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The metropolitan area of Newcastle spreads over several Local Government Areas. The estimated poulation of the City of Newcastle at June 2003 was 144,375 ( Australian Bureau of Statistics), but its neighbour, the City of Lake Macquarie, was actually larger, with an estimated 189,150 residents as of June 2003 (ABS). The combined population of the Newcastle area at the 2001 census was 470,610, making it the sixth largest city in Australia.
Newcastle is located on the southern bank of the Hunter River at its mouth. The northern side is dominated by sand dunes, swamps and multiple river channels. Because of this, urban development is mainly restricted to the hilly southern bank. The small village of Stockton sits opposite Newcastle at the river mouth and is linked by ferry. Much of the city is undercut by the coal measures of the Sydney sedimentary basin, and what were once numerous coal-mining villages located in the hills and valleys around the port have merged into a single urban area extending southwards to Lake Macquarie.
The first European to explore the area was Lt. John Shortland in 1797, and in 1798, coal mined from the area was the New South Wales colony's first export. An attempt to establish a permanent settlement in the area (then called Coal River) failed but in 1804 the current city (briefly called King's Town) was established. Initially it was a penal settlement, with agriculture the only industry.
Coal mining began in earnest in the 1830s. In the 1890s a zincZinc is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Notable characteristics Zinc is a moderately reactive metal that will combine with oxygen and other non-metals, and will react with dilute acids to release hydro smelter was built by Cockle Creek . In 1915Events January 12 The Rocky Mountain National Park is established by an act of Congress. January 12 United States House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women the right to vote. January 13 An earthquake (6. 8 in Richter scale) in Avezzano, Ital the BHP steelworks opened beginning a period of some 80 years dominated by the steel works and heavy industry. With the closure of the steel works in 2000 and the expected closure of the Sulphide Corporation works by 20062006 is a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). It has been designated: The International Year of Deserts and Desertification Predicted events January 9 Planned launch date of New Horizons February 28 Mardi Gras February 9 Independence r the era of heavy industry is passing and the city's population is growing, attracted by its coastal lifestyle, excellent education and health services and improving employment opportunities in the tertiary sector. Newcastle's cliched image as a grimy steel town is fading.
On December 28December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. Events 418 St. Boniface I becomes Pope 1065 Westminster Abbey is consecrated. 1832 John C. Calhoun becomes the first Vice President of the Uni, 1989, Newcastle experienced an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale which killed 13 people. The following economic recession of the early 1990s meant that the city took several years to recover. Coincidentally, a small island now known as Nobby's Head was joined to the mainland, a distance of about 50 metres, with rubble from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Newcastle is also often recognised by San Franciscans as having a similar culture to that city, albeit on a smaller scale.