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	Coal River Heritage Precinct Website
	University of Newcastle, Australia

Welcome to Newcastle, the birthplace of the Australian economy and home of the Australian Coal Mining Industry.

The University of Newcastle originally formed the Coal River Working Party in February 2003 to research the early history of Newcastle and restore Newcastle and the Region's significant contribution back into the Australian story.

Newcastle Light Sculpture

The Coal River Heritage Precinct is a distinctive area of public land at the mouth of the Hunter River encompassing Nobbys, Macquarie Pier, Convict Lumber Yard, and the original convict coal mine workings at Colliers Point and beneath Signal Hill (now Fort Scratchley). It is a significant historical place that gives a tangible expression to Newcastle's Aboriginal & European Heritage. (Click the Google Earth image for a closer look and Coal River Google Earth addon for an even closer look).

For up to the minute information see our Coal River Working Party Blog site.

The first profit ever made in the fledgling colony of New South Wales, (2 pounds, 5 shillings) was made here at Coal River in 1801. Newcastle and the Hunter Region have bankrolled the Australian economy from its inception to nationhood, and continue to underpin Australia's prosperity.

The Party aims to protect Newcastle's culturally important landmarks that were only recently placed on the NSW Heritage Register. The overall vision is to create an Interpretive Centre and Heritage Park to express Newcastle's unique Aboriginal, convict and industrial heritage and a management plan for the entire site. We also seek to inspire a renaissance in new and symbiotic approaches to energy and cultural innovation for the Regional, National and Global community.

Recent News

For all our recent news and events see our Coal River Working Party Blog site or join our Facebook Group.

28 February 2008
Fryer, John. Where Did Ensign Barrallier camp in 1801? A Report for the Coal River Working Party. February 2008. A Report by the University of Newcastle's Conjoint Emeritus Professor John Fryer.

7 February 2008
Check out the new Coal River Working Party Blog site for up to date information.
1 February 2008
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO Governor of New South Wales today presented copies of the rediscovered complete Barrallier Survey plan (1801) to community representatives at the Newcastle Town Hall. Read all about it on our blog pages here.

Click here to see the complete plan:Ensign Francis Louis Barrallier. 'Coal Harbour and Rivers, On the Coast of New South Wales, surveyed by Ensign Barrallier, In His Majesty's Armed Surveying Vessel, "Lady Nelson", Lieut. James Grant, Commander, in June and July, 1801. By Order of Governor King'. CO 700/ New South Wales 16/1.

14 August 2007. Sharon Grierson MP Newcastle. Federal Member for Newcastle.
Coal River National Heritage Listing [PDF] [External Link - Newcastle Electorate: Coal River Heritage Park Nomination]
27 April 2007. National Heritage Nomination for Coal River and Convict Lumber Yard
Download the final version of the National Heritage Nomination
March 2007. Pizey Report. Draft Conservation and Cultural Tourism Plan Coal River Precinct Coal River Precinct Conservation and Cultural Tourism Management Plan - Working Paper Interpretation 4 - This is a draft of the management plan prepared for the Newcastle City Council for the Coal River Precinct also known as the Pizey Report which contains some inspiring ideas for interpretation such as a light cannon sculpture for an evening display.

Google Earth and Coal River

Click here to download the latest Coal River Timescape Google Earth addon (coalriver2.kmz) 7.7MB created by Gionni Di Gravio. (Make sure that the file extension is .kmz as some browsers default it to .zip). The original Google Earth Addon was created by Robert McLardy and Gionni Di Gravio. It contains overlays and links to historical documents, maps plans of early Newcastle illustrating th work of the Coal River Working Party. You will need a good computer, broadband connection and a copy of Google Earth software which can be downloaded here. Check out the Google Earth Community page.

Coal River on You Tube

See, hear and discuss the drilling into the Convict Coal Mines of Newcastle in September 2005.
See, hear and discuss Mr Doug Lithgow's views on Nobbys Lighthouse (2007). Doug Lithgow is President of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement and Coal River Working Party member.

See, hear and discuss East End - Before and After A Community Printmaking Project (1985)
Filmed and Edited by Jane Adam. Narrated and Directed by Therese Kenyon.
Thank you to Bruce Leaver for digitising the U-Matic video tape. (Video is in 2 parts- click the images above)

See, hear and discuss A Journey Around the Heart - West of Coal Island (1976 ). Channel 3 TV and University of Newcastle Co-production documentary on the history and architecture of Newcastle, Australia. Director - John Silver. Producers - John Silver and John Hill. (Note: Video is divided in four parts - click the images above to view)

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