Umina Beach, New South Wales


Umina Beach is a suburb within the local government area on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.
By road, it is north of the Sydney CBD and south of the Newcastle CBD.
Umina Beach is locally known on the Central Coast as being on 'The Peninsula'. A natural peninsula that includes the towns of Umina Beach, Woy Woy, Blackwall, Booker Bay and Ettalong Beach. The main street, West Street, is the retail centre of The Peninsula with key national brands represented through Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Bunnings.
The suburb of Umina Beach officially begins where Woy Woy and Blackwall end - at Veron Road and Gallipoli Avenue.
Umina Beach is the most populated suburb on the Central Coast.

Geography

Umina Beach has one unbroken sand shoreline that has been divided in name only: Umina Beach and Ocean Beach. Both beaches have their own Surf Life Saving Club. The only other type of shoreline is located at Umina Point, a Hawkesbury Sandstone headland that adjoins the south western end of Umina Beach.
Umina Beach is geographically located on the north side of Broken Bay at the river mouth of Hawkesbury River. The formation of Umina Beach and 'The Peninsula' is due to sand deposition that has been influenced by climatic conditions, soil-binding flora, Hawkesbury Sandstone formations, wave patterns and tidal amplitude from the Tasman Sea, Hawkesbury River and Brisbane Water.

History

The word "Umina" was derived from the Australian Aboriginal word meaning Place of sleep.
The Woy Woy and Umina district was home to the Guringai Australian Aboriginal tribe. This tribe stretched from the north side of Port Jackson, north through Pittwater, Broken Bay and Brisbane Water, to the southern end of Lake Macquarie.
European entry to the region was first recorded in March 1788 when Governor Arthur Phillip landed with a party at Ettalong Beach.
In June 1789, a more thorough investigation of Brisbane Water was conducted. A rest stop was made at Ettalong Beach before the group passed through 'The Rip'. On return, the party camped at Ettalong Beach before sailing to Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury River.
The first land subdivision occurred in 1914 which led to the current commercial and residential centre. Umina Beach celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014.

Schools

Umina Beach is served by two public schools, Umina Public School and Brisbane Water Secondary College.
Opened on 3 February 1956, Umina Public School's population approximates 800 students and 50 staff. It currently has 29 classes from kindergarten to year 6.

Business

Umina Beach town centre is represented by the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce which is affiliated with the NSW Business Chamber. The town centre is serviced by Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings Hardware, Aldi Supermarkets and McDonald's, along with a number of local shops, takeaway restaurants and cafes, including the multi-award winning Bremen Patisserie on West street. The town is also serviced by a number of medical and specialist practices, the Umina branch of the Central Coast Library, and two service stations.

Transport Links

Umina Beach is well serviced by regular bus services with connections to Woy Woy Rail Station and Gosford. The town centre is easily accessed with an efficient grid system of connecting roads with primary access from Ocean Beach Road, West Street and Barrenjoey Road.
Substantial car parking facilities adjacent to the town centre contribute to its success as a retail hub.

Media

Community Papers:
Radio Broadcasting:
Umina Beach is locally serviced by the national public broadcaster, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, via ABC Local Radio 2BL/T 92.5 FM.
Commercial licences covering Umina Beach are:
Call SignOn-Air IdentificationFrequencyLicenseeParent CompanyNotes
2CCC2CCC96.3Central Coast Community FM Radio Association Inc.-
2CFM2CFM SEA FM101.3Central Coast Pty LtdSouthern Cross Media
2GGO2GGO107.1Central Coast Radio Pty LtdSouthern Cross Media
2GOSStar FM104.5Gorford FM Radio Pty LtdDMG Radio Australia
2SNRRadio Five-O-Plus93.3Five-O-Plus Public Radio Association Inc.-
2CCMToday's Country 94one94.1Coast Community Broadcasters Inc.-
2CCHHits N Country94.1Central Coast Broadcasters Ltd-Ceased operations 21 November 2007

Analogue FM and AM signals can be received from Sydney and Newcastle. As a result, Umina Beach is located within the most saturated radio market in Australia.
As of August 2010, there was no launch date known for Digital Radio services for the Central Coast.

Sports fields

Umina Oval, located at the southern end of Melbourne Avenue, is the home ground for four pitch team sports: Soccer, Rugby league, Cricket and Tennis.
McEvoy Oval, located at the western end of McEvoy Avenue, is used for Track and Field Athletics, Touch Football and Cricket.

Sports clubs

Umina Beach is known as the home of "Upball"

Community Groups