History of Summer Bay

[Skylover]

Was just wondering if there was anything significant mentioned about the history of Summer Bay and what happened prior to 1988. We know Martha's boating accident was in 1985. Who lived in Summer Bay House prior to Alf, Martha and Roo? Or were they the first owners?

[Dan F]

39 minutes ago, Skylover said:

Who lived in Summer Bay House prior to Alf, Martha and Roo? Or were they the first owners?

It was always a Stewart household prior to the Fletchers - Alf's grandfather Duncan built it in the early 1900s and it was passed down through the family.

[Skylover]

Thanks - what do we know about Alf's parents?

[c120701]

On 20/04/2020 at 13:51, Skylover said:

Was just wondering if there was anything significant mentioned about the history of Summer Bay and what happened prior to 1988. We know Martha's boating accident was in 1985. Who lived in Summer Bay House prior to Alf, Martha and Roo? Or were they the first owners?

Summer Bay was founded in 1852 by Angus(?) Stewart (Alf’s Grandfather?), thought for many years to have been captain of the ship that landed in the bay on a spot on the beach near the Surf Club. It later turned out that he was just a deckhand who jumped off the ship and got to land before the Captain and so got to name the town. Stewart’s Point is named after him.

Alf’s Father built the Caravan Park on land adjacent to Summer Bay House and gave it to him as a gift. It’s unclear if he gave him the house as well as that bit was sort of a retcon as Alf was said to be a self made man originally, but somehow he’d taken over the house from his father.

His parents then lived in a small house in Summer Bay with Celia. Gordon had an affair with Mavis Hickey at some point years earlier, producing Coleen Smart, Sarah (Alf’s Mum) knew as it was documented in a diary that was in the time capsule that was exposed by the 2008 Earth Tremor.

[Homeandawayfan.]

Alf's mother was Sarah Stewart, her maiden name was said to be Townsend in 2008.

I think the Patterson family were also a long standing Summer Bay family. As are the Baldivis lot, and councillor Mervin Baldivis (a 1988 guest character) was extended family of Martha Stewart (Nee Baldivis). Martha's dad was Jack Baldivis.

Other refs to the pre 1988 history of Summer Bay is a Mr Harker was a teacher at Summer Bay High once when Rob Storey was a pupil in the mid 1980s. Also Walter Bertram's mother was probably a Standish by birth as his mothers old house was the old Standish House.

 

[c120701]

The Nash family too were an old Bay family, Travis & Joel’s Dad built the house that later became Leah’s.

[Dan F]

There is also a profile for Gordon on the site, though some of it's been covered already.

10 minutes ago, c120701 said:

The Nash family too were an old Bay family, Travis & Joel’s Dad built the house that later became Leah’s.

A Robert Nash was also instrumental in the founding of Summer Bay, presumably alongside Angus.

[Skylover]

Martha Stewart's an interesting character. We know that the General Store was open in 1970 due to the flashbacks shown in 1989. Also,  Martha's letter to Alf revealing she is alive must have occurred at a similar time to Bobby reading her diaries in 1989. The two actresses don't look that different in the 1989 and 2018 photos. The 1989 Martha looks a bit like Morgana O'Reilly who played Naomi Canning in Neighbours.

[j.laur5]

Also it’s funny how Morag told Flynn that her dad dead 17 years ago in 2002 and yet he  was alive and overseas in 1988 and Alf parents were never mentioned   again . 

Donald also said he was only child to Seb in 2001. 

[Skylover]

11 hours ago, j.laur5 said:

and yet he  was alive and overseas in 1988 and Alf parents were never again . 

Oh were they! I don't remember now. Wonder what happened to them.