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Newcastle
lies approximately 160 kilometres north of Sydney,
a journey of two
and a half hours
by CityRail train.
It is a city which
can be visited as
a day trip from Sydney.
Direct trains leave
from Central Station
every hour during
the main part of
the day. On the way,
you will have some
beautiful views of
mountains and rivers,
particularly the
area around the Hawkesbury
River.
Newcastle is the seventh
largest city in Australia
and is the largest city
which is not a state
or federal capital. It
has a population of approximately
300,000. Newcastle was
founded on 30th March
1804 as a penal settlement,
so has a selection of
buildings, old by Australian
standards, as well as
beaches, surf, impressive
coastal scenery, bushland
and a well-known lake.
It is also an important
port, especially for
the export of coal, of
which resource some 70
million tonnes passes
through the city annually.
Most of the attractions
of Newcastle are within
walking distance of the
station, Customs House
is just to the east of
the railway station.
It has a clock tower
with a time ball on top.
Since Customs House was
constructed in 1876,
the ball was dropped
every day at 13:00 as
a visual time signal.
However, since the earthquake
it has not worked properly.
The building is now used
as a pub and restaurant.
Next to it is the old
Paymaster’s Office
for New South Wales Government
Railways, dating from
1879. It also is now
a restaurant. Beyond
these two buildings is
the site of the former
Convict Lumber Yards.
This is the oldest surviving
example of a convict
industrial site. It was
in operation between
1814 and 1846. Moreover,
beneath it is an aboriginal
site which dates back
several thousands of
years.
Further on still is
Foreshore Park, an area
which used to be railway
yards, but now has been
transformed into a park,
with the old warehouses
used as shops and restaurants.
To its eastern side is
Fort Scratchley, constructed
in 1882, because of fears
of a Russian invasion.
However, its first and
only action occurred
on 7th June 1942, when
a Japanese submarine
arrived and fired 24
shots at Newcastle. Fort
Scratchley
fired two rounds in reply before the submarine disappeared.
The fort is now a Maritime
and Military Museum.
Beyond the fort is the
Breakwater constructed
by convict labour to
protect the port. At
its tip is the conspicuous
Nobby’s Headland,
which was, in fact, originally
an island. Returning
next to the eastern foreshore,
we come first to Nobby’s
Beach, and then to the
Ocean Baths, an interesting
enclosed swimming area
dating from 1922, when
mixed bathing was first
permitted in the city.
Beyond is Newcastle Beach,
the longest of the beach
areas in the city, and
then Fletcher Park at
its end. Continuing south,
we reach Bogey Hole,
a swimming hole cut in
the natural rock, at
the order of Commandant
Morisset in 1819. Originally
it was his private swimming
place, but it became
a public pool in 1863.
The term ‘Bogey’ Hole
is evidently derived
from the aboriginal word
for bathing. Back from
the Bogey Hole is King
Edward Park, given to
the city in 1865, but
renamed later after the
monarch of the time.
The rotunda dates from
Victorian times. In the
farthest corner of the
park is the Obelisk.
A windmill was built
here in 1821 on the orders
of Commandant Morisset,
and when it was demolished
later, there was considerable
opposition, since it
served as a useful navigational
marker. An obelisk was
erected in its place,
originally of wood but
soon rebuilt in brick,
and there it still stands.
Near the Obelisk is the
junction of Ordnance
Street and Wolfe Street.
From this point, proceed
north along Wolfe Street
to Church Street and
turn right. Here is the
pride of Newcastle architecture,
the Cathedral. It is
built on the site of
Newcastle's oldest church,
originally constructed
by convict labour in
1817. However, the use
of poor workmanship and
materials led to the
demolition of the original
church, and the construction
of the present cathedral
started in 1884. There
were several disputes
over its design, so it
was not until 1902 that
it was completed. The
tower was added in 1979,
but ten years later the
earthquake occurred,
resulting in considerable
damage to the entire
building. Restoration
has now taken place.
Continue east along
Church Street to reach
the Courthouse at the
junction with, and looking
down, Bolton Street.
The Courthouse is an
imposing piece of Victorian
architecture, built in
1890. Now walk two blocks
down the slope of Bolton
Street to the Post Office,
on the corner of, and
facing, Hunter Street.
This Post Office has
survived the fate of
many like ornate buildings
and is still used for
its original purpose.
It was constructed in
1902.
Newcastle is the entry point for the Hunter Valley.
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