Life jackets and salt spray replaced smart boards and pencil cases on Monday morning, when the organisers of Lake Mac’s History Illuminated festival set sail on a new type of learning. 

While the ocean between Swansea and Catherine Hill Bay became the classroom, local historian Ed Tonks became the teacher. 

And, the lecture hall was Coast XP’s 10.8 metre, eco-tourism rigid inflatable boat (RIB) called ‘Atmos’.  

The two-hour cruise is one of 44 events included in this year’s 2023 program that stretches from 1 to 10 September. 

Now in its sixth year, the annual festival is peppered with an offering of workshops, presentations, author talks, readings, research, art and culture, all focused on the history of the lake and its surrounds. 

This was the first time local history was presented to guests wearing obligatory life jackets, and by all accounts it won’t be the last. 

While the 20 onboard guests soaked up the marine life, real estate, landmarks and birdlife of the  Tasman Sea, Tonks shared his extensive knowledge of the Hunter region. 

From Swansea Heads to Moon Island, Spoon Rocks to Caves Beach, Quarries Head, Pinny Beach and Catherine Hill Bay. 

Shipwrecks, collieries, bushfires, a jetty, a railway, and a mine camp all featured in the commentary. 

And, while the information might be “old happenings”, to many passengers onboard it was new information.

“Moon Island is shown on some maps as Green Island,” Tonks explained.

“This was the small clump of an island that William Reid mistook to be the ‘Nobby’ as reported by Lt Shortland when he discovered coal at the mouth of the Coal River.

“Catherine Hill Bay was named after the schooner Catherine Hill which beached there during a storm in June 1867.

“There are a handful of shipwrecks in and around Catherine Hill Bay.

“There have been four Swansea Bridges since 1881.

“It is estimated that the Swansea Bridges are used by over 30,000 vehicles per day, along with pedestrians and cyclists.”

The facts and figures continued, all seamlessly delivered by the long-standing historian and author.

Tonks is one of a number of hosts that will feature on the list of events.

Many Lake Macquarie landmarks will be open for guided exhibition tours and history workshops, alongside cemetery walks, fashion parades and musical performances.

The festival will also feature Ita Buttrose and Mikey Robins in Conversation.

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