Newcastle has a long history (for modern-Australia), [from Wikipedia (
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The first European discoverer of the area was 'accidentally' by Lieut. John Shortland RN (
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The 'most dangerous convicts', and presumably the strongest, were sent here to mine the seams at Nobbys Headland.
With a new commandant in 1815 the convicts conditions improved, and a building boom ensued.
In 1816 Australia's first public school opened by a pardoned convict, Henry Wrensford. The current school building there goes back to 1878. (
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"Newcastle remained a penal settlement until 1822, when the settlement was opened up to farming." [Wiki] In 1823 most of the convicts were transferred to Port Macquarie, with just 100 remaining to help build the breakwall of Nobbys Headland.
With the removal of the convicts a lot of settlers moved into the Hunter Valley region, opening up many industries apart from coal; including farming, copper, and even soap, when the largest factory in the Southern hemisphere was opened in 1885 - copra being obtained from the South Pacific islands.
In 1911 the mining company BHP [Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd.] chose Newcastle as the place to convert iron ore found in South Australia (and other places) to steel. 1915 saw the steelworks open, and it became a well-known industrial city, (even since the steelworks closed in 1999.)
It still remains the world's largest coal exporting port.
In December 1989 Newcastle was struck by a "5.6" earthquake in which 13 people were killed, with over 150 injured. Many buildings were damaged and had to be demolished.
From the Newcastle City Council website: (
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"Opened in 1929, Newcastle City Hall is one of Newcastle's most unique and prestigious venues.
"Commissioned to be built by newly elected Mayor Morris Light in 1925 and designed by acclaimed architect Henry White (architect of the Civic Theatre), the newly built Newcastle City Hall became home to an amalgamation of eleven Municipal Councils and parts of two shires into a newly formed Newcastle City Council.
"Following the transfer of staff and administrative offices to the new City Administration Centre in 1977, the Council considered the future usage of Newcastle City Hall. Although the building was nearly fifty years old, it was architecturally very sound & large enough to be adapted to provide a civic venue for a multitude of purposes.
"It was agreed that Newcastle City Hall should be converted into a multi-purpose Function/Conference venue to fulfill all these requirements. A Newcastle firm of Architects, Suters and Busteed Pty Ltd were commissioned and tenders invited for the conversion of the interior. The successful tenderer was a Newcastle firm of builders, R.W. Black Pty Ltd and in January 1980, the physical building work commenced. The existing Concert Hall and Banquet Rooms were retained and upgraded, the former office space within the building was converted into Function/Conference Rooms & Reception Areas with carpeting, air-conditioning and all catering facilities."
Visited, while it was undergoing further renovations and repairs: Sunday, 8 November, 2015