Panoramic Visions of Newcastle on the Coquun Hunter

Sophia Campbell 1818 Panorama from Nobbys

Newcastle Gerald readers are invited to view a beautiful display of early panoramas of Newcastle recently installed at the Maritime Centre at Honeysuckle.

Entitled "Newcastle on the Edge: Panoramic Visions of Newcastle on the Coquun Hunter", the outdoor exhibit is The University of Newcastle's contribution to History Week, whose theme this year is ‘At the Water’s Edge’.

The exhibition is sponsored by the University of Newcastle’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences and is a collaborative event involving the University, the Maritime Centre and the History Council of New South Wales.

The beautiful panoramas of early Newcastle will be officially launched tomorrow September 6th 2008 by Phil Ashley-Brown Head of 1233 Radio at 10am at the Maritime Centre Honeysuckle.

Two of the panoramas have been re-photographed by Associate Professor Allan Chawner from today's perspectives to give viewers a clear view of how the Port has been transformed over time.

Newcastle on the Edge will be run at the Maritime Centre during History Week from Saturday 6 - Sunday 14 September 2008.

For more information consult the "Newcastle on the Edge" Blog: http://newcastleontheedge.blogspot.com/

Anti-coal forum held in Singleton

Over 150 people attended a public meeting organised by the Rivers SOS Alliance in Singleton yesterday to learn about the negative health and environmental effects of open-cut and longwall mining.
After a screening of the Rivers of Shame 2 DVD, which features ex-coal miner Graham Brown, the residents shared personal stories of asthma, heavy metal poisoning, thyroid diseases and cancers.
Two local doctors presented anecdotal evidence about the disproportionate number of health problems in the Region which could be attributed to the poisoning of rivers and soils from mining dust.
The residents expressed anger at the failed promises of the NSW Government to commence comprehensive health and environmental studies of the region, and indicated that they would be submitting their children to blood tests to determine whether they had been poisoned by lead and other heavy metals.
The doctors expressed their support for the proposal after several residents revealed that they had been victims of lead poisoning.
Graham Brown, who was arrested that morning at a Greenpeace action shutting down the Eraring power station, was not in attendance. Several councillors from Singleton and Maitland councils attended the event.
The meeting unanimously passed a motion calling for comprehensive health and environmental studies in the region.
The meeting came several days after a report from the University of Newcastle's Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE) revealed that thousands of jobs could be created by shifting to a renewable energy economy.
About a dozen Upper Hunter residents indicated that they would be attending next week's Camp for Climate Action.

Coal River Precinct Plan on Public Exhibition

Newcastle has a unique and interesting history of which we should all be aware. Newcastle's birthplace is the Coal River Precinct at the top of town.

The Coal River Precinct encompasses the landmarks of Nobbys, Macquarie Pier, Fort Scratchley (Signal Hill) and the Convict Lumber Yard that are fundamental to the understanding of the history of Newcastle.

Newcastle City Council is at present inviting comments on the draft Coal River Precinct Conservation and Cultural Tourism Management Plan (2.95Mb pdf).

The draft Plan provides a valuable overview and insight into the importance of the precinct and points to ways to enhance the contribution of the precinct to the development of Newcastle through its indigenous pre-history and European settlement.

The draft Plan is on exhibition for eight weeks from Monday, 7 April to Monday, 2 June 2008.

Written comments should be sent to:

The General Manager
Newcastle City Council
Attention: Barbara Heaton
PO Box 489, Newcastle NSW 2300 or email: mail@ncc.nsw.gov.au

Submissions should be received by 5.00pm on Monday, 2 June 2008.

For further enquiries please call the project Coordinator on 02 4974 2886.

The Newcastle Gerald is a proud supporter of Newcastle and the Region's heritage, and we urge you to write a submission and support this management plan.