Wallis Island, New South Wales
Wallis Island is an island in Wallis Lake, just south of the Coolongolook River in the mid north coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Wallis Island Nature Reserve, created in January 1983 and expanded in 1997 and 2005[1] covers a majority of the island, with an area of 584 ha (1,440 acres). The island also hosts an Australian chateau and fishing retreat, and a private airfield, Forster (Wallis Island) Airport.
History
The area around Wallis Lake in New South Wales was a traditional Indigenous Australian settlement. The traditional custodians of this land are the Worimi people, an Aboriginal nation whose territory extends along the coast.[2][3] Evidence of their long occupation includes middens, stone tools, and rock art, indicating a deep connection to the land and waterways for thousands of years.[4]
The first Europeans, who arrived in 1790, were five convicts escaping from the Second Fleet, who lived with the Worimi for five years before being recaptured.[5] Further contact with European settlers featured disease, conflict and land competition.[5] In October 1818, explorer John Oxley came to the region, and he named the lake after Captain [[James Wallis (British Army officer) |James Wallis]], the commandant of the Newcastle penal settlement.[5] In 1825, the Australian Agricultural Company (AAC) was granted a million acres for farming by the government, but it returned the land as the soil did not support farming. Later, the region was occupied by lumberjacks, who harvested timber. In the 1850s, Chinese, who were originally brought in as shepherds by the AAC, settled in the region and engaged in fishing. By the late 1800s, several Englishmen settled in the region.[5]
Geography
Wallis Island sits within Wallis Lake, just south of the Coolongolook River. The Wallis Island Nature Reserve was created in January 1983 and covers an area of 584 ha (1,440 acres).[6] The lake itself is a large, coastal lake located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, about 300 km (190 mi) north of Sydney.[7][8] It is governed by the Mid-Coast Council local government area.[9] The topography is characterized by a mix of coastal plains, low-lying wetlands, and gently undulating hills. The lake itself is a large, relatively shallow body of water, covering an area of approximately 99 km2 (38 sq mi). It is fed by several freshwater rivers and creeks, including the Wallamba River, Pipers Creek, and Coolongolook River.[10]
Economy
The economy of the region around Wallis Lake, within the Mid-Coast Council area, is primarily driven by tourism, fishing, and agriculture. The pristine waters of the lake are renowned for their oyster farming, particularly Sydney Rock Oysters, making it a significant aquaculture hub. Commercial fishing also operates within the lake, targeting various fish species.[10] The five-storey Chateau Le Marais, built by antique collectors Andre and Cecile Fink, is one of the glamorous fishing retreats, and considered to be self-sufficient with its own electricity generation system and solar panels. The luxurious property was initially intended to serve as the Finks' home and as a showroom for their antiques.[11] However, after the 2008 financial crisis, the Finks' antique business declined and, in 2010, the couple were forced to put up the incomplete mansion for sale in 2010, with a price tag of $20 million.[12] In 2019, the mansion was valued at around $16 million.[13]
References
- ↑ "Wallis Lake Nature Reserves Draft Plan of Management". NSW Dept of Environment. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Worimi". Worimi Conservation Lands. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ↑ "New jetty to improve access to Wallis Island". Government of NSW. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ "Ancient Culture Walk (Boonallum)". NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Brief History". Forster Main Beach Master Plan. MidCoast Council. p. 9. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ↑ "Wallis Island Nature Reserve - NSW National Parks". NSW National Parks.
- ↑ "Wallis Lake". Visit NSW. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ↑ "Sydney to Port Macquarie drive". Australia.com. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ↑ "MidCoast Council". MidCoast Council. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Wallis Lake Fishery Management Strategy" (PDF). NSW Department of Primary Industries. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ↑ "Combine glamour and great fishing for $20 million". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ↑ "Fink sinks a fortune on Wallis Island: photos". Great Lakes Advocate. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ↑ Chesher, Isabelle (1 April 2019). "'Nothing similar': The Wallis Island chateau-style mansion accessible only by sea or air". Domain. Retrieved 1 June 2019.