Newcastle, New South Wales

Newcastle today

The Port of Newcastle remains the economic and trade centre for the resource rich Hunter Valley and for much of the north and northwest of New South Wales. Newcastle is the world's busiest coal export port and Australia's oldest and second largest tonnage throughput port, with over 3,000 shipping movements handling cargo in excess of 90 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), of which coal exports represent more than 90%. Newcastle also has a substantial ship building industry.

Related Topics:
Hunter Valley - New South Wales

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The old central business district, located at Newcastle's eastern end, still has a considerable number of historic buildings, dominated by Christ Church Cathedral, seat of the (Anglican) Bishop of Newcastle. Other noteworthy buildings include Fort Scratchley, the Ocean Baths, the old Customs House, the 1920s City Hall, and the 1930s art deco University House (formerly NESCA House).

Related Topics:
Central business district - Christ Church Cathedral - Anglican - Bishop - 1920s - 1930s - Art deco

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The Honeysuckle Development Corporation, is redeveloping 50 hectares of derelict land and buildings along Newcastle Harbour, adjacent to the CBD. This is one of the largest urban renewal projects in Australia, and we can already see the fruits; Harbour Square is a wide area of open space with a unique sculpture and interactive water feature while Boardwalk just next to Harbour Square is enticing with its assortment of restaurants, casual bars and cafes. Now in construction is the Lee Wharf development, a mixture of lifestyle-retail shops, cafes, restaurants and residential opening to the foreshore promenade. Crowne Plaza Hotel has been constructed and is open for business, along with many waterside apartment buildings, a marina, yacht club and fish market.

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Charlestown, a suburb 10 km south of the CBD, can be likened to Newcastle's Chatswood, in relation to Chatswood being the major development and business district outside of the Sydney CBD. In the past year Charlestown has been developing madly, with the completion of the Alto Tower, a nine story block of premium apartments. Sky Central Charlestown, and The Landmark, both highrise commercial and apartment blocks, expect to be completed around 2007.

Related Topics:
Charlestown - Chatswood - Sydney CBD

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The University of Newcastle (formerly part of the University of New South Wales) obtained its autonomy in 1965 and now with a student population of just over 20,000 offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate courses, delivered via five Faculties - Business and Law; Education and Arts; Engineering and Built Environment; Health; and Science and Information Technology. The university has one of the largest international student populations of any university in Austrlia.

Related Topics:
University of Newcastle - University of New South Wales

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Newcastle has an active youth music culture and a thumpin' live music scene. Bands and groups produce both guitar based and computer based music for a pub based concert scene. Silverchair, the highly successful Australian band, hailed from Newcastle. Newcastle, just after Melbourne is considered "the place" to see live rock music and up and coming young bands.

Related Topics:
Silverchair - Melbourne

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Unlike those of its British namesake, who call themselves "Geordies", residents of Newcastle, NSW refer to themselves as "Novocastrians".

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