There’s something special about a home with a bit of old time charm. Whether you want a Federation era house or something that’s surrounded by history, Newcastle is a great place to buy property.
Settled in 1801 (as King’s Town), Newcastle is one of the oldest European settlements in Australia. It was abandoned a year later but in 1804 it was re-established in earnest. The only prior European settlements are now part of Sydney, Hawkesbury or on Norfolk island, so if you want to find early colonial buildings, you’ve come to the right place.
The oldest suburb: Newcastle East (from 1804)
The original settlement of Newcastle began in what we know as Newcastle East. Many of the early buildings were built hastily and weren’t designed to last more than two centuries. As time went on, the buildings became more permanent and the city spread through to the current CBD and Cooks Hill, where the terraced housing gives away its age.
Other suburbs began to spring up. Former convicts were granted land in Stockton from the 1830s and Carrington, which used to disappear at high tide before British boats dropped ballast there, became a residential suburbs in the 1860s as people looked to move away from the city centre.
Nearby cities were established around this time too, with Maitland dating back to 1820.
The oldest school: Newcastle East Public (1816)
Not only is Newcastle East Public School the oldest school in Newcastle, it’s the oldest remaining school in all of Australia.
Found in Newcastle East, the school celebrated its 200th year in 2016 with a visit from then prime minister Julia Gillard. The school has seen its fair share of politicians and celebrities, with alumni including ex-mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Miranda Otto, the actress known for her roles in Lord of The Rings, Homeland and more.
The school has moved locations since it was established, but it’s agreed that it’s been the same organisation all this time.
The oldest ocean pool: The Bogey Hole (1819)
Thought to be Australia’s oldest purpose-build ocean swimming pool, the Bogey Hole is one of the oldest existing imprints left by early settlers due to its simple construction.
Major James Morisset ordered convicts to to hand-dig it for his own personal use and over the past two centuries thousands of locals and visitors to Newcastle have made swum in the incredible setting.
The oldest building: Rose Cottage (1857)
Found on Bolton Street in Newcastle East, Rose Cottage (or Toll Cottage) is thought by many to be Newcastle’s oldest building dating back to 1857.
However, many of the statements in that sentence are part of an ongoing lively conversation, with the date of construction (and its title as the city’s oldest) up for debate.
Some other old (but not necessarily oldest) buildings that are still around include The Lock-Up (1861), the railway station (1878) and Shepherds Hill Cottage (1890s).
The oldest church: St John’s Anglican (1860)
Completed in 1860, St John’s in Cooks Hill is Newy’s oldest remaining church.
Nearby Tyrrell Street is named after Newcastle’s first bishop who recommended the city have a church to support the work of the cathedral, which dates back to 1847.
The oldest church in Australia is thought to be the Ebenezer Church in Hawkesbury which dates back to 1809.
The oldest theatre: The Victoria (1876)
Victoria Theatre on Perkins Street dates back to 1876, although it was heavily rebuilt in 1891, 1921 and is currently undergoing another refurbishment. The theatre has also spent time as a cinema and a retail environment.
The Victoria is the oldest surviving theatre in Australia, and one of the oldest in Australia, but Theatre Royal in Hobart pips it for oldest having opened in 1837.
The old side of Newcastle
As one of the oldest cities in Australia, it’s no surprise that Newcastle has its fair share of historic buildings. Not everything has survived from the early days of the settlement but what is still around is in huge demand.