Good morning Newcastle, welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

Another busy week. I have taken a week off of the best Newcastle pie quest, to be continued next week. Hope you have a great rest of the week. Enjoy.

Frenchie — 9 Darby St, Newcastle
Frenchie has moved on from its Carrington home, with the next chapter of the French-inspired restaurant. Officially launched at its new Darby Street location.

Bartholomew's — 145 King St, Newcastle
Bartholomew's has officially reopened after its transformation, this time leaning into old world European dining with candlelit tables and a refined, intimate setting. Bookings are open now.

Surly's American Tavern — Hunter St, Newcastle
Surly's is bringing its first venue outside of Sydney to Newcastle. Expect low-and-slow barbecue, strong drinks and a proper sports bar atmosphere.

Cafe Tapestry — 103 Young St, Carrington
A long-empty space in Carrington has a new tenant. Cafe Tapestry is a French-inspired cafe that's been a long-time dream for owner Jo, bringing good food and an eclectic atmosphere to the suburb.

& Juliet – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 19–28 June, various times
Juliet rewrites her story in this Broadway and West End smash hit packed with pop anthems. Recommended for ages 8+. Tickets from $69. More info.

Storytime in the Rotunda – Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Heatherbrae | 26 June, 10am – 10:45am
Storytime featuring Australian authors writing about native animals and plants, followed by a garden adventure. Suitable for ages 6 and under. Garden entry fees apply. More info.

Shrek Jr! The Musical – PACC, Cessnock | 26–27 June, various times
St Philip's Christian College Cessnock brings everyone's favourite ogre to the stage in this family-friendly production. Tickets from $18. More info.

Edgeworth Trains – Velinda Street, Edgeworth | 28 June, trains from 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Monthly public ride day with steam and diesel miniature trains on elevated and ground-level tracks. $3 per ride, under 2s free. More info.

Snow Time in the Gardens – Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin | 27 June – 26 July, from 9:30am
Ice skating, tobogganing, snowman building and amusement rides for a winter day out without the drive to the snowfields. Tickets from $31 child, $41 adult. More info.

Newcastle Repair Cafe at Hunter Multicultural Communities, Hunter Multicultural Communities, 2A Platt Street, Waratah | 27 June 2026
Bring along clothes, small electrical items, household goods or a bike and the Full Circle Collective team will help you fix them for free. No bookings needed – just pop in. More info.

Crafternoon at The Lock-Up – The Lock-Up, Newcastle | 27 June, 10:30am – 12:30pm
A monthly art-making session for kids and families, inspired by the gallery's current exhibition. Ticketed. More info.

Garage Sale – 97 Wilson Street, Carrington | 27 June, from 8am
A backyard garage sale with high street brands, kayaks, vintage homewares, kids clothes and bargains galore, plus a lemonade and brownie stall. More info.

Whistle & Trick – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 28 June, 10:30am
Aria-nominated musical duo Whistle & Trick bring original music, singing and dancing for the whole family. Recommended ages 2–8. Tickets $41.75. More info.

Speers Point Public School Movie Night – Event Cinemas Glendale | 26 June, 6:30pm
A family movie night fundraiser on the big screen. More info.

Morisset Chillout – Morisset Showground | 27–28 June, 12pm – 9pm (Sat), 12pm – 8pm (Sun)
Free entertainment including a fire show, magic show, circus play space, roving performers, gourmet food stalls and amusement rides. Entry $2. More info.

Newcastle Fire & Flow Gathering – King Edward Park Rotunda, Newcastle | 28 June
A free, family-friendly flow arts gathering with beginner and intermediate workshops, a fire and LED show at sunset, and live DJ sets into the night. Free. More info.

Gumnut Valley Alpacas Winter Open Day – Gumnut Valley Alpacas, Butterwick | 28 June, from 10am
A family day of animal feeding, craft activities, face painting and food at the working alpaca farm. Tickets $10 presale, $15 at the gate. More info.

Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers – McDonald Jones Stadium | 28 June, 4:05pm
The Knights host the Tigers at home. More info.

Men's Health Night – Club Charlestown, Charlestown | 24 June
Health professionals share practical advice on PSA testing, heart health, mental wellbeing and exercise strategies for men of all ages. Free. More info.

Unzipped – Richardson Park, Hamilton North | 24 June
A circus-style male revue under the big top — acrobatics, comedy and high-energy entertainment. Tickets from $35. More info.

Hunter Women's Centre Presents: How to Not Stuff Up Your Kid – McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow | 25 June, 1pm – 2pm
Paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey takes a relatable, often funny look at parenting fears with evidence-based advice to ease the stress and guilt. Ticketed. More info.

90s & 2000s RnB Party – The Exchange, Hamilton | 26 June, from 8pm
Mathmatics vs Skoob across two levels, with $6 vodkas and $12 cocktails from 8–10pm. Free entry. More info.

Paired at Peregrin – Peregrin Merewether | 26 June
A Tasmanian-inspired five-course dégustation paired with Saint Wines in Peregrin's signature long-table dining experience. Tickets $166, 25% off when booking the full series. More info.

Coffee and Claytime Workshop – Grounded By Designs, Carrington | 27 June, 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.

Live Music at VBC – Valentine Bowling Club, Valentine | Every Saturday, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Local acts play every Saturday night, with the bistro open from 5pm. Free. More info.

Macbeth by Come You Spirits – Warners Bay Theatre, Warners Bay | 27 June
A powerful adaptation of Shakespeare's most haunting work, confronting ambition, power and the human spirit. Tickets $45–$50. More info.

Virtual Museum Tour: Collection Highlights from the National Gallery – MAP mima, Speers Point | 27 June
A 360-degree journey through masterpieces by Botticelli, Velázquez, Turner, Titian, Caravaggio and Monet inside the immersive Cube. Tickets from $10.67. More info.

Japan Exhibition at Wabi Sabi Gallery – Wabi Sabi Gallery, Adamstown | 27–28 June
Traditional Japanese antiques and prints on display, showcasing centuries of craftsmanship. Free. More info.

Fashion Thrift Society – Newcastle Basketball Stadium | 28 June
Over 100 curated stalls of vintage treasures, preloved designer pieces and local fashion brands, plus live music, food trucks, nail art and barber cuts. Tickets $15 for early sessions, free in the afternoon. More info.

Vintage Clothing Sale – St John's Hall, Maitland | 27 June, 8:30am until sold
Browse a wonderful assortment of vintage women's, men's and children's clothing, handbags, hats and furs at reasonable prices. Eftpos available, proceeds support the Australian Museum of Clothing & Textiles. More info.

Friday Night Sounds ft. Steph Russell – Newcastle Art Gallery | 26 June, 5pm – 8pm
An after-hours gallery session with live music from soul and jazz artist Steph Russell, alongside Sketch Club from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. Free, bookings required for Sketch Club. More info.

Shenanigans: Day of the Dead – The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Wickham | 27 June, 7:30pm – 3am
A vibrant Day of the Dead-themed party with two stages, a double headliner lineup and Panda Sound's biggest system yet. More info.

Façon 10: Rétrospective Live Q&A – Newcastle Museum | 27 June, from 10:30am
Carol Duncan OAM hosts a live conversation with Façon Magazine founder and editor-in-chief Lara Lupish, marking a decade of the publication's contribution to Newcastle's creative scene. Held during the final weekend of the exhibition.

Newcastle Tuna Festival Grand Opening – Nagisa, Newcastle | 28 June
Japanese master chef Koji Harada performs a live breakdown of an 80kg Southern Bluefin Tuna, followed by an eight-course menu built around the fish. Live Taiko drumming, a sake breaking ceremony and a tuna knife auction supporting Talk2meBro. More info.

Drawing Workshops – The Press Bookhouse, Newcastle | 28 June, 3pm – 5pm & 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Learn the fundamentals of drawing or master a charcoal barn owl across two sessions. All materials, charcuterie and refreshments included. Tickets $30 per session. More info.

Wallsend Toastmasters Speechcraft Course – Zoom & Wallsend Diggers | 12 July – 27 August
An eight-session public speaking course for anyone 18+ wanting to build confidence and communication skills. Runs Sundays via Zoom (12 July – 9 August) then Thursdays in person at Wallsend Diggers (13–27 August). Includes six months Toastmasters membership. Tickets $180, limited to 10 seats. Registrations close 1 July. Register here.

Raid My Wardrobe – Club Macquarie, Argenton | 5 July, 10am – 1pm
Newcastle's favourite women's preloved fashion event returns with 20+ curated stalls, sizes 6–20+, and designer and high street brands across clothing, shoes and accessories. Entry $5. More info.

Warners Bay Markets – The Esplanade, Warners Bay | 28 June
The market moves to Sunday this month due to Float Your Boat. Same great lakeside location with plenty to browse. More info.

Sunday Markets – The Gladdy, Stockton | 28 June
Browse goodies from local makers in the oldest beer garden in Stockton, with brekky and coffee on offer. More info.

Newcastle City Farmers Markets – Broadmeadow Showground | 28 June Shop direct from local farmers and makers with unbeatable freshness and a genuine community atmosphere.

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A tense one at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night, with Newcastle holding off a fast-finishing Dragons side 22-20. Fletcher Sharpe was the early difference, crossing twice in the opening 10 minutes filling in for a rested Kalyn Ponga, before Sandon Smith's 54th minute try proved decisive.

St George Illawarra fought hard all night and had a shot at the win in the final minute, but a fumbled regather denied them. Valentine Holmes' missed conversion earlier in the game loomed large.

Far from convincing, but a win is a win. The Knights move temporarily into the top four.

The Newcastle Northstars sit top of the AIHL table but have hit some rocky form in recent weeks. Rather than panic, the squad sees it as exactly what they needed heading into the back half of the season. Canadian import Francis Drolet has been vocal in the locker room about using the tough run as motivation rather than a setback.

Four Hunter basketballers will represent Australia at the first-ever FIBA Masters Open, including familiar Newcastle Falcons names and one of the sport's leading officials. Among them is a player returning to the court after overcoming a shock cancer diagnosis. A great story all round for Newcastle basketball. Full story.

Last week's trivia question had a real answer behind it, and it's a great one.

It started with Col Maybury, a Kurri Kurri local who wrote to NASA as the Opportunity rover trundled across Mars, asking them to consider naming a small rise on the rim of Endeavour Crater after Nobbys Head. He noticed other features on the crater carried Australian place names like Cape York and Botany Bay, and figured Newcastle deserved a spot too.

NASA agreed. In 2013, Opportunity's panoramic camera captured images of a rise on the crater rim now officially named Nobbys Head, a stopping point during the rover's multi-week trek between Cape York and Solander Point.

It didn't stop there either. Maybury went back to NASA a few years later and convinced them to update the listing to include the Aboriginal name Whibayganba as well. So there's a feature on Mars carrying both names of the headland Newcastle locals walk past every day.

Maybury passed away in April 2025, but the legacy of getting Newcastle onto the interplanetary map remains. Next time you're at Nobbys, look up. There's a small piece of it on another planet.

Lake Macquarie has had an unusual guest. A Cocos Booby was spotted sunbathing at Marks Point last month, captured by Hunter bird photographer Steph Owens, and it's believed to be the first recorded sighting of the species in Australia.

The Cocos Booby is native to the eastern and central Pacific Ocean and has rarely been seen further west than Hawaii. It was reclassified as its own species, separate from the common Brown Booby, in 2024. Quite the find for an ocean-faring bird to turn up at a lake suburb in the Hunter.

Nobody can say for certain why it ended up there, with theories ranging from weather and changing food routes to climate-related habitat pressure, or even the possibility it hitched a ride on a boat. Whatever the reason, it's drawn a crowd. The Post Office Cafe at Marks Point has started offering kayaks and boat rides for those keen to see the visitor for themselves.