For many years, Stockton was linked to Newcastle's central business district at the south by passenger and vehicular ferry services.

[11] During the year clan groups moved around their traditional land and in the summer months the mullet run drew them to the coast.

[12] On 9 September 1797 Lieutenant John Shortland became the first European to set foot on the land that would later become Stockton.

[13] It was originally called "Pirate Point" as the result of escaped convicts who stole the Norfolk which shipwrecked on the peninsula in 1800.

Stocktonians are particularly proud of Dave Sands, a local resident and champion boxer during the years immediately after World War II.

Like the Colliery Disaster, the short life of Sands was commemorated by some of the numerous memorials across this seaside village.

A play, Blackrock (written by Australian playwright Nick Enright), and also a film of the same name, were inspired by this event.

[20] In recent years, however, the town has begun to re-invent itself with a push for young professionals to move in from other centres such as Sydney.

In some areas it is as much as 1 km wide and has sand dunes over 30 metres high although at the Stockton end it is at its narrowest.

Drivers must also ensure that they respect the natural habitat of the beach and refrain from driving on the plants and grasses on the dune structures.

Over the years Stockton Beach has been the site of a large number of shipwrecks, ship collisions and groundings.

Driving to Stockton from Newcastle requires following the many signs to Port Stephens that can be found on the main roads.