Category: Newcastle News

A musical comedy about the anxiety of high school, performed by young Novocastrians, is just one of the offerings being presented by City of Newcastle during the July school holidays.

From free exhibitions and workshops at our libraries and Newcastle Museum to an exciting range of outdoor facilities, there are plenty of ways to keep the kids entertained.

CIVIC THEATRE AND PLAYHOUSE

Calvin Berger is the second show in City of Newcastle’s Upstage at the Playhouse 2025 program, an exciting initiative that introduces fresh, new and adapted works to be presented and performed by the local artists.

It tells the story of a boy who feels awkward about his appearance and so arranges for another boy to chase the girl of his dreams.

Making its Newcastle premiere at the Civic Theatre Playhouse tonight, the production is presented by Hyde Entertainment, a Newcastle-based theatrical and entertainment company helmed by 18-year-old Seb Smee.

The show is recommended for people over the age of 12, with discount tickets available for full time students.

There are also family friendly shows on offer at the Civic Theatre in the holidays including The Gruffalo’s Child, Madagascar The Musical and Disney’s Frozen Junior, presented by Hunter Drama.

NEWCASTLE MUSEUM

There’s something for kids of all ages at Newcastle Museum during the school holidays, starting with Caring for our Coast, a mini museum experience from the Australian Museum, where visitors can get up close and curious with objects such as a Port Jackson shark jaw, an Abalone shell, a cross-section of a midden and more.

The Maths Magic Science Show is ideal for children preparing to go to high school, while Bricks 4 Kidz workshops will see children rotate through three exciting stations building with LEGO®.

For a taste of Australia, health practitioner and proud Darkinjung woman, Sarah Corrigan is offering the chance to try some bush tucker, including syrups and finger limes.

Bookings are essential for the Bricks 4 Kidz workshop which costs $20 per child, but all other events are free, with no booking required.

For more information visit Newcastle Museum online.

SKATE PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

With more than 115 playgrounds to choose from, there are plenty of reasons to brave the cold during the holidays to help the kids burn off some energy.

City of Newcastle has invested more than $14 million into playground projects across Newcastle during the past seven years to upgrade and replace facilities.

There are also nine skate parks provided by City of Newcastle, with a variety of features to test skaters, riders and scooters of all levels.

South Newcastle Beach Skate Park includes the Hunter’s first wheelchair-accessible skate bowl and facilities for all level skaters; while the Stockton Active Hub features the first street style skate plaza in the Hunter and Mayfield Skate Park has a variety of concrete blocks, quarter pipes, hips and banks.

For a full list of skate parks visit City of Newcastle’s website. 

BLACKBUTT RESERVE 

Enjoy the sights and sounds of Blackbutt Reserve with the added bonus of the new Blackbutt Café by Durks in the Carnley Avenue recreation area. Featuring an undercover dining and seating area, it offers coffee, breakfast and lunch dining options, as well as picnic boxes and catering.

Wildlife exhibits are open from 10am to 4.30pm daily, with free entry. Blackbutt Reserve picnic facilities are open from 7am until 7pm. Shelters, barbecues and nature walks are available between these hours.

For more information on booking a shelter or animal feeding times visit the Blackbutt Reserve page on our website.

LIBRARIES

At our City and Wallsend libraries aspiring programmers can learn the basics of computational thinking and sequencing or join an introductory Dungeons & Dragons program for beginners and get to know the famous role-playing game, with the guidance of an experienced Game Master.

The younger kids can enjoy craft-based play including a Playdough Party, or join Uncle Amos Simon, proud Worimi, Birpai and Wiradjuri man, to learn how to make an artwork using natural materials and how to make rope from stringybark, all while enjoying a mini silent disco.

For gaming enthusiasts, there’s a Nintendo Switch gaming event playing Super Smash Bros where kids can enjoy some friendly competition.

For more information visit City of Newcastle Libraries online.

FORT SCRATCHLEY

The Historic Fort Scratchley will be welcoming visitors during the school holidays.

Guided tours, led by passionate Historical Society volunteers with a wealth of knowledge about the site, are offered at regular intervals each day (except Tuesdays).

The historic gun is fired daily at 1pm, weather permitting.

For details or to book a tour visit Fort Scratchley online.

Two men and a teenage boy have been charged after weapons and drugs were seized during a vehicle stop at Newcastle this morning as part of Operation Foil.

About 3.15am today (Friday 4 July 2025), officers from Newcastle City Police District conducted a vehicle stop at the intersection of King Street and Steel Street, Newcastle.

It will be alleged that in the vehicle police located a baton and a number of weapons as well as methylamphetamine.

The three male occupants were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

The 22-year-old driver was charged with possess prohibited drug, and custody of knife in public place.

He was granted bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 10 July 2025.

A passenger – also 22 – was charged with two counts of custody of knife in a public place, and possess prohibited drug.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Friday 4 July 2025).

The third occupant – aged 16 – was charged with custody of knife in public place, and have custody of an offensive implement in a public place.

He was also refused bail to appear at a children’s court today. 

Operation Foil is a high visibility statewide operation targeting violent offenders, knife crime and the possession of weapons in public places.

Students from Alesco Senior College are leading a large-scale ecosystem restoration project as one of 18 local climate action initiatives to receive a share of funding from City of Newcastle.

The project, designed and facilitated by ReGen Alliance, will see students plant 750 native trees on their campus in Elemore Vale, turning degraded bushland into a living classroom.
 
The funding has been delivered through City of Newcastle’s Youth Climate Action Grants thanks to a $150,000 contribution from Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund.

City of Newcastle Executive Manager Environment and Sustainability Marnie Kikken said the response from young people and community organisations has been inspiring. 

“These projects reflect the energy and innovation of young Novocastrians committed to creating a safe and climate-resilient future,” Ms Kikken said.

“With this latest round of funding, we’re not just supporting environmental outcomes, we’re supporting education, equity and empowerment, all aligned with the goals of the Newcastle Environment Strategy.”

Deputy Chairperson of City of Newcastle’s Liveable Cities Strategic Advisory Committee Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said this funding gives our young residents the chance to design and deliver urgent climate solutions.

“These projects show that when we support youth with the practical tools and resources to address their climate change concerns, they’re empowered to make a visible, lasting impact in their own communities and shape a healthy and sustainable future for our city,” Cr Adamczyk said.

ReGen Alliance’s Living Classroom project is putting this into action, with Alesco Senior College students participating in weekly learning sessions, to lead all stages of the project from site preparation, to planting and monitoring. 

Co-founder of ReGen Alliance, Rebecca Giddins, said the program offers a chance for students to grow confidence and connection through nature-based learning.

“This program creates a safe, positive space where students can connect with nature and develop a sense of purpose. This project will offer a long-term educational opportunity to observe how ecosystems grow and adapt over time,” Miss Giddins said.

City of Newcastle is one of only three Australian local governments selected to participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ global initiative and has now distributed $225,000 across 30 projects over two rounds of funding.

Microgrants between $1,500 – $7,500 were available to young people aged 15 to 24, or organisations who represent them, to design and deliver local climate action projects.

Among the young grant recipients are University of Newcastle students Luca Surman and Ryan Muir, whose Bingage initiative began as a university project and evolved into a smart recycling initiative. 

Mr Muir said the project incentivises young people to participate in recycling by gamifying the process for students living on Callaghan Campus. 

“By linking everyday actions to social recognition, data insights, and reward-based challenges we’re aiming to build lasting habits and a culture of sustainability among students,” Mr Muir said. 

“Participants engage through smart bins and an integrated app that rewards positive recycling behaviours, like rinsing bottles or returning sponsor-branded waste, with points. 

“Once the return target is met, the student or team with the highest contribution wins a major prize, and the collected waste is upcycled into infrastructure projects through local businesses and installed on campus.” 

Other successful projects include Lambton High School’s Eco Bloom project, which will see students create a pond and garden habitat for local wildlife through native planting and water conservation techniques, and Hunter Innovation and Science Hub, which will deliver an electric vehicle festival for youth and hands-on solar energy education for primary school students. 

Newcastle High School’s Conservation Critters program will see students deliver guided nature tours and pollinator picnics to educate people of all ages about biodiversity, the value of native species, and how to take environmental action in their own backyard. 

Projects funded in round two of the Youth Climate Action Grants align with City of Newcastle’s Climate Action Plan, supporting clean technology, circular economy initiatives, green and blue space restoration, electric transport, and the development of zero-emissions industries.

Police are appealing for assistance to locate a man missing from the Newcastle area.

Alexander Tumiotto, aged 48, was last seen on Tighes Terrace, Tighes Hill, about 1:30pm on Monday 30 June 2025.

When Alexander could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were notified today (Thursday 3 July 2025) and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Alexander’s welfare as he lives with Autism.

Alexander is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm – 175cm tall, of medium build, unshaven, with dark hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing dirty/ripped clothing and a beanie.

He is known to frequent Newcastle, Redfern and the Carriage works in Everleigh. He may be using the rail network to travel.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

City of Newcastle is looking to ensure Beresfield Golf Course remains a sustainable and successful community asset by appointing a new operator for the popular Council-owned facility.

With the current lease set to expire on 31 August, an Expressions of Interest (EOI) campaign aims to identify new proponents to manage the recreational facility, which features a 10-hole golf course, 18-hole footgolf course, 18-hole disc golf course and mini-golf.

City of Newcastle Executive Director Corporate Services David Clarke said Beresfield Golf Course is a valued public space that brings people together for active living and social connection.

“We want to identify a new operator with the vision and capability to leverage strong local community support for the facility,” Mr Clarke said.

“City of Newcastle works hard to ensure the things we want and need are nearby and easily accessible, so it’s important to retain this facility for the community.

“We showed our commitment to Beresfield Golf Course by providing grant funding in early 2024 to create the region’s first 18-hole disc golf course. 

“Not only does the facility provide a range of different sporting options, it’s also one of the few golf courses that is dog friendly.

“We’re open to considering different approaches and models for the operation of Beresfield Golf Course.

“To ensure the EOI results in a suitable outcome, we’ve engaged an external agent to manage the leasing campaign.

“City of Newcastle will assess the submissions based on criteria such as demonstrated financial capacity, expertise in operating similar facilities, staffing plans, and a five-year business plan.

“We hope to enter into an initial five-year lease agreement with the successful proponent, a time frame that was supported by the community as part of the public exhibition of the lease.”

The EOI campaign has already attracted plenty of interest.

EOI submissions must be lodged no later than 4pm on Thursday, 10 July 2025, with the lease to commence on 1 September.

Beresfield Golf Course is located midway between Newcastle and Maitland, just a short drive from the M1 Pacific Motorway. 

The 24-hectare site also includes a Pro Shop, amenities and change rooms, a club house, greenkeepers’ workshop, a barbecue and picnic area, as well as a large car park.

More details on the EOI process can be found at www.beresfieldgolfcourselease.com.au

City of Newcastle has been forced to close Wallsend Library today in the wake of heightened violence and threatening attacks towards staff and the general public. 

Police have been called repeatedly during the past week following increased anti-social behaviour at the library, which has seen staff attacked with items, a security guard spat on, youths carrying knives in the street and people forcing their way into the building. 

Incidents of vandalism including graffiti, glass smashed on the front steps, ramp and in the overnight return chute and the signage outside the library being damaged have also been reported to the police. 

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the safety of staff and the community was of the upmost importance. 

“It is unacceptable that the behaviour of a small number of people is putting people at risk,” Mr Bath said. 

“In the wake of a week-long campaign of increased anti-social behaviour we have made a decision to close our library today for the safety and wellbeing of our staff and members of the public. 

“We’ve been working with the Police, who have been incredibly responsive in this matter, but it’s clear that more needs to be done in Wallsend.  

“The solution is not police permanently stationed at the library or on every street corner. 

“Wallsend is an amazing community but that can’t prevent us from acknowledging that there is a safety problem that needs to be addressed.

“We’re calling for the support of all those in our community including local Members, community leaders, teachers and parents, to initiate conversations with younger people about how to behave in public. 

“Library staff are being threatened on an almost daily basis. With school holidays around the corner, our staff are rightly concerned about not only their safety but also that of people attending the library.” 

City of Newcastle had previously changed the way people enter Wallsend Library in response to the anti-social issues, with visitors having to scan their library cards to gain entry to the building on weekday afternoons after 3pm. 

A security guard has also been employed by City of Newcastle for the past 12 months to patrol the site. 

Director Museum Archive Libraries & Learning Julie Baird said libraries have always been a valuable resource for our community, offering a safe and welcoming space that provides opportunities for social connection, education and recreation. 

“While the vast majority of visitors use the library respectfully, it’s disappointing that the troubling actions of a few within the community have necessitated this action to be taken,” Ms Baird said. 

“We appreciate the support and patience of our library members at this time.”

Newcastle Art Gallery is home to the most valuable public art collection in Australia outside of a capital city following an independent valuation of $145 million. 

This is an increase of $19 million, or around 15 per cent, since key works from the Gallery’s collection were last reviewed in 2022. 

It includes a significant rise in the value of the Gallery’s First Nations collection, which increased by nearly 80%, while works of art by female artists increased in value across the board. 

CEO Jeremy Bath said the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery will provide a fitting home for one of City of Newcastle’s most valuable assets. 

“This is one of the most significant and highly valuable public collections of art outside of a state or national institution. To date only 1% of the collection has been displayed in any one year due to a lack of space in the existing Gallery,” Mr Bath said. 

“This limitation will soon be overcome via a significant expansion and upgrading of the Newcastle Art Gallery to international standing. The expansion will enable the Gallery to be fit-for-purpose to host our $145 million collection alongside touring exhibitions from across Australia and around the world, creating a significant cultural tourism opportunity for Newcastle and the Hunter. 

“Following the completion of the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery, iconic works by the likes of Brett Whiteley, John Olsen, William Dobell, and Joseph Lycett will be permanently on show.” 

Director Lauretta Morton OAM said the city’s collection includes works of art of local, national and international importance. 

“We are proud to be the custodians of the city significant and diverse collection, which provides a time capsule of Australian art dating back more than 200 years,” Ms Morton said. 

“We’re also proud of what this updated valuation tells us about the growing global celebration of so many significant First Nations artists, and the value and recognition for women artists, which have steadily increased during the past five years. 

“The reimagined Newcastle Art Gallery will enable more of our valuable collection and much-loved icons to be on display, allowing us to share them with our visitors.” 

The updated valuation also includes a significant new donation to the collection from Simon Mordant AO and Catriona Mordant AM, who are among Australia’s leading arts philanthropists. 

The Mordants have gifted 25 works of art from their private collection to Newcastle Art Gallery, which is the largest donation of art they have ever made to a single institution. 

“Catriona and I believe that art should be seen and enjoyed by the widest possible audience,” Mr Mordant said. 

“In considering Australian and international institutions to be recipients of part of our collection, built over almost 40 years, we looked for organisations where we believed in their leadership and their ambition.  

“Newcastle was an obvious choice and we commend Lauretta and her predecessors who have worked tirelessly to put art at the centre of the community. We very much look forward to seeing these works enjoying a new life in Newcastle Art Gallery.” 

Ms Morton said this marks a significant moment for Newcastle Art Gallery as it reaches the final stages of its building expansion. 

“Having known Simon for several years, I have always admired his and Catriona’s incredible support for artists and the broader arts sector globally, so I was quite overwhelmed to be invited to review their collection and select works of art that represented the vision for our reimagined gallery – to be locally grounded, nationally engaged and globally minded,” Ms Morton said. 

“We are honoured to accept this gift as the custodian of the city’s collection and we look forward to sharing it with our community through a special exhibition in 2026 honouring Simon and Catriona’s generosity to Newcastle Art Gallery.” 

Visit City of Newcastle’s project page to stay up-to-date with the latest progress of the expansion project. 

The project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Package, as well as $12 million from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years. A further $1 million is currently being sought through the Foundation’s public fundraising campaign.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Hunter region.

Starleigh Bates, aged 14, was last seen about 9am on Cary Street, Toronto on Thursday 26 June 2025.

When Starleigh could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were contacted today (Monday 30 June 2025) and commenced inquiries to locate her.

Police and family hold concerns for Starleigh’s welfare due to her age.

Starleigh is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 155cm tall, of medium build, with red/brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black tracksuit pants.

Starleigh is known to frequent Toronto, Wallsend, Woodbury, Stockton and Metford areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.