City of Newcastle and Port of Newcastle today announced a partnership to present the community’s annual New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2018.
Arguably the biggest community celebration on the City’s calendar, New Year’s Eve will also mark the beginning of the Port’s 220th year of commercial shipping. Starting with a shipment of 50 tonnes of coal bound for India in 1799, Port of Newcastle has since grown to become Australia’s third largest port by tonnage.

Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody joined Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes on Queens Wharf to announce the partnership. Mr Carmody said both the Port and the City had grown and prospered together since the first shipment in 1799.

“The Port is the spine of our thriving and revitalised City, and we believe that it is fitting to mark the beginning of our 220th year on New Year’s Eve in partnership with the City of Newcastle,” he said.

“Our history is one of transformation and change. From the heavy lifters of steel and coal, we now look to the future of our Port and the opportunities for diversification. We work to ensure we are one of the most sustainable, efficient and innovative ports in the world.”

Cr Nelmes said New Year’s Eve was one of the most exciting nights of the year and it was important to ensure that celebrations could be enjoyed by every member of the community.

“Our New Year’s Eve event will see families celebrate with a hands-on creative collaboration for the whole community and a fantastic line-up of entertainment throughout the evening – before enjoying our fireworks display,” Cr Nelmes said.

“I want to thank Port of Newcastle for partnering with the City to provide this safe and fun activation to celebrate the New Year.”

Novocastrian families are invited to roll up their sleeves and unleash their DIY home renovation skills this New Year’s Eve on a pop-up Funhouse on Market Street Lawn. The giant cardboard Funhouse will form the centrepiece of a fun family-friendly evening inspired by a colourful cast of roving characters and local makers, while Foreshore revellers also enjoy a free outdoor concert headlined by legendary rockers Dragon.

An epic 15-minute fireworks display will follow and be bigger and better than ever, with an explosion of colour launched from Stockton’s Griffiths Park offering uninterrupted views from the harbour’s southern shore.

A line up of live music, including Bowie Unzipped, will drive the party beat across the foreshore as market stalls and food vans round out the list of attractions.

For more information, visit the City of Newcastle website.

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