The Central Coast region of New South Wales has a long and significant history, first inhabited by Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years. The Kuringgai people, among the first to make contact with British settlers, played a key role in the region’s early history. One of the most notable figures was Bungaree, an Aboriginal man from the region, who became a prominent figure in early New South Wales settlement. Bungaree was among the first Aboriginal people to learn English, and his close relationships with early governors, including Phillip, King, and Macquarie, made him an influential figure. He accompanied the renowned explorer Matthew Flinders during the circumnavigation of Australia and was later named "The King of the Broken Bay Tribes" by Governor Macquarie.

The region was home to several Aboriginal groups, including the Kuringgai-speaking people, who lived along the coast and were known as the "Pittwater tribes" and "Broken Bay tribes." The Awabakal people resided around Lake Macquarie, while the Darkinyung people lived further inland west of Mooney Mooney Creek. The Kuringgai, Awaba, and Darkinyung languages were related yet distinct from the Dharrug and Sydney languages spoken to the south. However, following British settlement, the Aboriginal population was severely impacted by disease, disruption, and conflict.

In 1811, Governor Lachlan Macquarie made the first land grant in the region to William Nash, a former marine of the First Fleet, marking the beginning of European settlement in the area. It wasn’t until 1821 that further land grants were made. The region’s early history is a testament to both the strength of its Aboriginal heritage and the challenges brought by European colonization.