Newcastle, city in New South Wales, south-eastern Australia. Newcastle lies along the mouth of the Hunter River on the Tasman Sea. It is the chief port serving Australia's extensive Hunter coalfield and one of the country's principal manufacturing centres. The port itself is the country's largest export harbour by tonnage: coal is its major export followed by iron and steel, grain, woodchips, and aluminium; other exports include wool, wheat, and dairy products. Manufactured products include iron and steel, machinery, ships, chemicals, and textiles. The University of Newcastle (1965) is there, and the modern cultural centre is a local landmark. The city has attractive beaches and some notable Victorian architecture. One historical building is Cooks Hill, which was the home of the artist Sir William Dobell.
Founded in 1801 as a British penal colony, by the 1860s Newcastle was a thriving shipping and commercial centre. Industrialization increased after iron and steel mills were established in 1915. A moderate earthquake struck Newcastle in 1989. Population 479,300 (1999 estimate).Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Newcastle Information info
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