City of Newcastle

12/06/2026

Did you know daytime public bathing in the sea was widely banned until the early 1900s?

When Ralph Snowball captured this moment on New Year’s Day, 1902, the beach was a place to stroll or splash, but only up to your knees! It seems so different to the Newcastle Beach that we know and enjoy today.

Our relationship with our coastline has been shaped by changing attitudes, education and the many efforts of early lifeguards who helped make safe, shared access to the water part of everyday life.

But some things never change, and just like the Novocastrians in this photo we still love our coast, year after year 💙

Photo: Newcastle Beach on 1 January 1902.

Credit: Ralph Snowball, Snowball collection in Hunter Photo Bank via Newcastle Libraries.

12/06/2026

🍲 TASTE. DISCOVER. WIN.
Village in the City, Bright Nights Bazaar!

Take your tastebuds on a journey at the Village in the City Tasting Trail as we celebrate Refugee Week. 🌍

Pick up your Tasting Passport on arrival and explore delicious flavours from around $5 tasting plates paired with the stories, traditions and cultures behind each dish.

Visit participating stalls, collect your passport stamps, meet local community members, and discover the rich cultural tapestry that makes our city so special.

The more tastes you try, the more chances you have to WIN some fantastic prizes!

✨ $5 tastings
✨ Cultural stories and experiences
✨ Passport stamps
✨ Great prizes to be won
✨ A fun day out for the whole family

How many flavours can you discover?

📍 Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre
📅 19 June | 4–7:30pm

12/06/2026

Meet Newcastle’s newest International Student Ambassadors 🤝

Did you know Newcastle was recently voted the best city in the country for supporting international students, and in the top five for study destination choices in Australia?

Our new ambassadors will continue to make our city a welcoming, inclusive, and connected place for students from across the globe who choose Newcastle. 🌎

11/06/2026

From drab to fab, New Lambton's Orchardtown Road is our latest local centre to undergo a total transformation 👌

☕ Two new plaza spaces that invite people to sit and linger a little longer.
🌳 More than 100 new trees to offer shade in summer.
🌧️ Renewed kerb, gutter and drainage to keep rainwater off the road in winter.
🚴 Safer journeys for all road users, with an improved intersection, a new pedestrian crossing and 40km/hr zone.
🚶 Wider footpaths that connect users to Blackbutt Reserve, Novocastrian Park and Richley Reserve.
🎨 Three public murals to add a splash of colour.

Work on the next local centre project, Georgetown, is progressing well. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months.

Learn more about this project and others in our Local Centres Program. 🔗Link in comments below.👇

10/06/2026

We acknowledge the life and service of The Honourable Peter Morris OAM, whose State Funeral Service will be held at 11.00 am on Friday 12 June 2026 at Pettigrew Family Funerals Chapel, Mayfield West with the option to livestream the service.

Peter Morris made a significant contribution to public life, serving the people of Shortland and holding a number of ministerial appointments in the Hawke Government.

As a mark of mourning and respect, flags at 12 Stewart Avenue and City Hall will be flown at half-mast on Friday 12 June.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and the wider community.

For more information on the service and where to livestream:

A State Funeral Service for the Honourable Peter Morris OAM will take place at 11.00 am on Friday 12 June 2026 at Pettigrew Family Funerals Chapel, 7 Murray Dwyer Circuit, Mayfield West, NSW.In 1972, Mr Morris was elected to the House of Representatives for Shortland, New South Wales. From 1983 to 1...

10/06/2026

Introducing My Services, an easy way to manage City of Newcastle services, all in one place. ✅

Create an account to manage your rates, request services such as waste collections, lodge applications and more! 💡

🔗 Find out more by clicking the link in the comments below. 👇

09/06/2026

What are people saying about your local area? 👀

Over the last few weeks, hundreds of people have been helping us plan for growth around Newcastle Interchange, Hamilton Station, Adamstown Station, and Kotara Station.

Take a look at what others love about these areas and their big ideas for the future. Then join the conversation.

Have your say before Friday 12 June 2026.
🔗Link in comments below 👇

06/06/2026

Thank you to the 541 Newcastle households that joined us to Give a Sheet™! ♻️

Last weekend, our Give a Sheet™ textile recycling event collected an incredible 8.5 tonnes of unwanted linen, nearly double the amount collected at our first event in 2024.

What was donated?

🛏️ 7.5 tonnes of sheets, quilt covers and other linen sent to recycling partner BlockTexx - textile recovery facility for processing into new products. This is an average of 14kg per household - the equivalent of 11,075 bedsheets!
🐾 1 tonne of towels and blankets saved for use at our Animal Management Facility to help take care of lost pets.
👗 Extra fabric collected by Upcycle Newcastle for upcoming 'Waste to Wardrobe' workshops at Newcastle Museum.

It’s a practical example of the circular economy in action, and it's all thanks to our community choosing to give old linen a second life.

We couldn't be more thrilled with this result 💚

05/06/2026

How did lifeguards rescue people before tubes, buoys or boards? 🛟

With a lifesaving belt reel, shown here with lifeguard Albert ‘Tot’ Young!

This piece of equipment was once a crucial part of surf rescues. Lifesavers would swim out wearing a belt attached to rope, and volunteers on shore would manage the reel and bring everyone safely back to dry land.

This simple belt reel helped save countless lives on our coastline, and is a nostalgic reminder of the dedication that has helped keep our beaches safe for generations 💙

Photo: Albert ‘Tot’ Young poses with a lifesaving belt reel, September 1960.

Credit: Morrison Collection in Hunter Photo Bank via Newcastle Libraries website.

04/06/2026

How cosy is your cat this winter? ❄️🐈‍⬛

RSPCA NSW is running a competition for Newcastle LGA residents where you could *win one of 20 catnets.com.au enclosures (worth $589 each)!

To enter, snap a pic of your cat safe from the elements and describe in 500 characters or less how you’re keeping them warm this winter.

Enter via the link in comments by 11.59pm on Monday 15 June 🐾

*Terms and conditions apply. Click the link in comments for more information.