LOCATION SPOTLIGHT: NEWCASTLE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Newcastle is the second-largest city in New South Wales combining a stunning coastline, verdant vineyards and a myriad of architectural styles within its historic city centre.

It is the commercial, administrative and industrial centre of the Hunter Region. Located 168 km (104 miles) north of Sydney, it is easily accessible from Sydney via highway or aeroplane. Historically a steel and coal mining town set up in 1804 to exploit the coal deposits, its rich history is reflected in its beautiful and maintained architecture: Victorian neo-classical / Romanesque, Neo-Classical Corinthian, Baroque Revival, Federation Anglo-Dutch, Inter-War Academic Classical, Art Deco and European Modernist, architectural styles, to name but a few styles, plus a warm, welcoming attitude.

It is a beautiful city surrounded by ocean pools, beaches, small towns and lush vineyards – a city that has come into its own in the last two decades. With an abundance of accommodation, excellent restaurants and its film-friendly attitude, it is a popular destination for filmmakers and tourists alike.

COASTAL NEWCASTLE

Newcastle Ocean Baths from Fort Scratchley Car Park, East Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

Merewether Ocean Baths. Courtesy of Screen Hunter.

1. Newcastle Beach. Courtesy of Screen NSW.
2. Bar Beach. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen Hunter.

DOWNTOWN NEWCASTLE

1. Hunter Street, Newcastle.
2. King Street, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

1. Bolton Street, Newcastle.
2. Australia post Building, Hunter Street, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

Hunter Street, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

1. Hunter Street, Newcastle.
2. Cnr Church and Watt Streets, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

1. Bolton Street, Newcastle.
2. Light rail, Hunter Street, Newcastle, opposite old railway station.
3. Hunter Street, light rail track. Old railway building to the left. All images courtesy of Screen NSW.

Looking over the city and the harbour sits the majestic Christ Church Cathedral, The Hill, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

CIVIC PARK & NEWCASTLE CITY HALL

1. Newcastle City Hall, King Street, Newcastle. Image Credit: Screen NSW
2. Captain Cook Memorial Fountain, Newcastle Civic Park, King Street, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

Civic Park, King Street, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

CIVIC THEATRE AND WHEELER PLACE

1. Crystalbrook Kingsley, Wheeler Place, Newcastle.
2. The Civic Theatre with the University of Newcastle in the background. All images courtesy of Screen NSW.

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY PRECINCT

NUspace is part of the Newcastle City campus and is home to the Newcastle Business School and Newcastle Law School, with the Wollotuka Institute also having an office in the building. This award-winning structure is spectacular from any angle and complements the magnificent heritage buildings in the Civic Park area, including the NESCA building.

NUspace, Newcastle University, Hunter Street, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

NUspace Building, University of Newcastle, Auckland Street view, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

1. NUspace, Newcastle University, Hunter Street, Newcastle.
2. University House (formerly NESCA House), Newcastle University, King Street, Newcastle.
3. Watt Space Gallery, Northumberland House, University of Newcastle, Auckland Street, Newcastle. All images courtesy of Screen NSW.

EAST NEWCASTLE

Sitting between the beach and downtown Newcastle is East Newcastle, one of the city’s most beautiful and interesting areas. The streets are lined with well-maintained heritage buildings and the ocean is only moments away.

Earp Gillam Bond Store, East Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

NEWCASTLE PORT & FORESHORE

Newcastle Port view from Foreshore. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

1. Signal Box Restaurant, Wharf Road, Newcastle Foreshore
2. Newcastle Port Foreshore. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

1. Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle Harbour.
2. Market Place and Scott Streets, Newcastle. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

THE OLD WANGI POWER STATION, LAKE MACQUARIE

Old Wangi Power Station, Lake Macquarie. Image courtesy of Screen Hunter.

CARRINGTON

Carrington is a five-minute drive from downtown Newcastle. Wrapping the Port, Carrington is where industrial meets residential.

1. Carrington – Industrial meets Residential.
2. Carrington Residential. Courtesy of Screen NSW.

TRADITIONAL OWNERS

The Awabakal and Worimi peoples are acknowledged by the City of Newcastle as the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters situated within the Newcastle local government area, including wetlands, rivers creeks and coastal environments. It is known that their heritage and cultural ties to Newcastle date back tens of thousands of years.

WHAT HAS FILMED HERE

The Hunter Region has been the background for a number of productions. Most recently the TV series The Lost Flowers of Alice and Pieces of Her filmed in the Hunter Region. With such a diverse range of locations ranging from the city of Newcastle to the magnificent golden Stockton Dunes and stunning coastline, to the lush vineyards, this is also a very popular region for shooting commercials, music videos and fashion editorials.

GETTING THERE

By Car
The region is well serviced by sealed roads and highways. Newcastle is just over a two-hour drive from Sydney.

By Air
A number of airlines fly directly from Sydney to Newcastle Airport, less than half an hour’s drive north of Newcastle.

ACCOMMODATION

As a popular destination for tourists and filmmakers alike, there is an abundant and diverse range of accommodation options in the region for cast and crew.

REEL SCOUT IMAGES 

Location images of Newcastle and other cities and regions in New South Wales are also available via www.screen.nsw.gov.au/reel-scout  and on the free Create NSW Film Scout iPhone app on iTunes.
Click here to see more Sydney and NSW locations.

FILMING IN NEWCASTLE AND THE HUNTER REGION

Screen Hunter is the Regional Film & Television Office that covers the Hunter Region including Newcastle. The office is a valuable resource for filmmakers and is the major permitting authority for councils in this region.

Contact:
Ray Owen, Manager, Screen Hunter
P: + 61 423 020 191 | + 61 2 4978 4015
E: [email protected]
W: www.screenhunter.com.au

FILMING IN NEW SOUTH WALES

For further information on locations, technical and creative talent, studio space, post-production, visual effects facilities and any other aspect of filming, please contact Screen NSW’s Production Attraction team  
or + 61 2 8289-6441.