Sitting 160 kilometres north of Sydney, on the southern bank of the mouth of the Hunter River, sits the city of Newcastle. Being Australia’s second oldest city after Sydney, Newcastle has become the predominant city within the Hunter Region, with the Port of Newcastle becoming a major shipping port for southern Australia. Famous for its coal, Newcastle is the largest coal exporting harbour in the world, exporting over 97 metric tonnes in 2010.

Lieutenant John Shortland first discovered the area in 1797, while he was searching for escaped convicts. He named the river after then-NSW Governor, John Hunter. After reporting back on the area’s abundance in coal, the area was then named Newcastle, after England’s famous coal port, Newcastle upon Tyne.

In the following years, coal mined from the area was the NSW colony’s first export. It became a penal settlement, as Sydney sent their most dangerous convicts there to dig in the coalmines as part of their sentence. Newcastle remained a penal settlement until 1822, when the settlement was opened up to farming. The last of the convicts were moved to Port Macquarie in 1823, and a steady flow of free settlers began moving to the hinterland.

Until 1999, Newcastle’s economy relied heavily on its steelworks and coalmines. Since BHP shut the steelworks in 1999, the region’s coalmines are now the driving force of local industry. The city’s largest employers are the Hunter New England Area Health Service and the University of Newcastle. The National Stock Exchange of Australia is also based in the city’s CBD. The Port of Newcastle has still remained the economic and trade centre for the Hunter Valley.

Originally inhabited by the people of the Awabakal and Worimi tribes, Newcastle and its surrounding district now has a population of 308,308, making it the second most populous area in New South Wales. The region, like much of New South Wales, has a borderline oceanic/humid subtropical climate, with heavy rainfall preceding fairly mild winters.

With its proximity to the Hunter Valley, there is a plethora of reasons to visit Newcastle – immerse yourself in the area’s history with tours of Christchurch Cathedral and Fort Scratchley, one of Newcastle’s most significant historical landmarks, or take the Newcastle East Heritage Walk. See the local environment at Blackbutt and Kooragang Reserves. Challenge yourself with the Sparke Helmore Triathlon, or get in touch with your spiritual side at the Bodhi Festival. Taste the region’s local fare at the Taste of the World Beer Fest or the Wallsend Winter Carnivale, or listen to amazing music at the Fat as Butter or the Newcastle Jazz Festival.