Shipwrecked Newcastle Film Release - Hunter Living Histories

Shipwrecked Newcastle - A Stories of Our Town Film (2024) — Shipwrecked Newcastle – A Stories of Our Town Film (2024)

Shipwrecked Newcastle – the 20th film from the Stories of Our Town team Chit Chat von Loopin Stab and Tony Whittaker has been released, and free to watch on their YouTube Channel.

Six Months in Production

The latest Stories of Our Town film has been six months in production, and runs to almost an hour, bringing us the most amazing stories of Newcastle’s shipwrecks, which are arguably “among the earliest, if not the earliest wreck sites in New South Wales.”

This, according to Dr James Hunter, Curator of Naval Heritage and Archaeology at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, means the Newcastle coastline is one of the most significant areas in Australia due to the massive amount of wreck sites here numbering in the many hundreds.

Tony Whittaker preparing to film Dr James Hunter, Marine Archaeologist

Tony Strazzari, professional diver with Dr James Hunter, Marine Archaeologist.

The team at the Australian National Maritime Museum

Celebration of the Work of the late Terry Callen

The film forms a tribute to the late Terry Callen, artist and historian, who documented Newcastle’s maritime history in great detail through two books, Bar Dangerous and Bar Safe. These works have become the reference texts of the ship wreck history of Newcastle, and his family have participated in the film providing their memories on the life and work of their father. Newly digitised scans of Terry’s paintings also help tell the stories of each of the wrecks, and the drama involved.

Chit Chat with the family representatives Cathy and Chris of the late Terry Callen. — Chit Chat with the family representatives Cathy and Chris, daughter and son of the late Terry Callen.

The Wonderland Beneath the Waves

The film also features underwater footage filmed by professional divers with the expertise and training to reach these depths. They provide an insight rarely seen by the average person. So it’s a real treat to see this wonderland off the Newcastle coastline brought into the comfort of our homes.

Underwater Footage of Shipwreck off Newcastle (Photo credit: Brisbane Waters Aquatic Club)

A Great Collaboration of Historians, Archivists, Curators and Shipwreck Afficionandos

Shipwrecked Newcastle is also a gathering of the best storytellers, who can bring the stories of courage, bravery (and sometimes incredible stupidity) to life. Their heartfelt, and sometimes comical portrayals of the rescuers and the rescued, and the way the Newcastle community shared in the joys and despairs is something you will never forget.

Bill Hillier with the Rocket Brigade Wagon

Chit Chat with Chris Simmons, author of Sygna My Story — Chit Chat with Chris Simmons, author of *Sygna My Story*

Chit Chat with Sarah Cameron, Heritage Consultant.

Mike Scanlon with Chit Chat on location at Stockton Breakwater

A Great Collaboration of Cultural Institutions

It is also a great to see the wonderful resources and people from our cultural institutions and community heritage organisations come together to help tell these stories. They include the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, The Newcastle Public Library, Newcastle Museum, Stockton Historical Society, NBN Television, Newcastle Maritime Centre and University of Newcastle’s Special Collections (Archives) Auchmuty Library.

Bill Hillier with David Hampton and team at the Newcastle Museum

Stockton Historical Society's Mark Rigby, with Tony and Glenn — Stockton Historical Society’s Mark Rigby, with Tony and Glenn

Congratulations to Chit Chat and Tony, the Stories of Our Town Film Makers

Sincere thanks to the Stories of Our Town team of Chit Chat von Loopin Stab (a.k.a. Glenn Dormand) and Tony Whittaker for their work, the calibre of their professional expertise in film craft helping to tell these stories for the first time.