Shepherds Hill Cottage ready for a new lease on life
In the Q2 2024 edition of the Commercial Collection, we explore one of Newcastle’s most iconic structures, Shepherds Hill Cottage. This historical site has sat atop King Edward Park since the 1890s, watching the city evolve for over a century. The site, with a deep-rooted militaristic history, is now in the process of being restored and reopened for public use for the first time in several decades. At over 130 years old, it is no surprise that the heritage-listed cottage has an extensive history of function.
Construction began in 1890 and the cottage was originally used as a mess hall for colonial military officers in the Navy. During World War II, the military site served as a vital command position for the Navy and Airforce, becoming one of the only defence sites on the coast of Australia that was manned by both the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force simultaneously. With its priceless views stretching from the Stockton Sand Dunes down to Dudley Beach, plus a wide panorama of the Pacific Ocean, Shepherds Hill Cottage made for the perfect post for military officials in 19th Century wartime.
When the early 2000s rolled around, the cottage was leased to Marine Rescue NSW as one of the organisation’s headquarters. The site housed Marine Rescue personnel until April 2015 when a superstorm devastated the Hunter Region, severely damaging the group’s base at the cottage. In 2021, City Newcastle invested over a million dollars into extensive restoration and revitalisation of the cottage, overseen by a renowned heritage architect. Both the interior and exterior of the cottage has undergone a major revamp - administered by Heritage NSW and funded by Newcastle City Council.
Shepherds Hill Cottage is part of the City of Newcastle’s revitalisation projects and will see it reopen its doors to the public in late 2024. With community use and a café part of its future use plans, this cottage is sure to continue to be apart of the history of Newcastle for many years to come.
