The only time the Aboriginals used canoes was when going into very deep water.
Many aboriginal tribes occupied the Central Coast and nearby areas.
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This was the deep water the Aboriginals named Woy Woy
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Other Aboriginal meanings for Central Coast names are:
- Umina - "Resting Place" or Place to Rest.
- Ettalong - "water for drinking".
- Patonga - "Place to Sleep and Place of Water" (drinking water).
- Koolewong - "Koala by water"
Captain Arthur Phillip surveyed the area and it is documented in his journals (Mitchell Library) that he noticed two Aboriginal women cooking fish in their canoe. As the long boat approached the women (the area we now know as Brickwharf) the women were frightened and jumped into the water and began to swim (overarm / Aussie crawl). Later when Phillip became friendly with the locals he asked how they (aboriginals) swam so fast, the answer was "Just swim like this!". The aboriginals showed Phillip the Australian Crawl / Freestyle movements. This is the first recording of the swim stroke now known as the Australian Crawl.