As we had come up to Newcastle for the birthday celebrations we extended our stay to see the city. It started well with our accommodation looking over the main beach.
In the last 20 years Newcastle has been transformed from a dirty working coal shipping port, to a progressive and vibrant community and a hub for new industries. Luckily, many of the old buildings and their parks and gardens have been repurposed for this new era.
Each morning we had breakfast in a corner cafe, meeting some of the locals.
One day we caught up with old friends Bruce and Cathy who had traveled with us to Coffs Harbour and Norfolk Island.
The town has many excellent bars, cafes and coffee shops so food was never a problem!
Newcastle is one of the busiest coal shipping ports in the world. The constant flow of shipping in and out of the harbour is managed from the Control Tower on a promontory beside the Hunter River.
Travel through the town is provided by battery powered light rail that operates as part of the Sydney Suburban public transport network.
The town has an excellent Art Gallery in a beautiful setting.
One very interesting exhibit was an amazing locally hand crafted concert grand piano made from local sassafras timber. It had an extra 9 bass notes and 5 extra treble notes. The attendant allowed Graeme to play it and the tone was absolutely astonishing. I had never heard a piano with the super bright ringing tone of this one and the volume was huge. Graeme rated it as one of the highlights of his life.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.