A.U.S.N. Co.'s GUIDE. NEWCASTLE,
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THE GREAT COAL CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA.
EWCASTLE, New South Wales, is known throughout the shipping world as the coal shipping port of Australia. The River Hunter, and the then outcropping coal seams, were discovered in 1797 in Governor Hunter's time by Lieut. Shortland, while on an expedition to Port Stephens, to the north in search of runaway prisoners, Lieut. Shortland named the river, Coal River, changed subsequently to the name of the Governor, but it was not till the year 1821 that any settlemenl was attempted. In year 185'J Newcastle was constituted a municipality, lint it is within comparatively recent years that it has made such gigantic strides, completely outdistancing every other provincial town in the Commonwealth. The city is built upon a commanding position, the main street, full of fine buildings, traver-
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and the islands of the Pacific, and to many of the European countries. The exports of coal to countries or islands oversea easily runs as high as 5,000,000 tons a year, and more, while its output totals over 10,000,000 tons. During the year probably a couple of thousand vessels thread their ways, inward and outward, past the lighthouse on Nobby's Head. And almost all of them are seeking coal. These coal-mines give employment directly In fully 10,000 men. Necessarily, for an industry so vast, the machinery and facilities for loading must he very complete. On the eastern side of the Inner Basin there are half-a-mile of wharves upon which are erected a number of extremely powerful hydraulic cranes. On the eastern side at Carrington, with deep water frontage, there is a line of wharves over a mile in length, provided with more hydraulic cranes, and, in addition, there are over a mile of wharves for general cargo. It is very doubtful, indeed, whether any coaling station in the world has more complete loading appliances than are to be found at Newcastle. Another industry which was developed into a very important concern is the steel and iron works of Lithgow, where plant and machinery on a vast scale have been erected, and is now In full commission. As the pre-war importations of iron and slecl amounted to over 400,000 Ions per annum lo a value of nearly ,ÂŁ7,000,000, the importance of this enterprise can be well understood, and a visit to the vast installation should nut be omitted by any visitor. The capacity of the blast furnace in the works is 150,000 tons of manufactured article per annum, and to see the enormous operations, from the tipping the iron ore and coal into the furnace, the tapping of the molten metal, the rolling and the transfer of the finished steel rails or bars by the weirdly powerful
Hunter-street, Newcastle. sing the side of a high bluff which overlooks the sea at high elevation. There are splendid parks and up-to-date conveniences, including most excellent saltwater baths. The Victoria Theatre seats 1750 persons, and amongst the public buildings are the Technical College and Museum, School of Arts and Library (with billiard-room), "several large churches, a fine railway station, excellent commercial and banking premises, and one of the most handsome club rooms in Australia. Amongst business firms of Newcastle may well be mentioned that of Arnott's Limited, that great biscuit firm whose products are worldwide in celebrity. The Hunter River, on which Newcastle is situated, is one of the important rivers of Australia. It is some 300 miles in length and drains an area of about 8,000 square miles. It has numerous tributaries, and is navigable for a distance of 35 miles by vessels of considerable draught. Some years ago the approach from the sea, guarded by that remarkable headland, ',' Nobby" Head, was regarded as dangerous, but of recent years the harbour has been vastly improved. Much money has been expended on deepening the entrance, and extending the breakwaters. At Fort Scratchley is a pilot station, provided with excellent modern equipment. During the year, steamers, or "wind-jammers," from every part of the civilised world are to be found, at one time or another, in the Newcastle harbour. It is the port for that wonderfully rich agricultural district of the Hunter River, and the country tapped by the main northern line, and the North Coast line. Coal-mining, however, is the great industry. It is principally for coal that so many vessels go to Newcastle, taking away consignments to North and South America, to China, Japan, Straits Settlements, India,
Scenes at Newcastle, N.8.W.