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Newcastle, New South Wales

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File:Newcastlefromstockton.jpg
A view of Newcastle from Stockton

Template:Infobox Australian City Newcastle is Australia's sixth largest city and the second largest in the state of New South Wales. Situated 160 km north of Sydney, on the mouth of the Hunter River, it's the predominant city within the Hunter Valley region, a significant coal shipping centre and Australia's largest provincial city (that is, the largest city that is not a capital).

History

Founding and Settlement

The first European to explore the area was Lt. John Shortland in September, 1797. The discovery of Newcastle was largely accidental; Shortland had been sent in search of a number of convicts who had seized the Cumberland as she was sailing from Sydney Cove. While returning he entered what he later described as "a very fine river" which he named after Governor Hunter. As well as information, Shortland also returned with reports of the deep-water port and abundant coal in the area. Over the next two years, coal mined from the area was the New South Wales colony's first export.

By the turn of the century the mouth of the Hunter River was being visited by diverse groups of men, including coalhewers, timber-cutters, and more escaped convicts. Governor King, who took office in 1800, decided on a more positive approach to exploit the now obvious natural resources of the Hunter Valley.

Besides coal, vast cedar forests covered a huge tract up the Hunter, a source of urgently needed building timber for the infant Sydney colony.

Governor King decided to establish a small post at the river mouth, however this first settlement was short lived. Its population comprised Corporal Wixtead being suddenly replaced by Surgeon Martin Mason. Surgeon Mason's rule ended in a mutiny, and Governor King closed the settlement early in 1802.

A settlement was again attempted in 1804 as a place of secondary punishment for unruly convicts. The settlement was re-named Newcastle, after England's famous coal port. The name first appeared by the commission issued by Governor King on March 15, 1804, to Lieut. Charles Menzies of the Royal Marines, appointing him superintendent of the new settlement.

The new settlement comprising convicts and a military guard, arrived at the Hunter River on March 27, 1804, in three ships, the Lady Nelson, the Resource and the James.

The old links with Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, whence many of the 19th century coal miners came, is still obvious in some of the place-names - such as Jesmond, Hexham, Wickham and Wallsend.

Major Events

Looking towards the baths, from the Bogey Hole

Newcastle remained a penal settlement for nearly 20 years, and, despite the natural beauty of the surroundings and the mild climate it was a nasty place. The military rule was harsh, often barbarious, and there was no more notorious place of punishment in the whole of Australia than Limeburners' Bay, on the inner side of Stockton peninsula, where incorrigibles were sent to burn oyster shells for making lime.

Under Captain James Wallis, commandant from 1815 to 1818, the convicts' conditions improved, and a building boom began. Capt. Wallis laid out the streets of the town, built the first church of the site of the present Anglican Cathedral, erected the old gaol on the seashore, and began work on the breakwater which now joins Nobby's to the mainland. The quality of these buildings was poor and only (a much reinforced) breakwater survives.

For these works, and for his humane rule in the convict colony, Capt. Wallis earned the personal commendation of Governor Macquarie. In Governor Macquarie's opinion the prison colony was too close to Sydney and in any case the proper exploitation of the land was not practicable with prison labor.

Therefore, in 1823, military rule in Newcastle ended. The number of prisoners was reduced to 100 (most of these were employed on the building of the breakwater), and the remaining 900 were sent to Port Macquarie.

Freed for the first time from the infamous influence of the penal law, the town began to acquire the aspect of a typical Australian pioneer settlement, and a steady flow of free settlers poured into the hinterland.

Coal mining began in earnest in the 1830s. In the 1890s a zinc smelter was built by Cockle Creek. Newcastle's coastal mining industry declined in the 1890s, and coal mining moved further inland. After a major steel strike in the Sydney basin, the State Government of NSW encouraged BHP to build a vast modern steel producing industry with American expertise. In 1915 the BHP steelworks opened, beginning a period of some 80 years dominated by the steel works and heavy industry.

On December 28, 1989, Newcastle experienced an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale which killed 13 people. The following economic recession of the early 1990s meant that the city took several years to recover.

Geography

Aerial photograph looking over the city from the Pacific Ocean
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Location of Newcastle in New South Wales (red)

Newcastle is located on the southern bank of the Hunter River at its mouth. The northern side is dominated by sand dunes, swamps and multiple river channels. Because of this, urban development is mainly restricted to the hilly southern bank. The small village of Stockton sits opposite Newcastle at the river mouth and is linked by ferry. Much of the city is undercut by the coal measures of the Sydney sedimentary basin, and what were once numerous coal-mining villages located in the hills and valleys around the port have merged into a single urban area extending southwards to Lake Macquarie.

Climate

Newcastle has a mild, temperate climate, with warm to hot summers and cool winters, while autumn and spring are transitional seasons.

  • Average Annual Temperature: 12.4 to 23.0 °C (54.3 to 73.4 °F)
  • Average January Temperature: 18.0 to 27.8 °C (64.4 to 82.0 °F)
  • Average July Temperature: 6.4 to 16.9 °C (43.5 to 62.4 °F)
  • Days over 30 °C (86 °F): 37.0
  • Days over 35 °C (95 °F): 8.9
  • Days under 2 °C (35.6 °F): 4.8
  • Days under 0 °C (32 °F): 0.7
  • Annual Rainfall: 1120.4 mm (44.11 in)
  • Average Annual Windspeed: 13.3 to 20.0 km/h (8.3 to 12.4 mph)

Williamtown climate averages

Demographics

The metropolitan area of Newcastle spreads over several Local Government Areas. The estimated population of the City of Newcastle at June 2004 was 145,633 (Australian Bureau of Statistics), but its neighbour, the City of Lake Macquarie, was actually larger, with an estimated 189,196 residents as of June 2004 (ABS). The combined population of the Newcastle area at the 2001 census was 470,610. This includes Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and Cessnock local government areas.

Newcastle today

View from Fort Scratchley showing Nobby's Head

The Port of Newcastle remains the economic and trade centre for the resource rich Hunter Valley and for much of the north and northwest of New South Wales. Newcastle is the world's busiest coal export port and Australia's oldest and second largest tonnage throughput port, with over 3,000 shipping movements handling cargo in excess of 90 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), of which coal exports represent more than 90%. The volume of coal exported, and attempts to increase coal exports, are opposed by a number of small local environmentalist groups. Newcastle has a small ship building industry, which has declined since the 1970s due to failure to win government contract tenders.

With the closure of the steel works in 2000 many see the era of heavy industry as past. This vision contrasts with Newcastle's role as a massive coal export point, and the Hunter Valley's ongoing role in coal and aluminium production. Many of the manufacturing industries have located themselves away from the city centre, focusing on cheap land and access to road transport routes. Additionally, these industries employ relatively few people, and lack the concentrated social impact of BHP on the city's life.

The city's population is growing, attracted by its affordable living, coastal lifestyle, excellent education and health services. The city centre, once viewed as empty and rather miserable, has attracted a rash of new apartments and hotels in recent years, but the rate of commercial and retail occupation remains low as alternate suburban centres have become more important.

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View of the Old General Post Office, heritage listed, and soon to be converted into a bar and restaurant

The old central business district, located at Newcastle's eastern end, still has a considerable number of historic buildings, dominated by Christ Church Cathedral, seat of the (Anglican) Bishop of Newcastle. Other noteworthy buildings include Fort Scratchley, the Ocean Baths, the old Customs House, the 1920s City Hall, and the 1930s art deco University House (formerly NESCA House). Unlike those of its British namesake, who call themselves "Geordies", residents of Newcastle, NSW refer to themselves as "Novocastrians".

Education

The University of Newcastle (formerly part of the University of New South Wales) obtained its autonomy in 1965 and now with a student population of just over 20,000. It offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate courses. The university has one of the largest international student populations of any university in Australia. With changes in Federal government funding arrangements the financial security of the University is under threat, and the latest in a series of ongoing job-losses have cut 450 jobs. The University competes with Hunter Health, TAFE and the schools system for the role as the largest employer in the region.

Culture

Newcastle has a reputation as a burgeoning mecca for culture of all sorts.

Festivals

Newcastle holds a variety of Cultural Events and Festivals, many of which attract national and some even international attention.

This is not Art is a national festival of new media and arts held in Newcastle each year over the October long weekend. Since its humble beginnings in 1998, it has become one of the leading arts festivals in Australia dedicated to the work and ideas of communities not included in other major Australian arts festivals. The program includes the festivals Electrofringe, the National Young Writers' Festival, National Student Media Conference, Sound Summit and other projects.

The Shootout Film Festival, first started in Newcastle in 1999. This is the film festival where filmmakers come together in one place to make a short film in 24 hours. It is run annually in July.

The National Young Writers' Festival, part of the This is not Art festival, is Australia's largest gathering of young and innovative writers working in both new and traditional forms.

The Newcastle Jazz Festival is held across three days in August, and attracts performers and audiences from all over Australia.

These are just a few of the many festivals and street fairs held in Newcastle annually.

Music

Newcastle has an active youth music culture and amazing choice of live homegrown music. Bands and groups produce both guitar based and computer based music for a pub based concert scene. Silverchair, the highly successful Australian band, hailed from Newcastle. Newcastle, just after Melbourne is considered "the place" to see live rock music and up and coming young bands.

Visual Arts and Galleries

Newcastle is a very artistic city, with more professional artists per capita then any other place in Australia.

Galleries include:

Theatre

Newcastle has a variety of private theatres, however the main theatre in town is the Civic, one of Australia's great historic theatres which hosts a wide range of musicals, plays, concerts, dance and other events each year.

Sport

Energy Australia Stadium, looking across at the old grandstand and grass seating

Newcastle has a thriving sports culture centred on the Newcastle Knights, a team that plays in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League. Other major spectator and participant sports include Netball, Basketball, Football, AFL, Rugby Union, Hockey and Surfing.

Teams participating in national sports leagues are:

Newcastle hosts the annual surfing contest 'Surfest' on the world professional surfing tour. Four time world champion surfer Mark Richards grew up surfing at Newcastle's Merewether Beach.

Media

Newcastle is served by a daily newspaper (Newcastle Herald) and several weeklies (including Newcastle Star). In addition, several of the outlying communities, including Cessnock and Maitland have newspapers of their own.

The city is also served by several local radio stations, including those owned by the ABC and SBS.

Newcastle is also served by 5 television stations, three commercial and two national services, and by Foxtel pay television.

Sporting Facilities

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Energy Australia Stadium

Energy Australia Stadium

EnergyAustralia Stadium has been given a new life, no longer the drab, boring stadium, it will now become a state of the art stadium for 27,000 one eyed Newcastle supporters, signalling the start of a new era of sport in the Hunter valley. The stadium will become the premier sports venue in Northern New South Wales.

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Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Newcastle Entertainment Centre

The Newcastle Entertainment Centre is Australia's most flexible multi-purpose venue. Officially opened in June 1992, the state-of-the-art facility offers 5,000 square metres of clear span floor space and is capable of catering for capacities from 2,000 to 6,500 for entertainment style events.

NJC

Located in the heart of Newcastle on the picturesque Hunter Coast only two hours drive north of Sydney is Broadmeadow Racecourse.

Newcastle Jockey Club

No.1 Sportsground

Located a short walk from the central business district of Newcastle, No.1 Sports Ground was for many years a stopover on the tour itinerary for many visiting teams as they faced the Northern New South Wales XI. In 1981/82 the ground was allocated a Sheffield Shield match when the SCG was unavailable, and healthy crowds saw No.1 then become host to at least one first-class fixture per year.

Shopping Centres

Charlestown Square

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Charlestown Square Logo

Charlestown Square is one of the largest shopping centres in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley area of New South Wales and has been servicing the local region since 1979. We offer our customers an extensive selection of stores and services in a modern, safe and convenient environment. The range of stores reinforces the centre's appeal as a convenient community focal point - a leisurely and enjoyable place to shop. We offer our visitors a superbly designed, world class regional shopping complex with a special emphasis on fashion. Featuring the only Myer in the Region, it is widely regarded as the premier shopping destination in the Hunter.

Westfield Kotara

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Westfield Kotara Logo

Westfield Kotara is a major shopping centre located in Newcastle, Australia. The shopping centre was originally called Garden City for many years up until 2003 where The Westfield Group bought the shopping centre off AMP. The shopping centre has over 130 shops including popular stores such as David Jones, Toys 'R' Us, Woolworths, coles, Kmart and Wild Surf Co. The shopping centre will be going through major renovations in the near future which includes over twenty new stores and a Hoyts Cinema.

Stockland Glendale

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Stockland Glendale Logo

Conveniently located on Lake Road Glendale, Stockland Glendale has recently been redeveloped to include a brand new K-mart and an extra 18 specialty shops. Now with more than 70 stores, including some of Australia’s largest retailers, we have everything you need.

Homeworks Kotara

Homeworks Kotara is the largest homemaker and lifestyle shopping centre in the hunter. The centre features a broad range of retailers including Bunnings Warehouse, Dick Smith, JB-HI-FI, Amart All-Sports, Barbeques Galore and over 20 homemaker stores.

Beaches and Ocean Baths

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Newcastle Beach

Newcastle is well known for its beaches. Which were recently voted the best in NSW.

    • Stockton Beach
    • Nobby's Beach
    • Newcastle Beach
    • Newcastle Ocean Baths
    • Bar Beach
    • Dixon Park Beach
    • Merewether Beach
    • Merewether Ocean Baths
    • Redhead Beach
    • Blacksmiths Beach
    • Caves Beach

Transport

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The annual Newcastle Buses Christmas Bus

The city is serviced by two railway lines, including hourly train services to Sydney and also twice per hour services to Maitland and less frequently to Scone and Dungog . The Newcastle Airport is only 15 km north of the city, a 20 minute drive, this is extremely convenient, as the airport is now quite large, servicing major domestic airlines such as Virgin Blue, Qantas and Jetstar. There is also a major Air Force base. State Transit operates an extensive bus service throughout Newcastle and suburbs. The service is growing in popularity, with more people opting to take the bus over their cars. There is a free bus service in the inner-city, allowing people to get around the CBD much quicker.


Charlestown

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SKY Central

Charlestown, a suburb 10 km south of the CBD, can be likened to Sydney's Chatswood, in relation to Chatswood being the major development and business district outside of the Sydney CBD. In the past year Charlestown has been developing rapidly, with the completion of the Alto Tower, a nine story block of premium apartments. Sky Central Charlestown, and The Landmark, both highrise commercial and apartment blocks, expect to be completed around 2007.




Honeysuckle

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Honeysuckle Map

The Honeysuckle Development Corporation was established in 1992 to redevelop disused government land along Newcastle Harbour with the aim of creating a vibrant place for people to work, live and play. The land being utilised was mainly industrial and largely inaccessible to the community, cutting off the harbour from the city. The 50 hectares Honeysuckle is bringing to life is close to Newcastle’s CBD and is contributing to the revitalisation of the city by creating jobs, generating investment and attracting people to the area.





Notable Novacastrians

See also

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