Newcastle from the air, circa 1928

[August 25,  2014 Update] Please find updated post with new high resolution scans courtesy of Greg and Sylvia Ray here: https://hunterlivinghistories.com/2014/08/25/newcastle-aerial-photos/   [August 2014 Update] We contacted Mr Phillip Warren who was able to shed further light on the origin of the images. The originals were held in the archives of the former A. Goninan … More Newcastle from the air, circa 1928

Conrad Martens in Newcastle and the Hunter

The State Library of New South Wales has digitised a selection of Conrad Martens‘ drawings. Among them are drawings that document his travels though the Hunter in the years 1841 and 1852. Conrad Martens (1801-1878), artist, was born in London England. In 1832 he joined the scientific team aboard the Beagle with Charles Darwin, replacing … More Conrad Martens in Newcastle and the Hunter

In Search of Nobbys’ Tunnels by Roslyn Kerr, Geologist

  Please download a copy of In Search of Nobbys’ Tunnels – by Roslyn Kerr, Geologist. Report to Coal River Working Party University of Newcastle, October 2010. (6.2MB PDF) In Search of Nobbys’ Tunnels – by Roslyn Kerr, Geologist. Report to Coal River Working Party University of Newcastle, October 2010. (6.2MB PDF) Thank you to … More In Search of Nobbys’ Tunnels by Roslyn Kerr, Geologist

Mysterious “Mr Thorn” – Unsung Saviour of Nobbys and Princes

Mysterious “Mr Thorn” – Unsung Saviour of Nobbys and Princes By Gionni Di Gravio In 1853 the Government hatched a plan to blow up Nobbys island in order to build a lighthouse. Lieutenant Colonel Barney and Gother T. Mann on the 4 March 1853 agreed and embraced the idea of blasting the rock. By April … More Mysterious “Mr Thorn” – Unsung Saviour of Nobbys and Princes

John Rae and Newcastle

It was an accidental delight this morning to come across an engraving of John Rae in the Illustrated Sydney News of December 1853. John Rae captured Newcastle in two famous panoramas, one painted in 1849, and again in a photograph circa 1880. These two images capture the changing landscape of the town and are among … More John Rae and Newcastle

Second blasting tunnel found in Nobbys headland

Link to online Newcastle Herald story 3 June 2009 – Second blasting tunnel found in Nobbys headland The Search for the Nobbys Gunpowder Tunnels The University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Party is currently preparing a scoping document for the New South Wales Heritage Branch which sets out our goals for archaeological investigations within the … More Second blasting tunnel found in Nobbys headland