A new chapter in the history of Shepherds Hill Cottage is one step closer, with final touches underway to transform the 130-year-old building into a café with Newcastle’s most stunning views.

Maitland libraries are offering front-row seats to the Sydney Writers’ Festival, streaming world-class authors live from Sydney straight to local libraries from Thursday 21 May with a final special event at Maitland Town Hall on Saturday 23 May.

There’s something quietly extraordinary about a festival that not only survives but thrives - growing year after year without losing its soul. In a landscape where even major events have fallen by the wayside, The Gum Ball has done the opposite. It has deepened, expanded, and embedded itself into the cultural fabric of regional New South Wales, located in the bush, on the property of Dashville in Lower Belford.

There's a question that has delighted children for more than two decades, and this July it's coming to life on stage right here in Newcastle. Where is the Green Sheep? - the iconic picture book by Mem Fox and illustrator Judy Horacek - is being adapted for the very first time as a full theatrical production, and Civic Theatre Newcastle is one of the first stops on its Australian journey.

The Escadia Newcastle Northstars kicked off their pre-season in style, defeating the Central Coast Rhinos across back-to-back trial games on the weekend - winning 5 to 4 on Saturday night and 7 to 2 on Sunday.

Plans to create a next-generation health precinct for the Hunter region in Gateshead are set to progress following tonight’s Lake Macquarie City Council meeting.

Almost 50 years of raising money, toys and awareness for families in need has earned Big John Young Newcastle’s greatest acknowledgement after being named a Freeman of the City today.

More than 2,200 people have had their say on how City of Newcastle should respond to threats to the coastline between Bar Beach and Merewether, demonstrating strong community interest in the future of the Southern Beaches. 

A new benchmark for playground upgrades will be set this month when City of Newcastle starts work on the replacement and enhancement of the Lambton Park play space.

The 2026 Sail Port Stephens Commodores Cup Passage Series gets underway today, marking the 19th year of one of Australia’s premier offshore sailing events – and it’s shaping up to be the largest yet.

City of Newcastle will kick off its annual Youth Week program by celebrating an initiative that has been bringing people together through their love of Young Adult fiction for the past five years.

Entries have opened for the 2026 Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards.

Thousands of young footballers from across the Hunter region will receive a free football thanks to the renewed partnership between Newcastle Permanent and Northern NSW Football.

A cartoon workshop, a hoops lab, open mic night and a good old-fashioned disco are in the cards for this month’s annual Youth Week program across Lake Macquarie.

Clyde St Arts is strengthening its commitment to sustainability and community collaboration with the launch of a monthly Repair Café—inviting locals to rediscover the value of repairing, sharing skills and reducing waste.