Trial Bay is a broad bay on the

Mid North Coast The Mid North Coast is a country region in the north-east of the state of New South Wales, Australia. The region covers the mid northern coast of the state, beginning from Port Stephens north of Sydney, and extending as far north as Woolgoolg ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The bay faces northwards and extends from

Laggers Point Laggers Point is a headland on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is the end of the north pointing peninsula which is the eastern side of Trial Bay. The beach on the inside of the bay is sheltered and the National Parks a ...

in the east around to

Grassy Head Grassy (meaning 'covered with grass' or 'resembling grass') may refer to: Populated places *Grassy, Lauderdale County, Alabama, an unincorporated community *Grassy, Marshall County, Alabama, an unincorporated community *Grassy, Missouri, unincor ...

to the west, past the town of

South West Rocks South West Rocks is a town located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, near the mouth of the Macleay River. It is approximately from Kempsey, New South Wales, Kempsey. Jerseyville, New South Wales, Jerseyville is located nea ...

and the

Macleay River The Macleay River is a river that spans the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia. Course and features Formed by the confluence of the Gara River, Salisbury Waters and Bakers Creek, the Macleay River r ...

mouth. The bay is named after the

brig A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the ...

Trial In law, a trial is a coming together of Party (law), parties to a :wikt:dispute, dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence (law), evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to Adjudication, adjudicate claims or d ...

'' which was shipwrecked there in 1816. In 1820

John Oxley John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley (1784 – 25 May 1828) was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of British colonisation. He served as Surveyor General of New South Wales and is perhaps best known for his two exp ...

explored the area. He reported

Port Macquarie Port Macquarie is a coastal town in the local government area of Port Macquarie-Hastings. It is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The town is located on the Tasman Sea co ...

as more favourable for settlement than Trial Bay, though Trial Bay might offer an anchorage while waiting for favourable winds to cross the bar at Port Macquarie. Trial Bay has a northerly facing and is sheltered from the predominant southerly swells. There have been various plans over the years to make it a full harbour, protected in all conditions. Its location in between other sheltered waters of

Moreton Bay Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are ...

and Port Stephens recommended such a project. In the 1880s through to 1900s an attempt at a breakwater was made off

. In the 1960s an oil terminal established near

reignited interest in a harbour, but the Department of Public Works concluded the cost would not be warranted. Ships moored in the bay and delivered oil via a pipeline extending approximately 2 km to the terminal operated by Caltex. The terminal is noted as decommissioned in 2003. It was also a major internment camp during WWI.

References

* ''Valley of the Macleay'', Marie H. Neil, 1972,

External links

Zivil Lager (Internment Camp): World War One Prisoners Of War At Trial Bay
(online exhibition) {{coord, 30, 52, S, 153, 03, E, scale:20000_region:AU-NSW, display=title Bays of New South Wales