Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Newcastle

Newcastle

Newcastle, New South Wales' second largest city and the seventh largest in Australia is located 160km north of Sydney and at the mouth of the Hunter River. Established in 1804 after coal deposits were found by land explorers, the area was chosen as a convict settlement due to its initial isolation and from the ability to work prisoners. The town remained small until settlers eventually moved north from Sydney forcing the convict settlement to move further north to Port Macquarie. At this time, an official township site was surveyed and growth was strong as people flocked to work in the mines which eventually built up the town into an importance service centre for the Hunter region. In 1911, BHP chose Newcastle for its steel works and the plant soon became the city's chief industry as coal mining operations dwindled. At this time, the port was expanded to facilitate ship building and greater capacity for exports. Only up until recent times has the importance of steel on Newcastle's economy started to decline, but other industries such as manufacturing, retail and tourism have slowly become more prominent.
The city itself is quite attractive - set amongst a series of rolling hills, expansive surf beaches and headlands to the east with the Hunter River forming the northern extremity, Newcastle is filled with 19th century architecture as a result of strong growth from the 1850's. Many of the original buildings remain and blend in well with the modern buildings amongst the narrow and, at times steep CBD. Highlights in the area include: Nobbys Head & Fort Scratchley Maritime Museum (2km east); Queens Wharf precinct; Newcastle and Bar Beaches (2km south); Lookouts from The Obelisk & Shepherds Hill; Lake Macquarie (20km south-east) and King Edward, Civic & Foreshore Parks. A recommended destination.

Population: 335,000
State: New South Wales
Name Origin: Named after the English city of the same name.
Pronunciation: New-car-sel
Postcode: 2300
Local Government: Newcastle City Council
Location: 163km north of Sydney
Main Roads: Sydney-Newcastle Freeway , Pacific Highway , New England Highway
Main Watercourses: South Pacific Ocean, Hunter River
Radio Stations (Music): KO-FM (102.9), New FM (105.3), NX-FM (106.9), Triple J (102.1), Sea FM (101.3), 2GO-FM (107.7), Star FM (104.5)

Photos from Newcastle (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Looking west along King St from Steel Street, Newcastle (2005).

King Street, looking west from Wheeler Place - Town Hall is on the right, Newcastle (2005).

King Street, looking west from Newcomen Street, Newcastle (2005).

Hunter Street, looking west from Darby Street, Newcastle (2005).

View west along the Hunter Street Mall from Newcomen Street, Newcastle (2005).

Newcomen Street, looking north as it approaches Hunter Street, Newcastle (2005).

Watt Street, looking north as it approaches Hunter Street - the Customs House in on the right in the distance, Newcastle (2005).

Looking north down the steep Bolton Street between Hunter and King Streets, Newcastle (2005).

Newcomen Street, looking north towards Church Street - the Hunter River is in the distance, Newcastle (2005).

Wharf Road, looking south-west in Newcastle (2005).

Looking south-west towards Wharf Road, Customs House and foreshore parkland adjacent to Kings Wharf, Newcastle (2005).

View west across Kings Wharf and the Hunter River, Newcastle (2005).

View west across the Hunter River with Queens Wharf in the distance, Newcastle (2005).

Newcastle Beach, looking south-west from Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle (2005).

Shortland Esplanade, looking west on the northern edge of Newcastle Beach (2005).

Memorial Drive, looking south-west towards Bar Beach and Merewether from the Strzelecki Scenic Lookout, Newcastle (2005).

Bar Beach, looking south-west from Shepherds Hill, Newcastle (2005).

The Obelisk, looking south-west in Arcadia Park, Newcastle (2005).

View west across Adamstown and western Newcastle from Strzelecki Lookout, Newcastle (2005).

View north-west across Newcastle CBD & Newcastle West from The Obelisk Lookout (2005).

View north across Newcastle CBD, the Hunter River with the NSW Grain Corp in the distance (silos) from the Strzelecki Lookout, Newcastle (2005).

Hannell Street, looking south-east from Greenway St, Newcastle (2005).

Industrial Drive, looking west as it approaches Tourle Street, Mayfield (2005).

Maitland Road, looking south-east from the Hanbury Street junction, Mayfield (2005).

The Pacific Highway, heading south-east from Hexham (2005).

	Looking west along King St from Steel Street, Newcastle (2005).
	King Street, looking west from Wheeler Place - Town Hall is on the right, Newcastle (2005).
	King Street, looking west from Newcomen Street, Newcastle (2005).
	Hunter Street, looking west from Darby Street, Newcastle (2005).
	View west along the Hunter Street Mall from Newcomen Street, Newcastle (2005).
	Newcomen Street, looking north as it approaches Hunter Street, Newcastle (2005).
	Watt Street, looking north as it approaches Hunter Street - the Customs House in on the right in the distance, Newcastle (2005).
	Looking north down the steep Bolton Street between Hunter and King Streets, Newcastle (2005).
	Newcomen Street, looking north towards Church Street - the Hunter River is in the distance, Newcastle (2005).
	Wharf Road, looking south-west in Newcastle (2005).
	Looking south-west towards Wharf Road, Customs House and foreshore parkland adjacent to Kings Wharf, Newcastle (2005).
	View west across Kings Wharf and the Hunter River, Newcastle (2005).
	View west across the Hunter River with Queens Wharf in the distance, Newcastle (2005).
	Newcastle Beach, looking south-west from Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle (2005).
	Shortland Esplanade, looking west on the northern edge of Newcastle Beach (2005).
	Memorial Drive, looking south-west towards Bar Beach and Merewether from the Strzelecki Scenic Lookout, Newcastle (2005).
	Bar Beach, looking south-west from Shepherds Hill, Newcastle (2005).
	The Obelisk, looking south-west in Arcadia Park, Newcastle (2005).
	View west across Adamstown and western Newcastle from Strzelecki Lookout, Newcastle (2005).
	View north-west across Newcastle CBD & Newcastle West from The Obelisk Lookout (2005).
	View north across Newcastle CBD, the Hunter River with the NSW Grain Corp in the distance (silos) from the Strzelecki Lookout, Newcastle (2005).
	Hannell Street, looking south-east from Greenway St, Newcastle (2005).
	Industrial Drive, looking west as it approaches Tourle Street, Mayfield (2005).
	Maitland Road, looking south-east from the Hanbury Street junction, Mayfield (2005).
	The Pacific Highway, heading south-east from Hexham (2005).