City of Newcastle

**Our city, our people** Newcastle is a proud community that has been shaped by our heritage. We have survived earthquakes, superstorms and the closure of major industries, and we continue to grow and change. The Awabakal and Worimi peoples are acknowledged as the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters of Newcastle. The tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples continues to enrich and inform contemporary Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities of Newcastle and the Hunter Region. European settlement introduced a range of activities, from farming to coal mining and industry. While the industrial sector continues to play an important employment role, a substantial and growing portion of our economy is now based around the service sector. We are home to artists, galleries, museums, theatres, creative enterprises, arts organisations, cultural education providers, cultural collections, and a community that embraces cultural expression. We have a diverse natural environment, from coastal headlands and beaches to wetlands, mangrove forests, steep ridges and rainforest gullies. Our suburbs are also diverse – from the heritage-lined streets of Newcastle East to the leafy homes of our middle suburbs such as Lambton and Kotara, and more recent greenfield estates at Fletcher and Minmi. **Our place in the region** - Newcastle is located about 160 km north of Sydney. It is Australia’s seventh-largest city and is the centre of the Greater Newcastle Region, the largest regional centre in NSW. - Newcastle is the economic hub of the Hunter Region, with an international profile as a major port city and a gateway to the world for the Hunter’s rich resources. - Newcastle is home to the University of Newcastle (UoN); the John Hunter Hospital, which is the tertiary referral hospital for Northern NSW; and a number of world-class research organisations, including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Energy Centre and National Solar Energy Centre and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. - Newcastle is the cultural heart of the Hunter Region, supporting [Newcastle Art Gallery](https://nag.org.au/), [Newcastle Museum](https://newcastlemuseum.com.au/home), and the [Civic Theatre and Playhouse](https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/home), and hosting a diverse calendar of cultural events. - The [Hunter Regional Plan 2041](https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/regional-plans/hunter-regional-plan-2041), the [Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036](https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/greater-newcastle-metropolitan-planning) and the [Hunter Joint Organisation Strategic Plan 2032](https://hunterjo.nsw.gov.au/hunter-jo-strategy/) are the key regional development planning documents that support Newcastle. The Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan states that: *‘Metropolitan cities succeed and perform best when all tiers of government collaborate and work together with business, industry and community to deliver a shared vision for their city.’*