Lake Macquarie History

Lake Macquarie Races

Poem about the regattas held at Speers Point Park

Published in the Wallsend & Plattsburg Sun 24/1/1891

photo: horse-drawn bus taking passengers to speers point 

park.








Photograph from our collection: Horse drawn omnibus which often took picnic parties from Newcastle to Speers Point








As the twenty-sixth - that's Monday first
Both man and beast will seem to burst,
In trying who shall be the first
To have the pick of places.
You.see vehicles there of every kind,
Crammed full inside, and some behind,
With old and young of every kind,
For to enjoy the races.

You'll see each one on lake or land,
When taking up their daily stand,
Both old and young - yes, everyone -
Will all have smiling faces.
For the next comers they do not care,
As they too long did tarry;
That being the case got second place
That day at Lake Macquarie.

Now, if the weather does prove fine,
There's very few will stay behind,
Except invalids - lame or blind,
While a vehicle them will carry:
And, in trying who shall reach there first,
The horses they will fare the worst -
Loaded with passengers and dust -
All bound for Lake Macquarie.

And let it be fairly understood.,
From here to there the road is good,
And travel there, whoever should,
They'll find few rutty places.
As the Wallsend Council took good care
All needful places to repair,
In case of capsize anywhere,
From here unto the races.

If I but only knew the name
Of boat or man that's in the game,
I willingly would disclose the same,
With title of their places.
For the committee they have worked right well,
As Monday's gathering it will tell,
At Macquarie's shores they're bound to swell
With thousands at the races.

So here's long live their annual day,
Their regatta too in every way,
Till everyone is made to say
At home they will not tarry;
But go and see the great contest,
Which boat or man they count the best,
And help to cheer among the rest,
That day at Lake Macquarie.

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