Williamtown, New South Wales

Williamtown is a rural suburb of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.^[2][6] It is located on the main road between Newcastle and Nelson Bay.^[7]

Williamtown Newcastle, New South Wales
Fighter World Museum at RAAF Base Williamtown
Williamtown
Coordinates	32°48′54″S 151°50′34″E
Population	762 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	16.97/km2 (44.0/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2318 (Williamtown), 2314 (Williamtown RAAF)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)[Note 1]
Area	44.9 km2 (17.3 sq mi)[Note 2]
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	173 km (107 mi) NNE of Sydney 26 km (16 mi) N of Newcastle 15 km (9 mi) ESE of Raymond Terrace
LGA(s)	Port Stephens Council[2]
Region	Hunter[2]
County	Gloucester[3]
Parish	Stowell[3]
State electorate(s)	Port Stephens[4]
Federal division(s)	Paterson
Mean max temp[5] Mean min temp[5] Annual rainfall[5] 23.2 °C 74 °F 12.5 °C 55 °F 1,129.0 mm 44.4 in
Suburbs around Williamtown: Raymond Terrace Campvale Salt Ash Raymond Terrace, Tomago Williamtown Salt Ash Tomago Fullerton Cove Salt Ash, Tasman Sea

Geography

The eastern section of Williamtown is dominated by RAAF Base Williamtown and Newcastle Airport while the western section of the area is primarily semi-rural with some large-acreage residential areas scattered along Cabbage Tree Road which is a main access route to Port Stephens from the Pacific Highway. To the south Williamtown reaches Fullerton Cove, a large cove at the Hunter River. The south-eastern corner of the area reaches the Tasman Sea on Stockton Beach and access to the beach is possible at this point for off-road vehicles via Lavis Lane.

Climate

Williamtown possesses a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with very warm, wet summers and mild, relatively dry winters. Average maxima vary from 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in January to 17.2 °C (63.0 °F) in July, while average minima fluctuate between 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) in January and February and 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) in July. Annual precipitation is moderately high (averaging 1,129.0 mm (44.45 in)), and is spread across 86.6 precipitation days (over 1.0 mm (0.039 in)). The town experiences 103.2 clear days and 127.3 cloudy days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 45.5 °C (113.9 °F) on 4 January 2020 and 11 February 2017 to −3.9 °C (25.0 °F) on 18 July 1970.^[8]

Climate data for Williamtown RAAF (32.79°S 151.84°E / -32.79; 151.84, 8 m AMSL) (1942–2024 normals & extremes)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	45.5 (113.9)	45.5 (113.9)	40.7 (105.3)	37.0 (98.6)	29.6 (85.3)	26.6 (79.9)	27.8 (82.0)	30.5 (86.9)	36.4 (97.5)	39.4 (102.9)	43.2 (109.8)	43.7 (110.7)	45.5 (113.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28.3 (82.9)	27.7 (81.9)	26.4 (79.5)	23.8 (74.8)	20.4 (68.7)	17.7 (63.9)	17.2 (63.0)	18.8 (65.8)	21.5 (70.7)	23.8 (74.8)	25.6 (78.1)	27.4 (81.3)	23.2 (73.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	18.2 (64.8)	18.2 (64.8)	16.5 (61.7)	13.3 (55.9)	10.1 (50.2)	8.0 (46.4)	6.5 (43.7)	6.9 (44.4)	9.2 (48.6)	12.0 (53.6)	14.5 (58.1)	16.6 (61.9)	12.5 (54.5)
Record low °C (°F)	9.4 (48.9)	9.6 (49.3)	8.6 (47.5)	2.1 (35.8)	−0.6 (30.9)	−1.8 (28.8)	−3.9 (25.0)	−1.9 (28.6)	0.4 (32.7)	3.0 (37.4)	5.1 (41.2)	7.9 (46.2)	−3.9 (25.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	98.4 (3.87)	118.7 (4.67)	126.9 (5.00)	110.7 (4.36)	110.8 (4.36)	122.1 (4.81)	75.4 (2.97)	71.5 (2.81)	60.1 (2.37)	75.9 (2.99)	82.7 (3.26)	76.8 (3.02)	1,129 (44.45)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	7.2	7.5	8.5	7.6	7.7	8.3	6.5	6.1	5.7	7.3	7.2	7.0	86.6
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)	59	62	61	59	60	60	55	50	50	54	55	56	57
Average dew point °C (°F)	17.0 (62.6)	17.6 (63.7)	16.2 (61.2)	13.3 (55.9)	10.6 (51.1)	8.4 (47.1)	6.3 (43.3)	6.2 (43.2)	8.2 (46.8)	10.8 (51.4)	13.1 (55.6)	15.2 (59.4)	11.9 (53.4)
Mean monthly sunshine hours	229.4	203.4	217.0	207.0	189.1	168.0	198.4	232.5	231.0	235.6	228.0	238.7	2,578.1
Percentage possible sunshine	53	54	57	61	58	56	63	68	65	59	55	54	59
Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1942–2024 normals & extremes)[5]

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 885 people in Williamtown. 70.9% of people were born in Australia and 80.7% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion was Anglican at 22.8%.^[1]

Tomago sandbeds

Most of Williamtown sits atop the Tomago sandbeds (an aquifer that is a critical source of water for the lower Hunter Region). The sandbeds are replenished primarily by rain as well as any water that leaks from Grahamstown Dam in nearby Ferodale. Water from the sandbeds and the dam is treated in Tomago.^[9]

Notes

1. Average elevation of the suburb as shown on 1:100000 map 9232 NEWCASTLE.
2. Area calculation is based on 1:100000 map 9232 NEWCASTLE.