Lieut. John Shortland arrives in Muloobinbah (Newcastle Harbour)

Lieut. John Shortland arrives in Muloobinbah (Newcastle Harbour) and makes the first official white landing in Hunter region. Following in the wake of convicts who return to Sydney Cove and report on the vast coal deposits lying along beaches, Shortland is the first Englishman to officially set foot on Awabakal lands. The discovery of coal by whites has significant impact on future relations between the two peoples. Shortland reports the vast timber resources along the river. (Arwarbukarl Cultural Resource Association, ACRA)