Batemans Bay

Postcode: 2536

Batemans Bay is a town and a bay in the South Coast region of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Batemans Bay is administered by the Eurobodalla Shire council. The town is located on the Princes Highway (Highway 1) about 280km (175 miles) south of Sydney, 760 km (475 miles) north of Melbourne, and it is 160 km east of Canberra via the Kings Highway. It has a population of approximately 16,000 (in 2005). The Clyde River empties here into the Tasman Sea.

It is the closest seaside town to the city of Canberra, making Batemans Bay a popular holiday destination for residents of Australia's national capital. It is also a popular retiree haven, but has begun to attract young families seeking affordable housing and a relaxed seaside lifestyle. Other local industries include a sawmill, oyster farming, forestry, eco-tourism and retail services.

Captain Cook named the bay on 22nd April 1770 after Nathaniel Bateman. Nathaniel Bateman was Captain of Lord Colvill's ship HMS Northumberland (the 3rd ship of that name), at the time when Captain Cook was serving as her master from 1760-62.

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