Lake Macquarie History

Secret Bay, Balmoral

Some earlier maps show Balmoral as being named Secret Bay, the same name as the bay it faces. A version of the origin of this name was given in the Newcastle Morning Herald on the 28th February 1964 by two old timers of Lake Macquarie Shire Council, Cr. Jon Pendlebury (President) and Cr. Harry Taylor entitled ‘Life in the raw at Secret Bay’. The area used by the former airbase at Rathmines once contained a secret that is no longer a secret. The point at Rathmines was once known as Secret Bay, and then only to a privileged few. The reason was that about 40 years ago, fisherman from other parts of the lake went there for unauthorised netting and other activity. It was explained that the point had to be a secret spot in those days, because a number of fishermen often worked without the benefit of adequate clothing.

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