IT is difficult to believe that the tiny hamlet of Oyster Cove on the shores of Port Stephens was, at one time, considered to be the focus of the “biggest oyster farm in the world”.
Pioneered by the Phillips family, Oyster Cove developed into a village with permanent homes erected for the Phillips family and comfortable accommodation for the many Worimi workers – both married and single quarters.
To continually supply the need for hard wood sticks a property was purchased in the hinterland where the trees were felled and taken to the recently completed sawmill on the shores of Oyster Cove.
A general store was built by Stan Phillips and managed by the Salm family. Sunday school was conducted each week.
The flagship of the Phillips family oyster empire was the Stella Maris – Star of the Sea. Known affectionately by all as Stella the 45ft launch, a grand servant and honest workhorse for many years, was designed and built in 1934 by Cromarty Bay master boat builders William Laman and son Norman.
With the collapse of the local oyster industry in the mid 1980s, due to the introduction of the nonindigenous Pacific oyster, the grand old lady was sold at auction in 1989 and was badly neglected in the following years.
Finally, the mighty Stella Maris, which had been on the waters of Port Stephens for more than 50 years, sank in Tanilba Bay and was pulled ashore and burnt. A sad and undignified end.
By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE
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