Newcastle Family History Society Podcasts

In this remarkable account, historian Dr Jude Conway relates a little-known chapter of wartime history—one that spans the jungles of Timor, the city streets of Newcastle, and a camouflaged refugee camp at Bob’s Farm.

In the 19th century, Newcastle evolved from a remote convict outpost into a thriving coal powerhouse — a true “coalopolis.”

Society member Julie Keating digs into the mines, sails through treacherous harbours, and walks the streets laid out by early planners, revealing the people, places, and power struggles that shaped Newcastle.

In 1950, Zell Meehan was appointed secretary to the Lord Mayor of Newcastle. In 1956, aged 37, Zell married and as was the custom of the time, was expected to resign. However, Zell refused to do so.

In this episode, Mel Woodford takes us back to 1829 London, where two teenage girls, Rebecca Markham and Maria Beavis, were convicted for stealing 20 yards of cotton.

Benita Parker from the West Wallsend District Heritage Group guides us through West Wallsend’s transformation—from a forested hillside to a vibrant coal mining town, complete with its own railway and a thriving community.

Narelle Austen concludes this series, imagining the lives of those who lived and breathed Coal River.

In this audio extract from the March 2025 Female Convicts of the Hunter Valley Seminar, Dr Jude Conway reveals the life of Elizabeth Hannell – a Mother of Newcastle.

Benita Parker from the 'West Wallsend District Heritage Group', delves into the early ambitious attempts to uncover coal deposits, “In the Shadow of Mount Sugarloaf”.