Wyee is said to be derived from an Awabakal Aboriginal term for "fire" or "place of bushfires".[4][5]
The Awabakal are the traditional people of this area.[6]
Wyee is part of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area but it lacks a connection to sewer system; there are the Hunter Water Sewage Treatment Plant and the Central Coast Council Treatment Plant in the area, in the neighbouring Central Coast region.
Wyee Colliery, when State-owned, operated here 1962–2002.[7][8] It re-opened in 2004–05 as Mannering Colliery, operated by the Centennial Coal Coy.
In a part of the town west of the railway station known as West Wyee, people live in an informal settlement, without water and sewerage services. The area was subdivided in 1914 but not zoned for residential development.[9][10]
History
Wyee is located in the traditional lands of the Awabakal people and is an Aboriginal expression meaning place of bushfires.
The town takes its name from the Wyee railway station. It was originally called Norahville, after its nearest coastal village. In 1887, with the breakthrough of the Main Northern railway line it was renamed Wyee.
In 1839, philanthropist Thomas Walker granted the Wyee area of 1120 acres (4 km). He never took residence in attempts to make improvements and the grant was reverted to the Morisset Parish.
In 2021, a sewer was constructed for the town, and 400 properties were connected. Wastewater was removed by truck from Karagi Street pump station until 2023, when a link to the Dora Creek Wastewater Treatment Works was completed.[11]
