Newcastle’s Waterfront Future | Honeysuckle HQ Set to Transform the Harbour
- intouch Magazine
- May 21
- 4 min read
A $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct will deliver around 1,000 new homes, thousands of jobs and sweeping new public spaces on Newcastle’s iconic harbourfront — completing a decades-long transformation of the city’s waterfront.
Newcastle’s harbourfront is set for its most ambitious chapter yet, with the NSW Government announcing DOMA Group as the delivery partner for Honeysuckle HQ — the final piece in the long-running renewal of Newcastle Harbour. Also to be known as Newcastle Quay, the $1.5 billion project will be developed across six stages over 15 years, promising to reshape the inner-city waterfront with around 1,000 new high-density homes, over 28,000 square metres of premium commercial office space supporting approximately 4,000 workers, a 180-room hotel with a 500-seat conference and exhibition centre, 6,000 square metres of ground-level retail, dining and hospitality, and more than 11,000 square metres of public open space.
For decades, the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) has led the renewal of Honeysuckle, gradually transforming what was once industrial land into one of Newcastle’s most visited destinations. Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the announcement marked the completion of that journey. “This is the final piece of a transformation that has turned old industrial land into one of the best waterfront precincts in Australia,” she said. “This is exactly the kind of project the Hunter deserves — ambitious, practical and built around what makes Newcastle great: the harbour, the heritage and the people.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully echoed that sentiment, describing Newcastle Quay as precisely the kind of city-shaping development the government wants to see more of. “Honeysuckle HQ will help deliver around 1,000 new homes while continuing to transform Newcastle’s harbour into a thriving destination for residents, workers and visitors,” he said.
The economic impact is expected to be substantial. Construction alone is anticipated to contribute around $80 million annually to the economy, while the completed precinct is forecast to generate approximately $133 million each year for Newcastle and the wider Hunter region. Site preparation works are expected to begin before the end of 2026.
Preserving the Past, Building the Future
Anchoring the precinct is the heritage-listed Wickham School of Arts — a building with deep roots in Newcastle’s cultural history. Originally designed for the people of Wickham, it was once frequented by Henry Lawson in pursuit of learning. Under the Newcastle Quay plans, it will be sensitively restored and reactivated as a conference and events space, ensuring its story continues rather than is erased. A First Nations Cultural Centre, public art commissions, and culturally informed placemaking will also form part of the precinct, reflecting the site's deep cultural significance.
Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp, who has long championed the building’s preservation, welcomed the outcome. “I have advocated at every opportunity for many years to have the Wickham School of Arts preserved and integrated into this project,” he said. “This now means that it will be conserved in perpetuity — a wonderful outcome for our local community. I am proud to be preserving our past while stepping into Newcastle’s future with new homes, new jobs, and new energy on our harbourfront.”
The public domain will also include the new waterfront park ‘Honeysuckle Green’, improved pedestrian connections and shared spaces designed to maximise community access to the harbourfront. HCCDC Chief Executive Valentina Misevska said the design reflected exactly what the community had asked for. “Today’s milestone marks a significant moment in the Honeysuckle Urban Renewal Project,” she said. “It delivers on ambitions for high-quality design and sustainability, while respecting the area’s heritage and culture — creating a precinct that offers something for everyone.”
A Developer Who Knows the Neighbourhood
DOMA Group is no stranger to Honeysuckle, having already delivered landmark projects in the precinct, including the Little National Hotel, the Lume and Huntington apartment buildings, and the twin-tower development of the Store site, which is currently under construction. Managing Director Jure Domazet said the company was honoured to continue its investment in the Hunter region. “Honeysuckle HQ will be something truly special for Newcastle,” he said. “We engaged four leading architectural firms to shape each building with a distinct design vision — creating something unique, interesting and inspired by the enviable setting. We are proud that our proposal will create an iconic landmark destination, a legacy the city truly deserves.”
A Turning Point for the Region
Business Hunter has welcomed the announcement, with CEO Bob Hawes describing Newcastle Quay as a turning point for the city’s standing as a metropolitan centre. “This bold plan represents a great leap forward, not just for Honeysuckle but for Newcastle as the regional capital,” he said. “The sort of development underway today was unimaginable to most even 10 years ago, but we are now seeing the fruits of a successful urban renewal strategy to shift the city’s CBD west and incorporate high-density, mixed-use development into the inner city.”
Hawes also highlighted the hotel and conference facilities as a significant boost for Newcastle’s visitor economy, noting the city had rapidly strengthened its position as a destination in its own right. Looking further ahead, he said Newcastle Quay would complement the development of the Broadmeadow Precinct, with the two projects together representing one of the largest urban regeneration efforts in the country. “The project should provide strong impetus for further investment, including improvements to transport connectivity and much-needed upgrades such as the extension of the light rail,” he said.
With site preparation works expected to begin before the end of 2026, Newcastle’s waterfront is about to write its most exciting chapter yet.
Artist impressions and further information: newcastlequay.com.au
