Snap Shot
Newcastle Herald
Saturday March 24, 2001
WHAT IS IT?
The large anchors monument.
WHERE IS IT?
On the corner of Mitchell and Hunter Sts, Stockton.
WHAT'S THE
SIGNIFICANCE?
The two anchors have been a local tourism landmark since about 1984 to remind visitors of Stockton's maritime past.
WHAT'S THE STORY?
The two anchors were once part of a set of four which moored Newcastle's old floating dock at Walsh Island (now Kooragang) and later at Carrington.
The same Stockton site was once occupied by three hotels, the Royal, the Federal and Chilvers, as well as several shops with living accommodation.
A plaque was unveiled at the site last November 25 to explain the significance of the floating dock anchors.
The plaque states that the first floating dock in Newcastle was moored at the Stockton patent slip about 300metres west of the site. It began operating in 1891.
The second floating dock was then built at the (now defunct) Walsh Island Dockyard in 1929.
At that stage four anchors anchored the large floating dock.
It was moored opposite the southern point of the then Moscheto Island near the present Kooragang coal loader.
Another of the giant anchors may now be seen outside the Newcastle Maritime Museum in the city's East End at Fort Scratchley.
In 1943, the dock was towed to Throsby Basin, near Wickham, where it remained in use until it was scrapped in March 1977.
© 2001 Newcastle Herald
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