Good morning, welcome back to the Newcastle Digest Newsletter.

This weekend is a long weekend, for ANZAC Day, we take a moment to remember those who served, sacrificed, and never returned. Lest we forget.

Let’s get into it.

Came across this one on social media and hadn't heard much about it before giving it a try last weekend. Tucked in town close to the museum, Ante Meridiem is a specialty coffee shop serving Smiling Monk Coffee, a local roaster.

The menu leans into creative coffee drinks alongside the classics. I tried the Mont Blanc, which was worth ordering, and there are a handful of smaller food options if you're after a bite. The space itself is well designed, with a relaxed atmosphere and genuinely friendly staff.

Newcastle is hardly short of good coffee shops, but this one is worth adding to the rotation.

📍Unit 2/4 Merewether St, Newcastle NSW 2300

Kids Cube Disco – MAP mima, Speers Point | 24 April, from 5pm
A disco inside the Cube for kids aged 5–12, as part of Twilight Fridays. Free. More info.

Twilight Fridays at MAP mima – Multi-Arts Pavilion mima, Speers Point | 24 April
Free Friday night series with live music, food and creative activities for the whole community. Free. More info.

ARTS IN THE YARD The Lock-Up Saturday 25 April, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Arts in the Yard is The Lock-Up’s monthly, hands-on contemporary art program for children and their families. Running on the last Saturday of each month, the program invites kids and adults to make, think, and experiment side by side, responding directly to The Lock-Up’s exhibition program. More info.

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City – McDonald Jones Stadium | 25 April, 5pm kick-off
Derby week. Pre-game at General Roberts Hotel from 2pm, march leaves at 4:10pm. More info.

King of Concrete – Bar Beach Skate Park | 26 April, 10am – 4pm Australia's premier national bowl competition led by world champ and Olympic judge Renton Millar. Free to watch. More info.

Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers – McDonald Jones Stadium | 26 April, 2pm
The Knights host the Panthers at home on ANZAC Day weekend. More info.

Community Drumming – Gregson Park, Hamilton | 26 April, 3pm – 4:30pm Gather near the playground for a community drumming session open to all. Spare drums available to borrow. BYO snacks or picnic. Free. More info.

Coffee and Claytime Workshop – Grounded By Designs, Carrington | 23, 25, 30 April, 10am – 12:30pm Slow down with a coffee and make your own hand-built pottery in a calm, supported workshop. All materials provided. Tickets $120. More info.

Talk2MeBro X UNSA Workshop - Dixon Park Beach | Friday 24 April 7am - 8:30am
Join UNSA & Talk2mebro for a session of community-driven movement focused on creating real conversations and stronger connections. More info.

Vine and Dine at QT – Jana Restaurant, Newcastle | 24 April Newcastle Food Month edition of Jana's monthly wine list takeover, joined by Hungerford Hill. Tickets $159. More info.

Friday Night Sounds – Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle | 24 April
Live local music in a relaxed gallery setting. Wander the exhibitions, grab a drink and settle in for the evening. Free.

Divorced Dad Rock Night - King Street Hotel | 24 April, 8:00pm
AFTER DARK presents all new Divorced Dad Rock Night! DJs spinning all your favourite Rock, Metal, Nu-Metal and Grunge from the 90s and 2000s + more. More info.

Drum Tao 'Samurai of the Drum' – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 24 April, 7:30pm
Taiko drumming fused with martial arts, choreography and cinematic staging. Tickets from $49.90. More info.

ANZAC Day Eve at The Exchange – The Exchange Hotel, Hamilton | 24 April, from 8pm
Kick off the long weekend with DJs, $6 vodkas and $10 cocktails from 8pm–10pm. Free entry, open till 4am. More info.

Tijuana Cartel – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay | 24 April
Hypnotic electronica, flamenco guitar and global grooves hitting Shoal Bay for the first time. Support from SHEJ. 18+.

Saturday Night Showcase - Newcastle Comedy Club | 25 April 8:30pm - 10pm
The Saturday Night Showcase is Newcastle Comedy Club's flagship weekly show. Every week we have an always changing lineup of regulars from Newcastle and beyond. Enjoy several comedians back to back like a neopolitan ice cream. There's a flavour in there for everyone.

Laboratory Party pres. RED ROOM -The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel | 25 April, 2:00pm
Laboratories finest join us for their first headline GIG! REDROOM is a monster UKG act with many releases being played globally! Supported by IPC, Carl Cox & OSMOSIS Jones just to name a few. We cannot wait to welcome him this Anzac Day! More info.

Slow Stitch Saturday - Upcycle Newcastle | Sat, 25 April, 11:00am
Unstructured machine free sharing sessions, where we will use hand stitching, darning, and visible mending techniques. Plenty to be inspired by, and all the assistance you might need. More info.

Puppy Yoga – University of Newcastle | 26 April, 9am
A beginner-friendly yoga session surrounded by rescue puppies from Dog Rescue Newcastle. Spots are limited. More info.

SUKIMAMA x First Creek Sunday Beach Club – Merewether Surf Club, Merewether | 26 April, 4pm – 7pm
Korean street food, First Creek wines and ocean views. Tickets $30 (includes a glass of wine + $15 food voucher). More info.

Chamber Quartet Concert in the Cube – Multi-Arts Pavilion mima, Speers Point | 26 April
Classical music paired with immersive 360° visuals inside MAP mima's Cube. Tickets $38–$43. More info.

ANZAC Day Long Weekend – The Exchange, Hamilton | 26 April, from 7pm Two levels of music, DJs from 7pm and a live band from 8pm. Free entry. More info.

Torren Foot – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay | 26 April, from 8:30pm Torren Foot brings his signature house sound to Shoal Bay for the long weekend. Free entry. More info.

Australian Heritage Festival: A Street of Pubs – Museum Park, Newcastle | 26 April
Historian Ed Tonks uncovers the stories of Hunter Street — once home to 55 hotels and an almost forgotten chapter of Newcastle's past. Tickets $25. More info.

Laneway Park Community Garden Working Bee – Laneway Park | 26 April, from 2pm
Drop in to help revamp the community garden with planting, mulching and pruning. All ages welcome, no experience needed. Bring gloves, a hat and enclosed shoes. Free. More info.

Dixon Park Beach Metal Detecting – Dixon Park Beach | 26 April, 8am
Dust off the metal detector and head to Dixon Park Beach for a community hunt. Free. More info.

Lake Mac Farmers Markets - Glendale City Centre, 8am to 2pm.

Newcastle City Farmers Markets – Broadmeadow Showground, Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow | 26 April
Shop direct from local farmers and makers in a classic community farmers market.

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Newcastle Jets have won the A-League Men's Premiers Plate for the first time in the club's history, confirmed after a 2-all draw with Melbourne Victory and Auckland's loss to Central Coast on Sunday.

It caps a remarkable debut season for coach Mark Milligan, who built a young squad from scratch and held top spot despite a lengthy injury list throughout the year. Milligan was quick to credit his support staff, many of them long-time friends, for keeping the group on track.

One more game to go, an F3 Derby against Central Coast on Anzac Day from 5pm. A home grand final at McDonald Jones Stadium is still on the table.

Knights fall apart after half-time against Roosters

Newcastle led 24-12 at half-time at Allianz Stadium on Sunday before the Roosters ran in 26 unanswered points to win 38-24. James Tedesco was the difference, finishing with 270 run metres and 19 tackle busts in a dominant second half display.

Fletcher Hunt was the Knights' bright spot, bagging his first NRL hat-trick in the opening half. But the Knights couldn't hold on, with the Roosters' class telling after the break. Thomas Cant also left the game with a calf injury, adding to Newcastle's growing injury concerns.

Whether you're heading to the Dawn Service, looking for an early coffee, or settling in for a big afternoon, Newcastle has plenty on this ANZAC Day.

Coffee before the Dawn Service

Most suburbs are well covered with early openings. Son of a Gun in Hamilton and Sidetrack Coffee in Merewether are both open from 4:45am, Sunny Boy Park in Newcastle from 4am, and Paper Run Espresso and Blue Door Kiosk in Merewether from 5:30am and 5:45am respectively.

Two-Up & Pubs

The Del on Darby Street is the pick — doors open at 9am with Two-Up from 12pm in what they're calling Newcastle's biggest two-up ring, complete with a three-tier grandstand. DJs, live music, full menu all day.

Other notable spots include The Prince of Merewether with Two-Up in the driveway from 12pm, Queens Wharf with waterfront Two-Up and a pipe band, The Cricketers Arms open from 7am with Two-Up all day and yabby racing, and Honeysuckle Hotel welcoming service personnel with a complimentary breakfast and beer from 10-11am.

For the full list of coffee spots and pub details, head to the link below.

👉 Full ANZAC Day guide from HunterHunter

Lest we forget.

For years, high-speed rail between Newcastle and Sydney has felt like one of those ideas that gets floated, gets headlines, and quietly disappears. This week felt different.

The High-Speed Rail Authority held a major industry briefing in Newcastle on Tuesday, issuing two significant tenders covering tunnelling, stations, trains, and rail systems for the Newcastle-to-Sydney route. More than 1,000 industry representatives attended.

The federal government has committed $659.6 million to the development phase, with the full project estimated at around $55 billion. HSRA CEO Tim Parker says the goal is to be construction-ready within two years, cutting the trip between Newcastle and Sydney to around one hour.

There are real challenges ahead: terrain, national parkland, and extensive tunnelling. But the tenders are out, the room was full, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like more than a promise.