A surf life saving club established in 1923, perched directly on Catherine Hill Bay Beach in a former coal-mining village with 19th-century miners' cottages and a historic jetty — the oldest continuous settlement in the City of Lake Macquarie.
Planning a Lake Macquarie wedding? Read our Lake Macquarie wedding photographer guide for waterfront venues, permits and the light on the lake.
01
The setting
The multi-storey surf club sits directly on Catherine Hill Bay Beach, with the ocean visible from every angle. The village around it — miners' cottages, a historic jetty, coal-mining heritage — gives the venue a character that no styled space can replicate. It is the oldest continuous settlement in the City of Lake Macquarie.
02
The light
Being east-facing over the ocean means Catherine Hill Bay catches clean morning light and dramatic afternoon weather. The historic jetty catches golden hour beautifully — weathered timber and ocean behind the couple is a signature shot. Overcast days turn the whole bay into a softbox, which suits the rugged coastline.
03
The flow
A beach ceremony or a ceremony on the surf club deck, drinks watching the surf, then dinner in the function room with the water still in frame. The single-location venue means the coastal backdrop stays with you all day, and the historic village gives you portrait backdrops within walking distance.
Photographer's perspective
A note on the light
Catherine Hill Bay is the venue I recommend to couples who want the beach without the crowds of Newcastle. The historic jetty is one of the most photogenic structures on the coastline — I have shot portraits there where the weathered timber and the ocean behind the couple looked like a film still. The surf club itself is unpretentious, which is exactly the point. You are marrying on a beach in a historic mining village, not in a styled function space.
At a glance
Venue essentials
Ceremony
Beach or surf club deck
Reception
Surf club function room
Best light
Late afternoon on the jetty
Backdrop
Historic mining village & ocean