Good morning, Newcastle! Welcome back to the Newcastle Digest. Thank you to all who gave feedback and support in the last edition. I am appreciative of the community we’re building. This week, we have hit 3500 subscribers!

Table of Contents

• Eats

• Live Music

• Events

• Miscellaneous

Local Gem

Local Gem: Good One – Belmont

Perched right on the water at Belmont, Good One is an ideal spot for your morning coffee run or a cruisy weekend stop-in. We recently dropped by and loved the calm, light-filled space - the kind of place that feels instantly relaxing.

The coffee was spot on (no surprise, it’s from the team behind Glee Coffee Roasters), and while the food menu is on the smaller side, there are a few simple bites to keep you going. What stood out was the curated range of home goods, including pantry staples and bougie condiments like hot sauces, that make it more than just a café.

Grab a takeaway and enjoy a slow walk along the water; this one’s a solid spot to visit.

Newcastle trivia

Friday 20 June

Saturday 21 June

Sunday 22 June

Advertise in the Newcastle Digest

I am opening up potential advertising spots with multiple packages to promote your business in the Newcastle Digest. Click this button below if you would like to enquire about advertising.

Families

Float Your Boat – Various locations in Lake Macquarie | 20 & 21 June
Get your friends and family together and gather on the shores of Lake Macquarie to see a flotilla of boats pass by in the Float Your Boat event organised by Lake Macquarie City Council.
Friday 20 June – Visit the FYB live site located at Toronto Foreshore. The flotilla will travel from Empire Marina Lake Macquarie to Toronto, Coal Point and Wangi Wangi.
Saturday 21 June – Choose between two FYB live sites located at Warners Bay Foreshore and Brooks Parade Belmont. The flotilla will travel from Belmont to Valentine, Eleebana, Warners Bay, and finish at Empire Marina. More info.

Viral Food Festival Newcastle – Newcastle Racecourse, 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow | 20 – 22 June
The Viral Food Festival is bringing internet-famous eats and a full festival experience to Newcastle for the first time. Think Big Mac Tacos, Dubai Bubble Waffles, Mac & Cheese Everything, and loads more. Plus, enjoy carnival rides, live music, roving performers and even live wrestling. It’s set to be a huge weekend for foodies and families. More info.

Luminous – The Levee, Central Maitland | 20 & 21 June
As the longest night of the year falls, experience dazzling lighting installations, fiery displays, and enjoy a tasty beverage in a cosy space that warms the soul on these chilly nights. Featuring live performances and demonstrations, a fireworks display, interactive experiences, and a touch of mystery, rug up, embrace the glow, and make this solstice a night to remember. More info.

Community Fun Day at Blackbutt Reserve – Blackbutt Reserve, Carnley Avenue | 21 June | 10 am – 1 pm
The community is invited to celebrate the opening of the community space and café facility at a community fun day, featuring live music, Ranger-hosted critter encounters, family entertainment, face painting as well as special offers at the new café. More info.

Zara’s House Food Festival – The Station, Newcastle | 21 June
Come to a welcoming celebration of culture and community in the heart of Newcastle. The Zara’s House Food Festival will feature unique food stalls offering authentic dishes from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Mongolia, prepared by refugee and migrant community members. Alongside the food, enjoy live drumming and dance performances in an open, family-friendly setting. Every dollar raised goes directly to Zara’s House, supporting refugee and asylum-seeking women and their families through education, childcare, financial literacy, and essential support services. More info.

Street Paws Dog Festival – The Station, Newcastle | 21 June
Street Paws is heading back to Newcastle, sponsored by Divine Stream radio. Expect pet stalls, food trucks and a coffee van, competitions and giveaways. Competition Schedule: 11 am – Best rescue; 12 pm – Special dogs, old timer, best trick, best dressed, dancing dogs, waggiest tail; 1 pm – Cutest pooch. More info.

Adults

Digitales: storytime and art – Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, 96 Creek Reserve Road, Speers Point | 19 June
Digitales is a unique story time experience using projection and digital stories, followed by artmaking and shadow play. Digitales is held on the third Thursday of the month. More info.

Drawing for relaxation with Sue Vesely – Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, 2A First Street, Booragul | 20 June & 27 June
Join artist Sue Vesely for beginner-friendly drawing workshops, focusing on calming techniques and meditative drawing. More info.

Promise & Promiscuity: A New Musical by Jane Austen – The Royal Exchange, 34 Bolton St, Newcastle | 19 June – 20 June
In this hilarious, one-(freakishly talented)-woman musical, Penny tackles all of Austen’s characters with song, dance and appalling cross-stitching. See the musical that’s entertained thousands globally. “sparkling” The Scotsman. More info.

Maltnhops Beers & BBQ – Winter Solstice – Maltnhops Taphouse, 10/26 Balook Dr, Beresfield | 21 June
Join Maltnhops Beers & BBQ at the Taphouse for an afternoon of live music, prizes, limited & new release craft beers! Get Smoked BBQ will be serving up delicious smoked meats and sides. More info.

Wings & Whiskey – Cheeky Dog, 147 Soldiers Point Rd, Soldiers Point | 20 June | 7 pm
Buffalo Trace is behind the bar, the wings are hot, and the live music hotter. The Hoe Down Showdown’s comin’ in hot — boots optional, attitude required. More info.

Grainfed Brewing Shed’s 2nd Birthday – Grainfed Brewing Company, 1/52 Young Rd, Lambton | 21 June
The Grainfed Brewing Company celebrates its 2nd birthday at their Lambton venue. Hourly raffle draws, live music in the evening, new beer release “3rd date.” More info.

Street Paws Festival – The Station, Newcastle | 21 June
Sponsored by Divine Stream radio, Street Paws Festival brings pet stalls, food trucks and a coffee van. Comps and giveaways supporting local rescues Ozzi Hearts, Tiki Animal Rescue and Newcastle Dog Rescue. More info.

Collage Workshop with Natasha Rose – Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, 96 Creek Reserve Road, Speers Point | 21 June
Join us for a hands-on collage workshop to create striking, layered compositions. All materials provided. Suitable for ages 6+. Free event.

Brain Wave – unlock your creativity – Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, 2A First Street, Booragul | 21 June | 10:30 am – 12 pm
Join artist Kathy Langlade for a Brain Wave workshop—fun exercises to train both brain hemispheres and unlock creativity. More info.

Virtual Museum Tour – History of William Dobell – Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, 96 Creek Reserve Road, Speers Point | 21 June | 2 pm – 3 pm
Immersive 360-degree projection Cube transformed into a gallery of William Dobell’s artworks. More info.

Shake & Sip Cocktail Masterclass – Great Northern Hotel, 83–89 Scott St, Newcastle | 22 June | 1 pm – 3 pm
The Great Northern’s Mitch teaches you how it’s done in this cocktail masterclass. More info.

Markets

Carpark Thrift Markets – Mayfield Hotel Carpark, 284 Maitland Rd, Mayfield | 21 June; 23 August; 11 October
Shop second-hand items and local small businesses in the hotel carpark. More info.

Winter Artisan Markets – Bull and Bush Hotel, Medowie | 21 June | 11 am – 3 pm
Mark your calendars! Expect handmade treasures, cozy winter vibes, and your fave stalls (plus some exciting new faces!)
Stallholders • Live music • Food • Community • Dog friendly. More info.

Bernies Winter Markets – Bernie’s Bar/Devonshire Laneway | 22 June | 4 pm – 8 pm
Bernie’s markets are back again under the fairy lights, bringing warmth and magic to the coldest season! What a perfect way to embrace the winter vibes!
Local makers and creators: handmade jewellery, original artworks, delicious treats—and the chance to support your community while you shop. More info.

Do you want me to share an event in the Newcastle Digest?

Newcastle History: Merewether Ocean Baths

Loved by locals, snapped by photographers, and visited by thousands each year, Merewether Ocean Baths are more than just a great place for a swim — they’re a piece of Newcastle’s living history.

The first ocean baths at Merewether were built back in 1926, carved into the rock shelf below Henderson Parade. Originally known as the Ladies Pool, the 43-metre bath sat just north of where the main pool is today. Though it’s now dwarfed by the larger structure, remnants of that early pool are still visible and quietly echo a different era.

As the popularity of ocean swimming grew, the need for a bigger public facility became clear. In 1935, the Merewether Ocean Baths officially opened. Built during the Great Depression as part of a public works relief program, they provided both employment for out-of-work locals and a world-class community asset.

Measuring 50 by 100 metres, the main pool is the largest ocean bath in the Southern Hemisphere, complete with lap lanes, diving blocks, and a shallower children’s area with a sandy beach. Today, the baths remain free to access and open year-round, a true local treasure.

In 2014, the site underwent a major $4 million upgrade, improving amenities while preserving its unique coastal character. Facilities now include public showers, toilets, seating, and shaded picnic areas - all right by the ocean’s edge.