Good morning, Newcastle! Welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

Hope you are having a great start to your week. Another jam-packed edition, let’s jump straight into it.

Table of Contents

• Eats

• Live Music

• Events

• Miscellaneous

Newcastle Date Night

Harrison’s Food and Wine

For our latest date night, we decided to check out a place I've been hearing a lot about: Harrison’s Food and Wine. It's got this great, intimate atmosphere that feels special without being stuffy. The whole vibe is perfect for a proper dinner out.

We went with the à la carte menu and kicked things off with the bread; it was a great start. For the mains, we couldn't go past the 10-layer wagyu lasagne and the steak frites. The lasagne was rich and decadent, and the steak was perfectly cooked, served with this incredible bone marrow butter that took it to another level, tied together with a bottle of Riesling.

The food, in my opinion, was fantastic, with a decent price point for the quality. The wine list is massive, so you'll have no trouble finding a perfect pairing. If you're looking for a top-notch meal in a great setting, I'd recommend giving Harrison’s a try. It’s a definite contender for a go-to date night spot.

Openings

Fermento Pizza Joint

There's a new pizza spot in town! Fermento Pizza Joint has opened in Mayfield West, and they're doing things a little differently with small, square-shaped pizzas. You can grab a single slice if you're after a quick snack, or get half or full trays to feed a crew. Find them at 436 Maitland Rd.

Chiefly Royale

The crew from Chiefly has opened another spot—this time in the heart of Mayfield! Chiefly Royale is serving up the same quality you'd expect, but with a slightly different menu that includes breakfast muffins. If you're a fan of their other venues, you know you'll get great food and that same high energy from Al and the team. Check them out at 160 Maitland Rd, Mayfield.

Islington Barracks Hotel

The Newcastle Hotel in Islington is back and rebranded with one of its original names, the Islington Barracks Hotel. From the same team behind The Grand and Bartholomew's, this newly refreshed pub is now serving a menu with a French influence. You can find them at 139 Maitland Rd, Islington.

Newcastle trivia

Friday 15 August

Saturday 16 August

Sunday 17 August

Families

Adam Spencer Live at City Hall – City Hall, Newcastle | 15 August 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Celebrate National Science Week with Australia’s funniest geek, Adam Spencer! In this smart, hilarious and thought‑provoking live event, Adam dives into the world of ChatGPT and large language models, explaining what they are, how they’re changing everything from education to medicine, and how your family can start using these tools. More info

Build the Future Workshops – Newcastle Museum | 16 August (various times)
Coding Robots: Kubo Workshop – Date: Saturday 16 August 2025; Time: 10 am – 11:30 am; Cost: $30 per workshop. More info.

Designing the Built Environment: Arckit Workshop  16 August 2025 3:30 pm Cost: $30 per workshop; Ages: 13+. Teens will use Arckit model kits to design a sustainable city, applying design thinking and architectural principles. More info.

Hunter Science Festival – Newcastle Museum | 17 August 10 am – 2 pm
Newcastle’s biggest celebration of science is back and bigger than ever! With more than 20+ partners and exhibitors, there’s something for everyone – from robot races to garbage trucks, science shows to shark tanks, and even free. More info.

WinterHeat Festival – Pacific Park, Newcastle | 16 August 5pm – 9pm
Winterheat is back — Newcastle’s free, fiery winter festival returns for its 21st year! Pacific Park transforms into a vibrant wonderland of live music, fire sculptures, roving performers, and street food. Enjoy free marshmallow toasting, a silent disco, the “Eat the Heat” chilli contest, face painting, crafts, fire cannons, drum workshops, giant puppets, and more. More info.

Adults

Grand Masters of Comedy on the Harbour – Wharf Road, Newcastle Harbour | 15 August 7 pm – 10 pm
Experience an unforgettable night filled with laughter, entertainment, and stunning harbour views aboard the MV Calmer, Newcastle’s premier superyacht. This unique comedy cruise features live stand‑up comedy with top Australian and international comedians, delivering sharp wit, outrageous stories, and crowd‑roasting. More info

Clemens Leske Performs Bach and Schubert – Harold Lobb Concert Hall, Cooks Hill | 15 August 7 pm – 8:30 pm
Clemens Leske, one of Australia’s greatest pianists, performs two of the world’s greatest works composed for piano, Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” and Schubert’s “Wanderer Fantasie”. More info 

Newcastle ‘Faster and Fairer’ Tour with Dr Saul Griffith – The Locker Room at The Station, Newcastle | 15 August 5 pm – 7:30 pm
Australians are keen to electrify their homes and vehicles and save on energy bills, but how can we ensure this happens fairer and faster? Join Saul Griffith, engineer and Chief Scientist at Rewiring Australia, as he discusses his latest book Plug In! The Electrification. More info

John Waters: Radio Luxembourg – Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba, Warners Bay | 15 August 8pm – 10.10pm
Celebrate the timeless songs of the British Pop Invasion with John Waters, Stewart D’Arrietta and The Chartbusters. More info.

Urzila Carlson: You Don’t Say Tour – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow | 15 August
Urzila brings her trademark cheeky wit to Newcastle in a hilarious new stand-up show born out of sarcasm and storytelling. More info.

Fall Creek Live – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay | 15 August
Two of Newcastle’s biggest country-rock powerhouses, Hurricane Fall and The Viper Creek Band, join Fall Creek for a massive night. More info.

NEWY EMO NIGHT – King Street Warehouse, Newcastle | 15 August from 8pm
Newcastle’s favourite Emo DJs Jakesy Hustle and Project Frenzy return for an all-night emo and pop-punk party. More info.

Luke Kidgell: Good Intentions – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 15 – 16 August
Known for viral crowd-work and impulsive thoughts, Luke Kidgell’s live shows are chaotic and hilarious. More info.

Opening Event: New Exhibitions at MAC yapang – Museum of Art and Culture, Booragul | 16 August
Celebrate the launch of new exhibitions with a Traditional Dance performance and reflections on the life of Billy Missi. More info.

Tricia Flanagan: LANDRELATIONS – Museum of Art and Culture, Booragul | 16 August – 12 October 9am – 3pm
International artist Tricia Flanagan blends traditional and future craft tech to reveal the intelligence of natural systems. More info.

Billy Missi’n Wakain Thamai – Museum of Art and Culture, Booragul | 16 August – 12 October
A bilingual retrospective honouring the artistic legacy of Billy Missi, a pioneer of Torres Strait Islander printmaking. More info.

Live From Here: Sath Nadesan & Pat Doherty – Newcastle Comedy Club, Newcastle | 16 August
A night of razor-sharp stories and relentless laughs with top Aussie comedians. More info.

1999 Bathvillington Eisteddfod Workshop – Warners Bay Theatre, Warners Bay | 16 August
A physical theatre and dance workshop exploring the creative development of Lingua Franca’s new show. More info.

Super Terrific Fun Beer Time – Method Brewing, Islington | 16 August
Back for Round 5 with new beers, new breweries, Japanese game-show vibes, DJ sets, food from Smoky Sue’s and prizes. More info.

Three Makers. One Table. – The Del, Newcastle | 17 August 1pm
A long lunch with Vinden, Becker & Charteris Wines, served with a multi-course feast by Executive Chef Steve Scott. More info. 

Markets

Homegrown Markets – Speers Point Park, Speers Point | 17 August 10am – 2pm
Quality handmade and design stalls from across the Hunter, plus street food, coffee, kids’ activities and a lakeside setting. More info.

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Newcastle History: The Bogey Hole – Australia’s Oldest Ocean Pool

Carved into the cliffs beneath King Edward Park, the Bogey Hole is one of Newcastle’s most iconic and most photographed landmarks.

Built in 1819 by convicts under the orders of Major James Morisset, it’s believed to be Australia’s oldest purpose-built ocean swimming pool. Originally called the Commandant’s Baths, the pool was Morisset’s private retreat, carved by hand into the sandstone rock shelf at the base of Shepherds Hill.

The name “Bogey Hole” came later, thought to be derived from the Dharawal word for “to bathe”, and it stuck as the site slowly shifted from an exclusive bath to a popular public swimming spot.

Its rugged setting, constantly reshaped by the swell of the Pacific, has made it a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Whether the sea is calm or surging, it’s a mesmerising place to stop, swim, or snap a photo.

Today, the Bogey Hole is protected as part of the NSW State Heritage Register, not just for its beauty, but for its historical significance as a rare early example of ocean pool construction in Australia.