Has Newcastle lost its small-town feel and shifted into a bona fide city?

The Advertiser

16-06-2025

I RECENTLY celebrated three years since returning to live in Newcastle, having been away for almost three decades. My main revelation upon return was that Newcastle had acquired that indefinable quality that comes from being a city rather than a large country town.
At sunset recently, I stopped halfway across the Cowper Street bridge to contemplate Newcastle's changing skyline. With its combination of moored yachts and mid to high-rise buildings, the view of the waterfront and West End verged on glamorous. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I'm sure you'll allow that it's a great improvement on the grim neighbourhood some of us grew up with. The same can be said for many other parts of "town".
The other day, I met an older Novocastrian who used to have professional offices at the top of town. He remembered the East End as being "awful", a grimy mélange of derelict warehouses, railway sidings, and pollution from the Zaara Street power station. Now, of course, the area is a tourist mecca and a highly successful event space. The shared paths along the foreshore and beaches are thronged, and the renovated ocean baths and new skate park have been enthusiastically embraced.
Much remains to be done, of course. The slow death of street front retail has left large stretches of Hunter Street struggling to find a new purpose, Beaumont Street has its challenges, and while Newcastle's light rail line was the right idea, it remains a job only partly done. I'll report back in another three years.
THE owners of Tomago Aluminium have warned that high energy prices may put the plant's future in jeopardy. That could cost 1500 direct jobs and an extra 5000 across the region ("Minister optimistic on smelter despite surging energy prices", Newcastle Herald 12/6).
With energy prices to rise from July 2025, Tomago seems to be seeking government subsidy (taxpayer money) to keep operating profitably. Additionally, Alcoa plans to close down an aluminium smelter and two mills in WA this year due to high energy prices and production costs. With the US placing tariffs on Australian aluminium and Indonesia now expanding its cheap production, the future of our aluminium industry is not bright. Without reliable and affordable 24/7 energy supplies, productivity in Australia will continue to decline. It does not take an Einstein to figure that out.
GRAHAME Danaher ("Tackling adversity way to go", Letters 10/6), and Steve Barnett ("Costs are high, but working hard tough to beat", Letters 5/6): of course, tackling adversity is a great part of life, and overcoming it is the greatest high. However, once 3.5 times the median national income was enough for a house deposit. In 2024, it's 8.6 times.
Outrageously, concessional superannuation greatly favours the wealthy, people who do not need it, while the taxation tab is picked up by our younger taxpaying community. A parent recently expressed his bewilderment in the Sydney Morning Herald that, in retirement and with few expenses, he paid no tax, while his child with so many living expenses paid $37,000 on similar income. Employment is now far less stable, for a far more precarious life, for many. What toll is this taking on the social fabric?
The recent Fair Work Commission decision improved real incomes by only 1 per cent, with much of the wage rise lost to inflation. Like me, Mr Danaher and Mr Barnett should be very thankful for how the times favoured them. At the start of his working life, Mr Barnett could pocket $60 of his pay. Sounds pretty good to me.
MY parents didn't have botox injections, false eyelashes, manicures, exfoliation, waxing, cosmetic surgery, day spas, and that was just Dad. Throw in streaming services, exotic holidays, regular nights out, extra TVs, the biggest barbecue backyard smokehouse, spa, pool, four-car garage, double-storey house, jet ski, social media profile, designer clothes and handbags (are you reading this, honey? I hope not). I'm sure you people get my drift.
I know it's hard these days, but it's not impossible to buy a home and start small, dream big. We are dreaming of a small, nice retirement apartment near the beach. It might be a cave overlooking the Hawkesbury River if Mac Maguire's prediction of 1000 years of Labor government comes true. Good luck, I hope you achieve your goals.
MATT Ophir says he does not see any mosques being firebombed or sprayed with graffiti ("Targets of hate speak volumes", Letters, 12/6). What we are seeing is Palestine being destroyed and tens of thousands of its innocent citizens being slaughtered. Unfortunately, the hard-line government in Israel has used the bad behaviour of Hamas to invade the entire country. Yes, bad behaviour on both sides. I congratulate our government's brave decision to call out poor behaviour on both sides. I also congratulate the Albanese government on their response to the amazing clown act happening in America. Go Albo.
WITH all due respect to Cr Clausen ("Councillors have duty to speak up", Letters, 10/6), the community's response to the Davidson Report, on display in these pages, shows it did nothing to restore public trust. Nor did accusing the lord mayor of spreading misinformation in any way stem the community outrage that drove the former lord mayor out of office.
AN article on an Upper Hunter solar farm said it would cost $300 million and create five permanent jobs. I wonder where the thousands of permanent jobs will go when Mt Arthur closes, if five cost so much?
APPARENTLY, Greta Thunberg and her cohort will be shown a video of the Hamas attack on Israel as justification for the invasion of Gaza. I wonder if they will also justify their response to the October 7 attack?
The US wants us to spend more on defence, but surely the $368 billion for nuclear submarines more than covers us? I am not sure that Donald Trump knows much about the submarine deal, though.
I RECENTLY celebrated three years since returning to live in Newcastle, having been away for almost three decades. My main revelation upon return was that Newcastle had acquired that indefinable quality that comes from being a city rather than a large country town.
At sunset recently, I stopped halfway across the Cowper Street bridge to contemplate Newcastle's changing skyline. With its combination of moored yachts and mid to high-rise buildings, the view of the waterfront and West End verged on glamorous. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I'm sure you'll allow that it's a great improvement on the grim neighbourhood some of us grew up with. The same can be said for many other parts of "town".
The other day, I met an older Novocastrian who used to have professional offices at the top of town. He remembered the East End as being "awful", a grimy mélange of derelict warehouses, railway sidings, and pollution from the Zaara Street power station. Now, of course, the area is a tourist mecca and a highly successful event space. The shared paths along the foreshore and beaches are thronged, and the renovated ocean baths and new skate park have been enthusiastically embraced.
Much remains to be done, of course. The slow death of street front retail has left large stretches of Hunter Street struggling to find a new purpose, Beaumont Street has its challenges, and while Newcastle's light rail line was the right idea, it remains a job only partly done. I'll report back in another three years.
THE owners of Tomago Aluminium have warned that high energy prices may put the plant's future in jeopardy. That could cost 1500 direct jobs and an extra 5000 across the region ("Minister optimistic on smelter despite surging energy prices", Newcastle Herald 12/6).
With energy prices to rise from July 2025, Tomago seems to be seeking government subsidy (taxpayer money) to keep operating profitably. Additionally, Alcoa plans to close down an aluminium smelter and two mills in WA this year due to high energy prices and production costs. With the US placing tariffs on Australian aluminium and Indonesia now expanding its cheap production, the future of our aluminium industry is not bright. Without reliable and affordable 24/7 energy supplies, productivity in Australia will continue to decline. It does not take an Einstein to figure that out.
GRAHAME Danaher ("Tackling adversity way to go", Letters 10/6), and Steve Barnett ("Costs are high, but working hard tough to beat", Letters 5/6): of course, tackling adversity is a great part of life, and overcoming it is the greatest high. However, once 3.5 times the median national income was enough for a house deposit. In 2024, it's 8.6 times.
Outrageously, concessional superannuation greatly favours the wealthy, people who do not need it, while the taxation tab is picked up by our younger taxpaying community. A parent recently expressed his bewilderment in the Sydney Morning Herald that, in retirement and with few expenses, he paid no tax, while his child with so many living expenses paid $37,000 on similar income. Employment is now far less stable, for a far more precarious life, for many. What toll is this taking on the social fabric?
The recent Fair Work Commission decision improved real incomes by only 1 per cent, with much of the wage rise lost to inflation. Like me, Mr Danaher and Mr Barnett should be very thankful for how the times favoured them. At the start of his working life, Mr Barnett could pocket $60 of his pay. Sounds pretty good to me.
MY parents didn't have botox injections, false eyelashes, manicures, exfoliation, waxing, cosmetic surgery, day spas, and that was just Dad. Throw in streaming services, exotic holidays, regular nights out, extra TVs, the biggest barbecue backyard smokehouse, spa, pool, four-car garage, double-storey house, jet ski, social media profile, designer clothes and handbags (are you reading this, honey? I hope not). I'm sure you people get my drift.
I know it's hard these days, but it's not impossible to buy a home and start small, dream big. We are dreaming of a small, nice retirement apartment near the beach. It might be a cave overlooking the Hawkesbury River if Mac Maguire's prediction of 1000 years of Labor government comes true. Good luck, I hope you achieve your goals.
MATT Ophir says he does not see any mosques being firebombed or sprayed with graffiti ("Targets of hate speak volumes", Letters, 12/6). What we are seeing is Palestine being destroyed and tens of thousands of its innocent citizens being slaughtered. Unfortunately, the hard-line government in Israel has used the bad behaviour of Hamas to invade the entire country. Yes, bad behaviour on both sides. I congratulate our government's brave decision to call out poor behaviour on both sides. I also congratulate the Albanese government on their response to the amazing clown act happening in America. Go Albo.
WITH all due respect to Cr Clausen ("Councillors have duty to speak up", Letters, 10/6), the community's response to the Davidson Report, on display in these pages, shows it did nothing to restore public trust. Nor did accusing the lord mayor of spreading misinformation in any way stem the community outrage that drove the former lord mayor out of office.
AN article on an Upper Hunter solar farm said it would cost $300 million and create five permanent jobs. I wonder where the thousands of permanent jobs will go when Mt Arthur closes, if five cost so much?
APPARENTLY, Greta Thunberg and her cohort will be shown a video of the Hamas attack on Israel as justification for the invasion of Gaza. I wonder if they will also justify their response to the October 7 attack?
The US wants us to spend more on defence, but surely the $368 billion for nuclear submarines more than covers us? I am not sure that Donald Trump knows much about the submarine deal, though.
I RECENTLY celebrated three years since returning to live in Newcastle, having been away for almost three decades. My main revelation upon return was that Newcastle had acquired that indefinable quality that comes from being a city rather than a large country town.
At sunset recently, I stopped halfway across the Cowper Street bridge to contemplate Newcastle's changing skyline. With its combination of moored yachts and mid to high-rise buildings, the view of the waterfront and West End verged on glamorous. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I'm sure you'll allow that it's a great improvement on the grim neighbourhood some of us grew up with. The same can be said for many other parts of "town".
The other day, I met an older Novocastrian who used to have professional offices at the top of town. He remembered the East End as being "awful", a grimy mélange of derelict warehouses, railway sidings, and pollution from the Zaara Street power station. Now, of course, the area is a tourist mecca and a highly successful event space. The shared paths along the foreshore and beaches are thronged, and the renovated ocean baths and new skate park have been enthusiastically embraced.
Much remains to be done, of course. The slow death of street front retail has left large stretches of Hunter Street struggling to find a new purpose, Beaumont Street has its challenges, and while Newcastle's light rail line was the right idea, it remains a job only partly done. I'll report back in another three years.
THE owners of Tomago Aluminium have warned that high energy prices may put the plant's future in jeopardy. That could cost 1500 direct jobs and an extra 5000 across the region ("Minister optimistic on smelter despite surging energy prices", Newcastle Herald 12/6).
With energy prices to rise from July 2025, Tomago seems to be seeking government subsidy (taxpayer money) to keep operating profitably. Additionally, Alcoa plans to close down an aluminium smelter and two mills in WA this year due to high energy prices and production costs. With the US placing tariffs on Australian aluminium and Indonesia now expanding its cheap production, the future of our aluminium industry is not bright. Without reliable and affordable 24/7 energy supplies, productivity in Australia will continue to decline. It does not take an Einstein to figure that out.
GRAHAME Danaher ("Tackling adversity way to go", Letters 10/6), and Steve Barnett ("Costs are high, but working hard tough to beat", Letters 5/6): of course, tackling adversity is a great part of life, and overcoming it is the greatest high. However, once 3.5 times the median national income was enough for a house deposit. In 2024, it's 8.6 times.
Outrageously, concessional superannuation greatly favours the wealthy, people who do not need it, while the taxation tab is picked up by our younger taxpaying community. A parent recently expressed his bewilderment in the Sydney Morning Herald that, in retirement and with few expenses, he paid no tax, while his child with so many living expenses paid $37,000 on similar income. Employment is now far less stable, for a far more precarious life, for many. What toll is this taking on the social fabric?
The recent Fair Work Commission decision improved real incomes by only 1 per cent, with much of the wage rise lost to inflation. Like me, Mr Danaher and Mr Barnett should be very thankful for how the times favoured them. At the start of his working life, Mr Barnett could pocket $60 of his pay. Sounds pretty good to me.
MY parents didn't have botox injections, false eyelashes, manicures, exfoliation, waxing, cosmetic surgery, day spas, and that was just Dad. Throw in streaming services, exotic holidays, regular nights out, extra TVs, the biggest barbecue backyard smokehouse, spa, pool, four-car garage, double-storey house, jet ski, social media profile, designer clothes and handbags (are you reading this, honey? I hope not). I'm sure you people get my drift.
I know it's hard these days, but it's not impossible to buy a home and start small, dream big. We are dreaming of a small, nice retirement apartment near the beach. It might be a cave overlooking the Hawkesbury River if Mac Maguire's prediction of 1000 years of Labor government comes true. Good luck, I hope you achieve your goals.
MATT Ophir says he does not see any mosques being firebombed or sprayed with graffiti ("Targets of hate speak volumes", Letters, 12/6). What we are seeing is Palestine being destroyed and tens of thousands of its innocent citizens being slaughtered. Unfortunately, the hard-line government in Israel has used the bad behaviour of Hamas to invade the entire country. Yes, bad behaviour on both sides. I congratulate our government's brave decision to call out poor behaviour on both sides. I also congratulate the Albanese government on their response to the amazing clown act happening in America. Go Albo.
WITH all due respect to Cr Clausen ("Councillors have duty to speak up", Letters, 10/6), the community's response to the Davidson Report, on display in these pages, shows it did nothing to restore public trust. Nor did accusing the lord mayor of spreading misinformation in any way stem the community outrage that drove the former lord mayor out of office.
AN article on an Upper Hunter solar farm said it would cost $300 million and create five permanent jobs. I wonder where the thousands of permanent jobs will go when Mt Arthur closes, if five cost so much?
APPARENTLY, Greta Thunberg and her cohort will be shown a video of the Hamas attack on Israel as justification for the invasion of Gaza. I wonder if they will also justify their response to the October 7 attack?
The US wants us to spend more on defence, but surely the $368 billion for nuclear submarines more than covers us? I am not sure that Donald Trump knows much about the submarine deal, though.
I RECENTLY celebrated three years since returning to live in Newcastle, having been away for almost three decades. My main revelation upon return was that Newcastle had acquired that indefinable quality that comes from being a city rather than a large country town.
At sunset recently, I stopped halfway across the Cowper Street bridge to contemplate Newcastle's changing skyline. With its combination of moored yachts and mid to high-rise buildings, the view of the waterfront and West End verged on glamorous. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I'm sure you'll allow that it's a great improvement on the grim neighbourhood some of us grew up with. The same can be said for many other parts of "town".
The other day, I met an older Novocastrian who used to have professional offices at the top of town. He remembered the East End as being "awful", a grimy mélange of derelict warehouses, railway sidings, and pollution from the Zaara Street power station. Now, of course, the area is a tourist mecca and a highly successful event space. The shared paths along the foreshore and beaches are thronged, and the renovated ocean baths and new skate park have been enthusiastically embraced.
Much remains to be done, of course. The slow death of street front retail has left large stretches of Hunter Street struggling to find a new purpose, Beaumont Street has its challenges, and while Newcastle's light rail line was the right idea, it remains a job only partly done. I'll report back in another three years.
THE owners of Tomago Aluminium have warned that high energy prices may put the plant's future in jeopardy. That could cost 1500 direct jobs and an extra 5000 across the region ("Minister optimistic on smelter despite surging energy prices", Newcastle Herald 12/6).
With energy prices to rise from July 2025, Tomago seems to be seeking government subsidy (taxpayer money) to keep operating profitably. Additionally, Alcoa plans to close down an aluminium smelter and two mills in WA this year due to high energy prices and production costs. With the US placing tariffs on Australian aluminium and Indonesia now expanding its cheap production, the future of our aluminium industry is not bright. Without reliable and affordable 24/7 energy supplies, productivity in Australia will continue to decline. It does not take an Einstein to figure that out.
GRAHAME Danaher ("Tackling adversity way to go", Letters 10/6), and Steve Barnett ("Costs are high, but working hard tough to beat", Letters 5/6): of course, tackling adversity is a great part of life, and overcoming it is the greatest high. However, once 3.5 times the median national income was enough for a house deposit. In 2024, it's 8.6 times.
Outrageously, concessional superannuation greatly favours the wealthy, people who do not need it, while the taxation tab is picked up by our younger taxpaying community. A parent recently expressed his bewilderment in the Sydney Morning Herald that, in retirement and with few expenses, he paid no tax, while his child with so many living expenses paid $37,000 on similar income. Employment is now far less stable, for a far more precarious life, for many. What toll is this taking on the social fabric?
The recent Fair Work Commission decision improved real incomes by only 1 per cent, with much of the wage rise lost to inflation. Like me, Mr Danaher and Mr Barnett should be very thankful for how the times favoured them. At the start of his working life, Mr Barnett could pocket $60 of his pay. Sounds pretty good to me.
MY parents didn't have botox injections, false eyelashes, manicures, exfoliation, waxing, cosmetic surgery, day spas, and that was just Dad. Throw in streaming services, exotic holidays, regular nights out, extra TVs, the biggest barbecue backyard smokehouse, spa, pool, four-car garage, double-storey house, jet ski, social media profile, designer clothes and handbags (are you reading this, honey? I hope not). I'm sure you people get my drift.
I know it's hard these days, but it's not impossible to buy a home and start small, dream big. We are dreaming of a small, nice retirement apartment near the beach. It might be a cave overlooking the Hawkesbury River if Mac Maguire's prediction of 1000 years of Labor government comes true. Good luck, I hope you achieve your goals.
MATT Ophir says he does not see any mosques being firebombed or sprayed with graffiti ("Targets of hate speak volumes", Letters, 12/6). What we are seeing is Palestine being destroyed and tens of thousands of its innocent citizens being slaughtered. Unfortunately, the hard-line government in Israel has used the bad behaviour of Hamas to invade the entire country. Yes, bad behaviour on both sides. I congratulate our government's brave decision to call out poor behaviour on both sides. I also congratulate the Albanese government on their response to the amazing clown act happening in America. Go Albo.
WITH all due respect to Cr Clausen ("Councillors have duty to speak up", Letters, 10/6), the community's response to the Davidson Report, on display in these pages, shows it did nothing to restore public trust. Nor did accusing the lord mayor of spreading misinformation in any way stem the community outrage that drove the former lord mayor out of office.
AN article on an Upper Hunter solar farm said it would cost $300 million and create five permanent jobs. I wonder where the thousands of permanent jobs will go when Mt Arthur closes, if five cost so much?
APPARENTLY, Greta Thunberg and her cohort will be shown a video of the Hamas attack on Israel as justification for the invasion of Gaza. I wonder if they will also justify their response to the October 7 attack?
The US wants us to spend more on defence, but surely the $368 billion for nuclear submarines more than covers us? I am not sure that Donald Trump knows much about the submarine deal, though.