Category: Memorial

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Civic Park Newcastle NSW Australia

Newcastle Town Hall From Civic Park

Civic Park Newcastle

Civic Park

Civic Park is bordered by council buildings on one side and the art gallery and St Andrews Presbyterian Church on the other, while situated in the centre of the Newcastle CBD. A great place to relax, or take a casual walk around, because it’s quiet with plenty of places to sit.

Newcastle Town Hall From Civic Park
Newcastle Town Hall From Civic Park

Captain Cook Memorial Fountain

Located as the centrepiece of Civic Park is the James Cook Memorial Fountain, built for the bicentenary of Cook’s voyage and mapping of the east coast of Australia. In 1770, Lieutenant (later captain) James Cook claimed the east coast for the British Crown, naming it New South Wales. This large water feature is a great place in summer, with seats located around it, and impressive at night when illuminated.

Captain Cook Memorial Fountain Civic Park Newcastle
Captain Cook Memorial Fountain

War Memorial Grove

Developed from a community desire to honour servicemen and women killed during the world wars, the War Memorial Garden is in a corner of Civic Park, opposite the Art Gallery. Constructed from public and private funds, some of the money with some coming from families with relatives commemorated on each of the 68 plaques featured throughout the garden.

Volunteer members of the New Lambton Heights Garden Club undertook much of the work, a relationship which is continued today.

A quiet area for reflection, it’s worth wandering through to pay your respects.

  • Royal Australian Air Force Memorial
    Royal Australian Air Force Memorial
  • Vietnam Memorial
    Vietnam Memorial
  • Navy Memorial
    Navy Memorial
  • Memorial Plaques
    Memorial Plaques

War Memorial

The war memorial was originally dedicated to World War Two service personnel, but has since been re-dedicated to all wars Australia has been involved in. Ceremonies are held here throughout the year on relevant anniversaries, so there may be one happening when you visit.

Civic Park War Memorial
Civic Park War Memorial

Vietnam and National Service Memorial

The Vietnam and National Service Memorial commemorates the soldiers killed during the Vietnam War. A brass plaque on the memorial provides a brief description of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The rear section of the memorial has a separate memorial to Australia’s National Service and Combined Forces personnel.

Vietnam War Memorial Civic Park Newcastle
Vietnam War Memorial

Newcastle Art Gallery

Located above Civic Park on Layman Street, the Art Gallery often hosts exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the Gallery owns an impressive collection of Australian paintings. To read more about our visit to the Newcastle Art Gallery, click here.

Newcastle Art Gallery Entrance
Newcastle Art Gallery Entrance

Baptist Tabernacle

Located above Civic Park the Baptist Tabernacle is an interesting building but is only open to the public during services.

Baptist Tabernacle
Baptist Tabernacle

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

Situated across the road from the Baptist Tabernacle, St Andrews is not always open, so you may have to appreciate this building from the outside. Even if it’s closed, the building is worth admiring for its architectural value.

St Andrews Presbyterian Church
St Andrews Presbyterian Church

Old Newcastle City Administration Centre The Roundhouse

Currently undergoing a redevelopment to a five star hotel, the old Newcastle Administration Centre originally opened in 1977. The design was a collaborative effort between Architects Romberg & Boyd and Wilson & Suters. The architectural style is Brutalist, for it’s striking design.

Newcastle Council Chambers
Newcastle Council Chambers

Newcastle City Hall

Built in 1929 to house the newly created Newcastle City Council, this beautiful building is now a multi-purpose Function/Conference venue. Located opposite Civic Park on King Street, the building is an example of Inter-War Academic Classical architecture.

Shortland Centenary Fountain

Erected in 1897 by the Mayor David Miller and originally located at Newcastle Beach, this fountain commemorates the centenary (1797-1897) of the European discovery of the area by Lieutenant Shortland. Removed from its original location, it is now located at Christie Park.

Shortland Centenary Fountain
Shortland Centenary Fountain

What Did We think?

Newcastle Civic Park is a great place to visit, because of its many memorials and beautiful buildings. It’s a relaxing place to wander around, while enjoying the manicured gardens and visit the Art Gallery. When you have finished, Derby Street with its cafes and restaurants is right next door.

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Australian Army Infantry Museum

Matilda Tank Outside the Australian Army Infantry Museum

Australian Army Infantry Museum

Only a ten-minute drive south of Singleton in the Hunter Valley, the Australian Army Infantry Museum showcases the history of Australia’s infantry men and women from colonial times to the present.

Entry is free for Australian Defence Force members, with a modest $8.00 fee for adults (2020) and discounts for children and pensioners.

Located adjacent to the Lone Pine Barracks, the museum has a new car park with plenty of parking spaces.

The Museum

Housed in a new, state of the art, purpose-built building, the museum is a huge improvement on the previous building. The display hall is large, spacious and has sombre lighting. Professionally curated, the displays tell the story of Australian Infantry, their equipment, training and deployments.

The museum also houses a cafe, where you can purchase drinks snacks and light meals.

Outside Displays

In the outside courtyard a Matilda Tank and a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle an Australian-built four-wheel drive armoured vehicle.

Matilda Tank Outside the Australian Army Infantry Museum
Matilda Tank Outside the Australian Army Infantry Museum
Bushmaster
Bushmaster

Entrance

The entrance has a beautiful wall of remembrance, covered in poppies and listing the names of those fallen in battle.

The first exhibit that greets visitors is a huge bronze sculpture of an infantryman, which makes a great first impression.

Wall of Remembrance
Wall of Remembrance
Infantryman Statue Australian Army Infantry Museum
Infantryman Statue

Ground Floor Displays

The ground floor contains exhibits that cover heavy equipment the infantry used, from field-guns and personnel carriers to a helicopter. The walls contain display cases showing operational deployments, from Sudan in 1885 through to current commitments.

Universal Carrier
Universal Carrier
Pak 38 German Anti-Tank Gun
Pak 38 German Anti-Tank Gun
Equipment Display
Equipment Display
M113A1 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle Australian Army Infantry Museum
M113A1 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle
Bell UH-1 Iroquois
Bell UH-1 Iroquois

Upper Floor

Exhibits on the upper floor range from personal weapons such as rifles and grenades to uniforms and mortars. All of the exhibits are accompanied by explanations, which give excellent context to the displays. The displays show how they have developed and influenced the tactics, techniques and procedures of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps.

Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
Uniform Display
Uniform Display
Uniform Display

What did We Think?

If you are travelling through the area, this is an excellent museum to visit. It provides a history of Australian Infantry, without glorifying war. It shows how the army has evolved from colonial times to the present, illustrating it with very professional displays.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Coogee Sydney New South Wales Australia

Ross Jones Rockpool Coogee

An easy half-hour walk south from Coogee Beach will take you past some interesting rock pools and memorials.

How to Get to Coogee

A small car park at Coogee Beach is often full, so finding a spot to park in one of the surrounding streets might be needed. On a busy weekend, or school holidays, you might end up with a walk, but don’t worry, it’s worth it.

Public transport is a great option, as there’s a bus stop outside the surf club on Arden Street.

What to Do There

Apart from spending time on the beautiful beach, Coogee is the start of the Coogee to Bondi Walk. A coastal walkway also heads south, along well-formed trails, providing excellent coastal views. The trail passes rock pools and swimming baths, which are all worth stopping to see.

Having walked the track to Bondi before, we chose the Coastal Walk to the south, which took 30 minutes each way (going as far as the Ivor Rowe Rock Pool).

Ross Jones Memorial Pool

Located next to the Coogee Surf House, the Ross Jones Memorial Pool was built in 1947. During high tide and rough seas, waves crash over the concrete walls of the pool.

Ross Jones Memorial Pool Coogee
Ross Jones Memorial Pool Coogee
Ross Jones Rockpool Coogee
Ross Jones Rockpool Coogee

Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial

Located on the foreshore, Goldstein Reserve is the Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial. Dedicated to Australian lifesavers killed during World War One the sculpture shows a digger alongside a surf lifesaver. Standing next to a flagpole, both look out across the ocean.

Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial
Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial

Wylie’s Baths

Established in 1907, by champion long distance and underwater swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie, Wylie’s Baths is a beautiful ocean tidal pool. Managed by an independent Trust The baths open 365 days a year and caters for everyone from young children to seniors. There is an entry cost to swim here.

Wylie’s daughter Wilhelmina, along with Fanny Durack, were Australia’s first two female Olympic swimming representatives. The first gold and silver swimming medals for a women’s event in the Olympics went to Durack and Wylie respectively.

A memorial to Mina stands near the baths.

Wylie's Baths Coogee
Wylie’s Baths
Mina Wylie
Mina Wylie
Coastal Views Around Coogee
Coastal Views Around Coogee

Ivor Rowe Rockpool

A small, natural rock pool, the Ivor Rowe Rockpool is a great place for wading, or relaxing in the water. Rocks around the pool mat become slippery, so use care when climbing down.

Around 2 km from Coogee Beach, the walk there passes many other pools, along with beautiful coastal views.

Ivor Rowe Rockpool
Ivor Rowe Rockpool

What Did We Think?

We loved the views and the rock pools along the walk, as well as learning the history of Mina Wylie. A fun place to visit with swimming options away from the ocean, or relaxing on the beach.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on

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