Tolin's 2024 World Cruise blog posts, Day 38 Feb 16, 2024, Eden, AU Scenery of the Sapphire Coast
Eden is a coastal town in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is 297 miles south of the state capital Sydney and is the most southerly town in New South Wales, located between Nullica Bay to the south and Calle Calle Bay, the northern reach of Twofold Bay, and built on undulating land adjacent to the third-deepest natural harbor in the southern hemisphere, and Snug Cove on its western boundary. At the 2016 census, Eden had a population of 3,151.
The eastern coastline has rugged cliffs at the southern end and a wide, sandy surf beach, Aslings Beach, north of the cliffs. The beach ends at the entrance to Lake Curalo, a safe boating inlet of Twofold Bay. Although the urban settlement of Eden commenced in 1843 the settlement was not officially proclaimed as a township until 20 March 1885. The town's main industries include fishing, forestry, and tourism.
History
The local Aboriginal people who lived in the region prior to the arrival of Europeans were the Thaua, or Thawa, people of the Yuin nation.
Whaling ships had been operating in the area in 1791. George Bass first took shelter in Twofold Bay on the return leg of a voyage to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in February 1798, having noted the bay on the southward leg of this same voyage in December 1797. Later, in September of that year, on a subsequent voyage with Matthew Flinders, he and Flinders surveyed the bay for the first time. They also made first contact with the local Thawa Aboriginal people on this occasion.
The Australian botanist, Allan Cunningham, landed at Snug Cove in December 1817 so that he could collect botanical specimens from the district.
The first whaling station, for shore whaling, was established in the area by John Raine in 1828. Local Aboriginal people were employed in the whaling industry. In 1834 the Imlay brothers, Alexander, George and Peter, set up a whaling station at Snug Cove. Nearby they built a small slab and bark hut, the first-known building erected at Eden. Sketches of the hut were made by Sir Oswald Brierly in 1842 and by Captain Owen Stanley from HMS Rattlesnake in 1843. In around 1860 Davidson commenced a partnership with the Solomon family of Eden-Monaro. Initially the prevalent orcas were seen by the partnership as a nuisance. But the Yuin aboriginals employed on the boat crews refused to kill orcas, and a new policy encouraged collaboration between whalers and the killer whales; the killer whales would trap humpback whales that entered Twofold Bay, the whales would then be harpooned, and the orcas rewarded with prize pieces of the humpback carcasses.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden,_New_South_Wales
Old Tom (c. 1895 – 17 September 1930) was a killer whale (orca) known to whalers in the port of Eden, New South Wales, on the southeast coast of Australia. Old Tom measured 22 feet and weighed 6 tons, with a 3.33 ft skull and teeth about 5.31 inches long.
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Old Tom was thought to be the leader of a pod of killer whales which helped the whalers by herding baleen whales into Twofold Bay. This pod was also known as "the killers of Eden."
On 17 September 1930, Old Tom was found dead in Twofold Bay. Before his death, he had been thought to be over 90 years old, assisting three generations of the Davidson family when whaling. Examination of his teeth indicated he died around age 35, but this method of age determination is now believed to be inaccurate for older animals.
Old Tom's bones were preserved and his skeleton is now on display in the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Tom_(orca)
Eden is bounded to the north and south by national park and set in magnificent Twofold Bay – the third deepest natural harbor in the Southern Hemisphere. This historical town is famous for its intriguing whale history and the tale of the wild killer whales who hunted with the Yuin people, and later with European settlers. Eden is known as one of the most premier whale watching locations in Australia and each spring, thousands of humpbacks visit Eden on their way home to Antarctica.
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Eden's brand-new Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park opened in November 2023 and is set to transform Eden into a hero Australian mountain biking destination! Gravity Eden features more than 58km of premium machine-built MTB trails for a range of rider capability and skill, located in Nullica State Forest. The park also includes an asphalt pump track, dirt jump park and beginner skills loop at the main trailhead just out of Eden.
WHALE MIGRATION
Each Spring, baleen & toothed whales migrate south for the summer. Many have calves in tow and generally spend a few days in the area resting, feeding & playing before continuing along the Humpback Highway. Whales are often spotted right in Twofold Bay. In peak season, charter operators have their choice of pods to watch within minutes of leaving Eden Wharf. The Eden Whale Festival is held in spring each year, celebrating this migration.
HISTORIC FISHING PORT
Historic Snug Cove is still a working port, so drive or walk down in the early morning and watch the boats return with the day’s catch. Chances are you will catch a glimpse of your dinner before it meets your plate! Charters offer daily fishing trips, as well as all weather diving from Merimbula to Green Cape. Cruise Boats offer discovery cruises on Twofold Bay during which its history is unfolded and dolphins, seals and whales may also be seen.
KILLER WHALES OF EDEN
The days when men and killer whales worked together in Twofold Bay to hunt baleen whales are long gone and faithfully recorded in fascinating displays at the Eden Killer Whale Museum. The skeleton of Old Tom, last of the herding killer whales of Eden, is an impressive exhibit. For an impressive view over the old hunting grounds of Twofold Bay, head to Rotary Lookout, located up the hill from Eden Wharf.
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