major prison in NSW with over a thousand convicts. An early Australian novel, Ralph

Rashleigh (written in the 1840s), by ex-convict James Tucker, describes dung-eating,

flogging and murder at the penal colony.

The settlement remained small but it did start to develop. In 1816 a public school was

built at East Newcastle (the oldest public school in Australia) and the following year

both a gaol and a hospital were erected, though no buildings survive from this

rough-and-ready period.

The convict settlement only lasted for twenty years. The gradual movement of settlers

up the coast and inland around the Hawkesbury meant that the original isolation of

the 'undesirable elements' disappeared. The convicts were moved further up the

coast to Port Macquarie in 1823 as settlement of the Hunter Valley began.

When the town site was surveyed in 1822-23 there were 71 convict homes and 13

government buildings. The government initially managed the mines but the Australian

Agricultural Company acquired sole rights to the coal in 1828 and opened the first

modern colliery in 1831.

By the 1850s the industrial base of the city had been established and the commercial

sector began to grow. Demand built up with the growth and the

development of the rail system (extended to Maitland in 1857). Newcastle rapidly became

a major coal producer, port and railhead. Mining villages such as Stockton, Carrington,

 Cardiff, Swansea, Charlestown, Minmi, New Lambton, Wallsend, Hamilton, Adamstown,

Abermain, Gateshead, Merewether and Waratah began to develop. Some of these names

reflected the fact that many early immigrants were coalminers from northern England,

Scotland and Wales.

Copper smelting, potteries, shipbuilding, engineering and metal-working diversified

the economic base. The extension of the rail system into the Hunter Valley also meant

that Newcastle increasingly became a major service centre for the agricultural areas.

The prosperity of the 1870s and 1880s saw a flurry of substantial buildings emerge

engendering a strong heritage of Victorian architecture. The population increased eight-fold

between 1860 and 1890 and by the turn of the century it exceeded 50 000.

A major moment in Newcastle's history occurred in 1911 when BHP chose the city as the

site for its steelworks due to the abundance of coal. It opened in 1915 with the government

providing port facilities and roadways. The city was soon reoriented from coal to a

predominant emphasis on steel production, iron-smelting and subsidiary industries.

Steel remained the lifeblood of the city but, despite record company profits, BHP, in 1997,

announced plans to abandon most aspects of its steelmaking operations in Newcastle

in the year 2000. However, the phase-out has been gradual and other aspects of the

local manufacturing sector are still strong. Retail trade, health and education are the other

major employment sectors.

 

THINGS TO SEE

1.NEWCASTLE EAST AND THE HEADLAND

Tourist Information

People who don't know Newcastle are always surprised at how many different activities the

city offers. A logical place to start is the visitors' centre which is situated at 363 Hunter Street

(on Wheeler Place). The staff are knowledgeable and very helpful, tel: (02) 4974 2999 or contact

them via email at tourism@ncc.nsw.gov.au

 

The Famous Tram

A 45-minute overview of the city, its major tourist attractions, convict past, fort, gaol etc,

with an informative commentary, is provided aboard Newcastle's Famous Tram, a replica

 tram from the days when they were a major means of intracity transport. It departs from

Newcastle Railway Station (cnr Watt and and Scott Sts) twice a day, 10am and 1pm. The

tram runs a service to the Hunter Vallley on weekends. Ring (02) 4963 7954 for prices or

contact them via email at tram@castle.net.au

 

Former Police Station

Walk east (towards the ocean) along Scott St. At 92 Scott St, opposite Pacific St, is the fine

old stationmaster's residence (1858). Beautifully restored it has fine iron columns supporting

a porch with very ornate cast-iron lacework. Opposite, at the corner of Pacific and Scott Sts,

is a building partially obscured by hedges and trees. It is the former Newcastle East Police

Station (1880) built as a water police residence.

 

The Old Courthouse Column and Coal Mining Monument

Head east along Scott St. Near its end Parnell Place runs off to the left. This thoroughfare

was hit by shells from a Japanese submarine in 1942. To the immediate right is a small

park wherein lies a large column. This belonged to the old courthouse (1841) on the corner

of Bolton and Hunter Sts which was demolished in 1899 to make way for the post office.

At the end of Parnell Place is a complex intersection, to the side of which is a monument

to Newcastle's coalmining and shipping industries with a series of plaques depicting the

evolution and interaction of both industries.

 

Fort Scratchley and Maritime Museum

From this intersection a small driveway heads up the steep hill to Fort Scratchley which is

perched atop a large knoll that lies immediately behind, and overlooking, Nobbys Beach,

the headland and the river mouth. Called Braithwaite's Head by Lt. Shortland in 1797 this

eminence was later known by various names (Fort Fiddlesticks to the convicts). Being an

obvious place for a warning beacon, a signal mast was set up in 1804, earning it the name

Signal Hill. It was replaced by a coal-fire beacon in 1813 which burned until Nobbys

Lighthouse was set up in 1858.

The army gained use of the site from 1843 and it was, for some time, used as a training

 ground. When fear of a Russian invasion gripped the colony in the 1870s it was decided

that Newcastle, because of its strategic importance as a coal and steel producer, needed

to be properly fortified. The fort, designed by Lt-Col. Peter Scratchley, was built between

1881 and 1886 though it was, of course, upgraded in the twentieth century. The Heritage

 of Australia notes that Fort Scratchley 'is one of only two examples of late 19th-century

military fortifications in New South Wales'.

The fort¹s moment came in June 1942 when a Japanese submarine attacked Newcastle

which, as a coal port, was an obvious target. The guns of the fort (which, at this point, had

been waiting for action for sixty five years) then fired the only shots ever launched at an

enemy vessel from the Australian mainland.

The military finally departed from the site in 1972 and it is now the Newcastle Region Maritime

and Military Museum, open from 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. every day but Monday. Displays

include the Boat Gallery, a carronade gun from 1762, a torpedo (they're bigger than you might

think), items salvaged from the French barque Adolphe which was wrecked on the northern

breakwater in 1904 (and which can still be seen at times) and the Time Ball, which stood atop

Customs House from 1877 to the 1940s, and which was lowered at exactly 1.00 p.m. each

afternoon to allow ships to check their chronometers.

In the rock platform below Fort Scratchley are the ocean pools known as the Soldiers Baths,

built in 1882.

 

Nobbys

Immediately below Fort Scratchley, off the roundabout at the end of Nobbys Rd, is a kiosk

 and a large carpark adjacent Harbourside Park. From this point a very narrow finger of land

extends out from the mainland to the knoll known as Nobbys Head whereon sits a lighthouse

standing sentinel over the southern side of the Hunter estuary. Beyond the headland the rocky

mass of the southern breakwater lends a sheltering arm to ships entering the harbour.

Captain Cook, passing up the coast in 1770 described Nobbys as a 'small round rock or Island,

 laying close under the land'. This refers to the fact that it was then disconnected entirely from

the mainland.

Lieutenant Shortland sought shelter at Nobbys while searching for escaped convicts in 1797

and named it Hackings Point. There he found coal and this resulted in a subsequent visit by

Lt James Grant who called it Coal Island. Coal was mined there until 1817 but the hillock was

 known as Nobbys by 1810.

Utilising convict labour and rock fill from the Fort Scratchley area, work began on the

construction of a pier out to the island in 1818, thought to be the oldest rock-fill breakwater

 in the Southern Hemisphere. It was named Macquarie Pier after Governor Macquarie who

 laid the foundation stone. Work was halted in 1823, recommenced in 1836 using rocks from

Nobbys, completed in 1846 and rebuilt in 1864. In 1855 Nobbys was reduced in size from

61 m to 27 m and the lighthouse erected in 1857 to replace the coal-fire beacon of Fort Scratchley.

 The original lighthouse was designed by Edmund Blacket though it has since been replaced

You can walk along this artificial promontory, with Nobbys Beach to your right, past the lighthouse

and along the breakwater to its terminus, from whence there are excellent views across to the

 northern breakwater which extends outwards from the southern end of Stockton Beach, a

massive stretch of sandy shoreline which you can see trailing off in a north-easterly direction

to Port Stephens. Not far from the northern breakwater, clearly visible on the shoreline of the

beach, is the 1974 wreck of the Sygna.

Towards the end of the pier are five bas-relief sculptures reflecting upon various aspects

of Newcastle and its history.

Walking back towards the mainland the remnants of some more military fortifications are

clearly apparent on Nobbys, though they are not very accessible.

2.THE FORESHORE

If you look to your right, as you return along Nobbys Head towards the mainland, you will

see tiny Horseshoe Beach facing east out to the ocean. The rock wall adjacent Horseshoe

 Beach is a popular fishing spot. It lies at the tip of the harbourside area now officially known

as The Foreshore.

Start walking in a westerly direction along The Foreshore. At the end of the rocky section is

an area known as the Boat Harbour, a stone harbour constructed between 1866 and 1873.

It contains the Pilot Station, established in 1866, and the Tug Wharf and has been used

continuously for over one hundred years. The earliest pilot station was a convict-manned

whaleboat which commenced operations in 1812. Tugs still take the huge coal and container

ships from the ocean up the estuary to their moorings. Beyond the pilot station is King's Wharf.

The large section of adjacent grassy parkland is Harbourside Park. The enormous barbecue and

shelter shed in the park was originally a railway shed (c.1880) as this area was once the site

of the Newcastle East Marshalling Yard. The gigantic yellow building looming over the park

at its southern fringe (in Stevenson Place) is the former John Bull Warehouse (c.1890).

There is a pond in the park known as the Frog Pond which, in its original form, was a well

fed by a freshwater spring. It was the major source of freshwater for the first European

settlers. Convicts once carried 100 gallons of water a day to the prison in Scott St and ships

docking in the harbour used it to restock supplies.

The original shoreline of 1797 lay close to this site, drawing attention to the fact that the

harbour foreshores are entirely man-made and bare little resemblance to the way the Hunter

was prior to the 19th century. They were constructed from about 1840 with material supplied

by ship's ballast, the dredging of the river mouth and sand taken from the dunes of Newcastle East.

 

Queen's Wharf

Walk westwards along Wharf Rd and you will come to Queens Wharf. The observation tower,

which is linked, via a walkway, to the city mall offers an excellent view up the Hunter River and

across the city. There is also a marina, a ferry wharf (you can cross the Hunter on the Stockton

ferry - a pleasant 15-minute trip), a tavern, boutique brewery, cafe and restaurant.

 

Great North Walk and the Yuelarbah Track

A plaque on the tower indicates that this is also the end point of the 250-km Great North Walk

from Sydney Cove through the Hunter Valley to Newcastle, a 14-day walk taking in a wide range

of environments and attractions, both natural and man-made. It can be broken down into smaller

subsections, such as the Yuelarbah Track (the local section) which covers 25 km. Contact the tourist

information centre for a brochure.

 

The William IV and Merewether St Wharf

Just a little further west along Wharf Rd are the Merewether St wharves where, on the third

Sunday of each month, the William IV, a replica of the first Australian built coastal steamer,

departs at 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. for a cruise around the harbour, tel: (02) 4926 1200.

The original vessel was built near Clarencetown and the replica was constructed at Raymond Terrace.

The industrial area of Carrington lies on the other side of the harbour. Directly opposite the

wharves is the state dockyard. To the left of that you will see The Basin receding to the north.

On the corner of Wharf Rd and Argyle St is Argyle House, the former headquarters of the

Australian Agricultural Co. (c.1883). It has some particularly fine cast-iron lacework around the

eaves and columns.

 

3.THE SOUTHERN COASTLINE

Newcastle Beach

Newcastle Beach lies off Shortland Esplanade which follows the coastline south from Fort

Scratchley down to King Edward Park. There is safe swimming from in front of the surf club

at the northern end of the beach. Also at the northern end is a large ocean bath and the

canoe pool - an old, large and safe children's wading pool. The southern end is noted for

its surfing. Indeed the Surfest Surfing Competition is held annually on Newcastle Beach in April.

King Edward Park

There is an army fortification zone on the hilltop at the southern end of King Edward Park.

The military remnants can be seen near the carpark at the crest of the street known as

'The Terrace. The fortifications were established in 1890 but rebuilt during World War II

when it was known as Park Battery. A cement fortess and a series of pillboxes remain

though they are now crumbling and marked by graffiti.

From this point there are good views eastwards over the ocean where there are usually

dozens of ships queueing for entrance into the harbour. To the north are Newcastle Beach,

Nobbys Head, the two breakwaters which superintend the river estuary and, beyond that,

Stockton Beach. Within the river mouth the Hunter recedes north-west into the distance

and northwards into Stockton Channel where it passes under Stockton Bridge while Throsby

 Creek snakes its serpentine way to the south-west. As you gaze down towards the harbour

you can see an obelisk at the far end of the park, Newcastle Anglican Cathedral towering

atop an intervening hill and the weight of heavy industry encamped implacably about the

estuary voiding its bowels to the sky.

Wander down The Terrace, observing the fine Victorian terrace houses (c.1890) which give

the street its name. At the bottom of The Terrace turn right into Reserve Rd then take the

left into Wolfe St. There is a signposted set of steps to your right leading up to The Obelisk

situated atop a hill from whence there are excellent views. A windmill built on this site in

1820 became a major navigational aide for shipping. Its demolition in 1847 provoked protests

from mariners and, consequently, the obelisk was erected as an alternative marker in 1850.

An early water reservoir was situated under this spot in 1885.

Looking south, back down into the gully, there is a lovely octagonal band rotunda (1898) with

finial, columns, balustrades and intricate lacework, all of cast iron, as well as a frieze around

the base. This depression was once the site of a paddock for Australian Agricultural Company

horses which worked in an adjacent pit (at the corner of Bingle St and Anzac Parade). It now

features a sunken garden.

If you walk along Reserve Rd to the fencing on the hillside you will find a road alignment post

on the far side dating from 1864, together with an explanatory plaque.

 

One of the roadways which winds through the park leads down to the Bogey Hole at the

very bottom of the cliffs below the fortifications. This large excavation in the rocks tells us

something of the nature of Newcastle in the early 19th century. It is, in fact, a bathing pool

which was built by convict labour for the personal pleasure of Major James T. Morriset, the

military commandant from 1819-1822 who did much to improve the breakwater, roads and

barracks in the settlement. Known for many years as Commandant's Bath it became a public

pool in 1863. As one stands and watches the waves ceaselessly washing over the pool the

extent of the achievement and the grossness of the indulgence becomes apparent, for the

convicts must have dug this hole between waves, waste high in water.

Shepherds Hill

Just south of King Edward Park the land continues to rise to a high point atop Shepherds Hill.

The name presumably derives from Lt-Col. Paterson's 1801 survey report, in which he named

it Sheep Pasture Hill after the English associations its appearance stirred in him. Strzelecki Lookout,

atop the hill, is named in honour of the Polish geologist and explorer whose chemical analyses and

research into coal deposits from 1839-45 influenced the development of the region.

Looking southwards from this excellent vantage point the form of the coastline is clear: a series of

beaches separated by rocky chunks of headland which rise steeply above the waterline. These

bluffs range in size from small headlands to sizeable stretches of coastline. To be more specific,

as one gazes southwards, the tiny beach near the southern end of Shepherds Hill is Susan

Gilmore Beach, then there is Bar Beach followed by a small rocky outcrop, on the other side of

which are Dixon Park Beach and Merewether Beach. Next is a major headland, followed by

Burwood Beach, a small promontory known as Little Redhead Pt, Dudley Beach, then a lengthy

strip of escarpment and finally Redhead Beach which becomes Nine Mile Beach on its sojourn to

the Swansea area at the mouth of Lake Macquarie.

Looking westwards the view extends over Newcastle West, Hamilton, Broadmeadow, Waratah,

Jesmond and on to the mountains. The north-eastern tip of Newcastle is obscured though it is

possible to follow the south-westerly course of Throsby Creek and to discern the belching smokestacks

of the Mayfield steelworks.

Hang-gliding is very common from the hilltops, particularly off Shepherds Hill.

Susan Gilmore Beach and Bar Beach

Memorial Drive follows the rim of Shepherds Hill south past another carpark and lookout

area to Bar Beach, a popular and patrolled family beach behind which is Empire Park. From

the northernmost end of Bar Beach there is access to tiny Susan Gilmore Beach, named

after an American ship which was wrecked there. It is separated from Bar Beach by the

protrusion of Shepherds Hill's southern end; a degree of isolation which makes it popular

with those seeking a more complete tan.

Dixon Park Beach and Merewether

At the southern end of Bar Beach a small headland separates it from Dixon Park which

abuts Dixon Park Beach - another patrolled family beach, the southern end of which is

known as Merewether Beach. There is a fine and very large ocean pool at its far end,

said to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The carpark above Merewether Beach

offers good views northwards to Shepherds Hill.

In European terms Merewether was initially part of the Burwood Estate which belonged to

James Mitchell who commenced coalmining here in the 1840s. He built a copper smelter and

later added a rail link to the Newcastle wharves.

Merewether Heights and Hillcrest

From here the main road (Scenic Drive) climbs steeply to Merewether Heights. There are

good views westwards over the sprawl of suburban Newcastle. Not far from the road, to

the right, on a hillside surrounded by trees, is an historic and very attractive mansion known

as Hillcrest (it is the only distinctive building to be seen and is a light mustard colour

characterised by numerous gables).

It was built by Edward Merewether, after whom the area is named, in 1861. Merewether came

to NSW in 1838 as aide-de-camp to Governor Gipps, became Mitchell's son-in-law and was

superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company from 1861 to 1875.

Near the top of the hill take the sharp left into Hickson St for more fine views along the coastline.

From here the land drops again down into Murdering Gully.

Yuelarbah and Burwood Beach

Scenic Rd soon rejoins the Pacific Highway. About 1.5 km south, turn left into Kahibah Rd then

 left again into Burwood Rd. As you drive south along Burwood Rd watch for the railway line

across the road. Tiny Kahibah Station is to the right. Just past the line, to the left, is the

Yuelarbah Picnic Area and walking track which leads through dense bushland along Flaggy

Creek to Glenrock Lagoon and on to Burwood Beach (2.5 km). This is part of the aforementioned

Great North Walk which leads on to Newcastle (8.9 km) and, in the other direction, for those who

are feeling fit, to Sydney Cove (241 km).

Glenrock Recreation Area and Dudley Beach

Further south along Burwood Rd there is a good view to the left down to Dudley Beach and the

tankers entering or leaving Newcastle Harbour. Just beyond this point there is a left turn into

Dudley Beach Rd (the signpost says Glenrock Recreation Area) which leads down to a large

carpark behind Dudley Beach, another fine stretch of coastline which feels quite remote and

un-suburban. This is a very pleasant spot with wooded slopes rising to the west and high

headlands demarcating either end of the beach. There are usually around two dozen tankers offshore.

Awabakal Nature Reserve

At the southern end of Dudley Beach is a stretch of rocky coastline which forms the eastern

boundary of Awabakal (pronounced 'ar-wob-a-cawl') Nature Reserve, 200 ha of freshwater

swamps and creeks, sheltered gullies, wet sclerophyll forest, wet and dry heath, rock platform

and a variety of animal life, as well as Aboriginal middens and campsites. There are several

lagoons and an old quarry site which can be reached by means of walking trails which also

lead out to Dudley Bluff on the coastline.

These walking tracks depart from the end of Collier St, Redhead, and from the ends of both

Boundary St and Ocean St, Dudley. However, they are not clearly signposted and hence it is

advisable to ring the local ranger on (02) 4942 6311 in advance of any prospective visit in

order to clarify matters.

Redhead Beach

Just south of Awabakal, at the end of Beach Rd, is Redhead Beach, a fine surfing beach that

extends southwards as Nine Mile Beach to the Swansea area. There were once several

farms within this intervening stetch of land. An orchard existed at Redhead in the 1860s

but the area was later given over to mining. The pit was located adjacent Redhead beach

with a jetty for shipment up to Newcastle harbour.

4. NATURAL ATTRACTIONS - NON-COASTAL

Blackbutt Reserve

Nothing more could give the lie to the notion that Newcastle is an exclusively industrial

area than Blackbutt Reserve, one of the highlights of any trip to Newcastle. This beautiful

area (180 ha) of tall blackbutt forest, woodland and rainforest pockets contains a wealth

of flora, birdlife and other animals well within the boundaries of suburban Newcastle,

south-west of the city and due south of Lambton. The surrounding vegetation is quite

dense and lush with a good canopy, perhaps a reminder of how the land here looked

before white settlement. The strange sounds of the Australian bush are quite astonishingly

loud and clear at dusk. What is more it is all free.

The main and by far the best recreation area is the elaborately developed Black Duck Picnic

Area at the southern end of Carnley Ave (which constitutes the eastern boundary of the reserve),

not far from its intersection with Charlestown Rd. There is a large carpark, a very large, open

grassed area for play with childrens' recreational facilities, toilets and shelter sheds, a

pioneer cottage which replicates the rough style of domestic housing utilised by early and

mid-nineteenth century settlers, a large pond with a range of waterbirds, a very large enclosure

full of kangaroos, emus, euros and peacocks and, finally, a fenced-off wildlife exhibit

which is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily.

With regards to the latter a wooden pathway leads past a series of observation platforms

which overlook enclosures within which are some beautiful and brilliantly coloured bird

species including the appropriately-named black-winged stilt, the very peculiar rufous

night heron, turquoise and king parrots, rosellas, coucals, curlews, the crested pigeon

with its peculiar mating dance, the tiny and delicate peaceful dove and the lustrous

tropical colours of the lorikeets. The walkway leads to a larger viewing area which encircles

an enclosure full of koalas in tree forks. Beyond it is a rocky ledge occupied by wallabies and

wallaroos.

Near the carpark is a large signpost which features a map of the whole reserve with its

access points and its walking trails, their points of origin and termination and their lengths.

From the southern end of the Black Duck carpark is a signpost indicating the circular Main

Ridge Walk (2.4 km), which also takes in the picnic area adjacent Lookout Rd, and the

Rainforest Walk (2 km). Another trail behind the kangaroo enclosure heads off to the

northern picnic areas. They can also be reached by driving north along Carnley Ave and

turning left into Orchardtown Rd. The third left is Freyberg St, at the end of which lies Richley

Reserve.

If you continue to the end of Orchardtown Rd then turn left into Queens Rd you will come to

the Mahogany Picnic Area from whence there are more signposted walking tracks, although

this area is more thinly vegetated, less interesting and not so well maintained. However,

if you follow the road around the corner as it becomes Mahogany Drive then a driveway to

the right leads to a very pleasant clearing with a readily identifiable walking path which starts

you on the circular Tall Tree Ridge Walk (45 minutes) through very tall open forest and woodlands.

There is another well-signposted recreation area on the eastern side of Lookout Rd. This

section has two levels. There is a picnic area just off Lookout Rd which is the starting point

for the Lookout Walk (20 minutes), supposedly offering spectacular views, though

sometimes the dense tree growth obscures the vista. A subsidiary road leads down to

the Main Ridge Picnic Area from whence signposted walking trails head off into the very

attractive and quite dense bushland, ranging in length from the very pleasant Senses Track

(150 m) through the Rainforest Walk (1.5 km) to the Main Ridge Walk. For further information

ring (02) 4952 1449.

Shortland Wetlands Centre

The Wetlands Centre is a 45-hectare area on the edge of Hexham Swamp which has been

 returned to its natural state after spells as a rubbish dump and a football club in the days

when marshland was regarded as waste ground. There are walking trails, ranging from

300 m to 1.6 km, interpretation trails with help stations, a bicycle trail (3 km - also suitable

for walking) which takes in an old Aboriginal stone manufactory site, a canoe trail along

Ironbark Creek and its tributaries, bicycle and canoe hire (or bring your own), picnic and

barbecue facilities, ands a visitors' centre where there is a theatrette, a classroom/laboratory

(the centre caters for schools and research groups), a cafe and souvenirs for sale.

There are around 170 species of birds on the grounds, including about 30 which breed on-site.

Some, such as the freckled duck and magpie geese are rare or endangered. Other species

include black swans, ibis, superb blue wrens, nankeen night herons, brown honey sparrows,

little grebes, yellow-faced honeyeaters, dusky moorhens, red-rumped parrots, willy wagtails,

swamp hens and egrets. The latter nest in paperbark trees in summer and can be viewed

from a special viewing tower (bring your binoculars). There are also reptiles, amphibians, mammals,

insects, fish and other pond life.

To get there turn south off the highway at Sandgate along Wallsend Rd which becomes Sandgate Rd,

then turn right at the roundabout. For furter information contact the Centre on (02) 4951 6466 or

twc@wetlands.org.au. They are open seven days from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Mt Sugarloaf Lookout

Main Rd, which heads west off Lookout Rd adjacent Blackbutt Reserve, becomes George Booth

Drive near West Wallsend and continues on beyond Seahampton, at the outskirts of Newcastle,

towards Kurri Kurri. Just beyond Seahampton is a signposted turnoff to the left into Mt Sugarloaf Rd

which takes you to the top of Mt Sugarloaf itself where, at 412 m above sea-level, there are picnic

and barbecue areas, several walking tracks (ranging from 275 m to 1.6 km) and some magnificent

views of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Lower Hunter Valley. The two large steel structures at

the top are TV transmitters.

 

5. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

Located at 787 Hunter St, Newcastle West, Newcastle Regional Museum is a large modern centre

housed within an old brewery with a range of displays relating to the industrial and technological

heritage of the city, including a major coalmining exhibition, items of social history and, perhaps its

greatest attraction, the Supernova Science Centre - a very much child-oriented, hands-on,

interactive science display on the top floor which includes Mininova for 3 to 8 year olds. It is

open every day but Mondays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and entry is free, contact (02) 4974 1400

or nrmuseum@ncc.nsw.gov.au

Activities Centres

There are a number of activities centres of different types in the larger Newcastle area.

Go Karts Go is located at Energy Australia Stadium in Broadmeadow (tel: 02 4952 9129),

Newcastle Supa Putt, at the corner of Turton Rd and Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow (tel: 02 4952 1344), .

To contact Newcastle Paintball ring 1800 633 317.

Art Galleries

The major art gallery in Newcastle is Newcastle Region Art Gallery in Laman St. Newcastle's

 major gallery it houses over 3000 works, focusing principally on Australian art dating back

 to the colonial period, with works by Arthur Streeton, William Dobell, Russell Drysdale,

Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Brett Whiteley. There are also fine collections of Australian and

Japanese 20th-century ceramics and Aboriginal bark paintings from Arnhem Land. The gallery is

beautifully situated in leafy surroundings opposite Civic Park and is open every day but Monday

 from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. , contact (02) 4974 5100

The Von Bertouch Galleries are also on Laman St (no. 61) and they are open Friday to

Monday and by appointment, contact (02) 4929 3584. Outback Art at 64 Industrial Drive, Mayfield,

is housed in Simpson's Cottage built in 1852 by local stonemason William McNulty who built

several churches in the area. They are open weekends or by appointment, contact (02) 4963 3229

or outbackart1@bigpond.com

Others include the John Paynter Gallery at 90 Hunter St (tel: 02 4925 2265), Back to Back

Galleries at 57 Bull St (tel: 02 4929 3677), Studio 48 Art Gallery in Mackie Ave, (tel: 02 4956 4515),

the Watt Space Gallery at the corner of King and Auckland Sts, (tel: 02 4921 8733), the John

Earle Studio at 126 Glebe Rd, Merewether (tel: 02 4965 3121), the Steep Stairs Art Gallery at

96 Glebe Rd, The Junction (tel: 02 4965 4494), and three in Cooks Hill: the Cooks Hill Gallery

at 67 Bull St (tel: 4926 3899), the Gibson St Gallery at 15 Gibson St (tel: 02 4929 3070), and

the Wide Horizons Gallery at 144 Darby St, tel: (02) 4929 6883.

Tours and Explorations

There are numerous tour operators who offer trips to various types of attractions in various

different areas aboard various modes of transport. As previously mentioned the William IV,

a replica steamer, departs from the Merewether St Wharf at 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. for a

cruise around the harbour on the third Sunday of each month, contact (02) 4926 1200.

Newcastle's Famous Tram departs from Newcastle Railway Station on the hour between 10.00 a.m.

and 2.00 p.m., seven days a week for a 45-minute tour of the city, its major tourist attractions

and its heritage sites, together with a running commentary. There is an additional 3.00 p.m.

tour during school holidays but the service does not operate at all on public holidays, contact (02) 4963 7954.

Horizon Safaris conduct 4WD tours from Newcastle north through Stockton Beach up to Port

Stephens or through the vineyards of Port Stephens and the Lower Hunter, as well as a tour

through the heritage of Morpeth, contact (02) 4982 6328. Scenic Tours Australia are located at

50 Hunter St, Newcastle, contact (02) 4929 4333. Hunter Valley Day Tours offer a range of

guided 4WD tours of the Hunter Valley complete with commentary. They pick up clients from anywhere.

Bookings are necessary, contact (02) 4938 5031. Hunter and District Excursions are based in

Mayfield (tel: 02 4967 5969 or email: Gmorganhades@aol.com) while Sand Safaris Active Adventure

Tours explore areas such as Stockton Beach (tel: 02 4965 0215 or info@sandsafaris.com.au).

Local history walks and talks are conducted by Carole Frazer, tel: (02) 4967 5969. Two books

concerning local walking trails are Walks in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, and Coastal Walks

from Newcastle to Sydney, both by Ken Scott.

Events

Some of Newcastle's major annual events include the Newcastle Maritime Festival (January),

 the Newcastle Longboard Pro Am (February), the Newcastle Regional Show, Surfest and the

Autumn Racing Carnival (March), the Beaumont St Jazz and Arts Festival (April), the Shoot Out

Film-making Competition and the Hunter St Festival of Sport (July), the Conservatorium Keyboard

Festival, the Newcastle Jazz Festival and the Newcastle Cathedral Flower Festival (August), the

Spring Horse Racing Carnival, the Newcastle Cathedral Festival and the Newcastle Young Writers

Festival (September), Fiesta (in Beaumont St, Hamilton), Mattara (aka the Festival of Newcastle)

and the Mattara Hill Climb in King Edward Park (October), the King St Fair and Carols By Candlelight (December).

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