Raymond Terrace Street Flowers

Nice to see Raymond Terrace shopping district brightened up with some flowers - one might almost think they were in country France! (they do it so well there).

This near the site of our first #raymondterracecoffee tweetup for 2014. If you would like to come to the next one just let me know. And no, you don't need to be on Twitter to come along, but if you are interested in finding out more about social media then we can answer your questions.

@lindyasimus

Oldest Photographs Of Newcastle NSW

Are these photographs of Newcastle taken some time between 1873 and 1875  the earliest in existence? Very possibly.

Thanks to Ann Hardy for finding these, and to Carol Duncan for broadcasting this story on ABC radio @1233Newcastle 

"In September 2013 I visited the library to look at some of these "Newcastle" photographs, with no further description of what was available I was interested in which parts of Newcastle were shown. What I found were images taken from the usual aspects, from Nobbys Road towards Nobbys, from Christ Church overlooking the harbour, Gaol Hill across Newcastle Beach, and a view looking east towards the city.

What I didn't expect and took me by surprise were how early the photographs were taken, most likely some time between 1870 and 1874. I decided to digitally photograph images as they appeared in the album because I knew they were historically significant and contained important information for future research. I also knew there would be of interest to some in the local Newcastle community."  

See the full story and more photographs at ABC Open

New Road Opens To Bypass Sandgate

A shot of the new bypass from Maitland Road to Shortland Twitter by @nicholasgerber of the ABC

Regal Ready With A Digital Revamp And A Little Help From Friends

Okay I was late to the party when it came to discovering how much fun it was to go to the flicks at The Regal at Birmingham Gardens. I went for the first time and liked it so much took a friend visiting from the US back the next day for another session.

The orange cordial dregs in the machine were a bit of a worry but what a fun place to go and step into the olden days with the old chair and sad old interior. Take a blanket and have a picnic seemed like an idea.  Then a short time later it was 'curtains' for the Old Dear.

The story was told on ABC 1233 this morning and what a fairy tale it was. Maybe this is a story with a happy ending that will be a movie itself one day.

From the ABC website:

"Despite the best efforts of a loyal band of supporters, the Regal has been unable to find a way to re-open.

But thanks to an Academy Award winning Australian movie director the fate of the cinema has changed.

George Miller who created and successfully delivered Happy Feet 2, the sequel to Happy Feet, came to the rescue.

The director of the musical adventure featuring a penguin colony needed a state of the art digital cinema for his film - but once the movie was delivered it was set to be sold."

See the full heartwarming story here.

The upshot of course is that the Regal is set to reopen next month. Not just reopening, but this time with the latest digital equipment. 

Now that's a happy ending!


The Cinema Regal from Brett Piva on Vimeo.

The Cinema Regal from Brett Piva on Vimeo.

 Related:

Friends of The Regal 

Friends of The Regal Facebook Page

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2034908/regal-cinemas-gift-from-happy-feet-2-crew/?cs=305

Find The Regal Map

Tin City: Stockton

Great write up in the Herald

These dunes have secrets. One day in the 1980s, Garland found the half-buried skeleton of an Aboriginal girl. There are also ancient Aboriginal middens, dotted throughout the sandy swales, white shoals of sun-bleached shells periodically uncovered by the wind. Some of them date back 1200 years. Then, a jet fighter will scream overhead, on a training run from nearby Williamtown air force base.

There are no roads to Tin City. You drive along Stockton Beach (in a 4WD, unless you enjoy getting bogged). As you drive, you will marvel at the crazily raw and elemental beauty of this beach – the colossal sky, the foaming sea; the way the ocean meets the earth here like a smack in the chops. There are no signs of human habitation. It's just sand and rolling dunes until suddenly a cluster of 11 shacks appears, off behind the beach, half buried and looking quite strange and lonely. Several scenes of the hit 1979 movie Mad Max were filmed here.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/off-the-grid-living-in-tin-city-20140108-30h1m.html#ixzz2prLUpbA5

EPA Targets Lawnmowers While Ignoring Coal Pollution In Hunter

The Hunter Community Environment Centre said its analysis of theEnvironment Protection Authority’s 2013 data showed a 50% increase in air pollution breaches throughout the year in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, compared with 2012.

Coal crackdown urged as air pollution breaches rise by 50% in Hunter Valley

Environment centre wants all coal wagons and stockpiles covered, and plans for Newcastle coal terminal to be rejected

• Share69
• inShare6
• Email

• Oliver Milman
• theguardian.com, Thursday 2 January 2014 

The group, which has campaigned against the mining industry on health grounds, said the national standard for a particle called PM10 was breached 171 times last year.

Significant quantities of PM10 can cause respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, and cardiovascular disease.

The breaches showed the NSW government should block a fourth terminal at Newcastle that would export an additional 70m tonnes a year, the environment group said.

The group is also campaigning for the mining industry to cover coal wagons on trains, which it blames for spreading harmful coal dust. A Senate inquiry last year called for better monitoring of potentially harmful effects, although submissions from the mining industry said covering wagons would be too expensive.

“I was surprised by the number of breaches but also by the EPA, which has steadfastly refused to implement any measures to control pollution,” James Whelan, from the community environment centre, told Guardian Australia.

He said there was no week during the year when the pollution did not exceed national standards.

See full article in The Guardian 

Highlights of the Port Stephens, Sydney, Canberra Bush Fires 2013

Newcastle Light Rail Not Full Steam Ahead

Newcastle's proposed light rail is causing controversy

Updated Mon 23 Dec 2013, 

The NSW government says work could start on light rail in Newcastle's CBD as early as next year, but critics are questioning the benefit of privatising the port and replacing trains with trams.

Philippa McDonald

Interesting video on the proceedings via ABC website. You can see it on the link below.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-23/newcastles-proposed-light-rail-is-causing/5173176

Newcastle Advertisement

Birds Eye View of Newcastle

Helicopter Ride over Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Financial Update In Newcastle

Some seats are still available to attend an information evening to learn about what's happening in the financial  markets at this time. With all the changes that are happening around the world this is a great way to get updated on the global overview of the financial markets. 

Australian equities will also be discussed and there will be another session to address issues of cash flow with  Newcastle Financial Advisor, Murdo Macleod. 

Venue: “Noah’s On The Beach” 
Time:  6:30 pm Tuesday 7 May

Light refreshments will be served after the presentation and to secure your seats, just call 4940 0488 or email newcastle@fiducianfs.com  

Newcastle Post Office With People

The Newcastle post office is an icon of Hunter Street. But architecture aside, we most often seem to see it without people! If you have any photographs of people inside using the post office, I'd love to know. 

Rally at Newcastle Post Office, Cnr Hunter and Bolton Streets, Newcastle, NSW

 - the banner on the side of the stand refers to "Recruiting Office" 

so the date of photograph is likely to be between September 1916 

Hunter Street Newcastle NSW   View looking toward the Post Office 

on corner of Hunter and Bolton Streets. undated.

Students dancing outside Newcastle Post Office, 

Newcastle Teachers' College, Australia - 1952

Newcastle Post Office, corner of Hunter and Bolton Streets. 

Soldiers’ Memorial Fountain is located in front. c1960s

Suz E Bee Candles Takes Out Prizes

Congratulations to Suzanne Blakestone and Suz E Bee Candles for taking out these prizes at the recent Sydney show!

Suz E Bee Candles are all handmade in Port Stephens, NSW using only the finest 100% Pure Australian Beeswax (from the Hunter Region of NSW) and pure cotton wick.  

As Suz says on her website, "They are not only a great gift for yourself or someone special, they are also beneficial in many other ways - to your health (by purifying the air you breath), to the environment (no toxic smoke) and to local beekeepers and their communities" 

2013 Sydney Royal Easter Show

Class 7: Two Moulded Candles, natural beeswax

1st Prize: Buzzing Bee Pillar

2nd Prize: Fern Pillar

Class 8: Two Rolled Candles, natural beeswax

1st Prize: 10cm Medium Pillar

2nd Prize: 10cm Large Pillar

The Suz E Bee range of handmade beeswax candles & products include:

• Tea Light candles (various sizes)
• Votive Candles & Votive Refills
• Rolled Pillar Candles
• Dipped Candles
• Moulded Candles (Angels, Buddha, Fern Pillars, Beehive Votives, Bee Pillars, Crystal Chip Candles and many more)
• Roll Your Own candle kits
• Natural lip balm and furniture polish
• Extensive range of handmade, colourful German glass candle holders & lamps.

I was shocked to learn that so many candles that look and smell nice are full of chemicals and artificial components, fortunately you don't have to settle for toxic fumes. 

Suz E Bee 100% Pure Australian Beeswax Candles and products are free from:

• Petro-chemicals
• Bleaches
• Colourings
• Added fragrances (unless specified)
• Hardeners
• Lead
• Mould release agents

Wholesale, corporate and special occasions are also catered for.  Contact Suzanne  for more details:  sales@suzebeecandles.com.au

Newcastle Writers Festival

Newcastle Writers Festival 2013  Something For Everyone!

Newcastle Writers Festival - Friday 5 to Sunday 7 April 2013

Newcastle's inaugural writers festival is on this weekend with a great program and some stellar visitors sharing their stories and insights as writers. 

Get the Progam

Access the program

Here's the lowdown and some background on the Newcastle Writes Festival from ABC 1233 

For more information about the festival, to download a program or to buy tickets to the sessions, go to the Newcastle Writers Festival website.

Looking Back: Sporty Women of Newcastle 1950s

Women's Softball, Newcastle Teachers' College, NSW, Australia - 1955

Women sporting club members with hula-hoops, Newcastle Teachers' College, Australia - 1955

Women's Cricket, Newcastle Teachers' College, NSW, Australia - 1955

Women's skipping rope race, Newcastle Teachers' College, Australia - 1956

Women's Netball, Newcastle Teachers' College, NSW, Australia - 1955

Back When Newcastle Had A Rail Service

The Herald reports today:



"Workers unearthed the old track, which appears to be part of a spurline used in the late 1800s known as the sand sidings, during works on John Parade .

A map of the Burwood Estate Railway circa 1887 shows the sidings splitting from the Beach Railway in the vicinity.

The sidings then appear to stretch from near Merewether Surf Club towards Dixon Park.

Newcastle Herald historian Mike Scanlon said the rails’ location indicated they may have been part of those sidings.

‘‘This old railway line is likely to have been part of a once extensive sand removal operation that speared off from the present Watkins Street corner,’’ Mr Scanlon said.

‘‘There were once huge dunes around the Dixon Park area which were heavily exploited.’’

Mr Scanlon said the line appeared to have fallen out of use by 1900 and seemed completely gone following the Depression."



See the full story here  

Marcus Westbury at TEDxMoretonBay

Makers + Places: Marcus Westbury at TEDxMoretonBay

Some great old pictures of Newcastle NSW here too.

Marcus Westbury is the founder of Renew Newcastle and Renew Australia. His background is a broadcaster, writer, media maker and festival director who is responsible for some of Australia's more innovative, unconventional and successful cultural projects and events. He has worked across a range of media as a writer, producer, director and presenter, covering fields as diverse as culture, art, urban planning, media, sport and politics. In 2008, with his own funds and energy, Marcus founded Renew Newcastle, a low budget, not for profit, DIY urban renewal scheme that has brokered access to more than 30 empty buildings for more than 70 creative enterprises, artists and cultural projects in his hometown of Newcastle, NSW. In this presentation Marcus reveals a surprising discovery about his innovative work.

Macquarie Collector Chest Returning To Newcastle

Macquarie collector's chest, ca. 1818

Newcastle Art Gallery is partnering with the State Library of NSW to present the most historically important artefacts about colonial era Newcastle ever put together. Featuring the rare and beautiful Macquarie Collector’s Chest this is the first time the chest has been seen in Newcastle since it was created here two hundred years ago.

The chest will be the centrepiece of an exhibition called Treasures of Newcastle from the Macquarie era which will be on display at the Gallery from March next year.

The chest is constructed of a combination of Australian rosewood found from the Hunter River to the Port Macquarie region of NSW, and red cedar found in NSW coastal regions from the Illawarra to the north. It opens to present a wonderful array of artefacts, specimens, painted panels, and compartments. The artwork on the chest depicts colonial Newcastle and the surrounding areas. It is thought to be the work of Joseph Lycett - a noted convict artist of the period. Lycett was patronised by both Macquarie and Captain James Wallis, Commandant of the secondary penal settlement at Newcastle, north of Sydney.


More 

Newkulele - The Newcastle Ukulele Festival 2012 (Rocky Parody)

Well done!

Here's a great use of video for promotion.

Looks like a lot of fun too so check it out.

Newcastle's First Ukulele Festival

The pillars of the Newkulele Revolution...
The Ukulele + the nation's community uke groups + some of the world's best performers + our quest for excellence in ukulele learning + our beautiful beachside city = Newkulele!!!
Discover why Newcastle has the highest number of ukulele players per head population of any Australian city!
Discover why our city was voted Australia's most liveable city or why Lonely Planet nominated it as one of the most visitable cities in Australia!
Help Newcastle become Ukastle for a whole weekend.

View the official Website http://www.newkulelefestival.com/

Clip Proudly Made & Directed by Greg & Andy From Musos Corner (http://www.MusosCorner.com.au)
Ukulele Rocky Theme by John McMullen

Hunter Vineyards and Mines

Two videos. One with some great scenes of the Hunter Valley.

The second showing what the mining in this valley looks like.