Good morning, welcome to the first Newcastle Digest for 2026.

This is an exciting week as I have officially launched the first Newcastle Digest event. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, and I’ve shared the details below.

Have a great rest of your week!

My plan to try every café in Newcastle continues into 2026, and this week I finally made it to a Newcastle staple: Goldbergs. Somehow I’d never been before, and honestly, I regret waiting this long.

We ordered the bacon waffles and the scrambled eggs with mushrooms. The bacon waffles were a standout and easily one of the best breakfast dishes I’ve had in Newcastle. Everything was cooked properly, flavours were balanced, and nothing felt overdone. Service was fast, the coffee was solid, and everything came out quickly.

We went around 9am on a Saturday and it was surprisingly calm compared to other cafés along Darby Street. There were plenty of tables available both inside and out. Goldbergs also has an extensive dinner, drinks, and dessert menu, which has already given me a reason to head back.

If you haven’t been yet, it’s well worth a visit.

Address: 137 Darby St, Cooks Hill NSW 2300

It’s official. The first Newcastle Digest event is happening.

On 17 January, I’m hosting a Saturday morning beachside Pilates session with TOOSH at Dixon Park Beach at 8am. It’s a relaxed, easy way to get out on a Saturday morning, do something active, and spend a bit of time around other people.

This is my first time running an in-person event through Newcastle Digest, so I’ve kept it intentionally small and approachable. Numbers are capped, and it’s a BYO mat session.

This is a paid event. Ticket sales cover the instructor and basic costs, with the remainder going back into Newcastle Digest to support future events and projects.

If you’ve been looking for a simple reason to get out, try something different, or meet a few people in a no-pressure setting, this is that opportunity.

Tickets are now live. Those with eagle eyes may spot a discount code somewhere in this newsletter.

🔗 Get tickets here.

If you run a local business, café, venue, or event, the Digest is one of the easiest ways to get in front of people who actually live here.
Over 6,500 locals read every week to find where to go and what’s on.
If you’d like your business featured, reach out at [email protected] or fill in the form below.

Tay Tay Tribute Show – Shoal Bay Country Club, 35–45 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay | 7 January 2.30pm
The Tay Tay Tribute Show returns with all the biggest Taylor Swift hits performed live by Mia Isoardi and band. Cost: GA $28.60 + BF, Family $86.70 + BF

Science Explosion – Central Leagues Club Bistro | 7 January 1.30pm
Interactive science show with hands-on experiments and wow moments. Free entry. Lunch bookings recommended. More info.

Model Newcastle Science Show – Newcastle Museum, Workshop Way | 7 January
Free drop-in science shows for all ages based on the Model Newcastle exhibition. More info.

Minecraft Mates – Happy Dots Cardiff Clinic | 8 January 11am
Creative workshop where kids build Minecraft figures using Hama beads. Ages 7–11. Duration 45 minutes. More info.

Dream and Design a Serpent in Clay – MAC yapang, 2A First St, Booragul | 9 January
School holiday clay workshop with Art Prize finalist Tahlia Undarlegt. Design a Rainbow Serpent and take home your sculpture. Ages 10–16. Cost: $27.53

Friday Chill – Pacific Park, Newcastle East | Fridays from 9 January 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Chilled live music in a family-friendly park setting with food trucks, kids activities and picnic vibes. More info.

Outdoor Summer Cinema: Shrek 2 – Dullboys Warners Bay | 9 January from 8pm
Open-air screening of Shrek 2 with themed food and drink specials. Free entry, limited seating. More info.

Reptile Show – Argenton Hotel | 10 Janurary 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Free family-friendly reptile show featuring live lizards, snakes and a baby crocodile. More info.

Sunflower Event - 54 Lisadell Road, Medowie | Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 January 8:30am and 1:00pm
Little Tin Shed Medowie are opening their sunflower fields to the public. There will be lots of tractors, glasshouses, and accessories to take photos amongst the blooming sunflowers. More info.

Family Fun Day Sundays – Kahibah Sports Club | 11 January from 12pm
Free kids activities, mini golf, open green space and live music, with drink specials and a family feast available. More info.

Pete Murray Live – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay | 9 January
Pete Murray performs live at Shoal Bay Country Club. Cost: $66–71

Club Broadway – The Del, Newcastle | 9 January 6pm – 10.30pm & 10 January 4pm – 8.30pm
Musical theatre dance party with showtunes, live singers and drag performers. All ages welcome with parent or guardian. More info.

Pete Murray – Toronto Hotel Motel, 74 Victory Parade, Toronto | 10 January
Summer Longing Album Tour celebrating the release of Pete Murray’s new album Longing.

Full Throttle BBQ Masterclass – Full Throttle Ranch, 160 Lings Rd, Buttai | 10 January 7am – 7pm
All-day BBQ masterclass covering low and slow cooking, live fire, smoking and pit mastery. Includes food and unlimited beer. Cost: $350

The Gender Blender – Bernie’s Bar | 10 January
Inclusive dance party celebrating self-expression, sound and light. Free entry until 10pm. More info.

The Melbourne Street Band – Wickham Park Hotel | 11 January 6pm
High-energy live music featuring classic hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Newcastle Pro Wrestling – Hamilton North Bowling Club | 10 January 8pm
Live wrestling event featuring emerging talent and fan favourites. More info.

TNR Band – Redhead Bowling Club | 10 January 7.30pm
Pub rock classics from AC/DC, Cold Chisel, INXS, The Angels and more. More info.

Marina Market - Nelson Bay Foreshore | 10 January, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Local-made retail, delicious street food, live tunes & face painting! Every Wednesday & Saturday from 4-8pm throughout January

Newcastle City Farmers Market, Newcastle Showground, 7:00am to 1:00pm.

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

By 1901, Newcastle had a problem. The Newcomen Street Baths had closed, men were being arrested for swimming outside designated hours, and the women's bathing area was plagued by dangerous surf and sharks. The city needed safe ocean swimming facilities.

It took until September 1911 for construction to actually start. Within months, a massive July 1912 storm obliterated much of the work. The workers went on strike in December over wages. By late 1912, council decided to cut their losses they threw up temporary change sheds and opened the unfinished baths on New Year's Day 1913. The basin itself wasn't even complete, but it didn't matter. People turned up in droves.

The permanent Art Deco pavilion wasn't finished until 1922, nearly a decade after that makeshift opening. Those iconic tiered steps everyone sunbakes on weren't just architectural flair they were specifically designed to protect the pools from the storms that had already wrecked construction once.

The original 1922 kiosk sold an interesting mix: tobacco and cigarettes alongside ice creams and afternoon tea. Hawaiian swimming legend Duke Kahanamoku visited in the early years, and by the 1980s, a newspaper was calling it "the world's biggest backyard pool."

After surviving a century of storms and the 1989 earthquake, the baths underwent major restoration. Stage One wrapped up in December 2023, and in 2025, they were added to the State Heritage Register official recognition for a place where generations of Novocastrians learned to swim, and where the Newcastle Pirates still brave the winter water.