Port Stephens, AUSTRALIA

About Port Stephens  I  Sister City Relationship  I  Port Stephens' Links

Agreement Date: 1982
Population: 55,000
Mayor: Craig Baumann, Deputy Mayor: Ron Swan
Sister City Chairperson: Ray Milton
Major Industries: Tourism, aluminum smelting, light industry, oyster farming and fishing.

Tomaree Peninsula (photo courtesy of Peter Jarver)

About Port Stephens

Port Stephens is called the "Blue Water Wonderland" because of the beauty of its marine surroundings.  It is located about two and a half hours north of Sydney, on the East Coast of Australia, and has a population of about 50,000.  With over 19 miles of clean, white, sandy beaches, Port Stephens boasts a vibrant tourism and fishing industries. The city caters to almost every facet of sport including tennis, golf, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, skiing and sailing.  The climate is warm year round with no winter frosts, and cool sea breezes keep the temperature mild in the summer.

The Sister City Relationship

The Port Stephens-Bellingham Sister City relationship dates back to 1978 as a result of business ties between the Intalco Aluminum refinery and an aluminum company in Port Stephenshire. The agreement did not result in much activity until the late 1980's.   Since then, the Port Stephens area has provided many enthusiastic participants in exchanges with Bellingham.  The Pacific Rim Yachting Challenge has been held in Port Stephens twice, in 1990 and in 2000, and Port Stephens has been a big supporter of this biannual event.  Several members of the Port Stephens Council have visited Bellingham, some even participating in the Ski-to-Sea race.  Also during the 1990's, numerous exchanges of high-school dancers and musicians have taken place, the next exchange scheduled for late 2000. 

The chairman of the Sister Cities Committee in Port Stephens, John Bartlett, has been a particularly active supporter of Sister City ties.  John is the former Mayor and is currently serving as a Member of Parliament representing the Hunter Region.    

Wendy and Mac Setter and family.	Sunset cruise on the bay.	view of Tomaree Head.
Playing on the dunes.	Dance performance.	Bellingham participates in the Port Stephens' parade.
City Council.	Mayor Steve Busteed.
The Sixth Annual Pac Rim Sailing Regatta February, 2000 - Port Stephens:
Spinnakers flying on the bay.	After-race Banquet.	Lunch break between races.
Six countries participated.	Trip to the wine country during the day off.	The Americans listening to race instructions.

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Port Stephens' Links

Port Stephens Homepage
About Port Stephens
Dunenet.com: Information resource for Port Stephens
Travel Australia: Tourist info on Port Stephens

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Photos and content by BSCA Members
Site layout and design by Stowe Talbot