History

Empire Bay was originally known as ‘Sorrento Estate’ being   the name Arthur Rickard & Co. created when they subdivided the land for sale in 1905/06. Arthur Rickard was an extraverted salesman and he wanted an exotic name for his 152 acre subdivision. He chose the name after the city of Sorrento in Italy.
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Built by Mr Arthur Davis, of Empire Bay, and his three sons, the Erina ll (80 tons) was constructed solely of timbers hewn from the bush near Empire Bay. The building of the boat took a year, and was done entirely by hand using axes, adzes and hammers on the foreshore at Empire Bay. The shipyard being near 28 Sorrento Road. The Erina ll was fitted with diesel motors in Sydney.
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For 95 years, 47 Rosella Road, Empire Bay, was the local Christian centre for Empire Bay. Prior to 1974, there was no Rip Bridge and the nearest churches were at Woy Woy and Kincumber, with the Catholic Church at South Kincumber.
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Arthur Rickard, a new and enthusiastic Sydney land developer, purchased the 152 acres (now Empire Bay) from the Noble family in 1905. The Noble family owned the 152 acres for 66 years without any development.
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Have you ever wondered about the early days of our Bushfire Brigade on Shelly Beach Road?
Bushfires were as common in the early days as they are now.
The Empire Bay brigade was formed in December 1951 with 17 members.
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It is appropriate to look back at the early days of the local tennis courts as we welcome to the Bay the new pump track and climbing wall Playspace adjacent to the tennis courts. Our forebears would have wide eyes of amazement and joy if they were to come back today. Let’s have a quick look at the beginning of the Empire Bay Tennis Club.
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In 1879 there were 50 children of school-age living within Cockle Creek, as the Empire Bay area was then known, but very few of these children had ever been to school.
On 10 June 1879 a group of residents applied to the Council of Education for the establishment of a public school.
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In the waters near Empire Bay, over 20 years ago, four oyster farmers changed the face of the Australian pearl industry, by successfully cultivating Akoya pearls. The Australian cultured pearl industry is predominantly located in WA and NT, but the local oyster farmers put the Central Coast on the industry map.
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1946: The Empire Bay Honour Roll Committee (Secretary Mrs M.R. Settree) asked the Erina Shire Council to accept their proposal to erect a Memorial and Honour Roll on the reserve near the wharf. Council gave approval for the current location and agreed to kerb and gutter. The cost was twenty pounds and the committee paid half.
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There are few of the long-time Empire Bay residents who could tell you the story of the cyclone that hit the Bay in August, 36 years ago.
Around lunchtime, Friday 10 August 1984, disaster struck Empire Bay. No one saw it coming and the residents had no idea of the destruction it would bring.
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Today, as you walk along the waterfront, near the marina, it is hard to identify which house was the Empire Bay General Store. Yet, the shape of the building has remained, and you will be surprised when you discover that part of our local history.
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Fifty years ago, one the most significant changes of Empire Bay and Bensville residents was about to enter their life. The Rip Bridge.

The Rip Bridge was opened for traffic on 14 June 1974 by Sir Charles Cutler, Acting Premier for New South Wales.
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A paradise of “nice sandy beaches, virgin rich soils ….. ideal for fishing, weekend pleasure parties, holiday making, fruit growers and poultry farmers… An ideal health and pleasure resort.”
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The SS Maitland set off from Sydney 125 years ago bound for Newcastle with at least 70 passengers and crew on board. The weather was worsening but the captain, RJ Skinner, anticipated no problems. He knew the vessel well and was a veteran of many hundreds of similar voyages. The paddle steamer never made it.
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The longtime locals will tell you of the days in the 1990’s and the early 2000’s when the corner shop would close and school kids would gather along Empire Bay waterfront to see the latest super yacht, from Warren Yacht’s Kincumber shipyard, cruise down the channel to it’s new home beyond Broken Bay.
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Our early pioneers blazed the way for the new settlers, who arrived on the Central Coast in the early 1900s, when land was sub-divided into small farm holdings. These settlers brought with them new names, skills and experiences. The Adams family name, one of the new settlers, live on through their descendants and adds to the rich history of Empire Bay.
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With the growing Empire Bay community in the 1920’s, there was an increasing need for the residents to improve the village life, and to have a united representation to Erina Council to improve the wharfs, roads, drainage and recreational facilities in the village.
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In the early days, Empire Bay was the place to come for a summer holiday. The Gosford Times in the 1920’s regularly reported the busy summer intake of holiday makers. The school enrolment lifted and the holiday cottages filled. It is not surprising that one of the first items on the agenda of the recently formed Progress Assn (1923), was the building of public baths.
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16 Shelly Beach Road is one of the early homes built in Empire Bay.

The property was part of the 152 acre subdivision created by the property developer Arthur Richard in 1905.
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Bensville was named after pioneer settler Benjamin Davis, who owned 1000 acres of this area, using its rich source of timber for his ship building yard near the current Bensville Wharf. Parts of the area were used for orchards and dairy farming. Timber was also milled and freighted to Sydney by ship until the Newcastle to Gosford Railway line was completed in 1889.
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Who would have thought the quiet Humphrey’s Road, Kincumber South, had an interesting history? Yet, beneath its tranquil facade lies tales of bygone eras. Now, as the modern world rushes by, the road remains a silent sentinel, guarding its enigmatic past from those who pass by unknowingly.
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Allan Ferguson celebrates 50 years service with the RFS. Back in the early 1970’s a young oyster farmer, then living in Killcare, walked into the local Bush Fire Brigade station (Killcare) to sign up. 15 years later, Fergs moves to Empire Bay, and transfers his membership to the Empire Bay RFS. Fergs has been, and continues to be, a valuable member of the RFS often passing his 50 years experiences on to the young guns.
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Early morning walkers along the Empire Bay waterfront would have seen David Forsdyke as he completes his walking routine with a sit and chat at the boat ramp. But who would have known of David’s 50 years’ service in the Merchant Navy, until recently when the quietly spoken David shared some of his experiences.
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Ken Bergin has a lifetime association with Bensville and Empire Bay. “It was an interesting way of life in the early days of the area,” recalls Ken.

Ken’s ancestors are from three of the early settler families including the Beattie’s, the Davis’s and the Settree’s.
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Many in Empire Bay remember our former resident Dudley Pye. Sadly, Dudley passed away a few weeks ago and we would like to dedicate a few lines in this Newsletter to celebrate his time with us.
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As you walk along the waterfront near the Empire Bay marina there is an old, well-kept cottage that has many a story to tell. Sitting on Maurie and Ruth Pacey’s verandah you realise how they would have witnessed a change to their world over the past 50 years.

Ruth was born in 1935 in Ashbury, Sydney. When her father retired in 1939 the family moved to Empire Bay and settled in a house on the waterfront along Shelly Beach Road. This became Ruth’s childhood wonderland. In those days Ruth can remember Empire Bay been a small village with no cars, no medical services, and a daily ferry service to Woy Woy and once a fortnight ferry service to Gosford.
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