Good morning, Newcastle. I hope everyone is safe and did not get hit too hard by the storms last week.

We can only hope for a more normal week this week. Hope you have a great rest of the week and enjoy your long weekend.

Table of Contents

• Eats

• Events

• Activities

• Miscellaneous

Local Gem

This week's local gem, we are showcasing another great cafe in our area - Cafe Inu. Cafe Inu, located in Carrington, is a rustic cafe with a Japanese touch. Known for its craft coffee, dog-friendly atmosphere and wholesome Japanese fast food.

This gem is well worth checking out, with a large selection of options for both breakfast and lunch. Closed Sundays.

Quest: The Best Burger

The best burger quiz starts next week! Thanks to everyone who submitted your selections last week, I am giving everyone one last week to submit their favourite burger in the region. After nominations close, I’ll announce brackets, rules, and rating system. Let the quest begin.

Newcastle trivia

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Thursday 23 January

Friday 24 January

Saturday 25 January

Sunday 26 January

Families

Inflatables on the Green - Club Lambton | Tuesday 21 January 2025 - Friday 24 January 2025

Inflatables on the Green is back this school holidays! Enjoy the outdoors with our event running from 4pm to 7pm. Stay for an hour or stay for 3! Kids passes are $15 per child for up to 3 hours of fun. Tickets and more info.

Digitales: Dragon Tales – Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, Speers Point | Wednesday 22 January
Celebrate Chinese New Year with a unique story time experience using projection and digital stories, followed by artmaking and shadow play. Suitable for children aged 2–5 years. Tickets free, bookings essential. More info

Meet the Author: Sami Bayly – Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba | 23 January
Join award-winning author and illustrator, Sami Bayly for trivia, drawing activities and loads of fun as we look at her new book.
11am: workshop with Sami Bayly, 12pm: art making. Tickets and more info.

Friday Chill - Pacific Park | Friday 24 January, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Friday Chill is a free, family-friendly, live music event with local bands, food vendors and street performers. Bring your own blanket or chairs and enjoy your own picnic or from the local food vendors.

Merewether Markets - Dixon Park Beach | Saturday 25 January 2025, 9:00am to 2:00pm

Long weekend markets at Dixon Park. What to Expect:

• Over 50 of the best food vendors and coolest local makers & creators

• Live music to set the mood

• Face painting for the kids (and the young at heart!)

• Trendy fashion and unique handmade treasures

• Delicious food to satisfy every craving

Mark Making: Art Workshop with Eliza Adam – Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, Booragul | 25 January, 10:00 AM
Join artist Eliza Adam as she guides you in exploring macro and micro elements using ink, watercolour, and a variety of resist techniques. This adult workshop is for beginners and experienced artists. Tickets and more info.

Ngarrama – King Edward Park, Newcastle | 26 January
Ngarrama is an invitation for all to bring along your friends, family and a picnic blanket to engage in meaningful reconciliation through truth-telling, performances, song, and historical acceptance. The program includes a welcome to country, traditional dance, music, storytelling, and knowledge sharing. More info.

Speers Point - Australia Day Extravaganza - Speers Point Park | 25 - 26 January, 3:00pm - 8:00pm

Speers Point! It’s your turn for the Summer Festival Fun at Speers Point Park! Get ready for a day packed with excitement, family fun, and delicious treats! More info

Emporium Market (Honeysuckle Market) - Newcastle Museum | Monday 27 January, 9:00am - 10:00pm

Emporium Market is your destination for local creativity and delicious bites. Every market features a unique mix of talented artists, makers, snacks and food vendors, so there's always something new to uncover.

Getting here is easy – we're right at the Civic light rail stop, making it simple to drop in for a snack, a chat, or a browse. Parking – Wright Lane Public Car Park is just a short stroll away for your convenience. More info.

Adults

Beach 5s Australia Day Weekend Festival - Nobbys Beach | Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January 2025, 10:00am to 4:00pm

Our Australia Day Beach 5s Ambassador is hometown legend and former State of Origin Legend Kurt Gidley, who will line up and play in our Australia Day All-Star Legends Charity event as Captain of Newcastle Knights Legends.

Our "Meet the Legends" at our media marquee and on-beach activations is a real winner for the Novocastrian community. Beach 5s Australia teamed up with the Mark Hughes Foundation. More info

Australia Day at Miss Porters - Miss Porter’s House Museum, 434 King Street | Sunday 26th AND Monday 27th January 1pm – 4pm.

Miss Porter's House museum is open Australia Day long weekend, Sun 26th AND Mon 27th.

Celebrate Australia Day at Miss Porter’s House Museum. Open Sunday 26th AND Monday 27th January Visitors can enjoy a heritage Australian home and special displays of Australiana and the Australian manufactured items of yesteryear.

Adults $12, Concessions $10, Family $34, NT members and children under five free. More info

Evening of Rum Discovery – EARP Distilling Co, Carrington | Thursday 23 January, 6:00 PM
Discover the Art of Rum with Newcastle Rum Club. Join us for an exclusive evening of curated rum tastings, canapés and cocktail on arrival. Hosted by Master Distiller Steve Magarry, explore the craftsmanship of Rum. More info and tickets. More info

Shorty Hotel's Long Weekend – Shorty Hotel, Shortland | 24–26 January
Celebrate the looong weekend at the Shorty! Enjoy live music on Friday & Saturday, Sunday's Aus Open Men’s Final, thong throwing, lamington & pie eating contests, kids competition & more! It’s the perfect chance to enjoy a 4 day weekend.

Ain’t Heavy Sessions feat. Alex Hayes – The Prince of Merewether, Merewether | 25 January, 12:00 PM
Kicking off at 12pm, listen in to the hottest tracks of 2025, then stick around for the ultimate afterparty when the Prince of Merewether and Gravity Drinks present Ain't Heavy Sessions featuring special guest Alex Hayes.

Hottest 100 Day – Shout Brewing, Islington | 25 January
Grab your fanciest Budgy Smugglers and put on your best hat, Shout is back for another outrageous Hottest 100 Day of beers and tunes.

Australia Day Party – The Exchange Hotel, Hamilton | 26 January
Get to Hamilton on Sunday 26th January, as the Exchange brings the heat with DJs kicking off at 6pm, followed by the incredible Tre Soul hitting the Exchange stage at 7:00pm. More info.

Want me to share an event in the Newcastle Digest?

Newcastle Throwback

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Arnott’s

Did you guess right? Last week’s trivia question brought us back to the roots of one of Newcastle’s most iconic contributions to Australian history: Arnott’s Biscuits.

William Arnott, a Scottish immigrant, established the William Arnott's Steam Biscuit Factory right here in Newcastle in 1865. What started as a humble bakery grew into a biscuit empire that would eventually become a household name across Australia.

The factory became a key employer in the region and cemented Newcastle’s place in Australia’s food history. Although the operations moved to Sydney in the early 1900s, Arnott’s legacy remains a point of pride for Novocastrians to this day.

Real estate

Newcastle West will soon host more than 700 apartments, and further high rises are in the pipeline. Some locals may have negative thoughts about this development, but housing opportunities like this can be invaluable as the housing crisis rises in our region.

Once all ventures are finished, the CBD area is expected to be home to approximately 1,500 people, serving as one of Newcastle's most densely populated blocks.

Read the full story on Newcastle Weekly.