Newcastle Museum

Newcastle Museum is in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The museum is connected with Newcastle Libraries.

Newcastle Museum

Newcastle Museum, at the former railway workshops, 2018
Location within New South Wales
Established	1988
Location	6 Workshop Way Newcastle, New South Wales
Coordinates	32°55′34.5″S 151°46′21.07″E
Type	Regional museum
Owner	Newcastle City Council
Public transit access	Civic
Nearest parking	On site
Website	www.newcastlemuseum.com.au

History

The Newcastle Museum was founded in 1988, and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II.^[1] It was originally located in the old Castlemaine Brewery building on Hunter Street until 2008. In 2011 it reopened in its present location, 1.7 km (1.1 mi) away in the former headquarters of the Great Northern Railway which includes the heritage-listed Honeysuckle Point Railway Workshops.^[2][3]

Stolen bones

In 2003, bones from a psittacosaurus sinensis, which were 110 million years old, were stolen from the museum. The bones had been on loan from China.^[4] Police asked the public for information and attempted to recover the bones^[5] with a $5000 reward offered for their return.^[6]

Failed knife attack

On 26 June 2024, a 19-year-old man attempted a knife attack on Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, carrying knives and tactical gear. He was later arrested inside the Newcastle Museum and injured zero people.^[7]

Permanent exhibitions

• A Newcastle Story, early Aboriginal life and Newcastle's history
• Fire and Earth, coal mining and BHP steel production
• Supernova & Mininova, a hands-on science centre

Location

• Opposite the building: NUspace, University of Newcastle
• Opposite the building: Civic Hub
• Opposite the light rail station: Civic station