Hello Newcastle!

Welcome back to The Newcastle Digest - your weekly lowdown on all things local.

Table of Contents

• Eats

• Live Music

• Events

• Miscellaneous

• Sport

Local Gem: La Bae

If you have walked down the Hunter Street Mall in the last couple of weeks, you have likely noticed the new local gem that has popped up.

La Bae is an aesthetically pleasing cafe with a modernistic white background, comfortable boucle seats, and designer-branded candles on each table.

La Bae had a wide range of unique food and drink options. Each drink followed the decor, with beautiful glass straws and cups or Pinterest-worthy mugs. We only had a quick stop-in and ordered a chai latte and a salted Vietnamese coffee.

We hope to return soon to try their famously crafted loaded croissants which looked amazing.

Openings

There’s been a bunch of fresh spots popping up lately — here are a few worth checking out:

Pum’s Coffee Haus – Darby Street, Cooks Hill
The old Core Espresso site has been flipped into Pum’s Coffee Haus, thanks to new owner Brock Youngblutt. They’re pouring Josie Coffee Roasters and dishing up pastries from Sydney's Tuga Pastries.
Opened 23 April

Momo Chicken – The Rooftop, Westfield Kotara
Korean street food vibes have landed at Westfield. Momo Chicken is now open on the Rooftop, serving up crispy, saucy goodness with a side of cold beer.

Jen Smith Cheesecake – Abelia Street, Edgeworth
Hidden gem alert. Jen Smith Cheesecake is doing Japanese-style cheesecakes by pre-order and a small menu of fluffy pancakes Wednesday through Sunday. A bit of a drive, but worth it.

Newcastle trivia

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Thursday 15 May

Friday 16 May

Saturday 17 May

Sunday 18 May

Families

YPT Presents Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR. – Young People’s Theatre Hamilton | Until 24 May
Fall down the rabbit hole with Alice as she navigates the curious, magical world of Wonderland on a journey of self-discovery, where everything seems to be upside down. Cost: Tickets from $25 – $30.

Maitland Neon Nights – Maitland Showground | 16 May 5 pm – 10 pm; 17 May 4 pm – 10 pm
$2 entry at the gates. Neon-themed event with street food stalls, gourmet trucks, specialty dessert trucks, market & craft stalls, kids rides & jumping castles ($30 unlimited wristbands), carnival & sideshow games, and free onsite parking. More info.

Knights V Eels – McDonald Jones Stadium, 294 Turton Rd, Broadmeadow | 16 May | 6 pm
Kick your weekend off with a bang cheering on the Newcastle Knights as they take on the Parramatta Eels at home. More info.

Adults

The Drowsy Chaperone – Civic Theatre Playhouse, 375 Hunter St, Newcastle | 15 May – 18 May
Following their smash hit of “Into the Woods” in 2024, UoN Musos is back with their next musical – “The Drowsy Chaperone”! With a stellar cast, show-stopping songs and dazzling dance numbers. Cost: $40 GA; $35 concession; $35 each for groups of 4 or more. More info.

Fanning Dempsey National Park – Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter St, Newcastle | 16 May
Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey are Fanning Dempsey National Park – The Deluge Regional Tour is coming to Newcastle. More info.

French Film Festival – Event Cinema Kotara | 16 May – 18 May
The Alliance Française de Newcastle brings you a fabulous weekend of not-to-be-missed French cinema at its very best, launching with their Little French Market from 6 pm in the cinema foyer. More info.

Crips & Creeps – Are You Pulling My Leg? – Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba, 39 Lake St, Warners Bay | 16 May | 7:30 pm – 9 pm
This raucous, accessible comedy event boasts a line-up of award-winning performers with entertaining and uncensored insights into disability. More info.

Bottomless Brunch is Back – MEET, 9 Darby St, Newcastle | 17 May | 12 pm – 4:30 pm
MEET’s Brazilian BBQ feast returns with live music by Sambraza. Cost: $100 pp includes two hours of drinks (12:30 – 2:30 pm). More info.

Haiku Digital Exhibition Viewing – Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima), 96 Creek Reserve Rd, Speers Point | 17 May | 2 pm – 4 pm
Write Here Festival and MAP mima present young poets’ haiku paired with immersive 360-degree projection visuals. Free event.

Tommy Emmanuel – Civic Theatre | 17 May
Legendary Grammy and ARIA-winning acoustic guitar icon, Tommy Emmanuel, blends pop, bluegrass, jazz and rock ’n’ roll. More info.

Flower Arranging Workshop with Sophia Jean – Earp Distilling Co., 41 Darling St, Carrington | 18 May
Whether you’re planning a casual get-together or searching for a heartfelt gift, nurture your floral creativity with Flowers by Sophia Jean. Cost: $120.

Sago Sun Flea – 152 Beaumont St, Hamilton | 18 May | 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Back to Sunday mornings with a fresh lineup of sellers and stock at your favourite market. More info.

Sardinia Long Lunch – Urban Restaurant & Wine Bar, 143 Darby St, Cooks Hill | 18 May
Urban’s SARDINIAN degustation menu paired with matching wines. Cost: $175 pp.

Earp Distilling Co. X Roxanne – Roxanne, 73 Hunter St, Newcastle | 18 May
A three-course long lunch with paired cocktails featuring Earp spirits and Roxanne’s creations. More info.

Eurovision Post-Mix Party – Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima), 96 Creek Reserve Rd, Speers Point | 18 May | 3 pm – 6 pm
Calling all Eurovision superfans! Dance and sing along to a DJ mix-tape session of 2025 competition hits. Tickets: $7 – $15.

LSKD Kotara Store Opening – Westfield Kotara | 17 May
Celebrate the opening of our 21st store with FREE leggings swap (first 400), FREE men’s shorts swap (first 100), unreleased products, and prize giveaways from House of Roast, Fifa La Femme, Push Gummies, Red Bull and more. More info.

Wallsend Clothes Swap – AMS Art Studio, Wallsend | 17 May
Refresh your wardrobe sustainably by exchanging up to 10 laundered, gently used clothing items, shoes or accessories. Get tickets and more info.

The Great Gatsby Party – Queens Wharf Ferry Terminal | 17 May
Dress in vintage-inspired attire and cruise Newcastle Harbour with ’20s music, gourmet canapés, cocktails and stunning skyline views. More info.

Paint with Alpacas – Gumnut Valley Alpacas, 456 Butterwick Rd, Butterwick | 17 May
Colour your world in the paddock (or the alpaca shed if raining) surrounded by alpacas. Outlined canvases provided—freehand optional—plus your favourite beverage while you paint. More info.

Markets

Speers Point Market – Park Road, Speers Point | 18 May
Lake Mac’s largest handmade & design market. Shop local-made goods from a huge lineup of makers.

May Market – The Esplanade, Warners Bay | 17 May
Plants, homewares, jewellery, fashion, and furry friends. Fingers crossed for a dry Saturday!

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Newcastle Building History: Stockton Bridge

Spanning the Hunter River between Kooragang and Stockton, Stockton Bridge is more than just a link between suburbs — it’s a key piece of Newcastle’s modern infrastructure and a symbol of the city’s growth beyond the harbour.

Opened in 1971, the bridge replaced the Stockton ferry as the main connection between Newcastle and Stockton, reshaping daily life for locals. At over 1 kilometre long, it was a major engineering feat of its time, designed to allow ships to pass underneath while keeping road traffic flowing above.

Built with prestressed concrete and supported by 23 spans, the bridge carries Nelson Bay Road and remains the only vehicular crossing between Newcastle and the peninsula. For decades, it has been the gateway to Stockton’s beaches, homes, and surf culture — and a key route for those heading north.

While it may not carry the ornate details of Newcastle’s older landmarks, Stockton Bridge stands as a testament to 20th-century progress — linking communities, speeding up trade and travel, and quietly serving tens of thousands of locals every day.

Titans' Miracle Comeback Heaps Pressure on Knights Coach

Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien faces increased scrutiny after the Titans staged a stunning 24-20 comeback victory at McDonald Jones Stadium. The Knights led 20-0 but collapsed in the second half, leaving them with just one win in their last seven matches and O'Brien under pressure.

Wallaroos See Growth in Newcastle Loss to Black Ferns

Despite a 38-12 loss to New Zealand in their Pacific Four opener in Newcastle, the Wallaroos are focusing on the positives, having dominated parts of the second half. Tries from Eva Karpani and Ashley Marsters narrowed the gap after a heavy defeat last year.