Stockton
The suburb of Stockton is located across the harbour, opposite Newcastle city. The area is an affordable residential suburb and a popular holiday destination.
According to the 2006 Census there were 4,208 people in 1,763 dwellings (in 2001 there were 4,370 people in 1,762 dwellings).
Sport and Recreational Facilities
Stockton is surrounded by the ocean and a number of parks, providing many recreational activities. Pitt Street Reserve and Griffith Park are linked by a cycle way and provide some picnic areas. Other facilities in the suburb include a skate ramp, a swimming centre, tennis courts, ovals and the Ballast Ground, a large park on the coast. The Stockton Beach Tourist Park attracts tourists to the area and provides limited recreational activities.
Go to sport and parks and playgrounds for more information about sport and recreation in Newcastle.
Childcare
Stockton Childcare Centre and Stockton School Kids Fun Club Association are the two services in the suburb.
Library
Stockton Library is located on King Street but is open limited hours. Visit the library for more information about libraries in Newcastle.
Schools
Stockton Primary and St Peter's Primary School are located in Stockton. The closest high school is Newcastle High, across the harbour.
Transport Options
Stockton is accessible by ferry and road. Ferries run approximately every half-hour making this the most convenient way to travel from Newcastle to Stockton. Go to the Ferry Timetable for more information.
Commercial Centre
A small commercial centre is located on Mitchell Street in Stockton. However, the main shopping outlets close to the suburb include the CBD or the Mayfield shopping centre.
Community Forums
Residents can become involved in decisions affecting their local area by attending a Community Forum. The Forums provide an opportunity to express ideas, concerns or suggestions on matters such as traffic and parking, road maintenance and waste management. The Stockton forum meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm in Stockton Senior Citizens Centre, Mitchell Street, Stockton. Go to Community Forums for more information.
History
Stockton has often been called the first suburb in Newcastle. It was originally known as Pirates Point after a gang of escaped convicts who had seized a boat were wrecked there in 1800. The area became privately owned by industrialists and the southern end of the peninsula was subdivided for residential purposes. Ship building became the main industry and by 1880 the area was a town of 1000 people. The suburb was boosted by the opening of the Stockton Colliery in 1884 and Stockton Council was introduced in 1889.
The isolation of the area was changed in 1971 with the opening of the Stockton Bridge. The bridge introduced a new freedom of access between Newcastle, Stockton and Port Stephens and brought about the demise of the vehicular ferries which had taken traffic across the harbour since the 1860's.
