Toponymy

Newcastle has changed names on numerous occasions during the country's historic rule. It was initially named Post Halt Number 2 on military maps during the 1840s, as postal coaches stopped here to obtain fresh horses on the journey between Durban (then Port Natal in Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek)^[5] and Johannesburg. It was later known as the Waterfall River Township because of the Ncandu River. Newcastle was named after the British Colonial Secretary, the fifth Duke of Newcastle, a British aristocrat, and not the city in England as some believe. On 14 October 1899, during the Anglo-Boer War, Newcastle was invaded by Boer forces, and the entire district was incorporated into the Transvaal Republic. After seven months it was renamed Viljoensdorp, after the commander of the Johannesburg Commando, General Ben Viljoen. However, after relief of Ladysmith under the command of General Redver Buller, the British forces reclaimed the name Newcastle.

Establishment

Newcastle (then Post Halt Number 2) was strategically situated in 1854 by the Surveyor-General of the Natal Colony, Dr. P.C. Sutherland on the banks of the flooded Ncandu River. In 1864, Newcastle was founded on the site, becoming the fourth settlement to be established in Natal after Durban, Weenen and Pietermaritzburg.

War and British rule

In 1876, Fort Amiel was constructed to ward off the Zulus during the war, and in 1873 Newcastle became a separate electoral division.^[6] To commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary), the construction of a sandstone town hall commenced in 1897, and was completed two years later. The town was used as a depot by the British during both the First and Second Boer War, and also functioned as a major transport junction and stopover for wagons and post chaises during the late 19th century.

British preparation work for the Pretoria Convention of 1881 was done at Newcastle.^[7]

The Industrial Era

In 1890, the first train arrived in Newcastle, and the town was declared a borough in 1891. The discovery of coal brought a new era of prosperity and several ambitious building projects were planned. In 1920, the Union Steel Corporation built the province's first steel plant, which later became the ISCOR South Works and subsequently decommissioned the plant after the ISCOR North Works was built, now called Arcelor Mittal Newcastle Works.

Industry

The city has four industrial areas, namely Riverside Industrial, Airport Industrial, Madadeni Industrial Estate, and Arcelor Mittal Newcastle Works. Newcastle's economy is dominated by heavy industry, clothing and textile, services, and engineering industries, as well as extensive local coal mining.

Arcelor Mittal steelworks, the Natal Portland Cement (NPC) slagment cement plant, the LANXESS Chrome Chemical Plant and the Karbochem synthetic rubber plant, which covers 500,000 square metres (5,381,955 square feet) manufacturing space dominate the Newcastle industrial area. Heavy engineering works firms such as DCD Venco and Boschpick Engineering supply ancillary services to the aforementioned large concerns and the rest of South Africa.

Chinese and Taiwanese business people established more than a hundred textile factories in the Riverside Industrial Estate and the Madadeni Industrial Estate.

In 2011 Independent Power South Africa (IPSA) converted the old Ngagane Power Station into the Newcastle Cogeneration Plant, an 18 MW gas fired powerstation that provides a dedicated power supply to the Karbochem chrome chemical plant which was completed during 2002.

This joint venture project between Karbochem and German speciality chemical manufacturing giant LANXESS has made Newcastle the largest producer of chrome chemicals in Africa. The company announced an investment of €40 million in 2012 towards the construction of an innovative CO₂ plant (Cansolv chemical process) at its site.

Arcelor Mittal Newcastle produces over 1.5 million tons of long steel products annually and in 2015 undertook a major reline on the N5 Blast Furnace valued at R1.8 billion.

In mid-2014, a portion of Airport Industrial was renamed the Newcastle Chemical Park, and houses African Amines (Pty) Ltd, Karbochem (Pty) Ltd, KC Energy (Pty) Ltd, LANXESS (CISA) (Pty) Ltd, Newcastle Co-generation (IPSA), and South African Calcium Carbide (Pty) Ltd.

Other large operations include firms such as Formosa Plastics and Nova Clothing, both of which manufacture goods for the country's leading retailers, diamond-cutting works, various engineering concerns, and building industry-related services such as brick manufacturing, roofing systems, and steel reinforcement.

Retail

Newcastle Mall

Newcastle has a very strong local trade scene, which is boosted by the surrounding towns of Utrecht, Vryheid, Dannhauser, Glencoe, Dundee, and Ladysmith.

Despite the development of decentralized shopping malls and centres around Newcastle, it's CBD still continues to trade strongly. The city has various major shopping facilities spread throughout, the most notable being the award-winning Newcastle Mall adjacent to the Blackrock Casino, Amajuba Mall, Newcastle Corner, Victorian Mall, Village Walk, Scott Street Mall, The Factory Plaza, Taxi City, Ithala Shopping Centre, Madadeni Crescent, Eyethu Junction Shopping Centre in Madadeni, and Theku Plaza in Osizweni.

Buildings and roads

Newcastle Civic Centre

Allen Street Bridge Extension

Street Scene on Scott Street

Recent development in Newcastle include the new multi-storey Civic Centre, Victorian Mall expansion, the Meadowlands Estate in Madadeni, the Vulintaba Country Estate in the Drakensberg outside Newcastle, Newcastle Corner, and the Equarand mixed-use precinct.

Recent roadworks include the D96 rebuild, the Allen Street bridge and widening of Allen Street along Trim Park, the Link Road extension Phase 1, and the Albert Wessels Drive extension Phase 1.

Proposed future projects include the Newcastle Technology Hub, expansion of the Newcastle Airport, and the re-alignment of the N11 bypass south of Newcastle by SANRAL.

Industrial

The 140 meter tall stacks and 70 meter tall Coke Ovens at Arcelor Mittal Newcastle

The 120 meter tall stacks and 94 meter tall Cooling Towers of the Newcastle Co-generation Plant

The Signal Hill Tower is 72 m (236 ft) tall

The DBM Building is the tallest building in downtown Newcastle with its structure topping out at 44 m (144 ft) and antenna at 54 m (177 ft)

• Arcelor Mittal

Arcelor Mittal has a number of tall structures exceeding 50 metres (160 feet) in height. The most notable on Newcastle's skyline include: The 2 stacks are 140 metres (460 feet) tall. The N5 blast furnace is 110 metres (360 feet) tall. The coke ovens are 70 metres (230 feet) tall.

• Newcastle Co-generation Plant

The 2 stacks are 120 metres (390 feet) tall. The 4 cooling towers are 94 metres (308 feet) tall.

• Natal Portland Cement

The lift structure for the main 4 silos is 78 metres (256 feet) tall.

• Newcastle Chemical Park

This facility has several tall industrial structures and stacks above 50 metres (160 feet) in height.

Telecommunications

The Signal Hill Tower is 72 metres (236 feet) tall.

Buildings

• Arcelor Mittal Head Office Building: 10 storeys - structural height is 50 metres (160 feet) & top of antenna is 70 metres (230 feet).
• DBM Building: 9 storeys - structural height is 44 metres (144 feet) and the top of antenna is 54 metres (177 feet).
• Newcastle Civic Centre: 9 storeys with a structural height of 40 metres (130 feet).

Road

Newcastle is well connected to Gauteng and the provinces coastal ports of Durban and Richards Bay on two main routes. The N11 is the principal road running through the city connecting it south to the N3 to Durban and north to the N4 to Gauteng, and through the provinces of Mpumalanga & Limpopo, and eventually to the border at Groblersbrug.

The R34 connects Newcastle to Gauteng via the N3 and the Free State to the west, and east to the port of Richards Bay via Vryheid and Empangeni.

Rail

Newcastle lies on the main passenger and goods railway line between Johannesburg and Durban. The city has a large rail siding and cargo facility.

Airport

Newcastle has one airport which is located approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) away from the city centre. Chartered flights provide daily service, and a full service with one of the country's airlines is in planning.

Taxis and buses

Minibus taxis are the most affordable and quickest form of transport for the majority of the population for those residing in Newcastle East. These are owned by taxi associations, and in the recent years inter-operator violence has flared up from time to time, especially as turf wars over lucrative taxi routes resulting in the deaths of many taxi operators.

Apart from the thousands of taxis that traverse the city streets daily, Transnat Coach Lines and Stabus (subsidiaries of Tans Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd are the largest bus operators in Newcastle.

Galleries

The Carnegie Art Gallery in the city gardens

• The Carnegie Art Gallery^[10] represents South African artists as well as local artists; this historic building falls within the city's civic precinct.

Museums, monuments and memorials

• Fort Amiel Museum, a typical Victorian frontier fort, is a National Heritage Site.^[11]

Music

Newcastle is home to the Northern KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir^[12] – a provincial choir of international repute.

The annual Vodacom Winter Festival^[13] aka 'Newcastle Show' provides a platform for South African bands and singers, and attracts visitors from the entire region. Notable performers who performed for the event include Matthew Mole, Cassper Nyovest, Majozi, Snotkop, and Jo Black.^[14]

Places of worship

Newcastle has all of the major religious organizations represented; churches, temples, and mosques can be found throughout the city. Landmarks include the NG Kerk on York Street, and the Hindu Shiva Temple on Kirkland Street. The Darul Uloom on St Thomas Street, an institute of higher Islamic studies, is a landmark in Newcastle's diverse community with a modern mosque on the premises.

Stadia

Newcastle has numerous multi-purpose stadia around the city, which are mostly used to host local sport competitions, school sports and inter-school sports; these accommodate soccer, cricket, rugby, squash, tennis, and volleyball. The most notable stadia are the Newcastle Swimming Pool, Arbor Park Grounds, Paradise A & B, and the Madadeni Sports Stadium.

Swimming

Newcastle has five public swimming pools; the Olympic-sized Newcastle swimming pool in Sunnyridge (previously the Ferrum swimming pool) recently hosted the All-Africa Development Gala.

Sports complex

Located in Arbor Park, this modern complex has indoor and outdoor facilities, with a bowling green.

Wrestling

Newcastle Wrestling Academy is one of the top wrestling clubs in KwaZulu-Natal.

Fishing

Newcastle is home to the Challengers Angling Club and an annual angling competition is held to assist local charities.^[15]

Rugby

The local rugby club is the Newcastle Highlanders Rugby.

Soccer

Newcastle is home to Stella Football Club and has produced players to represent the province and country. Newcastle is also the home to Newcastle All Stars who play in KZN ABC Motsepe league.

Cricket

Newcastle has a local cricket league, and matches are hosted at various stadiums around the city.

Golf

Newcastle has three golf courses: one 18 hole golf course, Newcastle Golf Club, and two 9 hole golf courses, Kilbarchan Golf Club and Vulintaba Country Estate.

Horse riding

Newcastle has a horse riding club and training course.

Ntshingwayo Dam

Established in 1975, Ntshingwayo Dam (previously Chelmsford Dam) is the third-largest in the province. Located approximately 25 km (16 mi) South West of Newcastle on the Ngagane River, Ntshingwayo Dam is Newcastle's main source of water supply. The surrounding reserve covers an area of 6,500 ha. and is managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

The 1,500 ha Game Park has a range of highveld game and bird viewing is common. The park also features the largest population of the rare oribi in South Africa.

Sailing, powerboating, water-skiing and swimming are popular activities on the 3,400 ha. dam and is known as a fishing destination for both hobby and competition anglers, with carp, barbel, and scaly the most commonly caught.

Amcor Dam

This small dam lies on the Ncandu River in the suburb of Ncandu Park. Amcor dam has various recreation facilities, including playgrounds, swimming pools, and braai (barbeque) areas, and is popular on public holidays and weekends. It is also home to the Newcastle Caravan Park.

Newcastle Golf Course

The Newcastle Golf Course is located in the suburb of Barry Hertzog Park and offers a mashie course, a driving range, an 18 hole course, a clubhouse, and a restaurant.

Ncandu State Forest

The Ncandu State Forest Reserve is located 32 km (20 mi) west of Newcastle and is the second biggest indigenous forest in the province; it consists of grassy plains, Yellowwood gorges and streams that run through the forest to meet the Ncandu river, where trout may be found. The reserve offers various trails to view sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and various bird species. Access to the viewpoints is either by boat or boardwalks.

Parks

The city has many public parks within its suburbs; such as the Trim Park and The Gardens on Hospital Street. Trim Park is located north of the CBD along the Ncandu River. It is often frequented on weekends and holidays, and is used for hosting picnics and barbecues.

The Gardens on Hospital Street offers an expansive grassy garden with large shady trees, and is located in the suburb of Newcastle Central. The park is used by Newcastillians to walk their pets and play in a free environment. The Gardens are popular on wedding occasions as they offer backdrops for photographs to be taken.

Urban play parks

This type of park was created to provide playing facilities for the youth in a secure, green play zone. Kids may play unsupervised by parents, as they are under the watchful eye of park security.

Primary and secondary education

The city is home to numerous major primary and high schools, both government and private. With private schooling on the increase in South Africa, there has been a recent influx of private schools varying in size.

Newcastle High School^[16] and St. Dominic's Academy Newcastle^[17] are considered two of the city's most prestigious schools.

Meridian Newcastle, a leading independent school (part of Curro Schools) was established in Madadeni, a township of Newcastle, to cater for the increased need of education in the east of the city.

Newcastle schools are home to several buildings that have been declared National Monuments, the most famous being The Pavilion at St. Dominic's Academy which was designed by Brother Nivard Streicher and built in 1912. It was declared a monument in 1977 by Dr. Piet Koornhof.^[18][19]

Established in 1882, Newcastle High School is the oldest school in the area. The original school buildings are still in use today as the school's administration block.

Both the Newcastle Brass Band and the Northern KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir are based in Ferrum High School.

Newcastle's main townships of Madadeni and Osizweni are home to schools such as Osizweni High School, Indonsa Technical High School, St. Lewis Bertrand’s High School, Bethamoya High School, Phendukani High School, Siyamukela High School, Thubelihle High School, Sesiyabonga High School and Ikhwezi High School. Sabela Senior Secondary School is the only high school situated in Madadeni Section 5 and is best known for its athletics.

Other schools in Newcastle include Newcastle Islamic Collage, Amajuba High School, Tugela High School, St Oswald's Secondary (the oldest school of Indian origin), and Lincoln Heights Secondary School. Some junior schools include Hutten Park Primary, Drakensberg Primary, Newcastle Senior Primary, Busy-Bee and Arbor Park Primary, Lennoxton Primary, S.E. Vawda Primary, Suryaville Primary and Chelmsford Primary.

Tertiary education

Majuba FET College has five separate campuses around Newcastle, as well as a campus in the surrounding town of Dundee.

Qualitas Career Academy, a national private college has a campus in the CBD. It caters for full-time and part-time studies for students, as well as corporate training and consulting services for businesses and government departments.

UNISA, Damelin, and Boston City Campus & Business College have satellite campuses in Newcastle.

Print

Caxton Community Newspapers is a major printer and publisher of newsprint materials in the region. Major newspapers include the Newcastle Advertiser, Newcastle Sun, Amajuba Eyethu, Agrieco, and the Northern Natal Get It Magazine. Other local publications include Tabloid Media's Newcastle Express.

Online media

Pixelfish Marketing Solutions (Pty) Ltd owns and produces the Newcastillian - Online News,^[22] an independent news product. The digital news medium services the Newcastle, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, and KwaZulu-Natal^[23] communities.

Broadcasting

Newcastle Community Radio is an independent local radio station broadcasting to Newcastle from their studio in Madadeni on 103.7fm Newcastle Community Radio Website.

Radio 034 is an online radio station located in Newcastle.

Lit Radio ZA is an online radio based in Madadeni Section 2, targeting local youth and other issues that affect the community.

Mixed-race residential

• Amajuba Park
• Amiel Park
• Arbor Park
• Aviary Hill
• Barry Hertzog Park
• Hutten Heights
• Ingagane
• Ncandu Park
• Newcastle Central
• Pioneer Park
• Schuinshoogte
• Signal Hill
• Sunnyridge

Former 'Indian' residential

• Fernwood
• Ghandi Park
• Lennoxton
• Paradise
• Richview
• Sunset View
• Suryaville

Former 'Coloured' residential

• Fairleigh
• Lenville

Townships

• Blaauwbosch
• Cavan
• Claremont
• Dicks Halt
• Eastbourne
• Fulathela
• Inverness
• Jakkalspan
• Kwamathukuza
• Lekkerwater
• Leslie
• Madadeni - Sections A to P
• Mndozo
• Osizweni - Sections A to F
• Emaskral

Mixed-use areas

• Equarand
• Newcastle CBD
• Vlam
• Vulintaba

Industrial zones

• Airport Industrial
• Arcelor Mittal North Works
• Madadeni Industrial Estate
• Riverside Industrial

Twin towns / sister cities

Newcastle is part of a global community of Newcastles of the World Website, being the third-largest Newcastle in the world by population. Newcastle was part of the 1998 summit of worldwide cities named "New Castle" with:

Newcastle is twinned with:

• Nanchang, China (since 2010)^[24]