Good morning Newcastle,

Hope you've had a good week.

Here's your weekly roundup of what's happening around Newcastle.

Enjoy!

Shhmoakesys Gourmet Pies — Chorizo Pie
$14.00 | Score: 48/70

Shhmoakesys is a Central Coast institution. Eight-hour smoked meats, bold flavours, and a Wotif.com Best Pie award to their name. I picked this one up from Sherwood in Kahibah.

The chorizo pie is smoked brisket and chorizo with a burger style cheese. Two smoky, punchy ingredients in one pie and it works well. The base was nice and held together, and the filling delivered on flavour. Overall, a very tasty pie.

The problem is the price tag. $14 is by far the most expensive pie we have reviewed, and while the quality is there, it's a hard number to fully get behind. You enjoy it, but you think about it on the way home for the wrong reasons.

No sauce needed with a filling that flavoursome.

The X Factor is the combination itself. Smoked brisket and chorizo together is a bold call and it pays off.

At the end of the day, Shhmoakesys makes a genuinely great pie. One bite tells you why they have the reputation they do. The price is the only thing standing in the way of a higher score.

Pastry 14/20 | Filling 16/20 | Sauce 7/10 | Value 3/10 | X Factor 8/10
Total: 48/70

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Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | Sat 19 Sep (9:30am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm) & Sun 20 Sep (9:30am, 12:30pm) Puppet stage show from the Bluey creators; Sat 12:30pm is Auslan interpreted. From ~$54.90. More info

Living Smart Festival – Speers Point Park, Speers Point | Sat 19 Sep, 9am–3pm Lake Mac’s big free sustainability day with workshops, stalls, kids’ zone and Beau Miles. Free. More info

Illuminate Raymond Terrace 2026 – Boomerang Park, Raymond Terrace | Sat 19 Sep, 4–8pm Free night of light installations, live entertainment, food and fireworks. Free. More info

Church Walk Park Community Open Day (102nd birthday) – Church Walk Park, The Hill | Sat 19 Sep, 10am–2pm Native planting, history walks, local art/history exhibitions and live music. Free. More info

Move for MADA Family Fun Run & Event – Harold Gregson Park, Maitland | Sun 20 Sep, 9am–12pm 2km/5km walk or run plus kids’ activities for Maitland Against Domestic Abuse. Community entry free; adult run $25 donation (under 18 free). Get tickets

ARTSPACE: Free Family Artmaking – MAC yapang, Booragul | Sun 20 Sep, 10–11:30am Gallery look then hands-on making with an educator; materials provided, bookings essential. Free. Get tickets

Mr Squiggle and Friends – Newcastle Museum, Newcastle | ongoing (closed Mon–Tue; open 7 days in school holidays) National touring exhibition of Norman Hetherington puppets and props. Free. More info

NEURODIVERSE Exhibition – MAP mima, Speers Point | to Sun 20 Sep Immersive 360° projection show by neurodivergent regional artists. Free. More info

GRIMM – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | Wed 16 & Thu 17 Sep, 7pm Shake & Stir’s dark Brothers Grimm fairytale reinvention (14+). From $60. More info

Loca Vida – Spiegeltent, Civic Park | Wed 16–Sun 20 Sep (multiple times) Strut & Fret circus-cabaret spectacle through the New Annual run-up. From ~$75–$90 depending on night. More info

SHATTERED XV: Beers. Brawls. Broken Dreams. – Hamilton Station Hotel, Islington | Wed 16 Sep, doors 7:30pm Newcastle Pro Wrestling live card. ~$20 + bf. Get tickets

Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup Race Day – Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow | Fri 18 Sep, 11:30am–6pm Group 3 Gold Cup day kicking off the spring carnival. Ticketed packages. Get tickets

HMRI Contagion cinema + Q&A – Tower Cinemas, Newcastle | Fri 18 Sep, 6–9pm Screening of Contagion then a panel with local infectious-disease experts. $10. Get tickets

Newcastle Singles Cruise on the Harbour – MV Calmer, Queens Wharf | Fri 18 Sep, 7:30–9:30pm Harbour cruise with DJs, icebreakers and age-group dance floors. From ~$20–$40. Get tickets

Friday Night Comedy – Newcastle Comedy Club, Islington | Fri 18 Sep, 8:30pm Rolling lineup of 5–6 comics in the Islington room. Ticketed. Get tickets

Saturday Night Showcase – Newcastle Comedy Club, Islington | Sat 19 Sep, 8:30pm Flagship weekend standup bill. Ticketed. Get tickets

Joe Avati Live Solo Tour – NEX Wests City, Newcastle West | Sat 19 Sep, 8:30pm Brand-new “Good Old Days” comedy show. Ticketed. Get tickets

HOMECOMING – Hunter Drama Performance Troupe Showcase – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | Mon 21 Sep, 7pm Student duologues, AB scenes and self-devised work. More info

Digitales: Storytime and Art – MAP mima, Speers Point | Thu 17 Sep, 10–10:45am (Families, ages 2–5). Free, bookings essential. Get tickets

Comedy by the OG Crew – Newcastle Comedy Club, Islington | Thu 17 Sep, 8pm. Get tickets

Daniel Connell: Prairie Dog – Newcastle Comedy Club, Islington | Sat 19 Sep, 4pm & 6pm. ~$38. Get tickets

Murder Mystery Cruise (“Powar & Greede”) – MV Calmer | Sat 19 Sep, 6–10pm. Get tickets

1D Boat Party | 16 Years of One Direction – MV Calmer | Sat 19 Sep, 7–10pm. Get tickets

Open Mic Comedy – Newcastle Comedy Club | Tue 22 Sep, 7:30pm. Free. Get tickets

Pinball & Pizza – Tower Cinemas, Newcastle | Wed 16 Sep, 6:30–8:30pm Two hours arcade/pinball + pizza. Ticketed. More info

Transformers Pinball Launch Party – Tower Cinemas, Newcastle | Fri 18 Sep, 6pm Stern Transformers flip-frenzy tournament (64 players); portion to charity. $35. More info

Bernie’s Breakout 2026 Final – Bernie’s Bar, Newcastle | Fri 18 Sep, 7pm Drag competition final; $1000 prize pool. Get tickets

Ladies Day – Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow | Sat 19 Sep, 11:30am–7pm Champagne on arrival, fashion, then Australian Shania Twain tribute. Get tickets

Fight for Connar Race Day – Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow | Sat 19 Sep, 12–6pm Charity race day for families of terminally ill kids; lunch + drinks + auctions. Get tickets

Explicit Wrestling LIVE – Newcastle United Sports Club, Adamstown | Sat 19 Sep, 7pm Pro wrestling card. More info

Women in Innovation – I2N Hub Honeysuckle, Newcastle | Fri 18 Sep, 4–6pm Speaker + speed networking for women with ideas or side hustles. Free. Get tickets

Talk2HerSoul – Gillieston Heights Community Hub, Gillieston Heights | Fri 18 Sep, 5:30–7:30pm Women-only breathwork and connection circle; mats provided. Ticketed. Get tickets

Drawing the Exquisite Intangible – Ink – The Owens Collective, Islington | Sat 19 Sep, 10:30am–12:30pm Ink workshop in Mel Jhey’s ceramics show; materials supplied, 16+. $45 / $35 concession. Get tickets

Toranafest 2026 – Maitland Park, Maitland | Sun 20 Sep, 8am–4pm Torana show n shine; food and markets; charity for Ronald McDonald House and Dog Rescue Newcastle. Spectators free. More info

Newcastle Pinfest – Club Macquarie, Argenton | Sat 19–Sun 20 Sep 15th anniversary; 115+ free-play machines. Sessions ticketed (~$35–$40; family pass ~$100). More info

HIA Newcastle HOMESHOW – HIA, Mayfield West | Sat 19 Sep Free home renovation/build show; parking and kids activities. Free. More info

Newy Bun Run – Smith Park, Hamilton North | Sat 19 Sep 20km social bakery run. $45. More info

Drawing the Exquisite Intangible – Ink – The Owens Collective, Islington | Sat 19 Sep, 10:30am–12:30pm $45 / $35. Get tickets

Dungog Pedalfest – Dungog | Fri 18–Sun 20 Sep Family + race rides. Mix of free/ticketed. More info

Maitland Garden Ramble – various Maitland gardens | Sat 19–Sun 20 Sep Ten private gardens open; proceeds to Maitland Health Stays. $5 per garden; under 16 free. More info

Earth Markets Maitland – The Levee, Maitland | Thu 17 Sep, from 8am Midweek produce and makers along the Levee. Free. More info

Handmade in the Hunter Markets – Sobels Wines, Pokolbin | Sat 19 Sep, 9am–2pm Meet-the-maker market in the vineyard gardens. Free. More info

Glendale Farmers and Artisan Market – Stockland Glendale, Glendale | Sat 19 Sep, 8am–2pm Farmers and artisans at the shopping centre. Free. More info

Homegrown x Made & Found – Lambton Park, Lambton | Sun 20 Sep, 10am–2pm Handmade plus preloved/vintage stalls (third Sunday). Free. More info

Pokolbin Market – 691 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin | Sun 20 Sep, 8am–1pm Hunter Valley Sunday market. Free.

Newcastle City Farmers Market – Newcastle Showground, Broadmeadow | Sun 20 Sep, 7am–1pm Weekly farmers market. Free.

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

Last week's trivia answer was that Newcastle was used to punish some of the colony's worst offenders with hard labour in the coal mines.

When Newcastle was established as a permanent settlement in 1804, it wasn't chosen because it was a particularly nice place to live. Governor King wanted a remote place where troublesome and reoffending convicts could be kept away from Sydney. The combination of Newcastle's isolation and its coal seams made it ideal.

Convicts were put to work in the coal mines, as well as cutting timber, burning lime, making salt and building the settlement itself. The work was hard, the conditions were harsh and escaping wasn't easy.

Newcastle quickly developed a reputation as one of the colony's most dreaded penal settlements. It became known as "Sydney's Siberia", a reference to its isolation and the harsh manual labour imposed on convicts.

Some of the men sent here were among the participants in the 1804 Castle Hill rebellion. After the uprising, 30 rebels were banished to the Coal River, which was the name then used for Newcastle.

The strange thing is that the same coal that made Newcastle such an important industrial city later on was one of the main reasons the settlement was established in the first place.

Newcastle wasn't just a coal town. It started as a place where the colony sent people it didn't know what else to do with.

Newcastle dumped South Sydney out of the finals 20-10 in an elimination final at Allianz Stadium on Friday. Jermaine McEwen scored two tries and Dom Young one as the Knights led 10-6 at half-time and closed it out. They face the Warriors in a sudden-death semi-final at Eden Park on Sunday 20 September, kick-off 4:05pm AEST.

NRL elsewhere

Dolphins beat the Warriors 26-16 in Auckland, Sharks ended the Cowboys’ season 26-16, and Penrith edged the Roosters 19-12. Week two: Roosters host Cronulla Saturday night; Warriors host Newcastle Sunday.

NRLW Knights

Gold Coast beat Newcastle 32-20 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday, ending the regular season. The Knights finished sixth and play Brisbane in an elimination final on Saturday 19 September.

Northern NSW NPL Grand Final

Weston Bears are the 2026 NPL Men’s NNSW champions, beating Maitland 2-0 in the grand final. It ends a 31-year title drought for the Bears (last won 1995).

Black Diamond AFL Semi Finals

Newcastle City thrashed Nelson Bay 136-19 and Killarney Vale beat Terrigal-Avoca 112-69. City and Killarney Vale meet in the men’s grand final. In the women’s Cup, Killarney Vale held off Terrigal-Avoca 35-31 and City beat Cardiff 44-9, same grand final rematch next week.

Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League Grand Final

Waratah-Mayfield won a third straight A-grade premiership, blanking Cardiff 30-0 at Lakeside Sporting Complex, Raymond Terrace on Saturday. First three-peat in the NHRL era since 2007.