Merewether

About Merewether

Edward Christopher Merewether, the owner of the Burwood Estate, gave his name to the suburb of Merewether. The Church of England parish church, St. Augustine, was built on Llewellyn Street and the expenses were covered by Mr. Edward Merewether. It became the centre of a new Provisional District in the Diocese of Newcastle in 1890. According to the 1891 Census, the population of Merewether was 4,700. In 1885, Merewether was incorporated as a Municipality, covering 1,110 acres and having 31 km of streets. David Lloyd, a funeral director living in Railway Street, served as the Mayor in 1901. In 1938, an Act of the New South Wales Parliament established the ‘City of Greater Newcastle’, which included 11 municipalities, including Merewether. The former Council Chambers, located opposite the Post Office, became the clubhouse of the Australian Returned Services League.

Merewether, a suburb in Newcastle, boasts some of the city’s most renowned beaches. Leading south from Dixon Park Beach is Merewether Beach, which then connects to the more secluded Burwood Beach, ultimately leading to Glenrock Lagoon. The southern end of Merewether Beach is home to the Merewether Ocean Baths, which happens to be the largest ocean baths in the Southern Hemisphere. Additionally, this beach is also the residence of the oldest lifesaving club in the Hunter Region, known as Merewether SLSC, and the most successful boardriders club in Australia, the Merewether Surfboard Club. In 2006, the organizers of Newcastle Surfest decided to relocate the competition from Newcastle Beach to Merewether Beach to take advantage of the superior surfing conditions caused by the rock bottom of Merewether Beach, which contrasted with the mud bottom of Newcastle Beach. Notably, professional surfer Mark Richards resides in Merewether.

What to do at Merewether

Road connections to all sections of Newcastle and the major highways which serve it are available in Merewether. Merewether, previously serviced by electric tramways to the city and now by buses, is home to Hillcrest, the oldest mansion in the area. Hillcrest was originally the residence of the Merewether family and later transformed into a private maternity hospital. Today, it has been restored to its original purpose as a private home. Situated above Hillcrest is the Scenic Drive, showcasing luxurious ‘modern’ homes that were constructed from the late 1950s onwards.

In the Glebe of the suburb, there is Merewether Public School on Henry Street. On Janet Street, you will find the Catholic Holy Family Primary School. Hamilton South Public School, although it is within the Merewether postcode area, is situated on Kenrick Street. Merewether Heights Public School is located on Scenic Drive in Merewether Heights, while The Junction Public School, established in 1860, is situated in The Junction. These two schools are on the borders of Merewether. The Junction only became a separate suburb in 1991. Students from these schools move on to attend Newcastle High School, Kotara High School, St Pius X College in Adamstown, or Newcastle Grammar School, which is affiliated with the Anglican Church. Merewether High School, a selective public school, is situated in Broadmeadow, about 600 m (1,969 ft) away from Merewether.

One local company in Newcastle that is involved with this tourist attraction site is:

Website: Patios Newcastle

Address: Body 1/20 Pendlebury Road, Cardiff NSW 2285

Phone: (02) 4003 6425