Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

The Bogey Hole ocean pool is an Instagrammers dream, and a ‘must see’ attraction on the Newcastle coastline. Impressive at full flight, or in a moment of calm, take a moment to enjoy the Bogey Hole next time you are in King Edward Park.

The Bogey Hole was hand-hewn out of a wave-cut rock platform by convicts for Major James Morisset, in 1819 for his personal use. Whether this work represented the enlargement of a naturally occurring rock pool used by Aboriginal people is not known.

As Morisset was the longest-serving Commandant of Newcastle, the pool was originally referred to as the ‘Commandant’s Baths’. The name ‘Bogey Hole’ came into regular usage sometime after, and is said to come from the Dharawal word meaning ‘to bathe’.

The Bogey Hole is situated at the foot of Shepherds Hill, or as it was known in the 1820’s “sheep pasturage hill”. Geologically, the rock in the area is sandstone/conglomerate typical of the coastal areas of the Hawkesbury Sandstone deposit on which Newcastle was built.

It is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in recognition of its importance in the course of NSW’s history. Potentially the place has a national significance as the earliest known example in the whole of Australia of a purpose-built ocean swimming pool.