houses be erected, in connexion with a good inn, it would be a delightful resort for the good folk of Maitland, and that neighbourhood

Despite these glowing reports this fledgling township on the edge of the lake, like George Weller's proposed township 'Hampton' on the banks of Cockle Creek, was doomed to failure. A line of road connecting Sydney with the Hunter Valley favoured by Percy Simpson failed to eventuate and settlers from the upper Valley did not use Newport to ship their wool. With the entire colony suffering under the circumstances of the depression of the 1840's, the Newport settlement failed entirely. Settlers in the district were not immune to the effects of the depression and by 1845 Alfred Holden was undergoing insolvency proceedings.(8)

A few settlers remained in the district making their living by cattle, agriculture or fishing - farmer John Minton, Henry Worley, constable and sheep farmer and Edward James also a sheep farmer. (9) James Bradford ran cattle at Newport in 1846. Settlers travelled by water, horse and dray. Market gardens were planted and orchards established but the area remained mostly undeveloped.