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Newcastle, New South Wales Facts & Worksheets

Newcastle, New South Wales is Australia’s second-oldest and second-most populous city

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The economic hub of the Hunter Region, accounting for 31.7% of the region’s annual economy, is Newcastle, New South Wales. Affectionately called “Newie”, it is Australia’s second-oldest and second-most populous city.

See the fact file below for more information on Newcastle, New South Wales, or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Newcastle, New South Wales worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • Newcastle, New South Wales is located on the southern bank of the Hunter River. It was traditionally occupied by Aboriginal people of Awabakal and Worimi who called the area Malubimba. In September 1797, Lieutenant John Shortland was sent to search for convicts who seized a vessel named Cumberland. However, during his search, he accidentally explored Newcastle and discovered a deep-water port and an abundance of coal. He also discovered a river he named after the governor of New South Wales at that time, Governor John Hunter. Thus, the name Hunter River came about.
  • Upon the discovery of coal in Newcastle, it became a penal settlement where the most dangerous convicts were sent to receive the harsh punishment of mining coal. Newcastle first became a settlement in 1801.
  • Philip Gidley King established a convict camp with the purpose of mining coal and called it King’s Town. Another settlement was then built in 1804 which was initially called Coal River, which then became Kingstown, and eventually Newcastle, after England’s famous coal port. The new settlers, convicts, and military guards arrived in Newcastle on March 27, 1804, on three ships: HMS Lady Nelson, the Resource, and the James. 
  • The penal settlement of Newcastle developed from 1815 to 1818 under the command of Captain James Wallis. He laid down the streets of the town, built the first church, and erected an old jail on the seashore, and a breakwater. In 1816, the oldest public school in Australia was built. 
  • Newcastle remained a penal settlement until 1822, then in 1823, the remaining convicts left the settlement and the military rule ended. Soon after, free settlers occupied the area and a civilian government was established. In 1891, the Newcastle and Hunter River Steamship company was established and provided regular services from Newcastle to Sydney until 1956. On June 8, 1942, during World War II, Newcastle became an important industrial center for Australia’s war efforts. However, the city was attacked by the Japanese submarine I-21. Fortunately, there were no casualties and only little damage was dealt by the attack.
  • From being a penal settlement where the most notorious and dangerous convicts were sent to mine coal, Newcastle is now Australia’s largest coal-exporting harbor. It has become a metropolitan area with the second-largest population in Australia. 

CITYSCAPE AND LANDMARKS

  • Since the first coal export in the 1800s, Newcastle has become the largest coal exporting harbor in Australia. The Port of Newcastle played a vital role in the city’s economy and even Australia as a whole. It is also the economic and trade center for Hunter Valley which contributes $26 billion yearly to the national economy.
  • Another landmark is the ANZAC Walk, a memorial established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing in Gallipoli to participate in World War I. This coincided with the start of the steel business in Newcastle. Thus, the ANZAC Walk is made from stainless steel and adorned with steel silhouettes of soldiers together with the names of 11,000 soldiers who served during World War I. 
  • Meanwhile, Japan’s attack during World War II and the 1989 earthquake dealt some damage to the Christ Church Cathedral, but it has been restored and is now one of the buildings that dominate the cityscape of Newcastle. It boasts Gothic Revival style architecture and its bell tower gives a scenic view of the city and sea.
  • Since Newcastle is rich in history, the Newcastle Museum is a must-visit that will take you to the past, present, and future of the city. It has three exhibits that show early Aboriginal life, Newcastle’s history and beliefs, and its major industries. 
  • Unlike all the landmarks mentioned above, Lake Macquarie offers a more adventurous side of Newcastle. It is surrounded by significant sites such as Butterfly Cave, Glenrock State Reserve, and Pulbah Island Nature Reserve. It boasts recreational activities such as recreational fishing, kayaking, boating, and water skiing.

INDUSTRY

  • Newcastle, with its abundance of coal, started as a coal mine and became the largest coal exporting harbor in Australia. The coal industry started when the Australian Agricultural Company was granted land and a 31-year monopoly on its coal. In the 1850s, copper smelting began at Burwood.
  • It expanded in 1890 with the establishment of the English and Australian Copper Company and in the same decade, Cockle Creek Smelter was established. Meanwhile, in 1885, the largest soap factory in the Southern Hemisphere was established. This was followed by the steel industry when Broken Hill Proprietary chose Newcastle as its location in 1911. It started operations in 1915 and dominated for 80 years. 
  • In current times, instead of the steel industry, the service sector dominates Newcastle. Still, Port Newcastle plays a huge role in their economy as a multi-purpose cargo hub.

Newcastle, New South Wales Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Newcastle, New South Wales across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Newcastle, New South Wales which is Australia’s second-oldest and second-most populous city.

  • Newcastle, New South Wales
  • Newcastle, New South Wales
  • Newcastle, New South Wales
  • Newcastle, New South Wales
  • Newcastle, New South Wales
  • Newcastle, New South Wales

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Newcastle, New South Wales Fact File
  • Word Port
  • Novocastrian Logo
  • Coal Trail
  • Adventure Time!
  • Red Light, Green Light
  • River of Information
  • Letter of Gratitude
  • Lake Macquarie
  • To the Coal Mining Industry
  • Novocastrian Slogan

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Link will appear as Newcastle, New South Wales Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 26, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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